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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

95TH Percentile!

25 replies

starbuckmum4 · 12/06/2013 14:55

I had a scan yesterday (22wks) and was told by the sonographer that the baby was "encroaching". I asked what that meant and she said the baby was going to be large.

Looking at the measurements the baby is around average (50th centile) for head circumference and femur length but the abdominal circumference is on the 95th centile.

Does anyone know if this is likely to mean I will have a HUGE baby or is it inaccurate at this stage?

Thank you! x

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Original poster

starbuckmum4 · 12/06/2013 14:56

Oh my goodness, I mean CENTILE! DUH - Been doing the kids maths homework and have percentages on the brain :)

OP posts:

MrsMargoLeadbetter · 12/06/2013 15:55

What a shock to hear.

My DS was off the centile chart for length and weighed 9 3lb at birth. Wasn't told his predicted weight so don't know what they would have predicted.

There are a few threads on the go about how scans are often inaccurate. Generally predicting a whopper that then turns out smaller. Try not to worry.

How big have your others been?

Do you mean helping with the kids maths homework? Or doing it !

MikeLitoris · 12/06/2013 15:58

I had a scan at about 33weeks with dd2 and it showed her abdominal measurements were on the 98th centile. Cant remember the rest.

There was a lot of sympathetic faces as they told me to expect a big one.

She was 8lb 8 so not massive. Especially considering she was born at 40+13.

TinkyPeet · 12/06/2013 15:59

Aw don't worry about it. My dd was 97 centile and was 9lb3 and this one, well he's about an inch above the top lines on the charts anyway so...

soupmaker · 12/06/2013 16:08

I'm off for GTT tomorrow as had scan on Monday and baby off the scale for tummy circumference. DD was only 6lb 3oz and was hoping for another one that size. Ho hum. Consultant was very up beat and said it means baby growing very well and that's a good sign given I'm over 40.

Solero · 12/06/2013 17:06

I am at 32+2 and my growth scan is showing that my DD2 is on about the 95th centile too. Its quite a scary prospect but we have decided to go for an elective section at 38 weeks cos the consultant was concerned about possible shoulder dystonia (think thats spelt wrong ) when baby's shoulders get stuck. I thkink that if they are really worried about size you will have regular growth scans over the next few weeks. However having said that DD1's abdominal measurement was off the scale and she came out a dinky little thing at 6lb12. I guess its a waiting game.

lozster · 12/06/2013 17:53

My 'little' Buddha baby is off the scale for three out of five of his measurements including his abdomen! I'm 33 weeks but have been c

lozster · 12/06/2013 17:55

33 weeks but consistently off the scale since the 12 week scan. My stomach is above the curve too but all I get told is not to worry!

Loupee · 12/06/2013 17:59

With DS's 20 week scan were told his femur length was off the charts, other measurements were average.
He was born a week early weighing 9lbs2ozs, and is still off the charts length wise, and between 50 and 75 centile for weight.
Nothing to worry about, except the ridiculous speed he goes through clothes!

NumberTwoDue · 12/06/2013 18:33

DD was pretty similar - 50th for everything but abdominal circumference, which like you was 98th. She was 8lbs7 so not tiny but not mega (75th centile i think for birth weight) She's an eater though - quickly went up to 98th centile for most of he first year and is now back on the 75th. She's tall too.

This one's similar - 30th for everything but tummy, which is 98th again. The sonographer commented that the stomach was "developing well" to which we said "yeah, our kids are foodies" and he laughed so obviously wasn't too bothered!

Honestly, don't worry!

nenevomito · 12/06/2013 18:38

Don't worry, its not an exact science. I was told that DD was on the 99th centile due to my having gestational diabetes. She popped out at 7lb. Hardly massive!

bowlingforsoup · 12/06/2013 18:41

I had a growth scan at 34 weeks and was measuring very large. They estimated her weight then as 6lb 5oz (what my first dd was). I'm 38 weeks now so god only knows how big this one will be but im scared. Judging by the size of me, I'd guess a stone or two lol

Steffanoid · 12/06/2013 18:46

everything for my little beast is off the chart, week 39 was est weight of 10lb 2 going by circumference of head and abdominal, femur length etc, not sure how big he will be cause im 40+1 but they've all just kinda gone ah he's gonna be big! I'll let you know

Sheshelob · 12/06/2013 18:57

I am the less reassuring side of the story. I really don't mean to worry you, but you did ask!

My son was 97% the whole way through (head 103%) and he "popped" out a mahoosive 10lb 10oz at 41+5. He was so massive I had experienced midwives knocking on my room door asking if they could see "the big baby".

When they say don't worry, as a mother to a behemoth, I would say do a bit of research as the whole thing took me by surprise. I only found out how big he was likely to be the day before I went into labour.

If I had a do-over, I think I would just be better prepared for the whole pushing-out-a-boulder side of things.

Maisie55 · 12/06/2013 19:16

I had a simular situation with ds2, head and femur average but abdomen about 97th or something like that. I also measured about 3 cms over bumpwise but was not offered growth scans which I later found out I ought to have been (though I was tested for gestational diabetes which was negative). Anyway, in my case they weren't wrong and ds2 was 9lb12.5oz which was a bit of a surprise especially considering I am only about 5'3" and quite petite!

