Almost 31 weeks, 97th percentile?! Worried

[BRDouble]

Hi everyone. I will be 31 weeks this Thursday, first baby. Just had a midwife appointment and I asked for the third time why is my due date from the scan different to what’s on the growth chart. Finally this midwife (I’m supposed to have one but have seen 4 so far) said that’s not right I’m going to have to do a new one as your due date is what you were told at the scan not what’s on the chart. Turns out he is in the 97th percentile and maybe a little large. I was told not to panic (which I did) and that I might be referred for a growth scan. Im 5’6, weighed just under 10 stone before getting pregnant and so far have put on 17lbs. I thought you only have larger babies if the parents are large? I’m worried and would appreciate any thoughts. Could he have something wrong with him? And what happens if he stays big, early induction and c-section?! I know my mind is running ahead. Bursting into tears after getting that text from the midwife has also actually shown me how much I love and care for him already as up to now I haven’t felt a huge connection. Thank you

Oh bless you. Everything is heightened in pregnancy and feels very scary doesn’t it!

No ‘big baby’ experience myself, but I know lots of couples, neither of whom are tall/large framed, who have had big babies - in fact I was speaking to someone today whose wife had an 11 pounder! No rhyme or reason and he’s average size now. I’m not a health professional but I can’t think of anything harmful that can cause babies to grow bigger off the top of my head. Have you had the scan yet?

@Glassofshloer thank you for replying 😊 I haven’t had the scan yet as the midwife said she’ll do one more tape measurement at my next appointment first. I do feel a bit better about it all now and have calmed down after people’s lovely responses. 11lbs wow 😆

Did they say it was 97th centile for the length or height @BRDouble?

They kept trying to alter my DSIL's due date with our DN but they were going from the length of the femur.

DBIL is tall and they didn't seem to take this into consideration at all.

When she was born she was the longest baby in the hospital, even longer than the boys.

She's now a very happy abs healthy 6ft and carries it well

I’m not a health professional but I can’t think of anything harmful that can cause babies to grow bigger off the top of my head

Diabetes does (including gestational diabetes).

Growth scans are very inaccurate late in pregnancy. My friend had both pregnancies heavily monitored and was told she was having big children, both were ~7lb.

Growth scans are very inaccurate late in pregnancy. My friend had both pregnancies heavily monitored and was told she was having big children, both were ~7lb.

Yes they can be terribly inaccurate. I was having growth scans with both of mine because they though the babies were small. I don't think 6lb8oz and 8lb3oz are particularly small

I also know someone who was told she was having a big baby and it was 5lb8oz.

I really wouldn't worry too much.

@BRDouble I’m 32 weeks today and baby is measuring around the 150th percentile.

As others have said, both bump measurements and scans are pretty inaccurate - but if baby is big, it’s not enough of a cause for concern to induce, on its own. I looked the NICE guidance up

@PanicBuyingSprouts @TakeYourFinalPosition @JaninaDuszejko Thank you so much for your replies, I really do appreciate it and feel so much better. I also just looked at the NICE guidance. have a midwife appointment Monday and she’ll decide whether I need a growth scan but I’ve been repeatedly told how inaccurate all this is. When she first told me it was just a text: ‘Don’t panic but we might send you for a growth scan as your chart has been wrong.’ Unbelievable. But anyway, even if he is big then they will work around it and the main thing is for him to come out healthy and happy 😊 Hope you’re all well

Hi op

It's actually the opposite, larger women are more likely to have smaller babies which is why if your bmi is too high you are scanned for growth more due to IUGR. Babies can be bigger if you have gestational diabetes which isn't specific to overweight women

gestational diabetes which isn't specific to overweight women

I never said it was. My friend has always been a healthy weight (we're now in our 50s).

@HPmagic Thank you 😊 There’s so much information out there

Hi apparently my baby was off the scale- not even 91st. I also had polyhydramnios which can link to fetal abnormalities so I was scared shirtless. Estimated weight at 32 weeks 6 lb 5. He was born 57th percentile at 37 weeks weighing 6lb 15 and was so diddy (esp compared to my 8lb baby who was actually 25th percentile cos he was born at 42 weeks) He's getting on for 2 now and he's beautiful and perfect in every way.

@BRDouble And these were not midwife measurements either, actually growth scans. Take it with a pinch of salt and try not to get anxious. Easier said than done though as I bloody got so worked up!!

I measured off the chart eith my ds when around 34 weeks and got sent for a growth scan. The growth scan actually showed the opposite and they were concerned he was measuring small and so I had growth scans every two weeks. In the end I was induced as his growth had slowed at 39 weeks and he was born on his due date weighing a very healthy 7 pounds 8. So yes growth charts are very inaccurate. On the other side, my dd's low growth was not picked up on the charts until 38 weeks and was subsequently sent for a scan and induced as she was showing small. She was born at 38 weeks weighing 6 pound 1.

Hi everyone! Scan update today. Sonographer said he was a perfectly normal size after I had visions last night of being told I’d have to have an immediate C-Section 😂 I then saw the doctor who said he was measuring 50th percentile and is actually a little under average but absolutely no concerns. Literally the complete opposite to what the midwife said 😂 I am grateful to have been referred though and he is healthy too. Thanks for all your support

Thank you @Opalfeet and @Blughbablugh, all reassuring and just shows you literally have to wait and see!

So three weeks after being referred for scan after he appeared to be measuring too big according to the midwife (outcome was normal), I now have another scan Thursday (will be 38 weeks) after seeing her because he looks like he’s tailing off?!?! Hope everyone is doing ok x