scan says baby a week older than it is, i'm starving and gaining no weight ... is it time to pig out?

[comberbird]

Ladies .. sorry this may seem trivial .. but am sure someone can help. 12 weeks preg on Tues - know conception time to the hour as had IVF. After a few previous traumas with scans [baby one had turners/heart defect :( which they found at 12 week scan] I have indulged in 4 scans so far. One IVF Dr, two private, one NHS. The NHS lady thinks my baby measures 13 weeks and a 1 .. when I know it was 12 weeks at scan date. Not sure if they just use an 'average size' and date the baby that way as opposed to a range of possible sizes by date [this is what the private scanner did and she said it was big for its age but not off the scale]. Am sure its possible baby is long as I am very tall and so is hubby. Despite this apparently big for its age baby [and I know its still tiny ] I have gained no weight at all .. and I am eating normally. Thing is I am utterly ravenous about 1 hr after eating. I have even woken up in the night hungry. So if I eat more will my baby become immense ... or will I get just get fat. I know this is all a bit silly but I am boggled by what my body is doing at the moment!

Hi, I have no idea whether eating more will make your baby bigger but what I will say is that if you're feeling ravenous just go for it! I'm not an expert btw but that's what I did in y 3 pregnancies and I had 3 average to biggish sized babies (7lb 8 - 8lb 12). I don't know about you but I felt AWFUL if I was hungry and had to give in and if you're feeling ravenous your body is definitely telling you something. I'm sure they recommend eating little and often during pregnancy to keep blood sugar levels even (or something) so that might e worth trying rather than having a couple of big blow outs!

Congrats on your pregnancy btw

If you are hungry eat! I hadn't gained any weight really until about 14-16 weeks I think, and by 32 weeks had only put on 9kgs which I think is entirely reasonable (esp as am overweight anyway).

Yes, if you and DH are taller than average it stands to reason your baby will be measuring bigger too so don't worry about that :)

congratulations! try to relax!

Eat healthily, eat till you're full not stuffed. Don't worry too much about you or your baby measuring up to some chart, there are a lot of variations in people's shapes and sizes, pregnant or not.

Eat if you're hungry! Baby might be big, or baby might be small - you cannot control this! Just eat healthily (don't deprive yourself!) and relax :)

We had IVF and our due date from our 12 week scan was 4 days ahead of our due date based on actual conception. The midwives based everything on the scan date. I doubt it made much difference in the end.

Eat if you're hungry though definitely.

Congratulations!

Babies just take what they need (wish I cud do that!) so eating more wont affect him. Don't forget u r not officially eating for 2 but not let ure self get starving jus try to stick to a health balanced diet, hav been having much 'morning' sickness. I actually lost weight before I was 13wks then the battery went in my scales which I think was the best thing really cos I can b a bit obsessive bout my weight. So that's a long way of saying chill, eat what u fancy within reason and congratulations! My bump never measured more then 1cm over the 'norm' and I had a 10 pounder!

I would eat fruit and maybe fill up with milk and bananas worked for me! My baby measured at 33 weeks on a growth scan for the head and other measurements despite the fact I was 31 weeks 4 days but the estimated weight of the baby was bang on for 31 weeks but on the small side of what is expected for its growth but then I am petite and the obstetrician wasn't too bothered about the weight. The baby will take what they need from you but you also need food to function.

I would listen to your body and eat more if you're still feeling hungry. I'm going through a very hungry stage at the moment, I've eaten everything in sight during the past week. I just try and choose a healthier option, admittedly not all the time, but I have been trying.

I've not put on as much weight this pregnancy as I have done the previous 2 times, also admittedly I was heavier to start with the previous times, and as I'm 18 weeks there's still plenty of time this time to bang on more weight.

What I wanted to say was, during my 1st pregnancy, I ate stupid amounts of food, it was like a free reign to eat like a pig for me, and I gained A LOT of weight. However, my baby was 6lb 14oz and 5 days overdue.

In my second pregnancy, I gained quite a lot again, baby was 6 days overdue and weighed 6lb 6oz.

So, in my experience, the amount of food I ate didn't equal a big baby. I know we're all different but I really wouldn't let it worry you. As someone else has said, I feel poorly if I don't eat enough. I have no idea how I was eating weight watcher sized portions pre-pregnancy.

Hi - they should be dating the baby from the conception date, not its size. Babies are all different sizes and grow at different rates! I am pregnant following IVF and my midwife/hospital have just gone with the conception date because there is no doubt about it. If the difference is just a few days then it might not be worth a fuss but if it's a week then the problem can be that they may want to induce you earlier than you otherwise would if you go overdue.

And I agree with posters above that you should just eat if you feel hungry. The baby will take what it needs from you but not too much unless perhaps you have some metabolic disorder or perhaps gestational diabetes (I am just guessing at this because I saw an advert for a show on telly about the 'biggest baby ever' and I think that was explained as a result of his mother having untreated GD - so if I am completely wrong I mean no offence!)

