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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Measuring ahead of my dates - what does it mean?

16 replies

oysterpots · 12/04/2007 13:41

Saw the midwife last week who took my fundal height and said I was measuring large for my dates (was 24 weeks and measuring 28cm). So she put me in for a growth scan which I had this morning.

Results were that head circumference is measuring a week ahead, which still appears to be in the normal range, and the abdominal circumference is measuring 2 weeks ahead, which is at the upper limits of normal.

The hospital midwife has recommended that I have the glucose tolerance test to rule out gestational diabetes, and should see the consultant on Wednesday to discuss possibilities and monitoring for the rest of the pregnancy (I also have a giant fibroid which puts me into a high-risk category anyway).

If it's not gestational diabetes, why else might you have a baby that is large for gestational age? Is it just a big baby (there are a few 9lb-ers in the family)? Has anyone else experienced this and what was the prognosis?

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Twinmummyx2 · 12/04/2007 15:09

Hiya-i experienced this with all my pregnancies....i always measured 6 weeks ahead after 24 weeks....my babies wee around the 9lb mark with the 3rd being 10lb....

You have weeks to go though and it might all measure out in the end..otherwise it might mean you have a larger than average baby. The midwifes will keep an eye on the growth-it's nothing to be worried about.x

Twinmummyx2 · 12/04/2007 15:12

Oh-forgot to add, they do check for diabeties if they think baby might be on the big size. Over here you routinley have a test if you have delivered a baby over 9lb 8ozs.....some people just have big babies! I had to starve myself from midnight...went into hospital at 8am, they took blood...then gave me some horrid liquid that tasted like melted down sherbert lemons.....i had to drink it over an hour and then have another blood test....had to eat something and then was allowed to leave...very boring!xx

motherinferior · 12/04/2007 15:13

Or you might just have a baby that arrives a couple of weeks early, at a perfect less than 7lb, like DD2.

Hopeitwontbebig · 12/04/2007 15:21

Hi, my first baby was 10lb 10oz so they tested me for gest diabetes when I was having DS2, it came up as negative, he was 10lb 4oz. We, like you have some big babies in the family..... good luck

Original poster

oysterpots · 12/04/2007 15:27

Thanks everyone - that's reassuring. Did you all deliver naturally at those sizes? The other thing the midwife said was they might think about early delivery which sounds a bit scary...

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Hopeitwontbebig · 12/04/2007 15:34

Yep, both of mine were normal deliveries, both overdue. I've since moved areas and they've told me they might delivery DC3 early... think it depends on the consultant you are under. HTH

Bubbaloo · 12/04/2007 16:37

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Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Twinmummyx2 · 12/04/2007 18:53

Yep all my singletons were natural delivery..just gas and air and 6 mins of pushing for the 10lber...he was delivered 2 weeks early though because he was large and they didnt want him getting any bigger.I'd had a scan a few days earlier with an estimated weight of 9lb 11 and voiced my concerns ;)

rantinghousewife · 12/04/2007 18:59

Yes, I was v. large with ds, altho' they didn't measure your bump then. He was 9lb 10oz (and a ventouse delivery). All the babes in my ex-hubs family have been large tho' and they did give me a GTT with my second pregnancy. Some people just have large babies.

coleyboy · 12/04/2007 19:06

Fundal measurements are a guide, they can't really tell what size your baby is from it. You've probably noticed your bump changes shape when the baby moves, therefore measurements taken at different times (and my different MW's) will be different.

Also, a lot of health authorities won't estimate the weight of a baby from a sizing scan as they are so inaccurate (upto 15% out I think).

And some of us just have big baba's!! DS was 9.3 lbs, and my birthweight was 7.7lbs and I was six weeks early!

If you are happy with your size and you feel everything is fine, don't let them pressure you into scans, induction etc. I fell into that trap and received a lot of flak from the Ob's team - the bunch of shite heads!!

Twinmummyx2 · 13/04/2007 08:07

Yeah i agree, they do get it wrong sometimes..my 3rd baby was 10lb and with my 4th they said he was gonna be bigger from what the scans were telling us....i was induced because of it and had the worst birth and pain ever...baby got distressed..i was in hospital for a week, they were waiting for him to go head down, as soon as he was they broke my waters and 2 midwives were pushing down on my tummy to get his head right down before the cord got in the way... had to have blood taken from his head when still inside..i then had to push him out at 8cm dilated coz it got so bad for him....it was very stressful.....and he was only 8lb 5!!! I was very annoyed!!!

So all of that stuff they give you is ony a guide-don't make any quick decisions about anything.

sheepgomeep · 13/04/2007 14:04

I've measured ahead of my dates too. I.ve also had the glucose test too and a scan which put the size of the baby at the top of the scale and my stomach measurements were two weeks ahead. They said oh you will deffo have a big baby possibly a nine or 10 pounder.

I went to my mw appointment last week to be told I'm now measuring a week behind and my mw said not to take too much notice at what they say at the hospital cos they ofen are incorrect.

I had oligiohydramnios (no fluid) with dd and her scan showed she was on the 'small side', her leg measurements weren't normal, neither was her head etc, really scared me. Then I had her and she was 7lb 11 oz and absolutely fine.

I wouldn't worry too much

dejags · 13/04/2007 14:16

I have had this all three times.

2nd time round I agreed to all the tests, additional scans and stress.

My "gigantic" baby was born 8lbs5, so a very average weight. He did have a large head though - 38.5cms - but I had a normal birth with no stitches.

ticklytum · 22/01/2009 08:53

im 5ft 2. i had two previous large babies by section first 9lbs04oz failed induction 1 week over high bp, second 9lbs14oz went into labour 2 weeks over failed to progress failed spinal evetually had to put under ga.

pregnant with third. 33 weeks now had scan yesterday approx weight 5lb12oz. but with my previuos babies they more or less got the weight pretty accurate.been tested for gtt just keeping eye. has anyone had vbac delivery after two sections, id love to hear from someone ive heard of women but not actually spoken to anyone.

OatcakeCravings · 22/01/2009 09:25

This all happened to me as well - baby measuring large for dates - sent for scan and baby big - sent for glucose test which was negative - baby born by C section (not 'cos big 'cos breech) and he was 8lbs 15 oz BUT he was 5 weeks early so he'd have been even bigger if I'd gone to term and he had a big head so I'm glad I didn't have to push him out!

I was worried about it all as well at the time but it all worked out well.

ticklytum · 22/01/2009 10:05

hello oatcakecravings. well the consultants were telling me the good news that 10 in hundred babies were large babies and that 9 of them babies will be bigger than mine!!! now i believe them. how did you cope with your stomach and why did they section you early? and which number baby is this?

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