feel like I've done a poor job in pregnancy :(

[HarriboHarribo]

So throughout the whole pregnancy my bump has always measured small. I've had numerous scans and each time baby is normal sized. At my last scan it was noted that my fluids around baby had reduced so I was sent for a more in depth fetal medicine scan which I had today.

Everything was absolutely fine! Fluids had increased back to normal range and baby was measuring fine. Other than when the consultant looked at baby's belly and it was coming up that it measured at 35+5 (3 weeks more than what I am). he asked me what my diet was like which I would say as fairly average though during this pregnancy I have been eating a few treats of chocolate and sweets due to cravings for sugary foods. He told me I've been eating too much and that I should lay off sugary snacks and be eating steamed veg and brown rice because I have now made my baby chubby.

I now feel absolutely disgusting, like I've given my baby the worst start in a healthy diet. I feel so bad and couldn't forgive myself if she arrives overweight or has health issues because of my eating habits.

(Just to add, I have never been overweight at all, if anything I was told during early pregnancy that I was borderline underweight. And there have never been any concerns with my diet before. I also have not put on much weight during the 32+5 weeks I've been pregnant. It's around about 10lbs at the moment).

I just wondered if anyone else had this problem and if there were any problems that came with it for baby? I feel like I've really let my baby down 😭

Are you sure he wasn't just trying to stop you worrying, making a joke about it just being down to the baby just being a bit chubby and nothing more serious???
I lived on sausage rolls and mini cheddar for 9 months and my kids are fine x

You need a new consultant,what a horrid unprofessional thing to say! The only reason a baby might be bigger than usual due to diet is if you have gestational diabetes as far as I know, could you ask for a gtt test to put your mind at ease? The baby will take what it needs from you, some women are sick the whole way through pregnancy and live off dry toast and the baby is fine. Im sure your baby is perfectly healthy and a few sweet treats is no big deal!

My last pregnancy I had a craving for fudge and ate a shit ton of it. That stuff is pure sugar!

He even asked my other half to keep an eye on my sugary food intake. I have always eaten a lot of veg and fruit. But i feel awful now shes big.

They should have stopped that method for measuring now. It used to be 32 weeks so you should measure 32, or thereabouts, but now they measure based on you individually and if you're progressing steadily. Which is much better!

Never heard of making baby fat from eating too much junk. Was he making a joke?

Everything in moderation.

Hope birth goes well x

That's the most ridiculous thing ever. Carry on eating what you like including treats. As long as it's balanced and your are getting your fruit and veg etc. What a stupid unprofessional man. Please don't worry and if you feel up to it complain.

Thank you all for your kind and comforting comments. I hope you are all right. We weren't very happy with this consulyant abyway if i'm honest as at one point he said "I am supposed to check all the baby's digits and bones a bit more thoroughly but it all looks fine to me and I've got a meeting to be at soon". The scan which we were told usually takes up to 45 mins lasted literally 5 minutes. we were in and out within the hour.

I'm 35w pregnant and my baby is measuring a large tummy too, off the scale, I have had the tests for diabetes and got the all clear.
Never has anyone said it's down to eating sugar?
Just ignore it and don't let it get you down, your doing a good job

That is such an unproffesional thing to say!! Not cool! HOWEVER he probably was just trying to make sugary intake a little lighthearted! If the baby is small or big when it comes out, it doesnt matter AT ALL! what matters is that it is healthy and its diet is good as it grows up :) xxx

I mostly ate cheese and onion pasties during my last pregnancy and DD was a scrawny scrap of a thing at birth.

I ate like a horse during my pregnancy, not really badly, but certainly could've eaten better. DS just under 7lbs and perfectly healthy. Don't beat yourself up, sounds like your consultant is a bit of a dick.

Just seen your reply about him telling your partner to watch your intake, like the little lady can't handle her own diet, what a patronising sexist wanker! Seriously think about making a complaint as others have said, especially if you haven't had a proper scan at 20 weeks ish that checks all the organs and measurements properly. My 20 wk onw took around 25 mins and that includes kidneys, heart chambers, fingers, cleft lip ect ect.

This sounds like total bollocks to me! I craved burritos and iced buns whilst I was pregnant and ate both by the ton! Baby was born at 39+5 weighing 6lb 11oz and perfectly in proportion!

I would contact PALS at your hospital, explain your concerns and ask for a different consultant. This one sounds both useless and rude and you need to feel 100% confident about the people looking after you during pregnancy.

I was sick until about 20 weeks and ate mostly toast with dairylea, and coco pops. Had to see a consultant early on as my bmi was high, so had to have the gtt done, which was absolutely fine. Baby was measuring large and had "good sized baby" on my notes ended up being 7lb 14 and skinny, just really long! Don't worry

I had this, I think it's just the liver is a bit larger than it should be as it's possibly working harder than it should. I am overweight and lost weight by the end of pregnancy through totally healthy eating so it's just one of those things.
My now 2.5 year old is perfectly healthy and weighed 8 lbs 1 oz at birth. They are just over cautious - just take it easy on the sugar as the babies liver still has to process it is my understanding.you haven't done anything terrible at all.

Bloody hell, what a ridiculous thing to have said.

During my pregnancy I ate SO many chicken burgers as I could barely tolerate anything else. My doctor was wholly supportive! It sounds like you have had a far more balanced diet than me during pregnancy, please don't take any notice of your idiot doctor

When I gained about 3 kg in one month at the beginning (I'm sure that was because I had lost weight in the first two months due to sickness and lack of appetite, though my ob doesn't know that as I only went at 11 weeks precisely because of that), it was the first time in my life someone told me off for my weight.
He said to leave the sweet stuff alone. I said the biscuit tin had been on the side since I didn't know how long and chocolate and cake I didn't even fancy. Then he said I could eat veggies as much as I wanted...
I've been lucky that I've only craved anything with fruit. Can't please me with anything else. I cancelled any cake I still had though.

Otherwise just don't take any notice.