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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

How accurate were your growth scans? (FTM)

46 replies

cornyunicorn · 30/11/2018 16:10

I've had 4 growth scans (since 20 weeks - 36 now) and they all show baby as on the 99% centile, following the curve nicely. Head, abdomen are quite large, femur also reasonably high %.

Estimated at 6lb 6oz at 35 weeks already!

People keep telling me growth scans aren't very reliable but how likely is it that they get it very wrong 4 times in a row?! Has anyone had experience with multiple growth scans and how did it end up in terms of baby head size? I'm not too fussed about weight, it's birthing that big head that I'm worried about! LOL

OP posts:

Notquiteagandt · 30/11/2018 16:14

I had quite a shock today at my growth scan as she has grown so much.

So I queried how accurate they where. And got told now days with newer machines they are pretty accurate if they are following the curve.

Don't think the midwife was too impressed me going are you sure? Over and over as I was in shock though!

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 30/11/2018 16:22

Mine were accurate with both dc. At 37 weeks, they estimated dc2 to be around 8 pounds at 39 weeks (was meant to be an elective c-section), she arrived weighing 7 pounds 15 ounces.

Their heads were both spot on too, sorry. I was told at 37 weeks, dc2's head was measuring around 41 weeks and she arrived with a head on the 91st percentile.

Naschkatze · 30/11/2018 16:37

Only had one growth scan with my first. Not at all accurate, if he'd followed the curve it put him on he should have been well over 8lbs at birth. He was 6lb 3oz. They did correctly predict the large head though!

Had a growth scan yesterday and baby 2 is estimated to be 7lbs 5oz already at 36 weeks!! I am trying not to panic.. From watching the scan it seems a mm of movement while measuring makes quite a large difference so I don't think they can be hugely accurate.

twobambinos · 30/11/2018 17:15

Mine for my 3rd baby were spot on. He did have a growth spurt from about 35-37 weeks and I was silently losing my mind. But it slowed down a bit then. They say about half a pound a week from now on so another 2 pounds that wouldn't be a massive baby.

The main thing is they are keeping a good eye on you. Try to relax a little I know easier said than done

StressedToTheMaxx · 30/11/2018 17:22

Not very in my opinion.
My first dc had growth problems I was told-with their measurements- to expect a 2lb baby and dc came out 4lb8.

Second dc was monitors due to previous problems. I was told to expect 4lb and he was 6lb.
It may just be how I carry babies though, I might be good at hiding them.

Littlemissdaredevil · 01/12/2018 11:15

My dd was on the 90th centile on all her scans so I was expecting a 9lb baby. DD was born at 38 + 2 at 6lb 7oz

longtimelurkerfirsttimeposter · 01/12/2018 11:27

Predicted weight 3636g, came out 3635, so pretty accurate! Can't remember the head stats sorry

babynelly2010 · 02/12/2018 01:14

Only had it with the 3rd baby and it was accurate. I can't remember the details now but my dd came at estimated weight.

Wenttoseainasieve · 02/12/2018 09:57

I had serial growth scans both times, they were inaccurate (off by lbs) both times, but DID correctly predict a smaller baby and a larger baby.

Mine were 6lb 4oz and 9lb 6oz, both born at 41 weeks and healthy - the big one was a much easier birth!

Wenttoseainasieve · 02/12/2018 10:00

Oh and regarding head size, the heavier baby had a bigger head and I didn't tear, I did tear with the smaller headed one!

CryingMessFFS · 02/12/2018 10:01

I had growth scans for restricted growth for both of my children, they were both very accurate within an ounce or 2

Meganc559 · 02/12/2018 18:09

Mine were very inaccurate I was meant to have a 10lb baby at 40 weeks but he was only 3 days early and was 6lb8

SpagBol29 · 02/12/2018 23:05

I had many, many growth scans with my first all telling me I was having a tiny baby. She was 7lb 13.

