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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Did NOT enjoy my Babybond scan :(

25 replies

Kimmie30 · 24/09/2011 18:50

Heyyyyy everyone,

We had our 34 week growth scan at Babybond today. Was a wedding anniversary present. Have come away feeling really down. All she kept telling me was how big my baby was and maybe i should be under consultant care. I am 34+2 and he weighs 5lb 12ozs. I am now in a complete panic about giving birth.
Had an NHS growth scan at 27+6 due to measuring small for dates and he weighed 2lb 12ozs then so they said he was fine. So he has put on 3lb in 6 weeks.
This is my 4th pregnancy and all the way through i have expressed my concerns about having a large baby to midwife who really doesn't want to know. She says i won't grow a baby bigger than i can birth. However my second baby was 9lb 12ozs and i had severe shoulder dystocia due to his size and we nearly lost him at birth because of this and i had to go into surgery to be stitched and my pelvis was damaged.
Was under consultant care for baby number 3 ( which was first baby with husband) and they kept saying he wouldn't be big but he popped out at 40+6 at 8lb 11ozs which is not huge but was a struggle to get him out. Now this baby is baby number 4 and i have worked out that if he carries on putting on half a pound a week he will be 8lb 12ozs at 40 weeks which is fine but if they let me go overdue (have done with all of them) then he will be huge. My midwife won't refer me to a consultant as i delivered my last baby without too many difficulties. Now i am left feeling really really down. The whole 40 mins today the lady who did my scan kept saying this is a big big boy. I feel so scared. Sorry to rant :( xxx

OP posts:

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belgo · 24/09/2011 18:56

This is why scans should not be given as presents. They are medical investigations first and foremost.

Sorry that you didn't enjoy it. I think you need to speak to your midwife again about the fears you have for the birth.

sleepevader · 24/09/2011 18:57

Sorry to hear you have had such a bad scan which has left you with many questions.

Maybe speak to director of midwife is you feel you aren't getting the care you need.

heather1 · 24/09/2011 19:00

Sorry to hear your scan was not what you hoped. I agree with speeavader ask to talk to the head midwife, or also talk to your GP. Maybe write some notes for yourself before hand, so that you have all your facts when you arrive.
It is possible to say that you do not want to see a particular Midwife (I did this after i had given birth to DS2) so maybe go down that road if you are unhappy with the care you are getting.

toomanyopinions · 24/09/2011 19:06

Sorry you didn't have a nice experience. Bear in mind that Babybond may not use NHS approved growth charts. Growth scans always come with a margin of error, some Sonographers may over/undermeasure compared to eachother so growth scans show a trend in growth rather than gospel.

The Sonographer probably didn't think about what she was saying and maybe even ment the 'this is a big boy' as a compliment as in 'well done you to grow him so well'...who knows? We sometimes say things without really thinking about how they will be taken unfortunately.

Give your Midwife a ring and tell her the measurements, she may decide to refer you afterall. You say you had to go into surgery to be stitched- if you had a 3rd degree tear you would be referred for this.

All the very best. xxx

Original poster

Kimmie30 · 24/09/2011 19:06

I totally agree with scans not being given as a present. Never had a private scan with any of my other pregnancies and would have not been going for one with this one had it not been bought for us.
I may book an appointment with my doctor instead of my midwife to see what she says. xxx

OP posts:

brianmayshair · 24/09/2011 19:14

Big babies are not always more difficult to birth so try really hard not to worry, i know its hard. I have big babies, my first was 8lb 7 and second 9lb2 and i'm only 5 foot there was no difference in having them in fact it was no 1 who was stuck this baby is looking like a whopper too and although I hate people talking about it i keep in the back of my mind that my mum who is a similar size to me had a a 10.5lb baby and swears he was her easiest.

Also those scans are really hit and miss with estimating weight. Speak to your MW if you have a history of a baby with shoulder dystocia and are having another big baby i'm sure you could discuss a section.

Flisspaps · 24/09/2011 19:20

Scans can be up to 2lbs out (from what I have read) so in fact there is a good chance that the scan today has given you a wildly inaccurate weight.

Unless your GP is a specialist in ante-natal care, she probably won't be able to tell you much. If you are concerned, you could request ask to see a different midwife, discuss your concerns with her and request again that you are referred to a consultant?

Original poster

Kimmie30 · 24/09/2011 19:28

Ahhhhhhhhhh thank you for your replies. I think pregnancy hormones are really getting to me. It is so nice to be able to come on here and get it off my chest and have friendly replies. I am trying to be positive but keep failing! I have mentioned on other posts that we nearly lost my 14 year old daughter in March. When i was 5 weeks pregnant she was rushed into Addenbrookes after suddendly becoming very ill and was diagnosed with a rare brain infection which after 3 major brain ops and lots of iv antibiotics she has managed to kick. We had to prepare ourselves twice to say goodbye to her but by some miracle she pulled through and is even back at school now!! AMAZING! However the shock of that and the fact that i nearly lost her has turned me into a wreck and i am so frightened of losing this baby. Especially as i nearly lost DS2 at birth due to his size. I need to get a grip and give myself a slap. This worrying isn't getting me anywhere. Thank you everyone for your replies :) xxx

OP posts:

Beesok · 24/09/2011 19:32

I wouldn't treat a babybond scan as "medical advice" it's more for you to enjoy looking at your baby and getting nice photos etc...

