Baby measures 8 weeks ahead and I'm petrified!

[TeamAgamemnon]

I'm 36.5 weeks with my first baby and from the start it has measured ahead of dates, firstly by a few days, then a few weeks. I've had lots of scans, mix of private and NHS and it has been pretty consistent.

At 36 week scan last week the baby measured 44 weeks around the abdomen! I know these scans are notoriously inaccurate but 8 weeks out? I've mentioned my worries a lot to various HCPs and just keep being told that doctors are only concerned about small babies, but there are potential complications and risks for having big babies as well! Especially as I have quite a small frame, I'm 5ft 3in and was a size 10 before I got pregnant.

I've also put on 22kgs when the NHS recommendation is apparently 10-12kg. I'm not sure how as I've hardly had an appetite for 8 months!

This is an IVF baby so I'm certain of the dates, I saw the baby going in at the age of 5 days' gestation

Does anyone have any similar experience? Or words of comfort about scans being wrong or big babies being easy to give birth to? Labour is a terrifying enough prospect, but if I thought the baby was going to be a normal, manageable size I would feel so much better about it. I also fully expect to go past 40 weeks so logically the baby could be measuring close to 50 weeks by then? How is that ok?

Scans often are very wrong about weight, but a positive tale regardless: my friend has 3 dc, ranging from 10lb to 7 lb 11 oz, and says the biggest was by far the easiest to give birth to.

how big are babies on you and dh's side?
sis had a 5kg baby (11 pounds?) and was treated for gd after birth (both her and baby) afterwards her mil piped up 'all my babies were over 10 pounds...

Erm you can be treated for GD after birth, it goes when you deliver your placenta. Do you mean they had low blood sugars?

yes baby was in icu for a bit with sugars all over the place and her as well.

Yes that's common for GD.

I measured 8 weeks out too but innate opposite direction. My bump was 8 weeks too small. Had to see various consultants. Baby born with a top score of 10 on the Apgar scale. Just prefect. Just slightly small (6.5lbs) rather then minuscule

Also I knew my dates of conception/ovulation as I was monitored throughout.

I tested negative for gtt and this time though I am.getting extra scans to check on size the consultant agreed no need for gtt. Also Ds4 had his blood sugars checked after the birth due to his size and he was fine. I was s biggish baby and dh is 6ft, I just grow good sized babies but also birth them easily.

It's Def worth getting them to check your blood sugars as Dino said so they can keep an eye and offer the option of induction earlier if any concerns re size or gestational diabetes.

Thanks for the further replies and advice. I will telephone the midwives and ask to discuss GD with them. My next appointment is not until nearly 38 weeks so I'll try to see someone sooner if possible.

Babies on both sides of the family tend to be average-large, ie between 8 and 9 pounds for pretty much all of them, including DH and I. Both sides of the family are fairly small and slim, i don't think anyone is bigger than about 5ft 9in.

I am feeling more reassured about the possibility of labour and birth with a big baby though, thank you all.

I'm sure it will all be fine for you, but just a word of warning. My sister had the same issue- was measuring 48 weeks at term and the hospital were quite blasé about it. When her labour failed to progress after hours, she ended up having an emergency c-section and delivered a 13lb baby boy. She hadn't had any growth scans, but perhaps if they had picked it up she would have had a calmer planned c-section.
Anyway, I know that her experience is very much not the norm but worth insisting on scans etc, just to make sure.