Late babies, birth weight and genetics! (Don't laugh!)

[spannermary]

...anyone know if they're related?

I'm expecting my first at Easter and have found out that ALL my close relatives were about a week late...some more so.

I was late, and so was my DH.

Does this make it genetically more likely that my DS will be late?

...also my DH weighed over 10lb at birth. Hoping that's not genetic either. Anyone know? (I suck at biology so apologies if this is a really daft question)

Well, I really hoped that this would be true when I was pregnant. Both myself and DH were born on our due dates and Dsis and SiL were born within a day or two of their due dates. I was 9 days over due with DD last year (felt like 9 weeks).

Not sure about the birth weight connection either - I was 7lb2 and DH was 7lb5 at birth, but DD was 8lb9.

Based on my experience I'd say that there wasn't a connection, but I'm sure someone with proper scientific knowledge will appear with some statistics soon.

I was the other way around, ALL of my close family arrived early some premature. My DD was 13 days late! 6lb 3oz

Hmm...so inconclusive! I'm just really hoping I don't go over with a ten pounder!

Doing some research on something else, I found something saying there was a connection, but really mild: something like an average of 1.5 days late for each week you were, and half a day for each week your partner was. But then, oddly, half a day earlier for each lb heavier your partner was at birth. Given that the randomness of such things is way larger than a day or so, it probably means no useful prediction! Sorry, I've completely lost the link by now...

I'm using it to guess LO is more likely to be a little late, given me and DH were both late and DH was normal birthweight. We'll see if it's true.

Only about 5% of babies are born on their due date with most (especially first babies) going overdue. The whole 9 months/40 weeks is an estimate, which is why normal pregnancy is considered 37-42 weeks. Technically you're post-dates after 40 weeks and not overdue until you're past 42 weeks. I went to 42 weeks with my first so my advice (35 weeks with second) would be to expect to go past your due date.

Regarding birth size, I think it's more to do with placental function/maternal nuitrition so things like maternal age, whether you smoke, whether you take vitamins can all play a part. Some things do seem genetic (eg my baby's head is on 98th centile, as my son's was and DH (and his siblings) have massive heads).

Also, baby's weight gain massively tails off at around 40 weeks - if you check out the estimated birth weight chart on the scan report(s) in your notes you'll see that the curve effectively goes flat at 40 weeks. So going 10 days over doesn't mean you'll necessarily give birth to a much bigger baby than if you went on your due date iyswim.

I don't think so. I was only 3 days late. DH has no idea if he was late or not. All of my babies have been very late.

I was 7lbs something at birth, DH was nearly 7lbs. My DC were 8lbs, 11lb 4oz and 9lb 15 oz.

So no has no bearing at all imo.

Nan - 3 weeks overdue with all three (but irregular periods and no dating scan)

Mum - 5 days over with DB, 12 days over with me

Me - 13 days over with DD, not expecting anything sooner this time around!

I was 2 weeks overdue with both and my mum was 2 weeks over with me and my sister.

I was 5lb 13oz, DF 7lb 7oz. Our DS was 9lb 12oz (at 40+2)!

I would say that when our Mothers were pregnant, smoking was acceptable and diets were not as good as they are today (or, that is to say, much less was known about what we should/shouldn't eat and indeed supplementation). It's more than likely these two aspects that have had a positive effect on birth weight. Or, it's quite possible the link is also genetic - perhaps DF and I would have also been big babies in ideal circumstances?

I was 5lb6 and prem, DH was 4lb3 and prem, DS was born at 40+9 and 8lb7. (DD was 7lb7 at 39+5 but was elcs).

Right - so it looks quite random then. Interesting to read what you have said about DH being a heavy baby, arden - by using your calculations, my baby would be a couple of days late, as DH and I were 5 days and a week (ish), but then a little early, as DH was heavy.

So bang on time...

And I didn't know that about baby's weight levelling out at 40 weeks - that's very interesting info. Hope my weight levels out then too! Eeek...no more doughnuts for Spanner.

I will keep on using my gym ball, and going for walks etc - and then when I get to 38 weeks, downing the raspberry tea and pineapple curries like nobody's business!

So, I guess the reality is, he'll know when he should be born and there's very little I can do about it, other than prepare myself to be a mama!

Still, it's good to see that there doesn't appear to be a definite genetic reason why the little one is going to hang on till 42 (I'm due in the Easter Holidays and my parents are teachers and live 200 miles away, so it would be nice if he put in an appearance sometime over that time. Control freak much?!)

My first was early and 7lb, my second was late and 9.5lb. Both have the same parents.