Try not to worry and def. demand to talk to a medical profssional about your concerns - don't let the MW dismiss you. Also, like others mentioned, bear in mind that a scan is as accurate as the sonographer performing it - my MW told that if I had 3 different people scan me on the same day I may come back with 3 slightly different measurements - apparently they can vary by 20% in some cases! So try not too worry too much about the measurements.

BadRoly · 24/09/2011 19:33

If it helps, at 38weeks I had a scan with dd1 and we were told she was already 7lb. When she was born a week later she was 6lb7oz. There is an element of guesswork with the scans and I believe it is estimated based on bone length? dd1 was long but skinny - much like a skinned rabbit!

Original poster

Kimmie30 · 24/09/2011 20:15

Yes i hope that it is just a guess weight. I have heard they can be really out. He appears to have very long legs. Femur length 7.13cm (71.3mm) AC 30.19cm (301.9mm) HC 32.12cm (321.2 mm) xxx

OP posts:

sleepevader · 24/09/2011 20:21

I wouldn't waste time seeing the gp either. They won't get too involved in antenatal care. Supervisor of midwife is the way forward.

brettgirl2 · 25/09/2011 13:14

I dont think a mw can prevent you from seeing a consultant if you wish. On my maternity notes it very clearly says the care plan is agreed by you and the care providers. Supervisor of midwives methinks.

Moominsarescary · 25/09/2011 14:30

My first baby was 11 lb 2 oz and was probably my most straight forward pg and birth so try not to worry

becks130 · 25/09/2011 17:47

Hi, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy your scan, there meant to be exciting not mortifying.

I am in the same position (almost) I am 36+ 2 weeks and had a growth scan at the hospital on Thurday due to high blood pressure, they estimated my lil man to be 6lb 7oz! I had a consultant app straight after who said pretty ,much the same as your midwife BUT has agreed to start giving weekly sweeps from next Friday to ensure that I do not go over due, maybe you could ask your midwife if this is a possibility for you.

Good Luck x

P.s This is my 3rd, my 1st was 8lb 12oz at 41+ weeks and my 2nd was 8lb 4oz at 38 weeks!

Moomit · 25/09/2011 17:54

At 39 weeks, they told me dd was 8lb plus/minus 25%. I was too scared to do the plus calculation. When she was 2 weeks later she was 8lb 2 oz.

saoirse86 · 25/09/2011 20:09

A woman I know had a baby who was 10lb 13oz but had him naturally at home with no tearing so a big baby doesn't mean doom. But I agree that you need to go higher up if you really are concerned. Good luck.

birdofthenorth · 12/10/2012 11:56

I was told DD1 was average weight/size all the way through, even when she was breech at 39 weeks. She was 9lbs 6oz.

My friend was told her DD would be enormous and they insisted she have her by planned Caesarian. She was 7lbs.

I think main thing with birthing, and you've done it more often than I so please excuse me stating the obvious, is to relax as much as possible and try not to panic. I think fear of delivering a gigantic baby is almost as bad as actually delivering a gigantic baby (&I still have the scars to remind me of the latter, so I'm not trivialising it!).

I would see your midwife ASAP and tell her about your scan and your concerns. If she is concerned too you can plan accordingly. If not try to forget about the annoying somographer who almost certainly had no clue how much she was stressing you out.

birdofthenorth · 12/10/2012 11:59

Oops, I have absolutely no idea how I just replied to an ancient thread, sorry! If you see this OP hope the birth went well!!!

cookiewuk · 12/10/2012 17:10

Please try not to worry! I had a scan at 37 wks, 3 days before ds1 was born and they told me he was about 8 1/2lbs but he actually only weighed 6lb 6oz which is a heck of a difference! It was an NHS scan too xx

mummy2benji · 12/10/2012 20:41

If you want consultant advice, see your GP and ask them to refer you if your midwife is being awkward - your midwife should not be so difficult though and should just refer you if you are anxious. Sounds like that would be the best thing to do as it would just set your mind at rest even if they tell you you have nothing to worry about. x

rogersmellyonthetelly · 12/10/2012 21:19

I was a very big baby, but only weighed 7lb! Seriously I was hugely long at birth, long long arms and legs, just not chubby. I suspect if they had scanned my mother she would have had the fright of her life given my arm and leg measurements, apparently I was 25" long, and they had to cut the feet off my sleepsuits.
I've since carried on the trend and am now 5ft10.
If you have had one baby with dystocia they should listen to your concerns, speak to your midwifes supervisor and insist on a referral even if it's only for your own peace of mind.

Flisspaps · 12/10/2012 21:32

OLD THREAD - Hopefully the OP will have had her baby by now, however overdue she went previously!

tamster83 · 12/10/2012 21:36

try not to worry too much I know it's easier said than done but those scan really ain't that accurate. and if it helps at all I always go over my date and have always had big babies with the smallest being 9lb .

mom2rhysnruby · 13/10/2012 11:54

Take weight scans with a pinch of salt!!
2 days before i had my son they estimated his weigt at 7lb9oz he was 6lb8oz born.
I had a scan at 32 weeks with this baby and it said 5lb
Another at 34 weeks and said 5lb14oz im not feelin huge so i reckon this baby will be around the 7lb mark.

My friend had a baby yesterday bu csection at 37 weeks due to growth scans saying baby stopped growin and weighed 5lb... The baby was 6lb6oz so no need to rush her through the process !! X

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