What happens if your baby is measuring big?

[guiltynetter]

I’m 30 weeks and when i had my bump measured a few weeks ago the midwife said the baby was measuring above the top centile (nearly off the chart!). she didn’t seem too concerned and said they would just measure me again, but my next appointment isn’t until nearly 35 weeks (second baby)

If he was measuring off the chart again does anybody know what they would do and has anybody experienced the same?

i’m doing a lot of worrying that i’m growing a giant baby i won’t be able to push out 😱

The measurements don't mean much, if she was concerned you would have been referred for a growth scan. I was measuring 4 weeks ahead and he was off the chart everyone made out he was a monster but growth showed he was fine just had a big tummy (GD).

Nothing really - my ds was pretty big I guess 9lb 9 but gave birth to him fine - unless you have another complication size is not really an issue - nor is bump measurement really very reliable indicator of size. Did they do any investigations as could be a sign of GD or too much fluid - which might need interventions. If you are really worried they might arrange a later scan (we have 36 week scan as standard in my trust but this is unusual).

I had this with DC3. I was sent for a growth scan which showed every measurement on the 50th centile apart from the abdomen which was above the 90th, so I was referred for another glucose test for gestational diabetes.

That came back clear, and by the time she was born my bump had come back in line and I was only a cm bigger than dates.

Ironically, she ended up being my smallest baby... 8lb5 compared to 9lb0 the other two times!

I was measuring quite big (although everyone said I looked neat 🤷🏻‍♀️) and had "good sized baby" written in the risk box in my notes after a growth scan 🙈
He was 7lb 14 and 6 days over so not massive

The midwife can feel if it’s a big baby.

Ask for a growth scan - I was refused as growth scans were only for smaller babies 12 years ago.

I needed an emergency Caesarian for my 11lb 12oz baby.

My baby has measured big every single appointment since 28 weeks. They're more concerned about the rate of growth and that is tracks along the same growth curve than the measurement itself.

I did have a growth scan at 36 weeks but that was because I had symptoms of preeclampsia and reduced movements in one week.

The scan showed that I was bang on 50th percentile, whereas midwife measures me on 95th so just shows how inaccurate they can be.

You take the measurements with a very large grain of salt.
Ds1 was apparently measuring large and going to be huge. He was 7lb 11oz at 42+1. My nephew's mama was told at a scan a while before his birth that he was 7lb already and he was born on his EDD at just over 6lb.

I found fundal height measurements varied massively depending on who was measuring them and the position of the baby anyway.

Mine was big and I had additional growth scans, at 39 weeks they estimated that he was 8lb 4oz and they asked if I was concerned - I’m pretty sure they would have offered an insurance toon if I’d been worried I said we had a family history of big babies and I didn’t want to do anything. He was born at 9lb 6oz at 40+6 with a lovely pool birth. Bigger isn’t necessarily an issue.
I am now nearly 20 weeks with the 2nd one and massive, trying not to worry - if they are seriously estimating 11 or 12 lb closer to the end then I might seriously consider other options!

I’ve had a GTT which came back fine but it wasn’t because of the bump measuring big, i had it the week before i was measured for the first time.

Ricstar if the baby follows the line on the growth chart it’s predicted 9lb 10! it just seems so big. my DD was 8lb and i couldn’t push her out properly :(

Wondering whether to book a private scan to get a more accurate idea to stop the worrying or if that’s just a daft idea.

My 2nd pregnancy was measuring at the top end of the charts. I was having extra growth scans as my first baby was too small (hmm maybe a 3rd will be juuuuust right). She was 95th per centile but was born a few days over and was a pretty average 7lb 1oz.

Nothing, you have to deal with squeezing a large baby out I’m afraid . I had three ten pounders so it’s normal to me and I’m expecting it this time too. My bump always measured way above and they only bothered with a growth scan the first time which showed a 7 lb baby at 33 weeks. He was born 3 days overdue and was 10 lbs. My foof survived .

I had a DD first who was 8lb 13 and got stuck needed loads of interventions - ds at 9lb 9 flew out in a couple of pushes once I was fully dilated - of course it's individual bit it really does not mean a harder labour necessarily.

thanks that makes me feel a bit better!