Big for dates, have posted this elsewhere too in hope of advice!!

[BettyBum]

Ok so I'm 24 weeks tomorrow. Saw MW today and I measured 28 weeks. I have a 3 yo and always measured bigger with her, but only by a couple of weeks. Had 2 GTT tests with her as sugar in urine but both were fine and I was found not to have diabetes.

They did a scan in the end with her, said she might be big but other than that fine, were happy to let me have her normally. She was 8.8 lbs. DP and family are all very tall and my daughter is the same.

MW said today I'll have to have GTT next week to check that it is not diabetes that is making baby big. She told me not to worry but that if baby continues to measure big they may induce early. I had been planning a home birth. I'm pretty down. Has anyone got any advice? BTW in our trust they don't seem to do scans anymore to check size which I understand is because it can be very inaccurate.

I measured big all the way through. I was at least 4 weeks ahead of my dates and often more. As I understand it (and I'm by no means an expert !), fundal measurement can be hugely inaccurate. The amount of water, position of the baby etc. can all be factors.

Would they really induce early on the basis of fundal measurements without a scan ? That sounds like madness

Tilly I'm not sure but MW seemed to be suggesting that scans are not that accurate anyway. Just read another thread on here and I'm so worried about lots of intervention. Really had heart set on HB. Let's hope I can still have one! Thanks for reply.

When I had my scan with DS, they believed he would be around 11lb at EDD. I asked whether they would still let me go 2 weeks past EDD without inducing if it came to it and they said they would. I was petrified

Could you ask for a referral to a consultant ?

It sounds like big babies are just the norm for you. If you don't have GTT then you could consider just forging ahead with your homebirth plans.
Even with GTT some women opt hor HB
See www.homebirth.org.uk/gd.htm
also info here-
www.homebirth.org.uk/big.htm
and
www.bigbaby.org.uk/

Selina

Thankyou Selina and Tilly!! Very helpful.

I always measured big with my first DC and he was born at 41weeks 8lb9. Not tiny but no were near the size I was expecting. To be honest I think the measuring thing is rubbish, the amount of people you hear of or read posts about that have been told there too big or too small and actually have a normal size baby just proves that its not accurate at all.

My last midwife hardly ever measured me because she said its not accurate, different midwives will measure you different and it can vary with how the baby is lying as well.

Also I've never had groweth scans but read about them being quite out as well.

I measured ahead at my scan also, not by as much as you but i was pretty certain of my dates. I am tall as are all members of my family, i mentioned this to midwife as surely its possible baby is just long if this is how they measure date? She just kind of said the early scan is most accurate [ im not convinced but time will tell!

I sincerely doubt they will induce early for a 'larger' baby.

I had an appointment today with my consultant and had a scan (I am 31 weeks), to check for high levels of fluid as I have also been measuring very large throughout- consultant said baby is on the large side and she is not worried.

Induction will only occur if I ask for it- she actually warned me off induction though and said it would most likely be totally unnecessary. Apparently they don't normally offer induction for larger babies- unless gestational diabetes is diagnosed...

I definitely think you should ask to be referred to your consultant though, who I am sure will be much more clued up on this matter...Good-luck!

Is it because of size or something else that they would want to induce you early? If it is just size I would fight tooth and nail for your preferred birthing method. I have had two 10lb dds (who both measured normal throughout?!?) and whilst I went to hospital to have them (no room for a birthing pool at home) - their size did not cause me any problems - very quick and no need for pain relief and no tearing. They did want to check for diabetes but 10lb is pretty normal in our family - am a bit concerned if I have a boy next just how large he will be!