Encouraging words needed, just had growth scan, 5 weeks to go and baby already 8lbs!!

[greenbeanie]

This is dc3, my other 2 have been big babies, 9lb15 and 10lb7 and I have always been confident that I produced the right size baby for me and could deliver it.

My last labour was 2.5hours with no problems but this time I just don't feel as confident, not sure why. Agreed to an extra scan even though I know that they are inaccurate for determining the size of big babies but as much to rule out other problems such as too much fluid.

I left todays appointment having consented to yet another scan in 3 weeks which I really don't want, i feel I have been railroaded into it. Any positive words or encouragement would be gratefully received

Mine was the same at that stage. The radiologist said that puts me on course for a 9.5 pound baby at full term. You have already squeezed out bigger than that so will be fine! Good luck!

Only that my DS was 10lbs 13.5ozs when he was born and it was probably my easiest labour, no tears or stitches and only gas and air for pain relief. Have been told by consultant that even if baby measures large again this time, they will still let me go 10 days overdue as my pelvis is obviously wide enough! She also said unless I test positive for GTT at 28 weeks they won't bother to do any growth scans because they are so inaccurate in measuring large babies, only really helpful when checking small for date babies?

You have already delivered 2 big babies so I'd say you'll probably be just fine!

If you don't want the scan, don't have it.

As they've already indicated that baby may be bigger than the average, a further scan can't tell much as they more and more unreliable the bigger the baby is!

And with your history, a big baby was to be expected.

It's unlikely to change your birth plan - especially as CS purely on the grounds of a big baby is specifically NOT recommended by NICE - so why get extra stress if you don't want it?

Thanks for the encouragement, I went with all good intentions to stay positive but when met with medics it is so easy to lose that resolve.

I have a midwife appointment on thursday and I think I shall discuss cancelling the next scan, I really don't think there is any point just to tell me that the baby is still big.

Like you Bex, my last ds was delivered with just gas and air and no stitches, 2nd stage was recorded as 2 minutes! I was also kindly told by the midwife that I must have a pelvis like a bucket. I think the main problem this time is that we have moved house and so it is a different hospital and consultant so they are a bit more twitchy this time. Having said that I haven't actually seen a consultant at all.

japhrimel, thanks for the response, you are right, I think I shall avoid the extra scan. I know it sounds daft but the closer the delivery gets the less sure I become. I find going to the hospital really stressful (even though I have worked for the NHS for the past 18years - or perhaps that's why!!), it's so easy to become sucked into a medicalised approach when I know that it isn't what I want or what is probably needed.

Do babies put on 1lb a week towards the end,of pregnancy or is that just a myth ? I also find that girls tend to be smaller,i had a 8lb 13oz,and then a 9lb 2oz,both boys and then my "10lb" baby,which the hospital said would be that big,was a 8lb 5oz girl,and my last was 8lb 10oz boy,so mine didnt go bigger,and i was overdue with all of them by over 2-3 weeks ..

good luck,and dont feel the need to do whatever you dont want to..:)