Baby measuring big at 34 weeks - Experiences please!

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

I’m just after some stories from people who have been in a similar situation. Sorry for the long post. I didn’t want to leave out anything relevant.

I had a private scan on Sunday (34+1) because DH hadn’t seen DD2 since the 12w scan and I thought it would be nice for him. It was done with Ultrasound Direct and they did head, abdominal and femur measurements and estimated baby’s weight from that. Those measurements put me at 35+5 and said baby was currently weighing around 6lb3oz. I know it’s not an exact science.

Now, my concern is that I still have 5-7 weeks left to go for DD2 to get bigger. My DH was induced 2 weeks early as his older brother was born weighing 10lb2oz. DH’s older sister (first baby) was 8lb something. DH, two weeks early, was 9lb12oz. I’m 5ft 4 and DH is 6ft. I was 8lb12oz but my mum is significantly taller than me.

I told all of this to my midwife today at my 34w appointment and she looked at my 20w scan notes to see what percentile I was measuring at then to see if I’ve remained consistent. I was around the 50th percentile (sometimes a little under) and now I’m 90th percentile. She said she would speak to the hospital about it and see if they’d scan me as they won’t just go off the private scan.

Has anyone had any experience of this? What happened? Were you induced early? DD1 was 8lb6oz and the thought of a nearly 10lb baby is really scaring me.

Dd2 was measured big at 32 & 36 weeks, tested negative for gestational diabetes, so ELCS at exactly 38 weeks.

To be honest i’d heard so many stories on here of scans being wrong, i was genuinely shocked when dd2 was 9lbs 8oz. Dd1 had been a totally average 7lbs 7oz.

However, dd1’s birth had been a total clusterfuck, whereas the elcs was calm, reassuring and felt very in control so i am immensely grateful dd2 was so big

Thank you @RubaiyatOfAnyone

It’s reassuring to hear people’s positive stories. Helping to calm me down a bit.

I had GD if that helps.

Do come back and update us!

DC1 was 9lb 4 at 37 weeks, DC2 9lb 13 on due date. Both big but both births fine. And DC2 easier of the two! Due to the size of my first I had extra growth scans the second, and she was always over 98 centile but wasn’t too big really!!

I'm getting induced tonight at 8pm, I'm measuring on the 97th percentile. I'm 38 weeks today, when I went to my midwife at 27 weeks I was measuring 35 weeks i was sent straight for a scan and iv been getting regular growth scans every 2 weeks. The growth hasnt changed since, hes still 97th percentile and when she tape measured me the other day I was measuring 45 weeks with the tape. Iv always been measuring 8 weeks infront, I'm only 5ft 1inch and I suffered a bad 3rd degree tear with my son 19 years ago so I think that's the reason they are doing it, plus they said about risk of babies shoulders getting stuck.

Oh wow @WeeDinah!

Good luck for this evening.

I was measuring big with my dd, I had to had a gestational diabetes test and extra scan and they said they would induce me on my due date if I hadn't had her before then. She was estimated to be about 9lb at 40 weeks. As it goes I had her at 39 weeks anyway but she was 7lb 15oz so not what I'd call particularly big so they aren't always accurate.

I don’t necessarily want her to come out teeny tiny. Just healthy and both of us in one piece. If she’s going to be a 9-10lb baby, I’d just rather be prepared.

My third was estimated to be over 7lbs at 34 weeks. At 38 weeks when I went in for my ELCS she was estimated to be 9lb 4oz... She was born 6lbs 2oz.

It can be way off. Take it with a pinch of salt.

No word from the midwife today so I’m no further ahead than I was before.

I'm 32 weeks and measuring 97th percentile but no gestational diabetes and no further scans...yet!

I was 37 weeks and had a growth scan, they told me DS was measuring 9lb 12oz - cue panic, meltdowns etc. I was told they didn’t induce for big babies - at 41+5 he arrived at 8lb 9oz. Earlier scans are more accurate - this late on they struggle to get proper pictures and measurements because baby is taking up so much space. Not saying it’s not correct but they can be wrong! Good luck with everything, keep us posted.

I was told I was measuring big at 32 weeks by a midwife but they no longer did scans for this because it caused too much worry. At 34 weeks a different midwife got a different measurement which made it look like growth had slowed and I was sent for a scan. Scan showed baby still measuring pretty big, can't remember what but 90th percentile plus, but I was told that wasn't a problem and they wouldn't induce etc. Baby came out at 40+3 and was 10lb 4. We did need ventouse but this was my first baby and several of my nct also had instrumental deliveries with smaller babies. Labour was pretty okay, it was just towards the end that I was pushing and he wasn't quite getting there, came out with a couple of pushes and pulls with the ventouse.

I finally got an appointment to see a consultant at the hospital on Friday at 37+6. It was very clear from the beginning that he was ticking boxes by me being seen. He glanced at my scan measurements and had a midwife measure my bump and take my blood pressure. It was no different from a regular midwife appointment. I was told I would be induced at 41 weeks if I didn’t naturally go into labour before then and that was it.

Ive had 2 big babies, my first was an average 7lb 10oz (a week early) 2nd was 9lb 1oz at 10 days overdue, my last was 10lb 6oz at 5 days overdue. I was induced with my last due to also having polyhydramnios. I was told (this is 5 years ago and apparently advice also varies by trust) that if it was just a big baby or just the water they wouldn't have recommended induction but due to both complications being present, induction. Im now 26 weeks with my 4th. I could easily pass for full term, ive expressed my concerns about previous large babies and pretty much every midwife/doctor has just laughed and said we will have to wait and see. Ive had to push for a growth scan, and its now being done in 2 weeks but for different issues, not growth. If it helps, my 10lb baby was induced at 10pm and arrived by 3am. Other than the induction not being overly pleasant, the birth was relatively easy. Not sure i feel a 12lb+ one would be though!

I thought I’d come back and update this thread in case anyone looks at it.

DD2 was born a month ago at 40+2 weighing a respectable 8lb 2oz (4oz lighter than DD1). My labour was very quick (DD1’s was very long in comparison) and my recovery was really good.

Congratulations on your perfectly sized baby

My first baby, DS23, was going to be HUGE apparently, except he was actually 7lb 5oz and just really long.

Thank you @Chocolatedeficitdisorder

I hear lots of stories just like yours and hoped mine would be similar. DH and I just seem to make top end of average sized babies. Beautiful though! DD2 is almost a clone of DD1.