Big baby Reassurance (+ could the scan sizing be wrong?)

[bellsshells]

Hey,
I guess I'm just after some good news/reassurance stories really - First time mum here!

I have Gestational diabetes - and was diet controlled with baby's size tracking well within the normal range at 28 and 32 week scans. Had scan yesterday at 36+5 and baby is well above the range, scan estimated 8lb 10

Couple of things really

My blood sugars have all been in the normal ranges just diet controlled, so I'm struggling to believe that his weight has increased so much, and gone so off the scale in just 4 weeks since last scan. Could the scan sizing be wrong?!?

They are booking me for induction in c.10 days (c.38 weeks), so baby could be say 9 and a half lbs by then.

Would just be good to hear any good experiences anyone has had with being induced with a bigger baby! Feeling a little overwhelmed by it all (and the doctor yesterday was very matter of fact, and I felt she was rushing, I got upset and didn't really ask any questions - would have really appreciated my partner being there to support, but no partners allowed cos of Covid)

Thanks x

My second was estimated at 7lb 11 at 36 weeks. Was induced on my due date because of her size - labour was 50 minutes start to finish, no issues. She was 9lb 6.

I’ve been doing a lot of research on induction recently and pretty sure the recommendations for a big baby and GD are to avoid induction.

I had exactly same- diet controlled gd, all fine.
36 weeks estimated 8lb 13 and I FREAKED. Didn’t help that trainee sonographer asked supervised what to record head circumference as, because it was “off the scale” I spent last 10 Days in pieces.
Induced at 38 weeks, beautiful little girl born at 7lb 3. Not sure what they measured in the scan, but it was wildly out.
Induction wasn’t fun- but that was nothing to do with size.
Looking back I would try and adopt a more zen approach. Baby has to come out. They will take good care of you. Enjoy those last few precious days.

It hasn't happened to me but a friend gave birth 2 weeks ago via csection at 38weeks as they told her at 36weeks baby was 9 1/2lb+ and there was was no way she would deliver naturally, she was obviously panicking too and baby was born at 7lb 8oz.
Apparently they take measurements and it's a algorithm that maps baby's estimated weight so it can be way out. It depends on baby's length too, my baby is really long according to scans so I'm expecting her to have some weight behind her because of this. Good Luck 💕

@bellsshells I was induced last weekend due to my baby measuring big on growth scans 😊 didn’t have Gestational Diabetes but baby measured big from around 32 weeks. They were estimating that baby would be 10.5lbs at 40 weeks. I’m also a first time mum 😊

I was stressing myself right out about the possibility of induction and especially with it being a bigger baby too. All I had read was horror stories about needing forceps and baby getting stuck etc 😔 and about needing major pain relief because induction was so much speed - so I was terrified!

I was induced at 39+5. It was definitely an experience. It took around 39 hours from my first pessary (I ended up needing 3) to my baby being born. And I was having contractions for around 37 hours of that. But honestly, I had SUCH a positive experience. The midwives monitored baby closely which is what I wanted. They listened to every concern I had all throughout the process and never once did they push me on things if I wasn’t happy with something. Our little one was born bang on our due date weighing 8lb 11oz so definitely chunky but nowhere near the 10.5lbs that we’d been told the whole way through my third trimester - so please don’t stress too much over the size.
I needed absolutely no intervention - there was no forceps, no episiotomy, no suction. I managed to whole labour and delivery on gas and air and had a small second degree tear that they managed to fix there and then with all dissolving stitches, there was no need for major repairs.

So please, please don’t stress too much 😊 Do lots of research. Make sure you know what your options are for pain relief and what methods of intervention they may need to use so that you’re not stressing out at things being mentioned during delivery if anything is needed. If you have any specific questions I’m happy to answer them ❤️

Please don’t stress too much, scans can be way out. I’ve had 3 babies and the scan guesses have been wrong every time. My last scan said baby was 10lb +. He was born just over 7lb at 39 weeks.
Good luck when the time arrives!

Scans can be way out. My friend was told at 37 weeks baby was already 8lb, born at 41 weeks at 7lb5.

I had GD diagnosed around 24 weeks, and baby measured large for most of my scans. My last scan estimated 7lb 5, so had an induction at 38 weeks and after 5 days DD arrived 7lb 1 but with a big head and long legs, which I think threw off the scan!

