Estimated birth weights...how & when?

[ThinkPink71]

I'm seeing a few posts where people are saying...baby weighed 7lbs at last appointment etc....how do they know? Ive just been having my belly measured and plotted on a graph.

Sorry, first baby so not sure what to expect and when :)

Are they having growth scans? I had two in the third trimester where the consultant estimated the size and weight of baby and also plotted the rate of growth between the two and used that to estimate the birth weight. He was dead on in my case but I’ve heard lots of cases where the growth estimates are completely wrong!

It'll be because of growth scans. You get an estimated weight when you have them

Growth scan only happen if they are concerned about the baby’s size.

I was told my baby was too small at a check up, so I had to have growth scans! They was talk he was really small and had stopped growing. Then I was told he was too big and checked for GD! They estimated him at 10-12lbs! I had a c section 12 days early and he came out 8lbs exactly!

They're notoriously inaccurate anyway. At 38 weeks I was told my baby would be 8lb+ - 4 weeks later she arrived and was 6lb 4oz.

Yes it's just if you're having growth scans or under consultant care for medical reasons and they need to estimate weight or size.

I only had growth estimates in my second pregnancy because Baby and I had a few health issues.

Thanks guys :) had no concerns so far (touch wood) so that will be why Ive not heard of it

xxx

i had to have growth scans with my last baby and they estimate birth weight from them - although it’s debatable how accurate they actually are. they estimated my baby weighed 7lbs and she actually weighed 4lb.

At each anti-natal appointment, the midwife should measure your bump and plot it on a graph in your notes - this gives a very approximate idea.

At my 36 week appointment, my bump measured small enough for me to be referred for a growth scan. The scan measure my daughter to be just over 7lb so nothing to worry about. When she was born two weeks later, she was over 9lb!

It will be from growth scans although I've known midwives to take a good guess based on a feel of the bump.

My growth scan was bang on, they estimated 5lb12oz at 35+6 and she arrived at 36+6 6lb5oz - if you go by babies gaining half a pound a week.

@ivfbabymomma1 baby’s put on a pound a week at the end so your scan sounds spot on.