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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

How accurate are baby weight predictions?

27 replies

MissMagpie · 28/08/2014 14:59

I am 36+3 and have a very prominent but normal sized bump and an active baby, though I don't know its gender. It is my first so I have no previous experience to go by.

Today the midwife told me she thinks from my measurements my baby will weigh around 3.5kg or the top end of 7lbs.

Has anyone else had the size of their baby predicted and how accurate was this? I am interested to know!

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Izzy82 · 28/08/2014 16:01

I had a massive bump. Was sent for a scan and told his head was in 95th percentile (which is big) and he had a big belly. Was told he was 7 lbs already (at 34 weeks) and that he would be well over 9 lbs. Spent 6weeks shitting myself about his giant head.
gave birth on Tuesday (40+2) to a normal headed baby weighing 7lbs 15 oz.

LadyFlumpalot · 28/08/2014 16:28

Two babies, two tiny bumps, numerous growth scans and predicted under 5lbs for both babies.

DS - 7lbs14.
DD - 7lbs4.

frankiebuns · 28/08/2014 16:44

My ds was born 4 years ago I was huge he was huge he was 8lbs 8 dd born 10 days ago my midwife told me she would be 6lbs 2 I laughed and said no I only do big babies guess what she was right 6lb 2.5oz she was right! My scan at 34 weeks put her at 4lbs 9oz so she put on under 1/2 pound a week

Vanillaradio · 28/08/2014 17:02

I had a growth scan at 36 +5 and they told me ds was at that point 8lb 8oz and above 90th centile. He was born less than a week later weighing 7lb 5oz!

flossieflower · 28/08/2014 17:04

Told that DD would be 5lb with a tiny head and possible learning difficulties as her head was so small. She was 7lb 3 with an exactly average head circumference.

Pasadenadreaming · 28/08/2014 17:14

Midwife told me between 7 and 8lbs, she was born a week late at 6lb 9oz

squizita · 28/08/2014 18:04

This is interesting as I'm 37 weeks.
Measured "bigger" (literally, not a projection) 3 weeks ago than I did today so referred for a growth scan.
One (tape only) measurement came up at 31 weeks today... not sure possible as I scanned 35-6 weeks 3 weeks ago! But terrifying!

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 28/08/2014 18:09

DS1 was meant to be 9 and a half lbs, I even posted on here terrified. He was born at 38+2 at 6lbs 1oz.

By the way the mws were talking, we though my DS2 was going to be about 2. Or 3. something (was born at 35 weeks and stopped growing a couple of weeks earlier), he was 4lbs 8oz.

allisgood1 · 28/08/2014 18:54

DD1 predicted to be too big to birth by a money grabbing gynecologist she was 8lb 4 at 39 weeks.

Dd2 predicted over 9lbs and was 8lb 6 at 37+5.

DS born yesterday predicted just over 7lbs and was actually 8lb 5 at 38+3!

4yoniD · 28/08/2014 18:59

Dd1 I was told "big baby" - 7lb 14 on time. Not really big, then.

Chachah · 28/08/2014 19:02

so, going by this threads, weight predictions are utterly worthless?

it's the feeling I've had from people around me, one of the girl in my NCT group was made to have C-section for a supposedly ginormous baby, who turned out perfectly normal around 7lb.

why do they even predict anything, if it's so inaccurate? or is it that people only talk about the predictions when they turn out to be way off?

squizita · 30/08/2014 21:08

Update... the external measurements don't seem to match up with the scan PHEW. It showed a 45th percentile baby for 6lb+ a few oz. No cause for concern. No shrinking tiny baby.

...but we will have to see when baby arrives if she is indeed between 6-7lb or not!

But no way a 31 week sized baby, just a short in stature full term one they say (I am short, so os DH).

Lesleythegiraffe · 30/08/2014 21:17

I had a midwife appointment at around 36 weeks and was told that this baby wouldn't be as big as my first (she was 7.12).

He was 9.4 so I didn't have any faith in predictions!

Moreisnnogedag · 30/08/2014 21:25

Pfft. I was promised a wee small one which mw assured me would definitely be under 6 lbs (apparently my ginormous bump was 'all water').

Cue DS 9lb 9oz. I'm tiny.

CherryLips1980 · 30/08/2014 21:26

DD predicted weight was 8lb6. She was 6lbs2.

WhatWouldCaitlinDo · 30/08/2014 21:28

I had loads of extra scans with DC1 as I was measuring tiny. She was born 7lbs, 56cm long.

weeblueberry · 30/08/2014 21:59

Had a normal sized bump, measured completely average the entire time. Predicted a 7lbs 8oz baby. DD was born an elfin 5lbs15oz.

curiousgeorgie · 30/08/2014 22:01

They were 3lbs out with my first and 2lbs out with my 2nd...

Treesandbees · 30/08/2014 22:10

I had a growth scan at 37 weeks and told baby would be 10lbs 2oz at term. He was induced at 39 weeks and was 8lbs 14oz (phew)! So technically he would have been under the predicted weight if I'd gone to term. I seem to remember there is quite a bit of leeway with the scans.

TryDrawing · 30/08/2014 22:14

My recent growth scan had an accuracy stated on the report as ±18oz aka "we have no idea"

eurochick · 30/08/2014 22:18

In contrast mine was bang on. My bump measured 2-3 weeks behind, so not off the scale, but I had loads of growth scans due to a problem with blood flow in the placenta. My daughter was born at 34 weeks weighing 3lb 6 or 1530g. The last growth scan the day before estimated her at 1500g. The dr was very smug when we saw him in nicu the next day!

squizita · 30/08/2014 22:51

Euro was it scans that were accurate? Not just fundal height. My FH is all over the place- over 24 hours 4 people took it and it ranged from 31-38cm!!

I have lost all faith in the tape measure.

The scan has me at 6-7lb which feels 'right' to me. Lots of measurements taken of limbs and head etc.

eurochick · 31/08/2014 01:56

Yes, scans. Although fundal height wasn't far off tallying with the scans.

Bellyrub1980 · 31/08/2014 05:25

The fundal height measurement has been all over the place for me. First one was normal. 2 weeks ago it measured my baby below the 10th centile. Had a growth scan which showed a completely average sized baby on the 50th centile. A few days ago, another tape measure and now apparently in 90th centile.

I think my tape measurements were more effected by the baby's position than anything else. She was transverse when I measured really small. The most recent (big) measurement she was breech and I could feel her head wedged right up under my rib.

Even the midwife said she doesn't go much on the fundal height but it's a protocol they have to follow and act upon with a scan if things don't look right. She said the vast majority that get sent for a scan turn out to be average sized.

KatharineClover · 31/08/2014 13:00

Isn't fundal height less accurate in the last 4 weeks due to baby engaging? I'm sure I read that somewhere.

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