Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

How far off was your ultrasound estimated weight in comparison to actual weight of the baby?

47 replies

martie1 · 14/10/2014 14:45

Just out of a check up because the consultant thinks I might have gestational diabetes because the baby is do big. At 29wks it was measuring 3 1/2 lbs and today at 32 weeks it's measuring 5lbs. I'm have the gtt test next week but if it's negative then I just gave a big baby. The consultant said that if it keeps growing at 1/2lb per week it'll be 9lbs at birth. I'm freakingvout a little. How off were your us measurements? Or we're they spot on?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

martie1 · 14/10/2014 14:46

Sorry for all the typos- I'm on my phone!

OP posts:

flossieflower · 14/10/2014 14:47

Mine was 2lb out at 37 weeks

SugarMiceInTheRain · 14/10/2014 14:50

Both DS1 and DS2 were predicted to be 9lb+ a couple of weeks before they were born. They were 6lb 10 and 6lb 14 - I was carrying a lot of fluid!

LIG1979 · 14/10/2014 14:52

At 31 weeks I got told 8lb. Dd was born at 38 weeks and was 6lb 4. So if she had gone to 40 weeks I imagine she would have been 7-7.5.

RedRose27 · 14/10/2014 14:53

I had a 4D scan at 32 weeks which estimated DD was 4 pound 6. She was born at 40+2 and weighed 7 pounds 14. So not as big as I was expecting!

devoncreamtea · 14/10/2014 15:56

This is the 1st time I have had a growth scan - so can't tell you yet whether it was right..! However, my last baby was 9lb and was born in an hour, v straightforward birth. If your baby is in a good position, I think the heft doesn't have a negative impact - infact I have heard that bigger babies dilate the cervix more effectively. 9lbs isn't gigantic anyway - I think they say 10lbs is considered 'macrosomic' (ie 'big baby' that you might get with GD.

If you have GD and adjust your diet to low GI as they suggest, then you will probably find weight gain slows anyway. I would go along with pp's though, lots and lots of women are told 'huge baby' and it turns out to be perfectly average! Have a look on your growth scan notes - a larger abdominal circ, can suggest a GD style growth - but again it is so hard to tell as sonographers measurements are sometimes wonky, or baby might be having a spurt in one area at that point in pregnancy. It seems like such an inexact science to me!

Try not to worry.

Plonkysaurus · 14/10/2014 15:59

I was told I was having a big baby, that I'd be looking at 9lb newborn. This was based on a scan at 34 weeks, when he was estimated to be about 6lbs. He was born at 42 weeks weighing 7lb 12 - perfectly average.

Sorehead · 14/10/2014 16:02

I had a scan at 34 weeks where the baby was estimated to weigh 6lb 10. Based on this I'm expecting a 9lb 9 baby at my EDD. Hopefully the estimate is a couple of lb out!

Were there any other reasons for your consultant's concerns about GDD, or solely the size of your baby?

PterodactylTeaParty · 14/10/2014 16:05

I had a scan at 40+10, with an ultrasound tech and an obstetrician learning to do scans. The ultrasound tech estimated 7lbs 7, the obstetrician 8lbs 7! Baby was born at 40+16, 8lbs 4.

Sausages123 · 14/10/2014 16:08

Was told at 39 weeks 5lb 7oz he was 5lb 13oz at 40 weeks so I think fairly accurate for us

KittyandTeal · 14/10/2014 16:08

Was told dd would definitely be over 10lbs, even told me they would induce early (40+10) if needed.

As it was she was born 40+4 and was 8.6lbs. So roughly a pound and a half off

weeblueberry · 14/10/2014 16:09

I was predicted to have a 9lbs baby. She was 5lbs15oz. So a wee bit off.

BadRoly · 14/10/2014 16:10

I was told dc1 was 7.5lbs at a scan when I was 37ish weeks. She was 6lb7oz when she was born less than 2 weeks later but quite long (isn't the weight 'guessed' from thigh bone length?)

Plonkysaurus · 14/10/2014 16:13

I think that's generally the case Roly.

