95th percentile

[sarah7489]

During my midwife appointments my bump size has always been spot on, however today I had a growth scan due to reduced movements the last 2 days and was told my baby is measuring very big, on the 95th percentile, I'm 33 weeks tomorrow but apparently baby is measuring at 38, and its abdominal circumference size was off the chart. I would of had no clue about this if wasnt for the reduced movements leading to the scan. At my 20 week scan they said the abdominal size was measuring large but everything else was normal and was nothing to worry about so I hadnt thought about it much since. They've booked me in for a glucose test next week as said gastric diabetes could be the cause but could there be any other reason for it? And even if it turns out I have it would it make any difference at this point? They said they'll explain more to me once do the test and get test results back but that's going to be over a week away :( earliest I can see my midwife is Thursday too. Anyone else experienced anything similar?
Also my PI umbilical artery was measuring very high, no idea what this means?

Do you mean gestational diabetes? If you have it and baby is measuring big because of it they will more than likely induce you after 37 weeks xx

Also the umbilical artery is that the blood flow through the umbilical cord? ... found this on google In normal pregnancies, umbilical PI starts at high values and then decreases progressively toward term.

Did they not explain this to you after the scan? I hate that 🙄 xx

If you test positive for gestational diabetes, there’s still time to have you test your blood sugar and alter your diet. Perhaps try some medicine if necessary. They would also check your baby’s blood sugar at birth. You may be offered an induction as well.

I was the same and they tested me for GD but I didn't have it, I was induced due to his size at 38 weeks and he was born by section at 38.3 9lbs, he has been really big since he is now 16 months and in 2-3 clothes and taller than everyone at nursery

Gestational diabetes is diabetes in pregnancy and you can change your diet to regulate sugar as your body won't be processing it normally. It usually goes away as soon as you have the baby. It's important to feed your baby asap after birth but apart from these things it's no reason not to have a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Yeah gestational diabetes sorry, they didnt really explain anything to me, during scan I was told everything seemed okay and while doing measurements she just said it's a big baby. Then when I was waiting for my notes back I was called into another room where I was told they're concerned baby is measuring very big on 95th percentile, especially the abdominal size which was off the chart with its size and measuring bigger than the head and so need to book me in for glucose test asap. Friday is earliest appointment they had though, they said I should get the results a few days after and they'd discuss all options with me at that point depending on results. I phoned my midwife after to see if she could tell me anything else but she just said try not to worry and she would go through stuff with me at our appointment thursday.

It was only when I was looking at the notes they printed off after I noticed the umbilical atery PI and RI scales, both of which are in higher percentile but PI is right at high end of scale.

This happened to me. I was sent for a further scan at 36 weeks which out baby above the 95th percentile. I was given a sweep at 38 and a half weeks but didn't work. I was then booked in for an induction at 39 weeks as they didn't want me to go over my due date. Baby arrived at 39 weeks and 4 days, and was big but not above the 95th. I think it was 84th or something. The consultant had told me they over estimate in about 60% of cases and while my baby was chunky he wasn't massive (9lbs exactly)

I had growth scans due to having a small bump. High PI was identified from 35 weeks and I was monitored weekly. Mine dipped again at 37 weeks but shot back up at 39 weeks, and I was induced at 39+6. I never fully understood what it meant, but I think it's something to do with blood flow through the cord.

I totally understand you will be worried. Seems very cruel to send you off till Friday not really knowing what's what. However the curse is also a blessing. If they were worried they would not have sent you off. I bet you just have a lovely, healthy, big baby. And if it is diabetes I have known two women with this and in both cases it was nothing more than change of diet to manage it. I spent 20 weeks of pregnancy it a state of fear (marker for downs syndrome at 20 wk scan and tiny measurements) and guess what? Perfect tiny baby.

I had similar measurements throughout (regular growth scans fortnightly from 28 to 38 weeks for unrelated reasons). No diabetes, baby was born a spectacularly average 8lb at 39 weeks

Can also be a big long backed baby if squished. Had serial growth scans from low papp-A- always measuring big. At 38 wks abdomen off scale, induced due to concerns re size relative to my dainty first born who'd needed a ventouse- was 8lbs at 38+3 so not huge at all, but was definitely quite long in the back - needed vest extenders for newborn straight away!

