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Pregnancy

Can midwife guess baby size by feeling?

47 replies

needsomesunshineandwine · 06/07/2017 14:11

Can midwife estimate weight by feeling your stomach? How early can they start this?

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arbrighton · 06/07/2017 16:30

Given they can only very vaguely estimate from fundal height, and not that much better from growth scan, I doubt it

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Heirhelp · 06/07/2017 16:34

My midwife guessed by DD weight accurately with an oz at 37 weeks . She said it was only a guess but that she was usually right but would not guess until 37 weeks

Just ask your midwife.

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Wolfiefan · 06/07/2017 16:38

Was told DC 1 was massive by MW. He was under 9 lbs!

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TinselAngel · 06/07/2017 16:38

Mine tried and failed.

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eekmumps · 06/07/2017 16:44

Mine did. Was worried he'd be massive and she felt and said no that's an 8lb baby (which I know to some is huge but not in my family!) and sure enough he was born at 8lbs a couple of days later

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BurchellTheBurchell · 06/07/2017 16:45

According to my growth scan I was going to have an 11lb baby. My midwife felt my bump and guessed 7lb7. He was 7lb8!

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BasinHaircut · 06/07/2017 16:46

Mine couldn't even tell if DS was head up or down so I'd doubt it's a reliable method or sizing a baby.

My friend got told her baby had two arses and no heads. Seriously.

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needsomesunshineandwine · 06/07/2017 16:47

Was at hospital today and midwife mentioned baby's a good size so far, bit nervous as my last was over 9lbs.

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YoureNotASausage · 06/07/2017 16:47

No they simply can't. Even guessing the fundal height only tells you the size of the uterus. Some women have lots of fluid some less and that will impact the size of everything.

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wonkylegs · 06/07/2017 16:49

They can guess and they have a chance of being right or as in my case, with both babies completely wrong.
My 'huge' babies were 7lb & 6lb 8oz respectively.
To be fair with no.2 I had Polyhydramnios so had an extremely huge bump but it was all water.

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Bokky · 06/07/2017 16:51

Mine told me DD would be 10lbs+, she was 7lb12oz but very long.

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Northumberlandlass · 06/07/2017 16:52

Mine said between 7-8lb and DS was 10.4lb

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mayhew · 06/07/2017 16:58

I have a good record on guessing weights, but I'm not infallible! I'm usually within 100g/4oz.

I worked on this as a junior midwife on delivery suite. Each woman I palpated, I guessed the weight and position. I covertly wrote this down at the back of the notes. Later, I would check! I did get better over time so I'm sure it is a skill that can be developed.

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happymumof4crazykids · 06/07/2017 17:01

No and all the ones that ever tried were well out! In labour for my first midwife had a good old feel of baby and said wow I think this baby will be big one, I was a bit scared by that especially as he was 3 weeks early! He was only 6lb 9oz. On my 3rd I had an induction at 38 weeks due to gestational diabetes. I had scans every 2 weeks was told baby would be 7lb max midwife did a good feel of baby to put monitors on after having the pessary, turned to me and said you are having a tiny baby, she doesn't feel very big at all! 9lb 11ozs she was! They really can't tell hence they send people for growth scans (which have always been rubbish and way out ime )

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frazzledbutcalm · 06/07/2017 17:04

I'd say not ....

With ds1, both GP and midwife said I was having a big baby. I was 5ft, weighed 7stone, very slim build ... I was terrified as each time they both kept saying I'm hiding this baby very well, it's a very good size. Ds was born weighing a tiny 5lb 3oz!

Dd1, they were concerned she was very small so I was sent for extra scans ... she was born weighing a healthy 7lb 1oz!

They didn't even bother commenting with dd2 and ds2.

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Goldmandra · 06/07/2017 17:04

I was told that my baby was huge just before going to theatre for my ELCS. This upset me because I had gestational diabetes and was worried that she would be big and end up in NICU.

She was well under 7 pounds and didn't need to go to NICU.

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BettyOBarley · 06/07/2017 17:05

In my experience it was only that both DC were going to be on the larger side (correct in both cases) they didnt give a weight estimate.

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steppemum · 06/07/2017 17:13

I had 2 babies over 10 lbs and the midwives didn't clock either of them

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GlitteryFluff · 06/07/2017 17:15

I had a breech 11lb7oz baby.
After having a feel they told me 8lb and head down.
So no, I don't think they can tell!

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PossumInAPearTree · 06/07/2017 17:19

I'm a midwife and i'm shit at this. Colleagues will be like "feels like a large baby" and im a bit like wtf. I can't even guess the weight when theyve delivered and i can see them.

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needsomesunshineandwine · 06/07/2017 18:04

Haha @PossumInAPearTree.

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BringMeTea123 · 10/07/2017 08:42

My midwife said she would be very rich if she could tell. She wouldn't even hazard a guess with mine. My fundal height was bang on at every appointment. My son arrived 11 days late weighing a big 8lbs 9oz. When she came to see me and him as soon as i opened the door she said wow, where were you hiding him! Lol

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needsomesunshineandwine · 10/07/2017 08:53

Think I'm getting myself in panic that baby is going to be a big one 😰

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BringMeTea123 · 10/07/2017 08:57

Awww don't panic. Your body is amazing and capable of more than you think. I was only a size 6 and am 5'6 so everyone assumed I was going to have a 6lb baby. But I managed it at nearly 9lbs. You can do it 😘 x

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stonecircle · 10/07/2017 09:01

I was huge with DS3 - two midwives were adamant he would be no more than 10 lbs. He was 12 lbs.

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