Growth scan at 37 weeks - baby approx 8lbs!!

[singingpinkmonkey]

Hello!

Am 37 weeks into my first pregnancy and was referred for a growth scan as my bump measurements dipped slightly at my last midwife appointment.

Just had the scan and it looks like at 37 weeks the baby is already 8lbs?? The midwife seemed happy with that and I was reassured but I have made the mistake of googling and have seen a few things about that being very large and it's freaked me out a bit. My fault I know but I'm a curious first timer and just wanted to know more. Is the growth scan accurate first of all? Also is 8lbs classed as BIG at this stage? I know that I will just get on with it whatever the outcome but just wanted to see what other mums experiences were!

Thanks in advance!

Hey,
The exact same thing happened to me last week at 37 weeks..the consultant didn't seem concerned and I think that from what I've read those scans are notoriously unreliable anyway. I wouldn't worry too much!

Yes 8lbs is big at that stage!! I have big babies and my last baby was delivered at 38+0 weighing 7lb9 if I'd gone to 40 he would have been around 8lb9

So if your baby really is 8lb at 37 weeks add half a pound per week until you deliver your going to have a pretty hefty baby

Everyone thought I was giving birth to a baby whale turns out it was a 6lb 3oz girl scans are not an accurate measure of weight usually

Also don't forget its not necessarily a chubby baby could be a long baby my friends was 9lb he looked skinny he was so long!

I've never heard of a growth scan predicted weight being within a country mile of the actual weight... I really wouldn't worry.

It is quite big but don't forget you are at term now...you won't necessarily still be pregnant at 40 weeks.

My dd2 was born at 37 weeks weighing over 9lbs...I'm bloody glad she came out when she did

The very first thing the sonographer said at my 40+10 scan was 'this is a big baby!' - way to scare this first time mama. DS was born later that day and only weighed 7-12. Perfectly average.

The scans are notorious for being totally inaccurate, within 10-15% either way for weights.

I wouldn't worry, a friend of mine was told her baby would be huge so they induced her early and she gave birth to a 6lb dot. I on the other hand was never told I was having a large baby, and I had a 12lb-er

They really aren't very accurate at this point. At 40weeks DD was estimated at over 5kg with a head circumference on 99th centile. At 41+3 when she made her appearance she was a very average 3.5kg, and on the 50th centile for all measurements.

I had a growth scan at 39 weeks and they said 'just over 8lb' dd was born at 41 weeks weighing 6lb12 so the scans aren't totally accurate!

These scans are so inaccurate I would why they bother! I had to have extra scans towards the end, and they wouldnt induce me in the morning but wanted to wait until the afternoon when the specialist team would be there because I would likely need extra help/ c-sec. Had a 8lbs 6 girl at 41+6 vaginal birth with three stitches. They put the fear of god in me idiots. She was long to be fair and my bump was huge

I've refused the offer to have growth scans, as I don't want anyone harping at me about my big baby (I already know I grow them big, it isn't a problem!) and inductions. I just can't see the point in it at all - the scans are hardly ever accurate!

Thanks everyone to your responses. I think people can speak before they think when talking baby size, like "oh my god that's huge!" - not exactly helpful!! I am just glad that he doesn't appear to be underweight and he seems very healthy from the midwife and sonographers reaction! I will take the actual weight prediction with a pinch of salt as a lot of you have had experience of it being inaccurate! Thanks again

The scans are not that accurate. If the measurements are wrong by even a milimeter, I think this can distort the results.

One of my cousins was nearly 11b at birth. She's 6ft tall now!

Yes definitely better to be on the big side. Ds was over 10lb. Prepare yourself

I had a growth scan at 37 weeks and they said almost 8lb. She was born last week at 39 weeks weighing 8lb 13 so the scan was pretty accurate.

However my son was supposed to be 8lb 13 at 40 weeks but came out at 42 weeks weighing 8lb 1. So it's not an exact science!

Just had one at 33+1 as mw was worried about 'excessive' growth. Estimated 5.5lb. Given that ds was born at 38+6 at 9lb 1 I didn't think.this was too bad.

I was 11lb 4.......

I was told the same weight around 37 weeks and my baby was born 7lbs 14oz! I don't think they're very reliable!

Forgot to say, my baby was born at 41 weeks so the half a pound a week didn't apply if he really was 8lbs at 37 weeks

I had a scan at 34 weeks and they said baby was already 7.5lb. Baby was actually born at 34w plus 5d weighing 5lb 6oz.

Two pounds inaccurate so not even close

I'm 30 weeks and expecting an average baby based on DH and I (and DS1 was 7lb 8). At last MW appointment she measured my bump nearly 3cm bigger and started saying she'd expect me to have a big-ish baby which surprised me as I don't feel that big and DH and I are both quite short and slim.

We had a 3D scan a few days later which we'd booked a while back and sonographer said baby is bang on average for age and to expect a similar weight to DS1. So I wouldn't worry too much.

Hi I had a scan at 37+5 baby was measuring at 7lb I had her 2 days later and she was weighing 8lb 15oz 😮😮😯

My DD was estimated at 8lbs7 at just under 38 weeks, she was born at 41weeks weighing 9lbs3 so big but not massive, and proportionately not as big as they predicted IYSWIM