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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

What can they tell about size with just feeling?

16 replies

ardenbird · 12/03/2012 18:26

I'm 38 weeks, and I've heard a couple of times now from MWs things like "that's a good size baby" and "you've got a lot of baby in there". What does this mean? How much can they tell about the size by feeling? I don't think I have a particularly large bump -- there have still been some people who acted surprised I'm pregnant (!). But now I'm getting worried I'll be pushing out a whopper in a few weeks time...

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birdsofshoreandsea · 12/03/2012 18:27

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Original poster

ardenbird · 12/03/2012 18:32

The uterus has been measuring exactly weeks in cm since the very beginning. That's one of the things that has me wondering -- if I'm measuring exactly average, why these comments? I'm definitely going to ask at next MW appt, but it's not for another week (and baby could come before then, I understand!).

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MissPenteuth · 12/03/2012 18:34

I wouldn't worry. A mw said the same to me, that my baby was "a good size" and I got a bit concerned that she was going to be huge. She was only 7lbs when she was born!

I suppose once they've felt a lot of bumps/babies they get a feeling for the size, but only very, very roughly. I honestly wouldn't read too much into it though, they probably just feel the need to say something.

Emsgale · 12/03/2012 19:14

I was told at my 38 week check eith my dd that there was no worry of me having a small baby I had a fair size baby in there I then was really worried I was having a big baby I had her a week later and she was 6lb 11.5oz so not a big baby!x

MrsHuxtable · 12/03/2012 20:23

Don't get hung up about any size comments. My bump was quite small, yet when I was in labour, the midwife said it was quite big (it really really wasn't). Also, when I was pushing DD out, they kept saying "Oh, she's a big girl!". I was terrified. Well, she was 6lb12 and on the 25th centile, her head was on the 2nd centile, so I really don't know where the big-girl-comments came from.

Joygirl78 · 12/03/2012 20:25

Size of bump means nothing in relation to size of baby. You can be quite small and neat and deliver a whopper, and vice versa.

Murtette · 12/03/2012 20:28

I was measuring exactly average and no one said anything about the size of my bump/baby until I went into labour at which point everyone said it would be a big baby. They were right as DD was 8lb13 and her head was off the chart! However, no one had mentioned it until then. Even scans aren't that accurate. One of my friends was having growth scans throughout the latter part of her pregnancy and knew she was going to be induced at 38 weeks. Her last scan was at 37+3 and they told her the baby was 5lbs; she gave birth 4 days later and he was 6lbs 9oz. Don't worry!

BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 12/03/2012 21:18

If I remember correctly, and it is an if!, when I had all my measurements taken at the hospital -height, weight, history etc, and after the scan, I had a chart to say the baby would be 8lb 10oz.

So, I thought all the way through, yes, they said he'd be be x size, so that's what he'll be.

He was 12 overdue when he arrived and he was 8lb 8oz!

So they were pretty accurate. That was last summer. Pg again burnout had any apps yet to check my notes. Have you checked your notes thoroughly?

DialMforMummy · 12/03/2012 21:18

Means nothing at all.
DS1 was meant to be head down and quite big. Turned out breech and 50th percentile. I don't know why they bother saying anything at all!

BellaCB · 12/03/2012 21:26

Three mw's felt my baby and told me not to worry, she was definitely only about 6lbs or so, 7lb at the most. I had a relatively neat bump up to the end. DD turned out to be 8lb 1 - not big, no, but I'm only 5'1. I saw one of the mw's a fortnight after DD was born and she went, "bloody hell, where was she hiding?"

mumofjust1 · 12/03/2012 21:27

I was told I would be having a small baby.

Dd was 8lbs 8oz!

Kayzr · 12/03/2012 21:30

I measured bang on for dates with DS2 except at 38 weeks I measured 36cm. I was told he'd be about 8lb.

DS2 was 10lb 5oz

DreamingOfPeace · 12/03/2012 21:30

I measured big- bump on 96th centile and was bricking it over having a big baby (i'm 5'4 and quite slight, dh 6'4 and not slight!!)... The mw kept feeling and saying, 'no, baby's average' . 7lb 5.5oz, so bang on 50th centile. So mw was right. 75th centile head though plus third degree tear for me

ElizabethPonsonby · 12/03/2012 22:39

I was measuring small for dates in the last few weeks, MW said baby would be 6.5 / 7lb....she was 10 days late and 8lb 10! And a very big head too...

Shelduck · 14/03/2012 12:50

MW explained that it was by no means a precise art - "a bit like trying to work out the size of a turkey when it's wrapped in a duvet"!

SausageSmuggler · 14/03/2012 13:03

Funnily enough I had this at my 38 week appointment yesterday too. DS was 8lb 7 when he was born at 39+2 so I'm a bit worried that this baby will be massive if I go overdue. The midwife who examined me said that she thought the baby was 7lb 7 at the moment. I wondered the same thing as you though OP, how can she get that from feeling my belly for a few minutes? Plus 7lb 7 is a great size now but still means she could be huge if she's late.

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