Measuring large for dates and already talk of induction. Help!

[BettyBum]

Ok so I'm 24 weeks tomorrow. Saw MW today and I measured 28 weeks. I have a 3 yo and always measured bigger with her, but only by a couple of weeks. Had 2 GTT tests with her as sugar in urine but both were fine and I was found not to have diabetes.

They did a scan in the end with her, said she might be big but other than that fine, were happy to let me have her normally. She was 8.8 lbs. DP and family are all very tall and my daughter is the same.

MW said today I'll have to have GTT next week to check that it is not diabetes that is making baby big. She told me not to worry but that if baby continues to measure big they may induce early. I had been planning a home birth. I'm pretty down. Has anyone got any advice? BTW in our trust they don't seem to do scans anymore to check size which I understand is because it can be very inaccurate.

Surely "big" is about head and shoulder size, so a tall baby wouldn't make much difference. It would be your choice and definitely discuss with a consultant (not just MW or registrar).

Agree, it's your choice. I got diagnosed with GD this (third) pregnancy, but baby wasn't big (had 3 extra scans) and they still wanted to induce me early "just in case" to make sure baby wasn't gonna be too big

I refused, and stopped seeing the OB, as it was all rather pointless, they used bullying tactics and were generally horrible.

I suggest searching the internet for more info. There's a great site, I think it's called homebirth.org and there is lots of info there, and a support group.

Hope this helps.

I sincerely doubt they will induce early for a 'larger' baby.

I had an appointment today with my consultant and had a scan (I am 31 weeks), to check for high levels of fluid as I have also been measuring very large throughout- consultant said baby is on the large side and she is not worried.

Induction will only occur if I ask for it- she actually warned me off induction though and said it would most likely be totally unnecessary. Apparently they don't normally offer induction for larger babies- unless gestational diabetes is diagnosed...

I definitely think you should ask to be referred to your consultant though, who I am sure will be much more clued up on this matter...Good-luck!

DD was big, had extra scans etc. Was borderline in GTT test. They talked about a sweep, but not induction.Didn't want it, didn't have it. She was 9.8lbs and the birth was fine (at 38.2).

Scans are also deceptive- in my case a scan at 36 or 37 weeks said that she wouldn't be more than 8lbs and a bit. It can go the other way as well.

I'd imagine scans would be more accurate than the midwife's palpitations. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Unless your baby is mammoth, don't worry too much.

I was told that DS was 'too small' at 34 weeks, and then at 40 weeks was offered a membrane sweep as he was 'very big'. He turned out to be distinctly average (but long) at 7lbs8. They were just making educated guesses.

Scans can be out as much as 2lb one way or t'other.

They don't take into account how wide your cervix will open when fully dialated (cos we're all different) or how the skull plates inside babe's head will fold into each other to squeeze out (as they do this only labour).

Births of big babies from petite mums are well documented as our bodies and babies change size and shape during birth.

I really wouldn't worry about it personally. Scans for sizes are mostly completely irrelevent and inaccurate. IMO.

You might be worrying a bit early - my MW didn't measure at 24 weeks, she explained to the trainee who was there that it is too early at the 24 week check to be accurate, they wait till 28 weeks.

Induction only for a large baby is specifically againsty NICE guidance fwiw.

Way too early to be worrying IMO. And scans aren't worthless.

I measured 2-3 cm big throughout my pregnancy and was referred for a scan to check DDs size. Turned out my placenta was right on top which the sonographer said often led to big FH. DD was born at 39 weeks (CS after induction for PE and OC - nothing to do with size) and was 7lb 7 so exactly on the 50th centile.

FWIW she measured on the 50th centile when we had a wellbeing private scan at 27 weeks too.

I was similar to you with baby 2 - baby 1 was 9lb 14oz (born at term) and I had a long labour and ventouse delivery. When I was pg again I was big for dates, had a GTT and a scan at 38wks. The plan I had was for a normal delivery but with a low threshold for intervention - I ended up having a syntocin drip (but quite low, just to keep things moving) and a normal non instrumental delivery. She was 8lb 6oz at 39 wks. I was reassured that they were not going to let me labour for ever again, but not automatically offering me aggressive treatment from the word go. (Oh and the growth scan predicted her weight spot on, but they do say allow 0.5lb either way).

My advice would be to refuse an induction if they suggest it- I was induced 10 days early because all measurements indicated that my DD (2nd full-term pregnancy) would be an absolute whopper. Like you had the gest. diabestes test and was negative. They really worried me because by the size of the bump and other scans they were suggesting that the baby was going to be well over 10 pounds and I was terrified that I would end up having an emergency C-section or forceps. So...I gratefully took up the offer of an induction only to be presented with a 7ib 14oz bubs at the end after a wonderfully quick labour- 5cm to fully dilated in less than 20 minutes!! It was quite amusing because only the very last mid-wife, the one who delivered the baby, looked at my massive bump, and said, you know I don't think she's going to be that big after all. So I wouldn't panic and try to let contractions happen naturally if poss. I'm now 24 weeks into No.3 and determined to let labour start naturally this time (induced with No 1 also)...

Thanks everyone, very reassuring!