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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Big baby - when did you know?

19 replies

le42 · 07/11/2018 18:34

Hi - just wanting advice from any of the mums with bigger than average babies!

I’m 29 weeks tomorrow and we had another scan this week (low placenta), due to various “scares” we’ve had scans at 12, 13, 16,20 and 28 weeks.... our baby showed big from 16 weeks. They thought I might have diabetes as abdomen was over 97th percentile, this has now been ruled out.

On our scan this week... all the measurements were at the top, top end of the scale and he weighs approx 3lbs 7. I made the mistake of googling what a baby should be at this stage and it should be 2lbs 2oz.

So I’m just wanting some advice from other mums who’ve been in this boat... when did you know you were having a “big baby”??

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Stephisaur · 07/11/2018 20:07

I’ve been on regular scans since 20 weeks for various things (might as well move in to the hospital!) and we started to notice that he was on the big side at 24 weeks.

His 28 week scan put him at 3lb 11oz, but we think that was slightly wrong. He was 4lb 12oz at 32 weeks and then estimated at 6lb 4oz today at my 34 week scan.

DH and I are both tall though so we always expected a bigger baby.

Tiredmum100 · 07/11/2018 20:12

I had regular growth scans for my 'big' baby from 20 weeks. Had the tests for diabetes, but all OK on that front. He was just under 10 lb born. It was fine and I didn't require any interventions during labour. Not even a stitch. My 6 lb baby was far more complicated!

sageandrage · 07/11/2018 20:17

At 29 weeks I felt him "turn" it really hurt, I felt his head scraping under my ribs and then down my side and his feet went under my ribs. I knew then there was no way he was turning back around as there'd be no room.

My midwife always said he was a good size and I was pretty worried...she told me at least I knew I wasn't giving birth to an elephant and it was only a baby

He was born a week early and weighed only 9lb but his head circumference (largest part to come out) was off the scale 😬

For context I was in labour 3hrs from first pain to born, had gas and air, zero cuts/stitches/grazes, no intervention and was home within 3 hrs of the birth. Whereas my other child was 6lb and I was in labour 3 days, had every drug going, ventouse, stitches and in hospital a week.

Give me a bigger baby any day, I honestly felt like the baby done half the work with his strength he kind of pushed himself out.

Good luck

imaflutteringkite · 07/11/2018 20:25

About 16 weeks I think. Although it wasn't a surprise as his older brother was big too. At 20 week scan they said he was definitely on the big side which he was at 11lb 13

ILiveForNachos · 07/11/2018 21:05

When they weighed her and pronounced 10lb2! This time I’m going to have extra scans for growing ‘larger than normal babies’ although I had a lovely birth with my first ‘large’ baby with no complications.

OneMoreWish · 07/11/2018 21:26

As I was overweight when i got pregnant I had monthly scans after 12 weeks. I also got gestational diabetes at end of pregnancyz

Growth charts estimated baby to be a good 9 pound odd weight...

Baby was born 11 pound 10 ounces . X

stealthbanana · 07/11/2018 21:30

From the start, really, but had scans from 16w onwards and he was consistently large - 99th percentile. He turned up almost three weeks early still weighing over 8 pounds. Makes life a bit easier when they’re out tho as they have bigger tummies so can feed more!

Pebblesandfriends · 07/11/2018 21:43

Two weeks before giving birth when I was sent for a scan as baby was measuring big! My MIL then told me all hers were 10 plus Ilbs........she'd kept that one quiet

namechange1781 · 07/11/2018 21:47

After she came OUT!!! She was 6LB's on the scan!! Born a week later at 8LB almost 9! Not overly big but almost 3 pound more than they thought!!

Angelmiracle · 07/11/2018 21:53

I measured one week ahead with DS when midwife used the tape for the growth chart. I went 7 days over so was sure he'd be 10lb ish baby. He was 9lb 9. And not all big babies deliver themselves even with spontaneous labour and just gas and air I had episiotomy and forceps. Having growth scans from 26 weeks this time.

redcaryellowcar · 07/11/2018 21:57

Ds2 measured a bit big at 32 weeks (with tape measure) scan showed all be be ok, he was 9lb 4 at birth, but similar to sage he popped out much easier than ds1 who was 6lb. I've never quite understood how a scam can measure the weight of a baby!?

Original poster

le42 · 07/11/2018 22:18

Thanks everyone, I know a big baby doesn’t necessarily mean a more difficult labour just hard to shake that reaction in your head of eeeeek!!! Maybe he will start to slow down growing soon... though my partner is 6ft 3 and I’m 5ft 8 so he’s unlikely to be tiddly!

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 07/11/2018 22:20

When the midwife had a feel of the bump and declared he was “big”. She apologised later in case she had scared me. He was insanely long. I figured better long and skinny than short and fat. And gravity helps with the bigger ones!!
Good luck.

newyeardelurker · 07/11/2018 22:26

When baby was born, two weeks overdue, at 10lb 9. I had fibroids which got huge in pregnancy so the size of my bump was thought due to that.

elf1985 · 07/11/2018 22:26

I remember this bullshit! I had the same all the way through, constantly freaking us out with talk of shoulders getting stuck and forceps. Turns out he just had a big head, and that's all they measured. He came out a healthy 8lb 6 and was much easier than my first labour. Once it got started he shot out. Don't even worry about it. If it is big they will deal with it.

BlessedMamma · 08/11/2018 20:07

I had growth scans with my first DD as she was measuring big and she was born 8.13. I'm now pregnant with my 2nd DD and again she's measuring big. I've had lots of scans throughout this pregnancy and she's been measuring large throughout. At 31 weeks they estimated she weighed 5lbs and at 36 weeks estimated she weighed 8lbs. I've been told this can be approx 1lb either way. I'm now 38 weeks pregnant and booked in for a c-section next week. I'm pretty sure she's going to be a whopper!

Daisy2990 · 08/11/2018 20:26

I had extra scans because he was measuring large from about 32ish weeks as I recall - I also had excess fluid so it was difficult to estimate. He was 82nd centile, 9lb 3, but did have a large head (runs in the family).

This baby is measuring bang on 50% at 20 weeks, which surprised me. I've not done anything different although I'm larger this time so I'm probably slightly more responsible with my diet (only slightly).

Original poster

le42 · 08/11/2018 20:39

Do you think the hospital would recommend a c-section if he keeps growing at this rate?

I actually have a low placenta at the moment so they are monitoring that to see how it will affect birth options.

OP posts:

BlessedMamma · 08/11/2018 21:56

I ended up having an emergency C-Section with my first DD so I was given the option of either this time around. Although when I said I wanted a C-section because she's measuring big my consultant seemed to agree with me. Maybe more because of my history though (large baby and emergency C-section) than just the fact she's measuring large. I do remember at an earlier appointment they said that at a certain point if baby does get too large they would recommend a c-section because the baby's shoulders can get stuck, but I'm not sure when this is.

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