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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

OMG 36 week growth scan and baby measuring MASSIVE - help!

33 replies

snowangels1 · 26/01/2011 16:04

growth scan today says baby is around the 95th percentile for most measurements (very slightly below) and off the scale for abdominal circumferance. Yikes! They have estimated her currently to be 8 lbs 13. I know weight estimates can be off but surely the measurement bits are pretty accurate (??).

I'm a bit scared now - I have to see a consultant tomorrow and I'm not sure what they'll say - I assume they will recommend an induction (or possibly csec??) but not sure how soon it will be required and if there will be any choice between csec/induction (not sure which is better/worse) and have no idea if it might be a 'you must have an induction tomorrow' type of thing or they will leave it for a week or so.

Anyone had any experience of this type of thing?? Confused

OP posts:
MrsRhettButler · 26/01/2011 16:09

you may have a big baby , you may not...

my cousin was told that hers was going to be 5lb and may need to be whisked away at birth... he was 7lb and absolutely healthy Hmm

i was told that dd was going to be a 10lb baby and she was 8.11lb

so no, its not really accurate

you'll be fine good luck :)

Eglu · 26/01/2011 16:12

I don't know why they bother to do these scans, because they seem to be totally useless, and end up worrying people.

MW's measuring your stomach is another thing that should be stopped completely as it is really not worth the time. With DS1 I was told I was measuring small. A week later at 39 weeks I gave birth to a 7lb 12ozer.

A friend was told her baby was going to be huge and gave birth to a 5lb little girl.

GizzyBoo · 26/01/2011 16:13

Dont panic Smile

I was sent in for a growth scan at 37 weeks and induced the next day (37+1) as the estimated weight was sitting at 10lb 10oz and it was suggested baby needed to come out ASAP.
DS was born next day weighing 9lb 7oz and it was a dream birth. So although he was still big he was well under what the projected weight was and he popped like a pea too Grin

Good luck x

SalaDo · 26/01/2011 16:19

Totally agree with Eglu.

My friend was told her baby was huge and if delivered at 38weeks would be over 9lbs at least. Baby was born the next day and weighed in at 7lbs 7.

Everytime the midwives measure me they measure to a different point on my pelvic bone so some weeks I'm +++weeks some weeks spot on. Just another worry for no real reason!

DilysPrice · 26/01/2011 16:20

8 13 is healthy but by no means huge, yet. How sure of your dates are you? You might go into labour next week with a cute 9 pounder, and that's even assuming the size is accurate. I hesitate to ask, but what's the head circumference? far more important IMO.

DilysPrice · 26/01/2011 16:23

Oh and how tall/big boned are you?

At the risk of being patronising, sorry, one in twenty babies are that size, it's not exactly freakish, and I think your hormones may be slightly over-egging it. Best of luck anyway.

Original poster
snowangels1 · 26/01/2011 16:27

Thanks for reassurance. It has felt in the past few weeks baby has really outgrown me though, which is in line with when I started growing disproportionately (and I have GD).

dilys Head circumference was just under 95th percentile (343mm if that means anything to you) and I'm certain of my LMP date and have always been spot on with everything up until now (measured on the slightly larger side of average, but never off the chart).

Am seeing consultant tomorrow and not sure what to expect.

OP posts:
Original poster
snowangels1 · 26/01/2011 16:29

hmm, well I'm about 5'7 and not exactly small boned. Have also put on a gut load (quite literally!) of weight this pg due to terrible nausea that will only be helped by eating - so I'm sure this hasn't helped my case. Apparently DH was a big baby and my family have a history of big babies too.

OP posts:
Magen · 26/01/2011 18:42

I was diagnosed with "excessive fetal growth" at 36 weeks. According to the scan my baby was on her way to weighing over 10 lbs. My doctor wanted to induce me at 39 weeks, but my water broke at 38 weeks and I delivered a 7 lb, 10oz bay girl without complication. Try to relax and take the information with a grain of salt. After all, you can't make the baby smaller. I would defiantly try for a vaginal birth, if the baby won't fit then a c-section is always an option. Good luck, and don't worry once you see your little one it won't matter how he or she got here.

greenbeanie · 26/01/2011 19:26

Try not to worry too much as scans for big babies are renowned for being upto 20% out so range for a 10lb baby could be 8-12lb, quite a big difference to say the least.

Having said that I have had 3 big dc, all measured big at scans and were very long when they were born, so completely in proportion. I was tested for gestational diabetes which was negative and decided that if there was no metabolic problem like gd then i obviously just made big babies and they were the right size for me.

All my deliveries were normal and the last 2 very quick. Try not to worry (I know that isn't always easy) but it doesn't always mean a more difficult birth.

DC1 - born at 39 wks, 9lb15, 13.5hr labour, episiotomy.

DC2 - born at 40wks, 10lb7, 2.5hr labour, small tear, no sutures needed.

DC3 - 12 days overdue, 11lb11.5oz!, 1hr40mins labour, no tears.

Good luck, just remember your body will make a baby that is right for you. Both NICE and the Royal College of Obstetricians do NOT recommend induction or caesarean purely on the basis of a large baby, although some Dr's still seem to think this is the case.

