Panicking! Baby still measuring on 99th percentile…

[SPENCER22]

My bump has been measuring on the 99th percentile since my 25 week midwife appointment. I just had my 31 week appointment and it’s almost off the chart still! 🙈 Midwife didn’t seem too concerned but I’m very petite (just under 5ft) and absolutely terrified of the idea of having a large baby!

My bump doesn’t seem that big at all and I’ve read that the charts can be quite inaccurate, but at what point would they put me in for growth scans so I can find out for sure what size the baby will be? Surely consistently measuring on the 99th percentile is enough reason? I’d definitely want an elective c section if I knew the baby would be large, but how much notice would I need to give them if I did decide to go down the ELCS route?

Thank you!

Give them notice now for ELCS if you want it....

Talk to your midwife about baby being too big for your pelvis... I'm sure this is what happened to me, I ended up with EMCS.... you can don't want to go through unnecessary pain!

My measurements and scans were bang on.

They will continue to monitor you through your pregnancy with growth scans.

Around 36 weeks I had an appointment with a consultant to discuss an ELCS, this was my choice as I was worried about the risk of shoulder dystocia. This was my choice, consultant said big babies can have perfectly healthy labours too but I didn't feel comfortable with the risks and felt an ELCS was right for me.

My baby was 10lb 1oz at 39 weeks. I had polyhdraminos (too much water) that wasn't identified until the csection which was probably why baby was so big as he was incredibly swollen and bloated

I'm pregnant again and he's measuring big, I was hoping to try VBAC this time but he's breech and I have placenta previa.

Also be aware that the scans can be very unreliable, in my case they were spot on but I know people who had different experiences with growth scans.

Good luck op xx

cephalopelvic disproportion

They usually only flag you for growth scans if your fundal height starts to jump further up the centiles. If you want to request an elcs you need to get your midwife to refer you to the consultants ASAP.

I have a history of big babies, I got a growth scan at 31+6 and another booked at 35+6. Our 2nd I took part in a research programme where they did growth scan at 28wk and that's when they could see he was at the top of the charts and had polyhydramnios too, I was moved to consultant led care from then. Been under consultant led care for all after him as he was 4.88kg/10lb 12oz and chunky (natural unassisted birth though), having any over 4.5kg push you to high risk.

If it helps, my bump is also measuring off the chart. I've had growth scans because of a hematoma found at 20 weeks. I've had 3 growth scans and baby measured exactly on 50th centile at each one.

My bump was only measured at 36 weeks (2 weeks after my final growth scan) and off the charts it went. Came down slightly at 38 weeks but still very very high.

Not worrying about it because the scans are far more accurate, but also because I believe fundal height is really just used as an approximation to check that baby is growing at a steady pace, hence they want to see measurements progressing along a curve.

If baby was big it would likely have been picked up at 20 week scan?

Fundal height measures 2 weeks ago (26weeks) 28cm so 2 weeks ahead and she wasnt concerned.
Saw a new midwife for 28 week app yesterday, fundal height is now 31cm so 3 weeks ahead. And she was straight on the phone to the hospital arranging a growth scan, she wants to do gtt, and I'm consultant led already anyway as high bmi at booking.
Not really sure why they've not put you in for a growth scan, which are more accurate than a fundal height measurements, especially if baby is 99th centile.

My bump measured small, I'm 5' DC was 10lb6oz and it was all fine 🤷🏽‍♀️ her femur length was 99th centile at my 22 week scan

@Muststopeating All ours were average size at 20wk scans, 28wk onward they started measuring big on scans. Current was 50th centile at 20wk and 97th at 31+6wk.

[quote Chelyanne]@Muststopeating All ours were average size at 20wk scans, 28wk onward they started measuring big on scans. Current was 50th centile at 20wk and 97th at 31+6wk.[/quote]
Ah apologies, I stand corrected. I know you are a few babies ahead of me too.

My 2nd was 90 (something) centile when born and I was referred for GD tests and growth scans then, but obviously not everyone's experience.

Both of mine measured away off the top of the charts before birth, especially the AC measurements. They measured weeks and weeks ahead from the start but were both IVF so we knew the exact date of conception. I was tested for GD but never had it.

One was 11lbs one was 8lbs9oz, both healthy and happy. Did have 2 x c-sections but it wasn't due to their sizes.

My bump was also measuring really large. At 36 weeks I was revered and I had a growth scan and actually baby was on the small side. I don't think the way they measure at midwives is particularly accurate especially if you are small ( I'm also 5ft)

My DS was born at 6 pounds 12

I’m 34 weeks and baby has been measuring on the 99th centile for ages. I’ve had two growth scans already which show that she is apparently massive and heavy. I’ve also had gestational diabetes tests where my blood glucose has come back 3.5 before and after glucose drink (really very low which is good).

It might be scary to think about having a huge baby but try and stay calm. A lot of the measurements for babies can be completely inaccurate and scans are also just a guide. They said my daughter would be 10lb but she was 7lb… it’s very unlikely that your body would grow a baby too big for your body if you have no medical issues.

Speak to your consultant when you have an appointment with them. I have mine in 2 weeks and will be asking about how many babies actually have damaging shoulder distocia from being big as the statistics include very mild cases too so it looks scarier than it is.

You’ll be amazing no matter what you choose xx

My baby was heavy because she was so tall/long as in off the charts tall.

@RandomMess - my baby is also off the charts in length like 150% did it impact labour and birthing? I’m going to have a consultant tell me to go for induction early and I really don’t want too if it’s unnecessary.

It was completely fine 🤷🏽‍♀️ much easier than my first.

It was too painful to sit back for continuous monitoring (was induced as 17 days over) and spent a lot of time on my hand and knees tbh. I didn't have that in subsequent labours.

None of the baby clothes I had with me fit. She ended up in her going home outfit which was velour trousers and jacket. The trousers only went half way down her shins so they got her some socks from scubu.