Big baby

[Sophiej99]

My first born was 9lbs 11oz I had no risk factors through my pregnancy with him neither was I told I was going to be having a big baby. If I was to have another baby would I be having more frequent checks Through the pregnancy? Would it be labelled as high risk or does it not matter of the size of my first?

Unless there’s a particular reason for your first baby being big (eg gestational diabetes) you won’t get any extra checks (unless anything in your next pregnancy warrants further checks). My Dc1 was 10lb, and was a complete surprise. Dc2 was 8lb13, ended up with growth scans and GD tests but this was due to indications in this pregnancy, not due to dc1 being so big. They tried to scare me that dc2 was off the charts, turns out they were wrong!

My first was 9lb 6.5oz.
My 2nd they never even mentioned size of my first. I was high risk for other reasons though and then they worried baby was small and he was born 6lb 5oz full term

Now 27 weeks with 3 rd and again they havnt mentioned about size of either of my others but am high risk for other reasons.

Depends if there are any other symptoms or issues for concern. They generally don't bother about a big baby on its own without other symptoms.

My first was 9 lbs 1 and size was never brought up for my entire pregnancy. I measured spot on, had nothing in my urine etc. I had a GTT cos of my BMI at 28 weeks that was normal. Just put down to being a big baby.

DS2 on the other hand, I measured ahead the entire pregnancy. I had the GTT at 28 weeks and another 2 after that. Because my results were the higher end of normal and I had protein and glucose in my wee with him. I had a scan around 30/32 weeks because they were concerned about how big I was measuring. The scan was normal and suddenly no one was concerned when I said my first was 9 lbs. I had youngest early at 38 weeks because of pre-eclampsia and he was 8.5lbs. If I'd had him at 41 weeks like my DS1 he would have been 10 lbs!!

I've had 3 big-ish babies 8lb11, 8lb15 and 9lb10, I'm currently nearly 38wks with dc4.

I measured on track for pregnancies 1-3, this one I'm older and fatter and he's measured 2.5wks ahead on fundal height since 28wk appointment and was 75% centile at 21wk scan. I had a GTT at 28wks but that was based on my weight not his and I don't have diabetes.

I've just had a routine growth scan at 37wks (everyone offered one) and he allegedly weighs nrly 9lb already. So on track to be a really big one especially as I go to 42wks normally. Had another GTT again clear.

Because of his potential size (I take the scan prediction with a pinch of salt, but was expecting him to be 10lb+ as each has got bigger) they are offering to induce at 40wks, if favourable. I've otherwise been low risk and had no problems.

That said each birth of mine has also got easier so I'm hoping this will be the same.

My trust will test you for gestational diabetes if you had a previous baby of 10lb or bigger.

Great! Thank you for the replies!

What’s considered a ‘big baby’?

It’s very difficult to measure accurately during the last few weeks anyway. My best friend was told she was going to have a whopper (allegedly 10lb+!) and was scheduled for induction because her BUMP was so big, but she went into labour and delivered a 7lb13oz but long baby boy. Which isn’t ‘whopper’ by any standards.

I’ve heard many stories about this. Centile measurements grade the size by comparison to the 12w and 20w scan measurements don't they? So you might get ‘big’ if your baby’s early measurements were big, but they usually adjust due dates accordingly so that all 12w foetus’ are the same size...🤷‍♀️

@devilishlygood I had scans at 8wks and 12wks. Baby was the right size for dates then not measuring big at all.

At 21wks he was on 75th centile, my understand of that is that of 100 babies measured at 21wks, 75 measure smaller than him and 25 bigger. At 37wks he had gone off the scale for a number of measurements. A big baby is one who weighs or predicted to weigh above the 90th centile.

It does get much harder to measure accurately as they get bigger though and these growth scans can add more angst. I was "expecting" this baby to be 10lb+ at 42wks anyway based on previous baby weights, and boys tending to be bigger.

My births have all got easier due to gravity and a path well travelled now.