At my 24 week scan they advised me I have two 95th centile babies kicking around in there. I knew it was twins before, and my last two babies were 91st and 97th centile, but still it’s a great shock to find that the two were 95th centile.
No diabetes, just a 6’6’’ husband.
Lucky for me my babies are long with wee heads

I agree with HJWT, it’s pretty rubbish to send you off without explaining everything. Perhaps there is some comfort in the fact the professionals aren’t hurrying?

Hey - no real advice, but going through the same thing. I am 28/29 weeks, but baby is measuring nearly 34 weeks for all measurements - ironic that I was in for low Papp-a scan which is supposed to mean small babies... my last two were big too (8.12 and 9.6) and consultant said no real concerns yet, I just breed big babies! Having glucose too next week, good luck with yours :)

My first was 9lb9 but my second was 10lb12 so subsequent 2 pregnancies I had to have consultant led care and GD tests. I never had GD. Was told I would be induced as wasn't allowed to go to due date as 'babies get bigger the more you have' 🙄 etc. I declined to be booked for induction as I could feel my baby wasn't huge. (The one who was 10lb12 physically hurt me when he turned in my belly etc 😂)
Went into labour naturally and lo and behold he was 8lb12. One after that was 8lb14.
All 4 were natural deliveries. The 10lb'er was the only one I didn't tear with. Go figure. 🤷🏼‍♀️
Any measurements I had done past the 20 week mark all seemed to vary massively from scan to scan and didn't seem to give us any accurate ideas on size at all. 🤔

DS was off the charts for percentiles - his abdominal measurements causing it. They tested me twice for GD as they couldn't believe he was that big naturally. (We've just got a lot of tall genes in the family! And I'm the shortest)
They wouldn't let me go over and I had a c section at 39+3, he came out a third of my height weighing 10lbs11.5oz. (His blood sugars were also tested before his first 3 feeds as they thought he may be the one with diabetes! - All fine.) He's carried on being long - he's just shy of 8 months and wears 18-24 months.

If you do find after the test you have GD they will most likely offer an induction around 38 weeks, based on the advice I was given.

Thanks for the comments everyone, slightly more reassuring. I'm still scared of having a big baby though! I'm only petite and 5ft2, my partner is 6ft.
Same as LadyOfTheFlowers mentioned whenever the baby turns round it does physically hurt sometimes (My bump is constantly strange shapes and lumpy as you can always see exactly where baby Is lying), same with some of the kicks, they can feel that strong I will actually double over in pain. When I'd questioned my midwife about it previously if it should actually be hurting when baby moves she just said it was because I was small and baby was trying to make more room.

I used to find that sometimes he would take a position and wedge himself in such a way that I would have to get down on all fours and let my belly 'hang' until it encouraged him to move.
Once I had given birth to him, the arch formed by my bottom ribs over my belly felt bruised and battered which the midwife said was from him moving and pressing against them.
I am 6' and as I said he was 10.12 and of all 4 pregs he was the only one I felt absolutely full with. Like he took every square inch available. When I went on to have my 3rd, even at full term there was spare belly skin hanging at the bottom that wasn't needed. 😂

On a different tangent, I always had faith that my body wouldn't grow any babies too big for me to birth seeing as I never had GD.

OP or anyone else who had commented on this thread from May this year: how did it all turn out for you? I'm having a bit of a scare at the moment: baby has been measuring on the 95th percentile for abdominal circumference & head since 20 week scan, and still is at 25 weeks (this week). I'm really small (under 5 foot) & the dad is not massive either. Have the diabetes test in a couple of weeks which seems really late. Are there other reasons why babies turn out so large? My previous DS never went above the 20th percentile.

Hi @nopun, my DS arrived at 39 weeks weighing 8lb1oz, rather than the 9-10lb he was predicted from his growth scans.