Gestational diabetes, big baby turned small toddler

[boobyandacuddle]

I had borderline GD. Right on the line of being diagnosed but they decided I didn't have it so I didn't get the testing kit etc. I tried my best to follow a good GD diet. My son was born 9lb2oz, around 90th percentile. He has always been a chubby baby until about 18m where he started to slim down a bit. He's just over 2 now and I've realised that he's barely gained weight in the last year. About 500g. He looks like a sturdy but slim toddler now. He's gone from around 80th percentile to just under 50th in a year.

His dad and I are both average height but fairly petite build. Our daughter is tiny, following the 9th percentile since the beginning. So we were surprised when such a big boy popped out and put it down to the (almost) gestational diabetes.

I have searched but not found an answer - should the child born big due to GD drop percentiles and find their groove at some point? Or should I be worried that he's not gaining?

In case it matters, he eats well, much better than his big sister. He's still breastfed, mainly morning and night but throughout the day if I'm not at work too. We both cut out dairy 8m ago as his eczema was really bad and his poos had got horrendous. Both have resolved since we cut it out.

Has anyone had similar?

Size at birth reflects mainly placenta and environment characteristics, final height and weight your genetics, so "catching down" like this is often normal. Is he gaining height?

Agree that catch down growth is common in babies that gestational diabetes has caused to be born bigger than their genetics intended. Though more commonly see a lot of the catch down in the first year.

Thanks. Height and weight charts attached. He is growing height wise but it has slowed down plenty too. Tbh he looks like the kind of child you'd expect us to have, rather than this roly poly wee Buddha man we had for the first year or so. He weighed more at 6m than his older sister did at nearly 2y! Maybe his catching down has just happened a little later.

Happened with my DS! Born huge at 9lbs 6 but was an early Walker and never hugely interested in food so “levelled down” around his first birthday and has stayed there. I think he’s about 25th percentile now. His weight gain has slowed massively but he’s active, happy, loads of energy and meeting all his milestones so I think he’s just found where he’s meant to be. Like you, we were also very surprised to have such a big baby when we’re fairly petite builds too.