High bmi, big baby?

[Girlmama3]

My bmi is 29 and I'm 10 weeks pg. My previous babies are 7lb 1, 8 13 and 8 14. My bmi in those was a lot less and in the normal range.

The midwife at my booking appointment said I'll need a growth scan at 28 weeks because I have big babies!

Will my higher bmi this time mean a huge baby?

I think there is a higher chance but you’ll see on some posts here, lots of women with high BMIs go on to have “normal” weight babies.

Growth scans will just be to watch out for this so they can offer intervention if and when necessary :)

I don't think you can presume that having some extra padding causes babies to grow better. If you developed GD then yes that is linked to larger babies but if you don't then you are not always going to have a larger baby.

I have big babies too (biggest was 10lb 12oz) and they said I'll only get a growth scan if fundal height measures ahead. The consultant also said that I'll be fine even if this one is big as I had a good natural birth with the biggest. I have had GTT tests in my last 3 pregnancies due to my BMJ which were all within normal ranges, have it for this one next month.

BMJ, fat finger syndrome lol BMI

I had a higher bmi than yourself and had to have growth scans, but they were never worried about his size And eventually signed me off and said it was pointless me keep going to get checked when my bmi was having no impact on the growth in the womb. When he finally made an appearance 9 days overdue he was 8lb 4oz. I don’t think higher bmi always means a bigger baby x

My BMI was 28 at booking appointment and I'm now 37+5, being induced in 2 days and baby was on the 50th centile at my scan at 36 weeks so completely average. I've gained a fair amount of weight this pregnancy too

Thanks everyone. That's put my mind at rest x

I have a much higher BMI than you, also had GD and my babies were 8lb3 (DS) and 6lb8 (DD) so not big at all.

Your midwife was probably just saying that 8lbs 13 and 8lbs 14 are big babies and so they’ll want to keep on eye on how this one is growing. So nothing to do with your current BMI.

8lb babies aren't that big, that's a good size for a baby.

In my health board (South Wales) if BMI >35 you trigger for consultant led care, growth scans and testing for gestational diabetes. You aren't at that BMI but you might trigger for the same pathway in your health board.

Currently my baby is measuring 50% centile at 37 weeks so not enormous.... as far as I know..... (my BMI at booking was 37 and I'm a round circle human now, much to my dismay)

I will say however I'm not savvy with fetal weight cut offs for growth scans in subsequent pregnancies. Could be you qualified for a growth scan for that reason.

I'd argue the opposite actually. High BMI means your blood pressure is likely to be higher, which in turn is linked to IUGR babies.

A BMI of 29 only makes you overweight, not obese. So less likely. Much more likely to have a regular sized baby.

They factor in gestational age. My son was 7lbs 2.5oz but as we was 15 days overdue he is classed as small for gestational age (SGA). It worked out he was 4th centile at birth so I will be having growth scans as predicted a small baby. FWIW my BMI was over 30 at booking with my son and he was little. I'm about two stone lighter this time so I'm curious if my weight will affect baby's size.

*he was 15 days overdue

I had high bmi (was 16stone) with both my children and they were 7lb 11oz and 7lb 13oz so not huge

Thanks everyone. I feel better now! Dd3 was 16 days late so wouldn’t have been ‘big’ if on time!

The growth chart I have from my consultant puts your DD3 pretty much on 50th centile for GA, I wouldn't worry at all.