Baby measuring big ?

[ALittleBitOfMagic]

Last two mw appointments have shown a higher growth in baby than normal . I'm now measuring two weeks further on than I should . I have a scan next week if they concur with the measurements will they change my edd ?

Yeah I thought that but just wondered as my mat leave starts on my edd so that would mean changing it all and my hr dept are ether sloooow

I've measured above the 90th centile all the way through, now 36+4. My MW won't even send ladies for a growth scan based just on big measurements, I've been referred because my last measurement fell below the 90th which was a significant drop. It's open to a lot of error - I was measured by two MWs on Tuesday and one measured me at 34, one measured me at 36. I don't think they'll change your due date, we'll probably just be predicted 10lb babies or something

No, they'll harp on about baby being big and offer more scans to monitor growth of the baby.

I measured 2-3cm bigger from 28w. DS was estimated to be 9 1/2 - 10 1/2 lbs.

He was 11lb 7ozs at 40+1 (40+11 by their dates)

11 7 ???!!! [why is there not a scared face!]

Oh, they may also want to 'discuss' induction but I don't think a big baby on its own is a reason for that.

They'll probably offer you a Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) to check if you have Gestational Diabetes if your baby is measuring big.

11 7. Far less traumatic than 8lb 2oz DD's induction!

Your EDD is only changed at the 12w scan - at this point, all babies are consistently the same size, so you can date them from their size. After this, all babies grow differently depending on lots of factors - genetics, mother's size, placental blood flow etc, so you may have a large or small baby, but that means a large or small baby, not a different EDD.

Do they what is the connection with gestational diabetes and big babies ? That's interesting .

Oh I really don't know if I can give birth to a big baby DD was only 7lbs and I had a 3rd degree tear !

I've just been diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 36 weeks, was referred because of previous big babies (9lb 3oz, 9lb 13oz and 9lb 14oz). Basically if you do have gd then your body can't produce enough insulin to deal with the glucose in your blood (possibly because of the hormones produced in pregnancy - which is why it usually goes away straight after the birth). This means the baby is receiving higher levels of glucose than it would normally, and it makes them bigger. Personally I'm dubious about my diagnosis, as my babies have all been long rather than 'big' and dh is 6'6" tall and everyone has always said that it why the babies have been big. Better to be safe than sorry I guess. There's a really good thread about GD on here at the moment so if it does turn out to be this and you want to join it is very helpful. Good luck!

I've been measuring on or a cm below my dates for the whole pregnancy. I had a scan at 36 weeks (unrelated to size, checking placenta) and turns out our LO is on the 97th centile! She was measuring about 7.5lbs then, docs reckon 9.5-10lbs if she goes to 40 weeks.

Anyway, I reckon bump measurements can be pretty inaccurate. Wait and see what the scan says :)
xx

How far on are you Magic? My bean started measuring big around 30-31 weeks and I was diagnosed with GD at 33 weeks, started 'finger pricking' at 34+4. Now 36 weeks and due for CS at 38+4. Don't panic about the CS, I was already having one - but if it is GD related they may induce you early to avoid bowling-ball sized baby :)

"Basically if you do have gd then your body can't produce enough insulin to deal with the glucose in your blood (possibly because of the hormones produced in pregnancy - which is why it usually goes away straight after the birth). This means the baby is receiving higher levels of glucose than it would normally, and it makes them bigger."

Just wanted to clarify this.

In GDM, your baby gets lots of sugary blood from the mother. They respond to this by putting their own insulin levels up to deal with the extra sugar. Insulin is one of the hormones involved in growth, which is why the babies get big, but the baby is not big and healthy but can be big and unhealthy because of the extra glucose.

Keeping good blood sugars is important for the babies' growth during pregnancy, but also important in the last few weeks. If the baby is used to high blood sugars, via the mother, it is used to producing lots of insulin. Once delivered, those high levels of insulin don't necessarily go away straightaway in the baby so the baby can have low blood sugars (hypoglycaemia) so can be sleepy and not feed well. This is why we encourage women with GDM to express before if they can as the baby can then be fed EBM or FF by syringe to get enough energy into them to wake them up enough to breastfeed.

And yes, GDM (unless it is in someone who has had previously undiagnosed diabetes) often clears as soon as (literally) the placenta is delivered!

I was measuring 3cm bigger from about 36 weeks onwards and was sent to the consultant by a worried midwife. He was most put out and said it was completely ridiculous that she had sent me. He said I was having a big baby and that's why I was measuring big. He said it wasn't rocket science and that tape measures were his worst enemy and caused unnecessary stress to everyone concerned!! I ended up having ds a few days early but he was almost 10lbs so I guess he was right.
Having said that though, big babies can suggest GD so I guess they would rather be safe than sorry. I wouldn't worry too much though, you are probably growing a whopper!

alittlebit i had a 3a tear with DD but not tearing with DS.

I've measure 1 week ahead for my entire pregnancy. At 34 weeks I measured 37 and the MW made a big song and dance about it (I'm planning a home birth) and sent me off for a growth scan. Cue me PANICKING. Went to the hospital to be scanned, demanded a remeasure, measured bang on dates. Decided to have the scan, and everything measured absolutely average. What a load of panic for NO REASON

Hope it's the same for you

At 32 weeks, I measured 33cm, and at 34 weeks, I measured 36. I started panicking, read up on it and the general consensus seems to be not to worry - that you can be out a few cm either side of your weeks. And don't forget they are measuring your bump, not your baby, so it's possible you have a lot of fluid.

I'm 32wks just now . I know I shouldn't worry about it until my scan but you know how easy that is !!

Amen to that Magic

I know what you mean. My scan is on Tuesday, although I'm pretty sure everything is fine and I probably have nothing to worry about; that doesn't stop you from thinking of the worst outcome does it. It's unlikely but in my head I'm all set to be told I'm having a 10lb baby... That way if when it comes back and says otherwise I'll be genuinely relieved :o

Yeah definietly don't put too much store by 'bump measurements' - I only go by ultrasound measurements and even they can be quite far out apparently. I had a run of USs where bean was measuring big so pretty conclusive that she's 1-2lbs bigger than might otherwise have been without the mad blood sugar for a few weeks - she had quite the party in there for a few weeks!

I've had a wee look at gestational diabetes . I had bloods done at 28wks would is show up in them ? All mw said was my bloods were low if I felt I needed iron to get gp to give me a prescription .

ALittleBit No, it's not checked in the 28 week bloods. Look up the Glucose Tolerance Test

Magic do try not to worry - if it's just bump measurement they were going by it really is quite unreliable. Apparently things like baby being up high can distort it a lot - and flip side my MW was getting me measuring bang on when USs were of huge baby My consultant doesn't put any faith in those measurements at all - his words were to the effect of 'if you want to know how big a cake will be you don't measure the oven'...