Growth scan: baby'a abdominal circumference above 97th centile

[17caterpillars1mouse]

Went for my second growth scan and baby's abdominal circumference is measuring big at above 97th centile. Head and femur length are just above 50th centile. Consultant isn't currently worried and said will see what is happening at next growth scan (36 weeks). I had the GTT at 28 weeks which came back negative.

Has anybody any experience of this. Consultant said not to worry as everything else is looking normal (fluid amount etc) but it's hard not to worry.

This is DC2. DC1 was 6.7lbs

Had similar, in my case I was developing gestational diabetes (bit earlier, 31 weeks.) Never had polyhydramnios that can be associated.

Yes I had this! I had the testing for gestational diabetes around 28 weeks came back negative. Had a scan to see if my placenta had moved at 32 weeks (it had) but baby was measuring off the scale with his abdominal circumference so I had diabetes test again but came back negative, again. I'm currently 38+1 weeks and haven't had extra scans or anything. Think I'm growing an elephant! X

I had this. There was no particular reason for it, no diabetes, no extra fluid etc. At my 36 week scan her belly was measuring on the 97th centile and I was still hopeful for a vbac. At my 39 week scan her belly was actually off the scale for normal growth and I opted for another c section (then went into labour before one could be arranged and ended up having an emcs!)

One thing you might want to quiz your consultant about though is shoulder dystocia. Where a babies abdominal circumference is much larger than its head circumference it can increase the risk of this happening.

Hi - my babies abdomen has been 97th percentile at 16, 20 and 28 week scans. I was tested for diabetes at 25 and came back negative. Baby is measuring very heavy (if they measure this accurately?), at last scan he should have weighed 2.2lbs and he was 3.7lbs. My placenta has been low at all these scans so unclear what method I’ll give birth... I do feel a bit scared about how big he is... every measurement is large but the abdomen and head circumference were both 97th percentile.

Not sure I have any advice!! I’m trying to figure it all out myself too!

Both of my babies had this. Normal head/femur and enormous abdominal circumference. Both measured way, way above the top of the graph, around 6-8 weeks ahead.

They were both heavyish babies but absolutely perfect and healthy. Just long and not scrawny I am pretty short so I think they were really scrunched up, making their tummies seem extra big.

Hopefully it will be nothing to worry about. If the consultant thought something was odd they would tell you.

Similar happened in one of my pregnancies. DC measured 97 % for abdomen and head but only 50 % for limbs. I was really worried and was given so many monitoring scans.

One doctor told me not to worry. That a babies abdomen and head are where the important organs are and it shows they’re growing correctly, limbs can catch up.

I’ve no idea if that was true for everyone but I did have a baby with a big head and chest.

That child is now in Y6 and still has a big head, a huge rib cage, but the arms and legs caught up pretty quickly. They’ve always been the tallest child in their class at nursery and school.

I’m having this exact issue at 38 weeks now !
They never tested me for diabetes - so now I’m seeing consultant because of increased fluid levels he’s a tad annoyed !
So he gave me a gdd test today - even though it’s a bit late - he just wanted to see if this was the cause !
My fluid at 36 weeks as 21.7 - at 38 weeks it’s now 24.5 ..... and estimated baby weight at moment 8lb 3
I’m scared I’m having a 10lb’r and I’m also scared there’s something wrong with his swallow as to why so much fluid !! But won’t know anything until he’s born now !

As previous post suggested I’d ask about shoulder dystocia - I’m being sweeped every 3 days to try get things going - but if no luck I’m being induced on my due date 😕