Not wanting to worry you unduly but unfortunately due to his size (and mine probably) he did have shoulder dystocia and had to be 'helped' out which left me with very bad tear.

if I were you I would push for growth scans, is this your first baby? as that may have an impact as well, my ds1 was 8lb5oz so quite big for a first as well!

Just to end on a positive note, I healed really well and ds was completely fine so once we were over the initial shock it was all fine. He is now 8 months and still massive!

good luck!

Sheshelob · 12/06/2013 19:29

Maisie - would you have gone for a CS if you were given the choice?

If I have another DC, I will be asking for one, I think, as I'm not sure my lady land could take another baby explosion...

Maisie55 · 12/06/2013 21:58

hmmm, that's a tricky one, ds1 ended up forceps delivery so I was v keen to have as natural a delivery as possible second time round, however if I'd known what a whopper he was going to be I may well have considered a c section. Having now been through 3rd degree tear with ds1 and 4th degree tear with ds2, any future DC will more than likely be CS!

Sheshelob · 12/06/2013 22:18

Eesh! I can't blame you. I had a 3c and am seriously considering a CS IF - and that is a big if - I have another baby.

I wish I'd known more about big babies and listened less to the midwives who strung me lines about knowing people who'd breathed out 11lb babies without so much as a scratch. One of them was still really fucking unhelpfully spouting off about about that when I went in for my follow up appointment. Made me feel like a broken, inadequate bucket.

lozster · 12/06/2013 23:52

Anyone ask for c section or early induction due to size? I'm expecting first baby at 41 so am at increased risk of still birth and just want the 'little' chap out safely ASAP... Obviously no tears etc would be a bonus but mainly I just want him safe do if he's a good size would I be allowed to go early?

FobblyWoof · 13/06/2013 08:47

I was the same as you OP and DD abdomen was right up at the end of the chart with just slightly above average head and femur sizes. She was just shy of 9lb so certainly not a whopper!

I was given a GTT but it came back all clear.

My midwives last time, and one of the same ones this time, doesn't put too much stock in both the graphs and bump measuring. They said the can be really inaccurate. I tried to pass this on to my SIL gently, but she's very much of the belief that everything is completely accurate. Her midwife has told her that her baby will be between 7lb 12 and 8lb 2oz and so she's now adamant that her baby will be between these sizes

It's very difficult seeing that dot right at the end of charts but in most cases it's nothing to worry about.

FobblyWoof · 13/06/2013 08:51

lozter

They were planning on inducing me earlier than they would normally let people go but it still would've been six days overdue. As it happened my waters went before my Due date.

A part of the reason they induce ladies with Gestational diabetes is because their babies can often be bigger. This is usually done the week before their due date. There also other risks concerned so I'm not sure how much of a part the size of the baby is when deciding to induce here.

It's always worth speaking through your concerns with your midwife and maybe she can refer you to someone who you could speak about it in depth with

SolomanDaisy · 13/06/2013 08:58

I had a big baby, particularly giant head. It was fine, I had a quick and easy birth with a minor second degree tear. He was measuring big, but the midwife said that with my large pelvis I didn't need to worry! She was right. It doesn't need to mean a difficult birth.

kimblesj · 13/06/2013 09:13

With my first baby they said he was really small had scans every 2 weeks to monitor his growth he was born at 40+8 at 9lb2oz and got stuck so need to be a emcs, my second they said was huge (predicted 11lb) and I needed anther section had him at 39 weeks and he was 8lb2! Don't panic too much x

Sheshelob · 13/06/2013 09:21

They didn't even measure my pelvis- they just assumed that because I am tall, it would be fine. I had wanted a natural birth, so they supported me in that, but in retrospect, I wish I'd been firmer in asking questions, so I could make an informed, rather than idealised, decision. I optimistically thought I would be one of the lucky ones without knowing the reality of what could happen if he was too big to push out. I had a 3c tear and lost nearly 2ltrs of blood. I was away from my son for the first three hours of his life, which impacted on establishing breastfeeding and early bonding. And we had to stay in hospital for three days. Hardly ideal.

Despite the fact I loved the challenge of labour, part of me thinks a CS would have been less traumatic for me and my son.

There is a fine line between keeping positive and putting your head in the sand. It is worth knowing the ramifications if you aren't able to breathe your child out.

JoandMax · 13/06/2013 09:35

The scans can be dubious but best to be aware of as potential whopper just incase!

DS2 was a large baby, I measured around 8cm over consistently through my pregnancy. His head circumference and abdominal circumference was off the centile charts, length and weight 98th..... I had 3 GTT and all normal! DS1 had been 9lb 3oz at 38 weeks so I knew he'd be big too.

I had an elective CS at 38 weeks, consultant had been happy to do it at 37 weeks but I wanted him in as long as possible! I'm not big, 5ft 4in and not that hippy and found the end a struggle. He was 10lb 15.5oz at 38 weeks so was considered macrosomic - large enough to be outside the 'normal' range. I think they said up to 10lb 2 oz at that gestation was normal, anything bigger they ran a few tests. But they were all clear, he was just big all over!

He's now 3.3 and still right at the top height wise, his head has continued to be off the charts (I like to think its a large brain!!) and has bigger hands and feet than his nearly 5 year old brother. DH is only average height too as is DS1 so we have no idea where he gets it from!

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