Growth scans - expected big baby - terrified of birth 😔

[njr1895]

I’m currently 36+3 and had a growth scan yesterday. Baby is estimated to be 8lb2oz 😳 I had another scan 4 weeks ago and baby was estimated at 5lb5oz. I have another growth scan booked for 2 weeks, and the consultant has said they will reassess then. More than likely I will be induced on or around my due date. In all honesty I am absolutely terrified. I have gone through my whole pregnancy a bit naive about birth but now I’m petrified of the possibility I will give birth to a possible large baby. I know it is all estimated and no one knows until the birth. I’m just hoping the hospital commit to a plan at my next visit as they seem a bit ‘we shall just see what happens’ at the moment. Sorry for the long post, just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience x

Going from peoples experiences of growth scans on here, your baby will probably come out 7lb 3ozs and you'll wonder what the point of growth scans is....

Yep, what they ^ said!

Growth scans are notoriously inaccurate. Tbh I can't believe they still do them.

Fwiw... I've had 3 babies.

Dc1 - 11 hour labour, pushing for over an hour. Weight 7lbs.

Dc2 - 4 hour labour, pushing for 10 minutes, weight 10lbs

Dc 3 - 2 hour labour, pushing for 15 minutes, weight 10lbs.

IME bigger babies far easier to deliver. Gravity helps them a lot 😂

My ‘big’ baby came early and very quickly at 37 weeks- he weighed 6lbs! Lol

I’m in same position, I’ve had a couple of accelerated growth spurts and he’s estimated over 9lbs at dd. I’m 39 weeks now so I’m hoping he comes soon!

Many different midwives have told me that bigger babies can be easier because of gravity but also the positioning - smaller babies can turn more and get themselves into less conducive positions in labour.

Remember that during the birth the size of baby only really affects the very end bit. Contractions and dilation process is no different whether your having a 5 or 10lb baby - it’s dependant on so many factors.

I’d recommend looking into some hypnobirthing videos, books and audios online and some positive birthing stories - not just concerning bigger babies, just birth in general. I’m keeping myself focused and positive using relaxation, meditation and visualisations.

My dm was told with me i was going to be massive at about 9.5lbs... i was 6lbs born. She was then told with db he would be tiny at about 5lbs and he was 8lbs born. I habe never met anyone who has been accurate at all.

Growth scans are a load of nonsense usually. I’ve had them in both my pregnancies. 1st they were worried DD had IUGR - she was born on time at 6lbs7oz. 2nd I was told DS was already 7lbs at 33 weeks and would be ‘at least’ 10lbs at birth - born on due date at 7lbs 10oz. Lots of friends with similar experiences. Honestly don’t give it much thought.

I've had 4, 8lb 12oz to 9lb 3oz. Last 2 at home with no pain relief needed; I learnt that the best way to manage my labours was to relax during each contraction. It seemed that it wasn't so much the size of the baby, but the size of the head.

My first born was 9lb 12oz! Long labour but all was well!

My second was 8lb 4.5.

No mention both times that I was carrying a big baby- the first I really knew was when the midwives were saying what a whopper I had had and putting him next to other new borns hehe!! xx

I should say- (maybe?) I am a size 12 average - when pregnant bump just looked normal size. I am currently pregnant again and wondering what the weight may be! lol

Dd1 was predicted to be over 9lb - no growth scan but she came out at 8lb at nearly 42 weeks. Dd2 I had to have a couple of growth scans as she was measuring too small. Born at 41 weeks at nearly 8lb. I know I shouldn't base things on 'what I read on the internet' but every growth scan for a large baby on here has been inaccurate.

Agree with the others. Wildly inaccurate and means nothing for labour and delivery. Bigger babies are often easier. I've had a 6lb and 7lb baby respectively. Both horrifically stuck and resulted in 2 emcs.

You have no way of predicting labour and delivery. Plan for the best, prepare for all other options. Good luck.

I measured 3 weeks ahead by whole pregnancy, they guessed my son would be 10lb 2oz. My due date came and went I went to 41+2 was due to be induced at 41+3. He was born 9lb 1oz, nearly a home birth because I could manage Labour pains at home by myself. My daughter was 7lb 11oz spent the whole labour in hospital, needing pain relief and after care. I was in and out with my son, size means nothing

As everyone else says.

Dc2 was assessed as being big and a high risk birth due to my previous history - at a 36 weeks growth scan he was allegedly already around 9lb.

C section at 38 weeks exactly (cesarean section rather than induction was due to complications ending in emergency section during birth of dc1). He was 8lb 6. Healthy placenta so no way he had stopped growing at the 36 weeks scan.

Scan must have been wrong.

Six months PP with my first child; he was 9 and a half pounds and all scans were pretty accurate on that point (I had more than average as I was overdue by a few weeks). They went on about head circumference as well, which didn’t make me any less relaxed

I ended up with an EMCS as I just couldn’t push him out—they were concerned he was apparently showing signs of distress. I had no trouble getting to the pushing stage though. Obviously I think his size was related to that, as he’s big for a first baby.

You might want to be prepared for that eventuality.

I was told DD was going to be a 10lb baby which obviously terrified me! She was actually 7lb14oz. Those growth scans are not that accurate! Try not to panic!

I have big(ish) babies! They're not so scary I promise!

My first was 9lb 8oz, I was only a teenager. Did it all on gas and air, no problem, no tears, easy.

Second was 8lb 13oz, again, no problems.

Third was 9lb 4oz. I can't remember about the growth scans for the other two, but the last one I remember at 36 weeks, I was told baby was 8lb already. I went 8 days over and she was 9lb 4oz.

It's really hard not to read into the growth scans, but they are notoriously inaccurate and can be way off.

Even if you have a big baby, it doesn't mean things will go wrong. All of mine were fine, and I've heard bigger babies are 'easier' births because gravity helps. Trust your body, it will only hold a baby it can birth, and you have great care looking after you.

(And remember to try and keep active and not lay on your back for the birth, really helps!)

Ds2 was 9lb 6oz and was born at 38 weeks. Labour was about 5 hours and only gas and air needed. He was also back to back but I don't know if that makes it more painful because ds1 was also back to back so nothing to compare it to!

A friend of mine was induced as she was told her baby was large and had an awful labour which almost ended in a section. Her baby was 7lb. 🙄

Ds2 was predicted to be big based on the growth scan and I measured big for dates all the way through the pregnancy so it was accurate.

DS1 was a surprising 10lb 3oz

Had a scan with DS2 at 39 weeks and was told to expect another big baby. He came at 40+4 weighting ‘just’ 8lbs 8oz.

Thank you all ever so much! I’m definitely trying not to read too much into the scans. We shall see what happens in 2 weeks!

Bless you! I was predicted very big baby and had one just over 6 and half pounds, normal.

Please don't let these people alarm you - and many women give birth quite normally to big babies. My mil did, my husband was huge (for the time).

I think the Duch of Cambs babies were all big and she seems to have had them without too much bother. Not that other people's anecdotes mean much.

Sorry you are likely to be induced - hope it isn't necessary.

Good luck & congrats on having a baby.

As everyone else has said, growth scans can be really unreliable! I was told I had a tiny baby, max 5lb, and to expect a stay in NICU when he was born. He was 8lb...

My bag of tiny baby clothes were of no use!

I was induced with DS3 at 36+3 as he was going to be huge apparently and also I was showing signs of pre-eclampsia. He arrived after about 1/2 an hour of cramping sensations and 15 mins pushing. He was 9lb 12oz.
So please don't worry.