32 Weeks & a Big Baby...

[MissMaths]

Hello

I am 32 weeks pregnant, and was recently diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes.

Been managing my blood sugars through diet and Metformin pretty well, but at my growth scan today I was told that my baby's estimated weight is currently 5lb 14 oz, which is worrying me alot.

The head and femur measurements were all within the normal range, but the abdomen was above the 95th percentile.

The midwife didn't seem concerned particularly, and they said I didn't need another scan between now and 37 weeks, but I cannot help but worry that she is going to be a monster baby and have problems with the birth.

Can anyone help put my mind at ease that she is going to be ok?

[kitkatqueen]

Hi missmaths -I know its worrying but the weight estimation scans really aren't that accurate. with my ds they said his tumy measurement was off the charts he was only 9lb at 10 days overdue. I am sure that you will be seeing your midwife between this scan and the next and they will check the general size of the baby each time. If they are worried at all they will refer you for another scan much sooner.

Try not to worry, My heaviest baby was the easiest to birth, handle and breastfeed. There are lots of positives to bigger babies.

[twinklegreen]

kikatqueen I agree totally, my biggest baby (10lb6) was by far the easiest to give birth to and breastfeed, so 'big' doesn't always mean 'bad'!

Also I'm always a bit about growth scans/fundal heights etc, they often seem to be quite innacurate. I have a couple of friends who were scared into having elective cs due to 'big' babies and both babies turned out to be 8lb something, which is fairly average also my sister was told her 4th baby was too small at a 38wk growth scan she gave birth at 39+2 to a 9lb baby!

I've also been told that I definately won't be induced before 42wks even if this baby is looking 'big' as there is not evidence that early induction for size has any impact on a positive outcome.

Hope everything goes well for you

[MissMaths]

Thankyou so much for your replies, ladies :D

They have really put my mind at ease: sometimes you just need the reassurance of someone who has been there

Thanks again

[hencath]

Hi MissMaths, I know how you feel as I too was told my baby was 6lb at 33 week growth scan. Nobody seemed overly concerned though they just said that it maybe early or just bigger than average (8lb). I saw my consultant a couple of weeks ago and she said it was a 'very good size baby' at 36weeks whilst doing a physical examination and she looked at the scan results and just said that it was unsurprising looking at DP and myself (we are both tall). She has however booked me in for an app shortly after my due date (should I still be pregnant) to discuss induction if required.

Growth scans have an error of 25% either way so like the other posters have mentioned dont worry too much.

I have also heard (like kitkats experience) that bigger babies are easier to birth and Im hoping this is true. Fingers crossed for us both for easy births x

[whingeomatic]

Echoing the others posts, really...

I measured big for dates from around 24wks with dd2 and had the growth scan at 35wks where I was told she was already 7lbs . She was born 3 days after due date weighing 8lbs so not big at all!!

[bigcar]

I had gestational diabetes in my last pregnancy (ds2 now at the grand old age of 8 weeks!) and was also on metformin. The first growth scan I had just after I started on the metformin put his abdominal circumferance off the chart, the one I had a couple of weeks later put it much closer to the norm (can't remember where exactly) although still on the large size but much more in proportion to the other measurements. So it could be that the metformin has yet to take its proper effect iyswim.

In the end I was induced by ARM at 4 days early because he was looking like a big baby anyway (I have 4 other dcs and none of them were small without the gd!). The birth would have been fine if I hadn't developed complications due to a previous cs so I ended up with another cs. He was 9lb 8 in the end, so not small but he was tall too, so fully in proportion iyswim.

He was fine, all his blood sugars were good but they did insist he was fed regularly for the first day, at least every 3 hours. I wish I had known in advance that my hospital would have let me express colostrom prior to delivery and stored it for me in case it was needed as I would have done it. If your dd does need formula at the start and you want to bf ask them to cup feed rather than bottle feed. It's worth finding out what your hospital offer in this respect so you can decide what is best for you and your dd and put it in your birthplan. Hth and good luck