Bump centile vs birth weight

[Nelbert19]

Hi all, just curious really.

I’ve just had my first fundal height measurement at 28 weeks and am measuring on the 95th centile 😱 I’m a first timer aiming for a vaginal birth and my first thoughts have obviously gone to ‘oh god he’s gonna hurt on the way out!’ My husband’s reaction has been ‘amazing, our son is gonna be an absolute unit’ 🙄

Just wondering about other people’s experiences as to whether this translates to a giant baby!

What centile did your bump measurements follow and what was your baby’s weight at birth?

Lol at husbands comment

My bump was well over the top with my first daughter, I mean they ran out of space at the top at 36 weeks. She was predicted to be quite the heffalump even with scans 😂....

She was born 39+4 at the grand total of... 6lb13oz 🤷🏻‍♀️

This time I’m measuring along the 50th percentile but am expecting a very small little lady given my previous experience!

Bump measured over 90th centile both times, Baby 1 was on 27th (6 lbs 15) and baby 2 on 25th (6 lbs 10), I’m tallish and have a long torso, plus anterior placenta and long babies both times so I think it’s a bit meaningless personally!

My bump always measured under at every check.
With DC 3 I ended up having scans after every midwife appointment to check the size of the baby.
With DC1 the midwife predicted I would have a 7lb baby.

Not one of my babies weighed under 9lb at birth.

A friend measured over at every appointment. No other medical conditions.
She had a 7.5lb baby.
The tape measure I very inaccurate.
It's dependent on your body, your weight, fluid and where the baby lays.

Very interesting and reassuring everyone, thank you! Im tall with an anterior placenta too @bananamonkey so hopefully that explains some of it!

Will go and manage my husband’s expectations of a ready made stacked and muscular rugby player 🙄

Echo what PP have said but also it's got ages to level out yet, don't worry.

When I had my first measurement at 28 weeks mine was very high too (can't remember what centile but right at the top) but then went for a scan (unrelated) a few days later and the measurement was right in the middle i.e. completely average.

I carried small with both my babies. I was sent for an extra growth scan at 37 weeks with DC2 as my measurements hadn't changed since 33 weeks. They predicted a baby around 7lb. He was 6lb 12oz (same as DD1) so was pretty accurate.

Bump way over the 95th centile, always 4cm ahead of week. Baby born on the 91st centile, induced 2 weeks early for large baby and excessive fluid. He was 8lbs at 38 weeks which isnt massive but he would have been 9lb+ at due date and I had a previous traumatic delivery so opted for an induction.

Remember your chart is personalised to you based on weight/height/ previous children

My bumps were huge! Both started around the 70th centile and then shot up over the 90th. Ds1 was born at 40+4 and weighed 8lbs 10oz. Ds2 was born at 39+3 and weighed 8lbs 7oz. I did comment to the midwife with ds2 that I had been expecting him to weigh about 2 stone given how massive I was!

my bump always measured spot on for number of weeks. Ds was 9lb 1oz at 42 weeks, so big-ish x

Onto dc3 here, csection booked next week. DC1 on 98th centile on scans and 10lb 10 at 41 weeks. Dc 2 also 98th centile for scans and 98th centile born (8lb 13 at 38 weeks). Dc3 on 99th centile so next week will tell.

I’m a first time mum yet to have my baby but my Mum was told she would be having a small baby with me due to measurements and I was 9lb4 and that was two weeks early!!

In other countries they don’t measure the bump as they realise how inaccurate it can be in relation to birth weight. So try not to focus on it as fact x

With DS2 my bump was apparently measuring ok the small side and I had a 10lb 6oz monster! I really do think it's a guessing game to be honest.

My bump was always 2-3 weeks ahead and baby was born a perfectly average 3.5 kilo .

I also lost 9 kilo just by giving birth so my guess is I had a lot of amniotic fluid and maybe that made my bump bigger . But I have no understanding of that . Anyone else know ???

I cant remember towards the end but I know around the middle of my pregnancy I was told baby was at about 45 percentile and they were expecting him to be 7 pounds and he came out at 8lbs 6oz.

One measurement doesn’t mean much, it’s the trend. If the chart is customised and the same midwife measures you each time, it gives a good indication baby is growing well or not.
It’s not foolproof, you’re not measuring the baby but the uterus and fluid. Babies might lie across, giving a smaller measurement etc. Some women are overweight and will measure big but not have a big baby on board.
The evidence is strong that customised growth charts reduce still birth risks by identifying small babies and delivering them earlier.
As long as your baby follows a curve it doesn’t matter if they are at the top end of the chart, it’s just a guide.

My bump measured 50th centile and he came out 8lbs 15oz. I'm measure 90th this time 😬

In my case massive bump did indeed equal absolute unit.

Lordy, some eye watering baby weights here, well done on those births!!

Sounds as though it’s not very accurate for baby weight though, will placentas and fluid and position to think about too. We shall see when he arrives! Thanks all