Measuring off the scale.....growth scans?

[mildred37]

I'm after some reassurance and advice after my 28wk check. At 20wk scan was told baby's head and stomach were measuring above average, but nothing to worry about. At 24wks measuring around 80th percentile, now today (28wks) I'm measuring off the top of the 90th. MW has said that at my next check (31wks) if its still high ill be referred for a growth scan. And it's only now that I've had a chance for it all to sink in that the questions are coming!!! Such as, what happens if baby is too big? Will I be induced? Do I have gest. Diabetes? (Test for that booked for Friday). Basically what do I need to expect if I am referred? I am terrified of giving birth to a big baby, please give me a virtual slap and put my mind at rest!!!

Remember that it's a normal distribution, so you're still in normal range, just at the top end. Try not to worry!

Are you or your partner tall? I've had a few growth scans as this baby is measuring on the 95th centile (I'm 34 weeks). The consultant has said that, as he's stayed on the same curve and DH and I are tallish, she's not too concerned. I definitely don't have GD and I just have to trust I can birth a decent-sized baby!

Surprisingly, my fundal height isn't measuring over and I've gained less than a stone (starting BMI was in healthy range). DD wasn't large either (7lb 7oz).

Estimated weight today was already 6lb but I'm taking it with a pinch of salt as both FH and growth scans can be inaccurate.

Thanks for your replies.

I'm tall-ish (5ft7) and DH is 5ft9. I've only put on 11lbs (lost that in the first 3 months as i couldn't eat and now have put it back on) and am all belly - a big one it would seem! I have actually gone down a size since I got pregnant, which is very odd. DH reckons baby is getting everything and that's why it's so big and I'm shrinking elsewhere!

I guess I'm just concerned about what could happen - I've been lucky enough to have a very straightforward, healthy pregnancy so far, I'm not prepared for things to start going wrong (potentially...)

Hi....I am a much older mum and when pg with ds ( now 13) we were told baby was big. No GD .
I am 5'4 and DH 5'11.... Ds was born naturally and although 9'9 he was quite slim because of being long....
Have heart....everything will go well...
We have a DS at 13 yo and 5'10 with hollow legs...(being tall has being and advantage)....xxx

Hi

I was referred for growth scans with this pregnancy because my first was below the 10th centile when born (was 6.6 so by no means tiny!!). When I went for my first growth scan at 28 weeks I was told this baby was on the 90th centile and already had an estimated weight of 3.8! I was referred for a Gest Diabetes test but was negative, I have put on less than a stone so far (now 32 weeks) and was a size 10 to start with.

I was feeling exactly the same as you at first because I was kinda hoping this one would be on the small side too as had a great labour and birth with the first but when I mentioned my concerns to friends I found that quite a few had been told exactly the same thing during their pregnancies - one even being told her baby would almost certainly weigh more than 10lbs!! - only for them all to go on and have babies less than 8lbs.

Basically, babies grow at different rates and while they may be big early on they may slow right down towards the end and some even loseweight if you go over, plus a big baby isn't necessarily harder to deliver (a friend recently had a 13 pounder and had no probs at all! It was her 4th though..), just try not to worry too much, us preggos spend far too much time worrying and not enough time enjoying!!

Oh, and the friend that had the 13 pounder was never once told in her pregnancy that she was measuring big or to expect a big baby so just goes to show it's not an exact science!

Its gubbins absolute poo! I was induced due to GD with DS1 at 38+4 as according to scans he was going to be "at least 9lb"... He was 7lb 3.5 oz born

With DS2 same altho ELCS at 37+6 again he was "going to be large" 6lb 2!!!

I think its inaccurate guess work!

And I also lost alot of weight in each pg - 14lb lighter after DS 32lb lighter after DS2!

My Obgyn did a scan at 39 weeks and said my DS would be a big boy at 8lbs. He said he couldn't measure his head, as it had gone off the scale.

DS born by "elective" CS following 36 hours of failed induction. 10lbs 11oz and 24 inches long.

I'm 5'3. DH is 5'9. No GD.