Baby measuring large at 36 week appointment

[sunshinecitrus1]

I had my 36 week midwife appointment this morning. All is well, however, my midwife has referred me for a growth scan on Monday as it appears baby has had a growth spurt since my last appointment a couple of weeks ago. I have been running along the 50th centile line on the growth chart the whole time and today, she has moved me to 90th centile.

I know that I shouldn't get caught up with worrying about these measurements as I have read a lot of stories of how a baby is measuring large and they turn out to be no where near as big so I am not worrying as such but I am just trying to mentally prepare for the scan and what the sonographer may say to me.

If the scan shows that baby is on the large size, what options would they give me at this point in my pregnancy? Would they try and recommend an induction so that I have my baby slightly earlier due to his size? A C-Section? I am hoping to continue with the pregnancy as normal (with no induction) and give birth naturally providing baby is healthy and safe.

Just wanted to hear of other peoples experiences!

Anyone?

I wasn’t measuring large but went to hosp for reduced movements at 36 weeks and they scanned and said baby was big, asked me to come back two weeks later and he was still larger than what he should have been I was induced at 38+1 and they were 4oz out with there estimation x

My DS2 measured big and I had a planned induction 2 weeks before due date. I was given the option of csection but opted not to do that unless necessary. He was 9.5lbs with large head and shoulders and I had to have an episiotomy as he got stuck. This was not in the UK and was 16 years ago.

DS measured big and I think they were pretty much spot on. I asked for a c-section and he was 10lbs 10oz at 39 weeks.

I’ve been measuring large for ages (now 35 weeks) going back in for my last scan next week and consultant appointment where they’ll try to convince me to have an induction. Unless this baby is actually a wardrobe I would prefer to keep my pregnancy and labour as natural as possible. NICE guidelines are clear on not offering intervention just because a baby is measuring big if there are no other medical issues such a GD. You may be asked to have a GD test.
When you’re at your scan, ask them to also measure shoulders as babies who have big bellies still birth easily, it’s the shoulders that would be the issue.
I’m also going to be asking about the factual risks of life threatening shoulder distocia regarding to larger babies as the statistics include all distocia which means from super mild to the much rarer complicated ones.
Obviously if everything comes back looking like the baby is infant ginormous and it’ll be safer to induce then of course I will but I’m not being bloody scared into it.

You’ve got this xx

Dd measured average at 37 weeks at growth scan but was 11lb 4 at 38 weeks when she was born.

Ds measured extra large and was 6lb 9 at birth. He was born at 39 weeks.

The sizing is not accurate. I was told dd would be 8ish lbs and ds would be between 10 and 11lbs. They were nowhere near with either of my kids.

Baby is not forced to be big, could be water or position throwing the fundal measurement off.

I've had lots of big ones and current was on 97th centile at 31+6 (scan) too.
With my 2nd they were happy to let me go as usual despite him being 4wk ahead, came at 40+5 weighing 10lb 12oz natural unassisted delivery. 3rd again big and let me go as normal came at 40+2 weighing 9lb 10oz natural unassisted but tore as back to back. Twins were 17lb combined, brought at 38wk via elcs as breech & transverse. This one they have said I'm a good candidate for a vbac but I can choose elcs if I want as I had one last time, they also said it looks likely they'll want to deliver early (will go elcs over induction). My scan is on Monday and I will finally have to make a decision, been umming and ahing about what I want to do.

My youngest measured big towards the end. I had to have nectar scans due to it.

Then was 50% length and weight. We had to panic buy smaller nappies.

So don't worry too much. X

I was measuring big they said he would be around 9-10lbs he came out 6lb 8oz 🤷‍♀️

Thanks for all of your replies!
It’s really weird as I had a proper look at my growth chart tonight and I measured 36cm today and I am currently 36 weeks (37 tomorrow!) but I thought that is pretty average based on measurements??

I really wouldn't worry as growth scans are notoriously inaccurate. I know plenty of people who had massive bumps but had average or even small babies. My bump was big but not huge and midwife predicted big baby based on palpation. She was right as DD was 11lb but they make you try natural labour for 24 hours anyway (or at least they did 9 years ago). My midwife wanted to refer for a c-section based on instinct as she was old school and they apparently used to go by baby's size in relation to your height and foot size (has some correlation to the size of your pelvic opening apparently). I'm 5'10" with size five feet so she thought a big baby might not fit through. She was right but I'm told they don't use this any more. Could be worth an ask though?

Thanks @Fifilafrog - I feel a bit better today and don't feel so worried. I just wasn't expecting the referral yesterday as everything has been so smooth running since the beginning for me (thankfully!). Not that the growth scan is anything to worry about as such but it just threw me off! I get quite anxious about things and it started making me question things. I know that they can be very inaccurate so I am going to look at it all as a positive thing and the fact that I am going to get to see my little boy for one last time before he actually arrives!