Big baby at 34 weeks

[nearlyreadytopop]

Just looking for some advice please
Back at the time of my booking appt I was seeing a physio due to lower back pain. The consultant decided that I should come back for a check at 34 weeks to see how my back was holding up.
I had the appointment during the week and was given a scan. The baby is measuring big, well in my head its measuring massive! 3.5 weeks ahead and she talked about 90th percentile. Est weight 3.3kg, BPD 9.2 and AC 35.8 and I still have 6 weeks to go. This is my first pregnancy and im worried about delivering a large baby.
I also dont know how ive ended up with a big one! I myself have put on 9lbs from my pre preg weight.
Im due to go back to see the consultant at 37 weeks to check on baby, see how my back/hips are holding up and discuss options. So im also wondering what these 'options' could be?

I'm pregnant with my first and due to late diagnosis of GD, baby is far too big. At 34 weeks her stomach was measuring at 41 weeks.
I have been told I'm not going to be allowed to go past 38 weeks, and am going for another scan and to see the consultant on tuesday to discuss whether i will be allowed a vaginal birth with induction, or if I will be booked in for an elective c-section.

Will you be having another scan? I think the thing they worry about most is the size of the shoulders - i.e. my baby has a large stomach so will be more likely to have big shoulders, meaning an increased risk of shouldr dystocia and baby getting stuck.
I think I'll be encouraged to go down the c-section route.

Thanks so much for replying DirtyBit.
I will have another scan in 3 weeks time. I wasnt tested for GD and am marked as not at risk in my mat notes despite my BMI being 31. I have been wondering about this myself as I have PCOS and was on metformin prior to conceiving.

At the last appointment I did manage to ask if possibly my dates were wrong and if I would be induced if the baby continues to grow. According to the consultant they dont induce early just because the baby is measuring bigger.
I hope all goes well with your appt on tues.
Thanks again for the info.

The scan measurements are not accurate, there should be a little +/- (plus or minus) 25% sign next to the figures which could make your baby about 2.5kg which isn't bad at that stage. If the weight is a potential problem they would need to do several scans to be sure, it can't be worked from one scan alone.

If you are having back/ hip/ pelvis problems a natural birth is better than a section if it can be helped and they will induce for those problems because the best cure is not being pregnant anymore.

Bigger babies are actually easier to deliver than smaller ones - just ask anyone who has delivered a premature baby and a big baby! It's not just anecdote either, it's recognised and even included on Bliss leaflets.

I think thats whats freaking me out about a bigger baby, im afraid I might have to have a c-section. What I would really like is as active a labour as possible and then a water birth.

Of to google about delivering larger babies, thanks confuddled.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to what the scan said to be honest. My first baby was relatively big, and with DS2 I was given growth scans in the third trimester to see whether he was also big. The scans predicted a 10lb 6oz baby, long with a big head (all measurements on or over 95th centile on at least one of the scans, although not consistently on all scans). I opted for an ELCS over a VBAC in the end, because he was meant to be so huge (had am EMCS first time round). DS2 was 8lb 10oz - a good weight but nowhere near what had been predicted. Length and head circumference both on 50th centile. I would be wary about letting a scan prediction change your birth plan.

I wouldn't worry too much tbh, the scans can often be wrong. I was told at 34 weeks that DS would be a big baby, I had him at 35+5 and he only weighed 4lb 9oz. On his due date he still only weight 6lb.

I also have a size 6 friend who had an enormous bump, she was told it was mostly fluid. Her DS was over 10lb but she still managed to have him naturally without him getting stuck.

i was told my baby was going to be big and he was tiny! dont worry yourself about it, either way baby is coming out. anyway the bigger they are the easier its supposed to be, so im told.

thanks for all the advice, im feeling a bit calmer about it all now.

they said dd2 would be big, then decided she wasn't, then at 10 days over I saw a m/w who wrote BIG BABY all over my notes! she was born the next day, back to back all the way out too, but the labour was fine - 5 hours, no assistance required, she had a slight SD which was released by them flinging the bed flat and putting my legs in the air!

big baby doesn't = difficult birth.

I'd focus on making sure lo is in a good position - no slouching, lots of time on your hands and knees. position is far more important than size.

I have been told baby will be big and then not so, then huge and my consultant says he wants me to have a natural as possible delivery as the more interventions the harder it will be and to quote him "women are fantastic when left to do what they feel they need to do "

I found this sight really good as well;

www.bigbaby.org.uk/

My girly is due next Sunday so only time will tell

My friend had a really big bump and was told at 36 wks baby was measurinf 41 wks, hospital really panicked her as she's a small girl, and her DH is 6'4"- baby popped out at 7lb 5 oz and she's the finest wee baby i've ever seen - so they can def get it wrong!!

I was told DD would be a whopper and she was, I was convinced they had it wrong. But she was 10lb 1/2 oz. I did end up having EMCS but that was more down to her positioning than anything else.

My first birth was a gas and air water birth and I can honestly say I felt no worse after EMCS. So if my case was worst case scenario in your mind then it was still totally fine. Also the 6 week chilling out period after a c section is perfect for establishing BF if you want to.