34 week scan- estimated fetal weight

[Sorehead]

I had a scan last week and measurements (in centiles) were HC 57%, AC 72%, Femur 44%, EFW 96%.

I've only just been able to speak to a midwife about this now but I'm panicking a bit about EFW as I'm only 5ft 2 and of small build, and the baby is estimated to currently weigh 6lb 10. Looking at the graph, if this growth pattern continues I'm looking at a 9lb 9 baby at 40 weeks.

The midwife has said that I wouldn't be offered further growth scans or induction before 42 weeks and that "the test is labour"

I'm classed as low risk for GD so no test offered.

Does anyone have any experiences of this?

Should add, I was told growth scans/ induction before 42 weeks wouldn't even be offered if EFW was over 100%.

This is my first (so may be being neurotic first time mum to be!)

Try not to panic - the estimated birth weight for DS1, based on his growth scans, was 10lb 7oz. He was born at 42+2 weighing 8lb 1oz. The same thing happened with DS2; the 12lb (!) predicted birth weight turned out to be 9lb 3oz.

They're just guideline figures - and the babies haven't seen them! Your midwife will still be doing measurements at your ante-natal appointments and if she has any concerns at all regarding the size of your baby she can raise the matter then.

It's terrifying I know, but try not to worry about it. My sister is a similar height to you and had two babies at over 9lbs with considerably less to-do than my smaller ones so even if your baby is big it doesn't necessarily follow that you'll have any issues

Thank you- it's nice to hear some real life stories of larger babies either having a smooth delivery, or not being as large as estimated.

I suppose I just feel a bit fobbed off because when I've searched for information, posts always seem to refer to consultants and/ or extra scans. I know google isn't always my friend in situations like this but it's so hard to resist, even when it just makes me panic more!

I had a scan from the consultant the week before dd1 was born who estimated she was 8.5lb. She was 6lb 13 and the babygrows I took to the hospital were much too big. Scans can be way off so don't worry too much.

I had a scan for a low lying placenta at 34 weeks and all the measurements were putting ds at 36-37 weeks and a hc that was frankly huge. His predicted weight was 10lb+ at 40 weeks which combined with the hc had me terrified!

He was born at 41+4 at 7lb 9oz... His head was huge but the mw said that it gets very difficult to accurately measure weight and size via scans at that point but all the other measurements (fundal height?) were well within a normal range and were regularly checked.

In your situation I would be making a big fuss mostly because the AC is higher than the HC.

My first dc was measuring big and I decided that if I went into labour naturally I'd try to labour but I would refuse an induction, I was offered a c-section which I declined (which seems mad now) ds was born at 41+3 and he weighed 10 pounds. His birth was actually really easy despite him being my first and him being big but he was also very long (55cm) and a long baby isn't harder to birth than a short/normal baby it's all about how wide they are specifically the shoulders.

I'm pregnant again and again measuring big, I had a growth scan at 32 weeks which predicted my baby would be 10 pounds at 40 weeks, this time I have been offered an induction at 37 weeks but I declined and requested another growth scan to specifically look at how long/wide my baby is. If this baby is short and chubby or if the AC is significantly greater than the HC I'll agree to an induction at 37 weeks but if the baby is long I'll wait and see if I can go into labour naturally again.

I will absolutely refuse an induction with a big baby after 39 weeks, I'd prefer a c-section, the risk of intervention/emcs with an induced large baby is very high.

Oh and I'm 5 foot 4.

Thank you all for stories of estimates being wrong- I have my fingers crossed!

stripy in terms of kicking up a fuss because AC is higher than HC, is that because it indicates baby is likely to be wide, and this potentially cause problems, or because it indicates a potential issue with the baby? Glad to hear your first birth went well, and I have my fingers crossed your second goes as smoothly, and baby is just long!

I just don't understand why they'll offer early inductions for second babies but not first? I don't think mine is likely to be long given the femur length in relation to the HC & AC (unless he's going to have a disproportionately long body!)

The worry for AC being bigger than HC is that once the head is out if the shoulders are wider than the head it can course problems but it's not indicative of a problem with the baby!

The thing about AC measurements is they can be really out if the baby has been drinking the amniotic fluid or is waiting to have a wee.

