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Original poster

I'm measuring big, does it defo mean it's a whopper?

15 replies

FredKiller · 30/08/2013 16:34

Am 35 weeks but measuring 38 weeks according to midwife. I asked if I should be concerned and she said, no, it's probably a big baby but not to worry.

Could there be any other explanation (fluid, large placenta, dates wrong etc) or should I start psyching myself up now. Measured normal throughout previous pregnancy and DS was 8lb 3, so big but not huge.

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MotherOfNations · 30/08/2013 16:38

I wouldn't pay the slightest bit of attention to the measurements. I wad induced with dc1 because they said he was dangerously small and stood a better chance of survival outside than in. He was born by c-section in the end weighing 7lb 8oz.

Porridge05 · 30/08/2013 16:45

There are all sorts of reasons that the meassurement could be increased;

  • your height
  • your weight
  • amount of fluid
  • size of the baby
  • position of the baby (Curled up, stretched out etc)
  • lie of the baby (Longitudinal, oblique, transverse)

Don't worry, its actually really unusual to grow a baby that you can't physically give birth to. People have also suggested that bigger babies are easier to push out as they are heavier, therefore press harder on your cervix to dilate it faster and give you a stronger urge to push.

Original poster
FredKiller · 30/08/2013 16:46

Thanks, that's reassuring. Although awful and frustrating for you.

I'm a bit confused because at my 23 week scan, baby was bang on average with slightly longer legs. But by that point I was already measuring two weeks ahead, according to MW.

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Original poster
FredKiller · 30/08/2013 16:48

Interesting. MW couldn't tell which way baby was lying last time round as she couldn't feel it's head, so maybe that's part of it.

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donttellalfred · 30/08/2013 16:49

If it helps, my first was a whopper (nearly 11 pounds) and I measured bang on for dates the whole way through, no physical sign he would be big. So it doesn't work the other way if that makes sense. Porridge is right, lots of factors affect the measurement, including the person doing the measuring (ie if it's the same person each time). Good luck.

maxmissie · 30/08/2013 16:49

I was very big with ds (2nd child) although mostly down to fat (from eating too much and weight not lost from having dd). No-one was bothered but thought he might be big - and he was, 10lb 7oz! Dd was fairly big (8lb 13oz) so ds was expected to be large but not quite that big. Not sure there was much difference in giving birth between them though, both labours were the same length of time (11 hours) and both born with ventouse and both were bloody painful!

poocatcherchampion · 30/08/2013 18:39

I was way off the charts with my whopper and she was just born at 37+3 (not related to size concerns) at 6lb 14...Hmm

jammiecat · 30/08/2013 18:44

I measured ahead all the way through my last pregnancy according to my MW who kept telling me my baby was going to be very long. He wasn't he was tiny at 5lb 4oz and was still in tiny baby clothes at 7 weeks so personally I wouldn't worry as it's so inexact as stated previously.

RNJ3007 · 30/08/2013 18:49

With DD I measured WAY ahead. Was told she was huge. Delivered post-dates at 6lb5oz and was in premie nappies and clothes for a month as she was skinny and long. My placenta was as big as her!

So no!

cerealandtoast · 30/08/2013 18:53

I measured big for dates with dc1. born bang on time, weighed 6lb Hmm

dc2, I measured small for dates - in fact, I was re-dated 3 times, as I was measuring so small for dates (despite me knowing practically to the day when conception occurred!). No idea whether early or late (due to re-dated fuckups), weighed 7lb 13.

dc3, measured small for dates. consultant was concerned. very concerned, as at the end was measuring about 4 weeks behind. dc3 born by elcs, 3 days before due date, weighing 8lb 10. Consultant nearly called for a re-weigh, as couldn't believe size of baby relative to size of bump Grin

bump measuring hideously inaccurate, ime.

Rollermum · 30/08/2013 19:21

This is very reassuring to me too :-) I've been measuring slightly ahead and am a large person and everyone and their mum enjoys telling me what a whopper the baby will be...

I have a suspected (but unconfirmed) extra vertebrae (my Dad has one, and physios etc have commented on my long back) so hoping that is part of it.

MummyPig24 · 30/08/2013 19:42

My friend measured big, she was told to expect a 9lber, baby was born at term, 5lbs!!

terilou87 · 30/08/2013 20:07

My first I was told going by measurements he would be 11-12 lb he was a normal 8lb1 but there was alot of waters I had a scan to check he wasn't going to be to big for my pelvis and all was ok

MummyLuce · 31/08/2013 09:22

I measured 44 weeks and 37 weeks and had a growth scan, where they said I had lots if fluid but that's all and baby would be about 8lbs at birth... She was 9lb3oz in the end, so pretty big! It's nice having a big one though as its less worrying on the beginning of you have issues establishing bfeeding etc xx

MummyLuce · 31/08/2013 09:23

Sorry not 'and', i meant 'at' in that first line

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