With my second they estimated her to be around 8lb, she came out 10lb 3 and with a head on the 95th centile!

I was so glad I didn’t know her size before hand was I would have worried, and in all honesty it was totally fine and no worse at all than my previous “tiny” baby!

At the same time my friend was told her baby would be over 11lb and she came out 7lb!

Chalkitup · 02/12/2018 23:09

I had a scan at 34 weeks baby was estimated 7lb! Had a further scan at 38+1 and baby estimated 9lb 5 ounce. Was recommended induction straight away and she was born weighing 8lb 9 ounce.

StepMug · 02/12/2018 23:14

Very accurate. Predicted 11lbs at 37 weeks. Born at 11lbs 6ozs at 39 weeks. Can’t remember head measurements, but it was big and matched growth scans.

LisaSimpsonsbff · 02/12/2018 23:19

Mine was at the other end - predicting a small baby - but it was pretty off, they were predicting sub-6lb and he was 7lb 1. They also kept measuring the femur as very small, much smaller than the rest of him (less than 5 centile when everything else was measuring at about 10-15 centile) and the first thing the midwife said when he was born was 'hasn't he got long legs!'.

Mumshappy · 02/12/2018 23:24

Many growth scans due to concern over DS not growing properly. Decided to induce due to growth apparently stopping altogether. (This scan was done out of hours by consultant at 39+4) was told he was tiny. Went into labour naturally on the ward. He was 7lb 3oz

Orsy2017 · 03/12/2018 09:28

Not at all accurate. My baby was estimated at 7lb 1oz, 4 days later born at 7lb 14oz.
The worst of it is that because of that last growth scan I was told there was a problem with the baby's growth and coerced into induction after the charming consultant telling me it would be my fault if I had a stillbirth. Lovely staff at the nhs.
The induction went horribly wrong and ended with emcs for which I am still suffering from 1 year on.
They actually said at the meeting I had with them that they aren't very accurate and it depends who reads them as different people interpret them in different ways. Fat lot of good that is!!
Actually, the further on you are, the harder it is to get accurate measurements so, no, I wouldn't pay much attention to it. They're always trying to scare people with statistics-you'd think they'd have something better to do with their time.

HollyGoLoudly1 · 03/12/2018 23:22

My consultant said that they weren't very accurate but useful for tracking growth between scans. That said, my 3 scans all showed baby at 50th centile + he weighed almost exactly on the 50th centile when he was born. So mine were actually spot on!

LovesLaboursLost · 03/12/2018 23:26

Mine were very accurate for both kids.

riotlady · 03/12/2018 23:33

Mine were not even close! Told she was a very big baby, would be over 10lbs if she went to term etc... she was 7lbs 2 at 38 weeks.
I was also told her tummy was measuring several weeks ahead and her head was behind, everything was perfectly proportional when she was born.

FoxtrotSkarloey · 04/12/2018 00:02

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

ShesABelter · 04/12/2018 00:06

I only had one with my youngest. Was told at 35 weeks he was 6lb he was born at 39+5 at 9lb 9.5. My 3ldest was born at 35+5 at 6lb and second was born at 38 weeks at 8lb. So I reckon that must of been fairly accurate for what he was.

Original poster

cornyunicorn · 04/12/2018 16:41

This is crazy - so much variation in accuracy! It's hard to believe that with modern scanning technology it can be so far out?! I don't know what to believe now so I don't even know if I'm reassured or not! I was thinking about requesting a section due to my fear of birthing this massive baby (I don't want to be induced early for sure) and now I'm thinking what if I get the section and he's normal sized and then I did it for no good reason... oh dear, I wish it was easier, childbirth is scary and hard enough without all these doubts and anxiety over sizes!

OP posts:

Puggleface · 05/12/2018 21:37

Not at all accurate for me! Was told all along to expect around an 8lb baby. 2days before he was born I had a scan and he was measuring 8lb 6oz, he was born 36hours later and was 9lb 10oz!

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