34 week scan - is it possible for them to tell me if I'm going to have a big baby?

[FanellaFudge]

I'm having a scan at 34 weeks to double check the position of the placenta, last scan it was measuring 3cm away from os, and they're pretty sure it will be well out of the way now, but want to be sure.

Last baby was over 9lb and this time my bump is huge (although I know size of bump doesn't really mean anything). Will they be able to tell me at 34 weeks if it is measuring big?

Am same here, mine is at 32 weeks though.

My first was 9lbs but they all got smaller after that.

But this fella seems big!

My fisrt was 7lb... I'm hoping I don't jump another 2lb this time round!!

my friend just had an 11lb 4 baby!

they will prob check size if you ask but its all estimation and growth can slow and quicken at theis point.

I've heard the growth scans aren't always particularly reliable by 34wks. Certainly proved to be the case with me - DD was predicted to be 9lb-odd but came in at 7lb on the nose at 39+6. Hope all goes well

I had a scan 2 days before an elec c/s - I was being scanned weekly as they were trying to get DD to 5lb / me to 37 weeks without compromising my health.

They said she would be just above 5lb but was actually 8lb

Okay - so they can tell me, but it's unlikely to be reliable?

The outcome of this scan will be the deciding factor as to whether I go to a midwife led labour ward, or to a main hospital. If baby is looking big I would rather have all the medical assistance on hand as I presume it's more likely to go worng if they are big?

The readings/measurements at the time will be accurate, but your babies growth may slow down or speed up over the next 6 weeks so its not entirely relevent.

Plus the measurements don't always give an acurate weight anyways.

I wouldn't base your descision on the results of 1 scan.

What have your midwives been saying about your fundal height and the feel of the baby.

My babies have been 7lbs 11... 8lbs 4 and 9lbs... so not small abbies and I think this one is big, I'm still planing on having a homebirth in a birthing pool.

I wouldn't let the worry of a baby being big force you into a more medicalised birth.

I would aim for the birthing unit if I were you :)

Thanks TotorosOcarina.

The one midwife I have seen had said I'm measuring normal, but I'm not entirely convinced she measured correctly... I'm not entirely convinced about the level of care I've received throughout this pregnancy, but that's perhaps for another thread.

There is another factor that + possible risk of big baby would mean I would feel safer knowing I had medical back up.

Wow - home water birth, I would love that! Sadly this is our last and that's not a possibilty this time

My 34 week scan put me on track for an approx 8lb baby.

DS was 10lb 4oz!!

hi, our 1st was 9lb 5oz, had extra, late scan as u r, 2 measure baby number 2-they measured right aswell (they give u a small range of weights)! 2nd was 7lb 13.5oz.
a friend of myn-her 1st was 9lb 6oz, i cant remember the weight of her 2nd, her 3rd was 10lb 3oz! she came out of it fine so dont worry. i heard through a relative-her friend gave birth to a 13lb baby vaginally (not that urs will b that big!!!)-all r well :-)

Working in a department where we audit our EFW accuracy I'm a bit sceptical about stories where estimated 6lb'rs end up at 10lb etc...It's not an EXACT science but it's not THAT bad, lets face it- if it was so crap do you really think the hard-pressed NHS would waste all that money...?

Well I guess there will always be exceptions, maybe we are those cases? Or operator error? Faulty scales?? The discrepancy certainly seemed pretty clearcut.

if you want to reduce chances of a very large baby, you must cut out sugars and white breads/ processed foods asap. i learned this from yoginis -- aparantly this works.

Is that true lilly13? I was always under the impression that you're diet has little bearing on the weight on your baby?

When they measure estimated baby weight they dont (or at least didnt 4 me over 3yrs ago) weigh u. It was just a scan