How accurate are growth scans? And what is the consultant going to say?

[NorkyButNice]

I had a growth scan today and DC2 was estimated at 8 and a half pounds - I'm one day short of 35 weeks.

Have been referred for another scan at 38 weeks and have to see the consultant next week to discuss my options. Are they going to insist on inducing me early, or even having a c section?

I had a scan about 30 weeks and was told baby would be 8-9lbs. I had another scan at 38 weeks, 3pm, and was told baby would be 7lbs 12oz. I had him 4 hours later and he was 6lb 12.5oz. So ime, not that accurate.

I was told up to 20% out. I was scanned at 35 weeks and told 6.5lbs and DD1 was born a week later at 5.5lbs

Good answers ladies - just what I want to hear! DS was 8lb 13 at term and I can't believe this one is already nearly that size (although it does feel like it bump size wise).

The sonographer predicted 10.5lbs by term. Eeek!

Hi i'm in the same boat,got a growth scan tomorrow and getting a bit worried they will say it's 6lbs already or something [i'm 32wks]
Good to hear they aren't that accurate,makes you wonder why thay bother doing them

Mine was about 1lb out. Told at 36 weeks that DS was 6lbs, so expected an 8lb baby, assuming 1/2lb per week towards the end, and he was actually 9lb.

I may have completely made this up, but I think the error is because they make an asusmption about the average amount of amniotic fluid to subtract from the weight, and if you have more than average then your baby weighs less than they estimate and if you have less than average then the baby weighs more. Maybe they also make assumptions about the placenta similarly.

Not at all imo. With DS2 they told me he was going to be a 10lb baby. I was having weekly scans from week 30 as waters were
leaking.

He was a tiny 7lb 1!

I was sent for growth scans as they thought he was going to be too small three weeks before I had him.

When a doctor came in to see me whilst I was labouring, he said, "Wow, think you're heading for a nine, nine and a half pounder there!".

When he was born, he was 7lb9oz. So IME, not accurate in the slightest.

Meg, they do it on limb length too, but DD1 had no leg/arm fat at all and came out looking like a sparrow, hence why she was lighter than estimate i think

DD2 was supposedly 4lbs at 28 weeks, 7lbs at 34 weeks and 8lb4ish at 36 weeks. I was told to expect a 9-10 pounder. DD2 was born at 39+6 8lb1oz. so totally wrong for me and they managed to scare the crap out of me too!!

My ds2 was 8lb 13.5oz. With ds3 I had a massive bump so was sent along for a scan where they predicted he would be big. I think 7.5lb when I had the scan at about 32 weeks. I had an elective section @39 weeks and he was 10lb 5.5oz they saud he would have been 11lb+ @40 weeks+.

So fairly accurate here!

The measurements they took were all above the 95th centile - femur length and abdominal circumference being miles above the line.

I'm just wondering why I now have to see the consultant? Has anyone been induced because of a large baby?

ABitBatty - was the elective c sec because of the size or for other reasons (if you don't mind sharing)?

My midwife tells me she delivered at 13lb 6oz baby in water with no pain relief! But I'm no martyr - drugs are good if they're needed!

DD's femur and abdo were big too, I have a long (off the height chart) baby with a pot belly! They never gave me an early induction option and were happy for me togo atleast 10days over.

ds2 was estimated 6 1/2 lb at 32 weeks, estimated to be abou 11lb at term. He was born by elective c-section at 38 weeks weighing 10lb 12. So accurate in his case. he was elective due to size, but couldnt get his brother out who was only 8 lb 2 at 42 weeks and ended up being born by c-section.

Not just because of the size. Ds1 was born with forceps after a failed ventouse -7lb 6.5oz. With ds2 I was induced, his head never even engaged even after 10 hours of induction so I went for the ELCS with ds3 after him not engaging either.

There must be something wrong with the bit of my pelvis where the head has to slip into.

I am quite short 5'1 with size 3-4 feet, the mw reckoned that might be why.

I've had lots of growth scans in three pregnancies and all have been pretty accurate.

I had a growth scan at 31 weeks with my DS1 and they estimated his weight at 7lb 9oz! He was born at 38 weeks weighing 10lb 8oz.

So sometimes they're accurate and sometimes they're not! Everyone says I look enormous so I believe that baby is on the large side, but I really don't want to have a 10lber!

Actually, one thing I forgot to say was that they've now said they strongly advise me not to have a homebirth. Can they do that? Maybe I should start another thread about this one.

My SIL had a 10lber naturally with just gas and air and said he was the easiest to birth, he was her 4th baby. I have heard plenty of anecdotes about bigger babies popping out easier, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

No idea on the homeburth situation though, sorry.

My ds was 10lb6oz. He was born with no pain relief after a 2 3/4 hour labour. I tore a bit, but no after effects. Unless you are very small there is no real reason, from what I've heard to worry about the baby's size, particularly if you've already had a baby.

Oh, and remember, the consultant can't actually "insist" on you doing anything!

i was told DD1 was going to be a small baby as i had lots of extra scans i had a very tiny bump... DD was in fact 8lb 3oz, my sister was told a big baby about 10lb and he was 8lb 2oz ( she had a huge bump, we were only 4weeks apart in pregnany)

this time i had to go for extra scans too (due yesterday) and she is measuring above average this time so we'll see...

Growth scans quite often completely wrong in my experience. Always get a second opinion before agreeing to anything drastic such as an early csection.

Our consultant was head of the Obs u/s unit, and said it's good for predicting the size of middle-weight babies, but pretty rubbish for very big or very small. dd was 10lb 11, and really quite an easy birth, compared to friends with much smaller babies. And so cuddly, great feeder. ds was 9lb 1 and felt teeny after her!

ds was predicted to be a b ig baby - he was 6lb 15 when he was born at term!

he did have a big head and a big tummy though - so if they were estimating weight based on that then i see why they'd have been wrong?

No you can always have a home birth, see www.homebirth.org.uk
Just research it and ensure you are happy to continue againist medical advice as you may be asked to sign an againist medical advice form.

On the flip side, I had a scan at 36 weeks and nobody said he looked large - he was 9lb 6oz at 40+5. So they can be just as inaccurate the other way round!