Baby is a whopper 😓 >95th centile!

[RWK29]

Can anyone that’s been in this situation share their experience? 36 week growth scan (have 32/36/40 week scans due to my BMI) and was called back in after for them to discuss my chart. Says baby had had a pretty big growth spurt (was measuring 72nd centile at 32 weeks and now above the 95th centile at 36 week). All they said was that as long as I was content that baby was moving around enough then it should be fine 🤔😳 they want me in again at 38 weeks for another scan but couldn’t tell me what they would do if baby was still measuring as big at that scan 🤷🏻‍♀️
I did have a GTT at 25 weeks and all came back fine although it was just the single blood draw rather than the full test! Had midwife last week and urine dip test wasn’t showing any sugars.

Anyone else been in a similar situation? Are they likely to offer early sweeps/induction etc?

[randomsabreuse]

My 2nd was measuring big all along, just under 90th jumping up to over 95th at 36 weeks. Growth scans were because low Papp A.

After a couple of reduced movements incidents we induced at 38+2 and he was only 8lb but needed a ventouse - and had much broader shoulders than his sister who was a long and narrow 6lb13. So I'm glad we evicted him when we did.

At 5 and not quite 2, DC2 has the bigger chest measurement... One way for him to avoid pink hand me downs!

[Curlsandpearls]

Measured big all the way through (just under 90th on growth scan). Had a section at 39 weeks for other reasons and baby was 7lb 5oz bang on the 50th so there is a margin or error either way. Good luck!

[WellIWasInTheNeighbourhoo]

Mine were all between 10lb and 11lb, c sections for which I am eternally grateful. Inductions for a really big baby is crazy, they're not coming out naturally for a reason! My first didn't even drop, he didn't fit.

[mnahmnah]

I measured spot in at all scans and appointments. He was never expected to be big. Arrived two days over at 10lb 11oz with no issues. Everyone was surprised how much he weighed - the midwife even weighed him twice because she couldn’t believe it! So I’m short, the scans etc canons that accurate!

[mnahmnah]

Typos!

In short, the scans etc can’t be that accurate

[randomsabreuse]

I was ok with early induction with a sensible threshold for heading for c section (not required). But I'd needed a ventouse with DC1 who had come spontaneously at 38+3 and was always measuring average or below.

Consultant suggested asap induction and seemed surprised when I was 'happy' with it - didn't fancy c section recovery if unnecessary!

If we'd been further on I'd have pushed for c section!

[Ree91]

I measured over 95 for 3 growth scans and my bump was always 3 weeks ahead. Induction booked for 38 and 2 and she arrived 38 and 5 weighing 8lb 13! X

[CherryPavlova]

Mine were all generously proportioned babies at birth.
Youngest was 9lb 13oz. She was born at 42 +5 by SVD. Not a stitch in site. No intervention and four hour labour.
She stayed round throughout babyhood but then gradually dropped to below 20th percentile by about year 3. Now 4’11”.

Our son was 10lb 4oz. SVD. No intervention, born at 43+3. He didn’t ever drop down the charts and ended up at 6’4”.

I don’t think you can foretell what your birthing will be like until it happens. You cannot predict the numerous factors that come into play. You can decide what intervention you want or don’t want but need to be fully informed to make the right decisions for you.

[Indigo89]

I had the same with DD1. Had a GD testing kit to so every day but always normal sugar levels. She was off the chart from about 28 weeks onwards.
Although, she was breach too and too big to have room to move so I had a scheduled c-section at 39 weeks where she was born 10lb 3oz so the percentile prediction was accurate for me.

[twins2019]

Hi Mama

It's great to read on here that so many have experienced large babies and no complications.

The reason they are concerned about Large babies is obviously linked with unstable sugar levels and the risks of that post birth for baby but also the increased risk of complications in Labour such as shoulder dystocia.

This is a very serious birth complication and a very good friend of mine had a 10lb baby who got stuck.

Ask lots of questions. Be informed.

I'm sure everything will be absolutely fine but knowing the risks and why it's raised a flag is so important.