I agree with other posters about eating when you feel hungry. Maybe don't stuff your face with cakes and biscuits but it's not unusual to not gain (or lose) weight in the first trimester.
About baby measuring big, it just means your baby is growing faster than average at the moment. If might level out or you might have a bigger baby. The NHS are very set on their dating scans though even when you know the date if conception - they just measure by standard size! As long as they don't pressure you for induction later when you go overdue to their dates, you will be alright.
Similar to you I knew the conception dates for my first two pregnancies (charted my cycles) and measured a week ahead at 12w; my babies were a good size but not overly big (9lbs 13oz and 10lbs 0.5oz respectively). I only gained 27lbs which I believe is within the normal range, so I don't think eating lots/gaining lots of weight = big baby.

Just eat, it doesn't really make much difference to the baby in my expirience. I gained 4st with first and he was only 6ib8, with my 2nd I couldn't eat till 5 month everything made me feel sick, I lost 1st7 in that time so only ended up 4 pound heavier than pre pregnancy weight at full term and he was 9ib. Babys just grow how they grow :) I'm eating what I like this time prob too much but Ohh well

You are doing the most work right now, your blood volume will double and your baby is forming it's very being. At this point you are not going to make your baby bigger by satiating your hunger.
In the third trimester your baby is developed fully but laying down body fat - there could be concerns your baby will be large/fat (rather than long and whippet like) if you have had an unhealthy diet, gestational diabetes or go sig overdue.

Due to the amount of development happening you will be providing the building blocks, or at 12w will have been, for your baby's skeleton, cns, organs etc to form from just a collection of cells - not surprised you're hungry really! That's why it is so vital to eat well and ensure you are providing the right nutrients.
You can get both slowed and increased gut transit in pregnancy too. It's likely you will find your appetite will reduce again as you enter the second trimester and development slows - we actually don't need the significant increase in calories most of us indulge in. Your midwife can help you tailor your caloric needs to your weight, lifestyle and stage of pregnancy - once you know how much you should be consuming (so you eat enough but also not too much that will just hang out on your bum) then you can find the best way to manage your hunger to keep you at a comfortable level all day with no massive blood sugar drops, being starving or too uncomfortably full to sleep.
I find I have to eat in a different way when I'm pg - little and often, rather than 1 snack and a big meal- but I don't need to eat that much more ~a mars bars worth of calories a day. Everyone's needs are slightly different though.

It does usually all calm down though.
And congratulations

thanks all. thank you all for the congrats ... and yes I am super happy there is healthy baby in there after so many set backs. I'm very prone to worry and confused by the measurements [after getting my scan at the Fetal medicine centre which should be the best in the world!] and yes the 'I' word was mentioned when i asked at the hospital. Clearly induction and labour being on my 'its to scary to even think about' list! I am intrigued by your comments on weight gain and baby size but i suppose its true that I know a few skinny minnies with big babies and vice versa. I now have a supply of rice cakes and dried fruit in my bag to stave off my extreme hunger!

thank you all - so good to have your support

xC

If you're feeling hungry an hour after eating, make sure you're eating enough protein, rather than adding carbohydrates - rice cakes won't sustain you for long, and dried fruit is quite sugary. Try cubes of cheese/slices of chicken or similar instead.

I weighed 8 stone before each of my four babies - gained a lot of weight (up to 3 stones) each time, had big babies (between 9lbs 2oz and 11lbs 3oz) and was back to 8 stone within a matter of months each time...pushing/carrying/breastfeeding big babies is a great workout.

I'm only 5 foot 2, but there are big babies on my father's side of the family and my children are now tall, slender adults. I wouldn't worry about weight gain unless you're living on chocolate and cake and doing no exercise!

Congratulations. Enjoy your pregnancy.

I found that I had phases of feeling absolutely ravenous and then it would pass again, now in second trimester those have gone and I now eat 'normally'. My babies (I do have twins) are in the 'normal' range although they are a bit on the smaller size. So all the food I put away didn't go straight to babies, it didn't go straight to the hips either, I still look non pregnant from behind, (I do have a bump obvs!) so I wouldn't worry too much. The ravenous phases I think are a sign from your body to get some nutrition in, just make sure it is healthy stuff rather than biscuits/chocolate etc!

The eating rules while pregnant are very different to the normal eating rules or diets. You're building a new human being. It's exhausting, worrying, stressful at times, and you're probably busy trying to prepare and prove you're still able to work at the top level etc. give yourself a break and eat when you're hungry!

Avoid empty calories in juices/smoothies and cakes, but you might feel better if you schedule in another lunch! I'm 24 weeks, eating all day (or so it feels), but the only thing growing is my bump. I'm no specialist, but I wonder if I'm burning the calories differently now.

Congratulations!

I used to have to have cereal or something before bed to stop me waking in the middle of the night due to hunger. Eat and eat well. You'll need it. Congratulations.

I had 2 private scans abroad (dating scan and NT) as I was away around the 12 week mark and didn't want to miss the window for NT test etc and both scans tallied with what i thought the conception date is. Had NHS scan when got back and they have brought forward my EDD by a week too. I don't know why i feel uncomfortable about that. I think its because all your appointments eg GTT are based on what week you are at and then they go and change it...If the accuracy is +/- 7 days I wish they could just leave it, but they wouldn't take the EDD from my private tests. I understand this is their policy though..Just a little bit concerned now about pressure being put on to induce too early...

Latebear don't worry about an 'early' induction chances are u will go into labour and speaking as someone who was 2wks over due it is he'll at that stage and I wud hav done anything to get my baby out! Also they can't force u to hav an induction but u wud prob hav to hav more monitoring x