Devon has it spot on with this it is so hard to tell as sonographers measurements are sometimes wonky, or baby might be having a spurt in one area - I was told DS was short with a fat little tummy. In fact he was very long and rather like a bag of bones at birth! Clearly he was lying in an 'unflattering' pose on scan day

GoulashSoup · 14/10/2014 16:14

I had growth scan at 35 wks they said current size was about 5lb 4oz. DS was delivered 36hrs later weighing 5lb 6oz. I had been sceptical about how accurate they were, but in our case spot on!

hugoagogo · 14/10/2014 16:23

What's wrong with a 9 lb baby? Mine were both 9lb plus and fine and no one ever mentioned anything re diabetes

BalloonSlayer · 14/10/2014 16:25

At 34 weeks DS1 was estimated at being 6lb 13 oz (ironically what DD and DS2 were when they were born)

Given the estimate of gaining ½ lb per week, that would have put him at 9lb 13oz at 40 weeks.

He was almost 2 weeks late and was 9lb 9oz. I understand that they stop growing and even start to lose weight when they go overdue so I think it turned out to be pretty accurate.

I would also add that your size is also relevant. If you are very large and carry a lot of fat around the middle they just can't see as much on the scan. They don't usually tell people that to be polite. A friend had a scan which said something like "reduced image due to adiposity" which if I hadn't seen that Dr Who episode I would never have known meant that her weight made it difficult to see.

PassTheAnswers · 14/10/2014 16:26

Ds was predicted to be around the 10lb mark at 40wks at a placenta scan at 34 weeks. Born at 41+4 at 7lb9. They got his weight wrong but were right with predicted head circumference (large) and length (tall)

Boosiehs · 14/10/2014 16:31

Massively wrong. predicted 7.5lb at 40 week scan. Ended up being 9lb11 at 41+6.

Another NCT friend was told all along her baby was huge - over 10lb, ended up bein 6lb8.

My sister was also told every time (3) she was having massive babies yet none were over 8lb.

StarsInTheNightSky · 14/10/2014 16:54

My scans weren't that accurate, I had a scan at 35 weeks and consultant estimated that DS was 7lbs, he was born 2 days later weighing 8lbs 3. The midwife said that our were probably less accurate as DS is very long but lithe (racing snake physique I call it )

Original poster

martie1 · 14/10/2014 20:00

Thanks ladies. Nothing wrong with 9lb babies at all, it's just my first and I'm starting to get a little scared of the birth! My sil had a 9lb-er with my first niece and was swiftly taken to theatre afterwards and I'm dreading the same outcome!

Yes baby weight does seen to be the only reason they think GD is possible. I think they measure the abdominal area and that's his they've been estimating size.

I don't think I'm on the big size balloon but I understand why you would raise that. I'm 5'6 and weighed 9st 8 pre pg and now weighing 11st so I'm within normal range.

Really hoping they've just got their calculations wrong but fully intend on checking up on all you say devon

OP posts:

Sorehead · 14/10/2014 21:52

It's strange how things seem to vary from area to area; I'm smaller than you (5ft 2ish) but am predicted to have a bigger baby after a scan to check position of placenta. My bump has gone from c50th centile to 90th between 34 and 36 week appointments (EFW at 34 week scan was 96th centile) but GD isn't a concern apparently- I specifically asked my midwife.

Not got any advice but hope all goes well for you and that you have a smooth birth, regardless of whatever your baby weighs :)

CherryLips1980 · 14/10/2014 21:54

DD was 'supposed' to be 8lbs+. She was 6lbs2oz

OhMyActualDays · 14/10/2014 21:57

My DD was supposed to be 10lb at full term and I went to 40 plus 14 and she weighed 8lb 8. So I wouldn't worry too much!

howdoyousolvethisproblem · 14/10/2014 22:10

With ds3 I had a weight scan very late on due to worries about growth cause my iron levels by that point were nearly 0. It was at 38+3. They said he was about 7lbs so no worries about him. A week later I gave birth to an 11lb baby.

Ouch.

I'm 5 foot. And small every where ;)
Think being pumped full of iron on an iv drip 3 times before birth blew him up!!

Flip

1 2