She was around 20th centile for birth weight but within 2 weeks was 75th and has stayed there or above ever since - we felt that she'd been a bit starved by my strict GD diet regime!

If you haven't found the Gestational Diabetes website, I really recommend it for info on everything, especially the induction page: www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/?s=induction

There are different types of induction so it's worth finding out from the hospital which ones they might offer. I started with pessary but after that didn't work, they offered catheter but as I didn't know anything about it in advance, I turned it down. I don't regret that particularly, but it's good to be forewarned.
Also, with induction it can take days but you have to stay at the hospital, usually, in case it does work. I was still following my GD diet so had to read the menu options carefully and keep up with my blood tests etc. I walked round and round the grounds to keep up the exercise part and try to bring on labour! Take a good book in case it takes a while, but you may be lucky and have a quick process!

Good luck!

The scans were accurate for me and my son was born weighing 9lb 4oz but it was a far smoother delivery than I had which his much smaller sister! Please don't worry.

My 3rd was estimated at either side of 9lb at 35 weeks. I didn't have GD just grew big babies (Dc1 9.12 and dc2 10.7)
I was unwell for most of my pregnancy with Gallstones (thanks hormones!)and had lost a fair amount of weight by this point so begged to be induced at 40+5 (they made you wait until 42 some 20 odd years ago)
He was 10lbs 15 so my estimated weight was close enough.
The induction itself wasn't bad as I'd vaginally birthed babies before so it was easier to just pop my waters without the need for pessaries. I just had the drip to speed it up.
He was my last! haha

Try not to stress, try to read up about it and ask questions here if it will help you x

My friend had a late scan and was told she was having a big baby (10lb), in the end he was 8lb so the scan can definitely be wrong.

Oh wow this is is all so lovely to hear and thank you all for sharing your stories. Genuinely you've calmed me down, and that's so appreciated, so thank you xxx

Hi
I’m having my third baby. My two girls were small babies but I’ve been type 2 diabetic fir a few years and now pregnant.
At 31 weeks baby measured 5lb9oz I’m 32 weeks now and have another scan next week.
I’m having a planned c section but I’m still nervous.
I have had two emergency sections before and they were good under the circumstances.
I should be having baby at 38 weeks but I have to be monitored close to watch the weight xxxx

I’m a first time mum with a giant baby
He’s measuring in 97th% for head and abdomen and I’m only 26 weeks. Hopefully still time for him to even out a bit.
In every found hypnobirthing méditations and audio books really helpful to stay calm and stop worrying.
My mother was panicked at the whole thing and threw me off my zen lol!
It’s a time in our lives where we genuinely have no idea what will happen so control the controllable and for the rest, que sera sera!
Best of luck xxx

That’s meant to say ‘I found hypnobirthing helpful’ 🤨

The scans were accurate for me. I was scanned the day of my induction with DD1 and they estimated 10lbs, she was 9lb 7. I can't remember the measurements on DD2, but she was big at 34 and 36 weeks and was 9lb 12 when born at 39 weeks which was about right based on the growth charts. We were both big babies so it was absolutely no surprise.

The induction on DD1 wasn't successful, I never got past 2cm, but I never really felt any contractions so while it was frustrating it wasn't painful or anything. I had a very relaxed emergency section, and it was a brilliant experience.

One of the reasons one midwife put forward for the unsuccessful induction was that her head was too big to descend in my pelvis (both girls had head circumferences above the 99.6th centile). DD2 was transverse, and the risk factors for this include a small pelvis and a big baby, so I think my body just grows babies bigger than it should.

I have lots of friends who've had similar sized babies with no issues at all.

My scans picked up I was having a big baby from 24 weeks onwards he was always on 98th centile. He was born a week early via planned c-section at 10lb 1oz

I didn't have gestational diabetes I just grew a big big haha

I had GD (controlled by diet and metformin) and baby was measuring big. They induced at 38 weeks saying he'd be c. 10 lbs - he was born less than 8lbs!

With my DD (now 3), I was told she was measuring big too; over 7lbs. Big for a south Asian baby anyway, so they wanted to induce me. I knew she wasn't that big because my bump wasn't big. Anyway, in the end DD was born at 38+4, at 5lbs 6. So the sizing was way out! And I've heard this has happened lots from friends and families!

I am currently pregnant with baby number 2, again have GD (detected and started to feel symptoms much earlier) so it will be interesting to see what they say this time and what weight baby is born.