I thought so, just wanted to double check :)

I have another midwife appointment next week and will talk about it in more detail with her. If I'm not satisfied, I'll pay for a private scan at 37-38 weeks- forewarned is forearmed I suppose, even if it makes no difference to the NHS approach to my labour/ delivery!

with my first daughter i had regular scans due to increased waters from 28 weeks they told me that she was a big baby and i was looking at a good 10lb baby i remember crying to the doctors and midwifes how scared i was they terrified me anyway she was born after a sweep at 40+5 weighing 8lb 5 ounces so not tiny but not quite the weight they had scared me to death with dont panic op

The estimated weight for my DS was a whopping 10lbs 3oz he arrived 2 weeks late weighing 6lbs 13oz and was in premature clothes for a month! They don't always get it right

My twins were estimated to be 5lb4 & 5lb8 at 34+4. I had them the next day and both weighed exactly those weights! Sonographer was very experienced.

They told me mine would be small and he was 11lb 2

I think, and ive had lots of growth scans that they are only really accurate when the baby is born farely soon after the scan. The two I had that were almost right were at 31 weeks and 34 weeks. Both babies were born within a week.

Babies in the womb, like when they are here probably grow at their own pace those last few months.

Lots of people are told they will have big babies and them turn out to be totally average sized

I had a scan with DS when I was 35 weeks, they estimated his current weight to be 5lb 7oz. He was born at nearly 42 weeks weighing 7lb 7oz, so either he hardly grew for the last 7 weeks or the scan was out. Try not to panic op.

Really really hoping they've got the weight wrong and he's around 7-8lb (and slides out easily and relatively pain free!).....a girl can dream

At 36 weeks my babies estimated weight was 6 and a half lbs only 37 weeks now so waiting to see if its accurate xx

Havanna - WOW!!! 11 lb 2 How was that birth if you don't mind me asking? You deserve a medal!

Measurements can be out by 2lbs either way! In my personal experience, MW or consultant estimates by palpitation are far more accurate.
I had a scan with my middle son just a few days before giving birth which underestimated him by 1.5lbs; a friend had a scan at 36w which predicted her baby to be over 9lbs at 40w (he was under 6lbs at 39+6), and my SIL had a prediction of a very big baby after a scan at 34w (baby was barely over 7lbs at 2 weeks overdue!).

So I'd advise you to steer clear of any further scans, nhs or private. They just aren't a reliable indicator! If your MW is experienced, ask her to give you an estimate.

With my middle son, my consultant told me at 38w he'd be the same weight as his older brother, and he was only 3.5oz bigger, so a very accurate prediction! With my last, my MW reckoned he'd be 9.5-10lbs, and he was 10lbs exactly, so again very true prediction.

My mother in law is tiny. 5'2''. She had 8 children - weighing between 7lb and just shy of 12lb. The smaller girls were in the middle. The 6 boys were all bruisers. She told me the ease of labour had nothing to do with their size/weight.

OP the thing is nobody nor machine, midwife nor technology can tell you what your baby will weigh or how your labour will be..

as I said my DS was 2 weeks late and 6lbs 13oz (i'm 5 foot 3) he wasn't big and I had a cat-1 c-section, my friends DD was 9lbs and had a easy labour, no tearing, no intervening etc and she was born within 30 minutes of getting to the ward.

My midwife told me my DS would be big he wasn't and honestly as you know they isn't anything you can do about it the baby is coming out whether it's 5lbs or 15lbs

It doesn't make much sense to me that your 3 measurements were towards the average, but EFW is so far from the average. Surely EFW is a function of 2 or 3 of those measurements.

Have you tried entering the actual measurements on an EFW calculator online?

GreatJoanUmber - I'll ask my midwife what she thinks after palpation at my next appointment, although what will be will be I suppose. Like others have said, regardless of size baby has to come out! I suppose I just assumed I'd be having a fairly small- average sized baby given family history and my size.

Pico2 - I attended a walk in midwife clinic on Saturday to try to gain some reassurance and the midwife there said something along the same lines as you, and advised me to call the maternity unit to query (well, someone was meant to give me a call but think the message must have been lost). When I spoke to a midwife at the hospital, who had a copy of the scan details in front of her,she said it all looked fine. Will have a search for an online calculator though. I hadn't thought of that but it's a really good idea, thank you :) any suggestions?

Is it worth me asking for a GD test, even though family history and BMI etc put me in the low risk category?

I think you need something like www.nialls.com/ChartIt2T.aspx

But it depends on what measurement you have available.

If they think you were at risks of GD they would of referred youOP all you can do is ask your midwife who won't really know your baby's weight and may take a guess and may be right. But as I said your labour isn't necessarily effected by your baby's weight as per my examples