[Daisysandviolets]

I had this and then at 38 weeks they told me the baby was on 98th percentile and already 9lb 6! She was born at 39+4 at only 8lb 1 so they were way out so try not too worry 😊 xx

[FastAndCurious]

My second was over 11lb and was easier than my first 9lb-er!

Don’t get too worried, they told me my daughter was measuring slightly small all through my pregnancy, the scans are often wrong.

[RWK29]

Thanks everyone 😊 your stories are making me feel much better!

@twins2019 I understand that bigger babies can cause lots of complications so I’m trying to do what I can to research the various scenarios. FTM so never been through this before.
Unfortunately there was nobody there today who would answer any of my questions, they just told me to contact my community midwife if I had concerns 😔 first met my community midwife at 28 weeks then she disappeared with no contact 🙄 was given another midwife eventually after weeks of calling them and saw her for the first time at 35.5 weeks 😔 next appointment is at 39 weeks so I called today to see if she can fit me in before that even for a phonecall to discuss things and she can’t fit me in. Hopefully there will be someone there at the 38 week scan who can talk me through things properly!

[Maybe3ornot]

I didn’t have GD but was told that I was all bump, it was going to be a 9lb baby. 4hrs of labour of just gas and air and baby popped out 10lb, 9oz! He was like a 3month old, but must say a straight forward birth.

[Livingmagicallyagain]

I had lovely, straightforward births with both DC, 9lb7 and 9lb8. I'm tall ish but very slim/narrow, but they were easy births! No tears etc. There are lots of factors at play so keep asking questions to your maternity hospital. Good luck!

[user191264]

Th ST are s so innacurate

My first, they told me she would break records and to be prepared for all sorts. She was 8 4.

My second, they said nothing, not once. And he was 11lb.

[user191264]

*they are so inaccurate

[isadorapolly]

9lb 7 isn’t huge tbh. It’s bigger than a lot of babies but it’s not too big for most women to birth naturally.

[VeronicaVanHoopen]

Measured big all the way. Got "stuck" for 14 hours at 5cm dilated. Had epidural so it felt OK. Finally gave in to a c-section after a loooooong labour. Son was 10lb 4oz and 65cm long. I'm 5ft 3 so my bump had been massive as there was nowhere for him to go

If I'd heard all that before I would have gone crazy with worry but it was honestly absolutely fine. Really. And it's true what they say - once they're out you forget it all in an instant.

Good luck and keep calm - easier said than done I know.

[THNG5]

3 of my babies were big and I certainly looked like a beached whale but the scans do get it wrong.
With my last, I had a growth scan at 36+5 where they estimated he was weighing 8lbs11oz. My waters broke 2 days later and baby was born at 37+1 weighing 7lbs10oz (so yes, big for 37 weeks but a whole pound off the estimate!).

[GrubbsGrady]

They tried telling me at growth scans my whole pregnancy DS was measuring 12lbs at one point but he was born 3 weeks later at 7lbs i think they guess a lot of them time even with the measures on the screen

[GrubbsGrady]

@VeronicaVanHoopen my DS has only just reached 66cm at nearly 9 month's He's 2nd centile for H&W though

[Tidypidy]

My third dc looked huge on scans. Dr thought he'd be at least 10lbs so was induced two days early. I also had some questionable blood sugar readings so took metformin which made me feel dizzy.
When he was born dr actually said "oh! He's not that big then!" He was 8lbs6oz so 8oz lighter than my next biggest baby. My 9lb baby was actually the easiest birth as other two involved suction cups and forceps.

[Branleuse]

ive rarely heard of these estimates being close to accurate. I think they are so innacurate theyre hardly worth doing.

Also a big baby does not equal more dificult or painful birth. Theyre all about as painful as each other in reality as its the contractions that hurt more than the pushing out

[VeronicaVanHoopen]

@GrubbsGrady I know - he was massive! All the nurses and midwives were coming to see him as they'd "heard" about him. Nothing newborn came anywhere close to fitting him!