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Original poster

Measuring big - anything I can do?

17 replies

usingapseudonym · 22/09/2011 21:03

I'm measuring big when they measure my bump with a tape measure. Its my second baby and my first was 9 lb 10!!

I had an extra scan at 25 weeks and apparently baby is normal size as is amniotic fluid however its the third trimester that apparently they grow/change the most.

Is it just simply a case of my diet? Should I eat less to try and ensure babe isn't too big?! I am overweight by a couple of stone (grrr) but not huge.

Thanks.

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Iggly · 22/09/2011 21:07

Im not overweight - pre pregnancy I was a size 8. DS was
9lb 4oz.... DC2 is measuring a bit big too but I'm not overweight.

My point is that I don't think there's much you could or should do to try and influence your baby's weight. Just eat healthy food and a balanced diet. Now isnt the time to diet!

welliesandpyjamas · 22/09/2011 21:10

I had this with ds2. I think it's just one of those things and doesn't mean much. Ds2 was a pound heavier than ds1 but that isn't unusual with second babies.

cowboylover · 22/09/2011 21:10

Don't worry about it as it's so inaccurate!
Just eat as healthily as you can and look forward to you new arrival x

banana87 · 22/09/2011 21:17

How much over are you measuring? I am measuring 2 weeks over pretty consistently but consultant says they use a 2 week error margin either way so are not worried.

To answer your question though, no, there is nothing you can do. You are just doing a great job at growing your baby :)

Mmmmcheese · 23/09/2011 09:58

The tape measuring is notoriously inaccurate. I am having regular scans and the baby is exactly 50% on most things and less than 50% on others, but I am also measuring 2 weeks bigger than I should be by the tape measure. My consultant said that it is widely inaccurate and that if she measured it 5 times she'd probably get 5 different measurements.

Original poster
usingapseudonym · 23/09/2011 10:37

Thanks for the reassurance :) About 2 weeks ago I was measuring 2 weeks over, this week I'm measuring 3 weeks over so its increasing!

All the mw/consultants I see seem to mutter about everything and I hate being treated like a walking risk (previous c section). In particular a big baby is making them wary of Vbac-ing... sigh. I suspect I eat a bit too much carbs as I'm craving them the whole time. I might try to eat a bit less (as in more healthily rather than dieting) but it seems from above that its not just that if its happening to think people too!

OP posts:
Mabelface · 23/09/2011 10:42

I measured big with DS1. He was 6lb11oz in the end, 9 days late. Don't stress about it.

banana87 · 23/09/2011 13:42

DON'T worry about your diet! Honestly! I think you would much rather have a "big" baby than an underdeveloped small baby! PLEASE do not stress OR diet!

icravecheese · 23/09/2011 16:29

I measured 3cm over at 28 & 31 weeks, was sent for growth scan where they found everything measuring ok. At 34 wks I measured 36cm, and at 36wks I measured 36wks (so, technically, no growth in last 2 wks!). Midwife wasn't worried at all & she admitted that the measurement thing was fairly inaccurate, particularly if you have lots of different people doing it. Also, they worry LOADS more about ladies measuring small for dates as this can suggest placental problems.

This is my 3rd baby & I've never measured large for dates before, so it worried me a little at 28 & 31wk appts. Like everyone else has said - pls don't worry about dieting or anything, you might just find baby has had a growth spurt & it settles back down again towards the end.

BeeBread · 23/09/2011 16:43

I measured big with my first DS, but he came out 8lbs 1. I am quite short (5ft 1) so I always thought that the bump stuck out a bit more because there was nowhere else for it to go.

Personally I can't see that the "bump size in cm = no of weeks" calculation is desparately scientific... Wink

Bunsouttheoven · 23/09/2011 16:56

My dc1 was 8lb 5 & dc2 9 lb 12. I never measured larger than my weeks & still went on to have rather large babies. I must admit now being pregnant with dc3 I am a bit wary of how big this one will be. Hmm

The measuring thing seems to give a very poor indication of the babies birth weight. I know lots of mums who have measured bigger & went on to have quite small babies. Personally I will be pushing to have a size in the latter stages to try & make a more informed decision on dc3s birth options.

Original poster
usingapseudonym · 23/09/2011 17:03

I think as I had a previous big baby and am planning to VBAC if it looks like a big one this time they will push for a c section - hence wanting it not to be huge! I guess it will come out one way or another...

OP posts:
Bunsouttheoven · 23/09/2011 17:25

Had vbs with mine. Dc2 was morn in birthing pool but had shoulder dystocia which is making me worried about dc3. Obviously cs is not an easy option but I'm worried it might happen again with more serious consequences.

Bunsouttheoven · 23/09/2011 17:25

*born

sleepevader · 23/09/2011 17:55

Have you been tested been gestational diabetes?

I found that following a low gi diet since I was diagnosed with diabetes has stopped baby getting big so far (34wks)

sleepevader · 23/09/2011 17:58

I'm also overweight and the added bonus of the gi diet is I still haven't gained any more weight. In fact I'm a stone less than Pre pregnancy.

BerryLellow · 23/09/2011 18:01

I measured large for dates, had a LOT of fluid. However the sonographer had put the fear of god into me about having a whopper (am small with narrow hips), but DS2 was 8lb2, so not too bad

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