BarbieLovesKen · 26/01/2011 19:40

DH's wee cousin, whos 18 has just had her baby. She was told that the baby was massive - to expect at least a 10 pounder. The poor thing was absolutely terrified.

Healthy baby boy was born 6 days overdue weighing exactly 7lbs.

oggybags · 26/01/2011 20:32

dont want to go against grain but friend told big baby offered c section, had it at 38.5 weeks and he was just shy of 10lb, how do you feel generally? is the baby in the right position? hope all does well

IAmReallyFabNow · 26/01/2011 20:33

My baby was predicted to be 7lb 13. He was born 4 hours later a little over a pound lighter. I was measuring huge too. There was problems so my advice is to keep an eye on the baby's movements.

Piffle · 26/01/2011 20:36

Dd measured 10lb 2 at 36 weeks, they wanted to Induce me
I refused
She was born at 38 weeks
35 minute labour
Weighing 7lbs 8oz

MrsMcCave · 26/01/2011 20:47

Same as everyone else here, really - I had GD with dd1, we both measured massive and I was induced at 38 weeks. When my waters broke, my size reduced by half, and I was followed down to the labour suite by a cleaner with a mop and a large bucket Blush DD was 7lb5oz Smile

NinthWave · 26/01/2011 20:51

I had a growth scan at 36 weeks that estimated baby to be around 9lbs at term - I had a 10lb 6oz baby at 40+3, 12 hour labour, no stitches/tears, pushed him out myself no problem.

My labour was induced, but this was due to a previous birth being complicated by shoulder dystocia - it's not recommended as a routine course of action.

FoxyRevenger · 26/01/2011 20:52

Same here OP - was induced at 38+6 as she was apparently on the 98th centile...she was 7lb 13 oz.

I won't be letting that happen twice!

MummyAbroad · 26/01/2011 20:53

I measured small and had 9 pound baby! I was told that the fat ones come out easier as they have more strength to twist and turn (the babies have to work just as hard as you to get out) Turned out to be true labour was only 7 and half hours (first time labour)

good luck Smile

Original poster
snowangels1 · 27/01/2011 07:48

This is reassuring me a bit thank you. I'm off this morning to see the consultant and see what they want to do with me. Tbh - I've always measured average/above average at scans etc and does feel like baby suddenly had a massive growth spurt in past 3 weeks which is in line with massive increase suddenly in my measurements and late(ish) seeming onset of GD, so I still maintain that I believe this baby will be big Confused

OP posts:
wouldliketoknow · 27/01/2011 08:06

i was measuring fine until about 30 wks, then i balloned, they kept checking my for gd, never had it, had a growth scan at 34wks, bay was gonna be so huge, but healthy otherwise, no action , 41 wk needed induction as complications, have a very long birth, my massive baby was 6 lb 3oz.
you know what i'll be saying the midwife next time?: yada yada yada... it's all guessing!

my advice: keep calm, enjoy your prebaby days and what will be, will be. best thing the midwife told me, many many times: a cool mum makes a cool baby... you'll be fine

tattycoram · 27/01/2011 08:16

When I was pg with DS2 I obsessively read these threads - he measured big and I convinced myself he wouldn't necessarily BE big. He was, he was enormous, but the birth was very straightforward. DS1 was also as big as the scans indicated so ime they can be accurate and better to be prepared than not, but a big baby doesn't = a difficult birth

LadyBiscuit · 27/01/2011 08:21

I suddenly grew but I had too much amniotic fluid although they still thought the baby was enormous.

I had to have a CS because of the fluid but he was under 7lbs!

It's perfect possible to deliver 9lb babies vaginally if that's what you want :)

mousymouse · 27/01/2011 08:24

I agree with others, big baby doesn*t need to mean difficult birth.
ds was 7pounds and needed help to get out (ventouse), dd was 9 pounds and it was a quick easy birth.
also the measurements are inaccurate, they measure a certain bone to estimate the weight, what if this bone (tibia I believe) is small but the rest of baby is tall? or the other way round.
my sister was estimated to have a 9pound baby, but out came a 12 pound baby with short legs...without any problems btw.

Giddyup · 27/01/2011 09:12

My 36week scan showed my baby to be 95th centile for length, off the scale abdominally but with a tiny pin head (25th centile). They just said no homebirth, registrar present and no water birth. I said I didn't want that and we compromised on birth in MLU, labour in water but give birth on dry land. They were concerned about shoulder dystocia due to the difference in head/body size.

As it happens I was fully dilated on arrival at unit and DD was 10lb 1/2oz. In the end she was born my EMCS but that was due to a combination of her size,positioning and her being in distress.

I am the same size as you and my 8 1/2 pounder was (1st baby) was easy peasy.

emmab5 · 27/01/2011 10:04

I had 4 growth scans with DS 2 (now 11 weeks) as I had GD and was told I was having a 'massive baby' 95th centile and abdomen off the scale. We were told that baby would be at least 9lbs. Due to these scans I was induced at 38 weeks. DS2 was born weighing 7lb 6 oz the lightest of my 3!