Baby 'big' at 37 weeks

[PL2021]

Hey Mummas! I'm here looking for some reassurance really as I am such a worrier. I am 37+2 and yesterday had a scan to check baby's position as it was questionable breech. Good news is baby is not breech! However they did discover that baby seems to be measuring on the big side (particularly the tummy). They're estimating 7.7lbs. They have scheduled me next week for a GTT to check for gestational diabetes, but all of my urine tests so far have been fine. They have also scheduled me to see the consultant on the 22nd (5 days before due date) where the midwife said he might offer me a Sweep if I wanted to go ahead.

Should I be worried about baby's size? Should I be concerned about possible gestational diabetes? Should I have the sweep? What will they do this late if I do have GD? I'm a first time mummy and have been so relaxed almost all the way through this pregnancy but now getting rather anxious.

Sorry for the essay!

Hey OP, I had similar at 36 weeks and they thought she was really big. I was tested for GD then too but came back clear, I think (but not totally certain!) they said they may have considered inducing earlier or medication to regulate blood sugars if positive.

My midwife did stress how unscientific those measurements can be and DD was actually born a week late at a perfectly normal size (50th centile) so try not to worry too much!

On the sweep, I had one at 40+5 I think and I'not sure it made anything happen particularly but don't think there's any harm if you're up for it!

Hey eleanorsos, thanks so much for the reassurance. It's nice to hear someone else's similar story with a lovely outcome! X

With dc1 I was told by a consultant at 38weeks that my baby was huge and estimated 12lb+ if I went full term. I was strongly urged to have an elective csection as he believed I wouldn't be able to deliver it naturally, I refused. At 40+1 I gave birth to a 6lb baby! With following 3dc the birth weights of 8lb to 9lb were all way out, by biggest of 4dc was 7.7lb

It's very difficult for them to know. My baby was bang on average throughout pregnancy, but when born (9 days late) was very little. They are really not to good at measuring these things.

Wow I didn't realise they could be so wrong with these weight estimations! Thanks so much ladies, you're really relaxing my stress head! Xx

I had gd and my baby was born at us river 37 weeks weighing 7 lb 5oz. Had we gone full term he’d have been a real chunk.

I’d had a growth scan at 34 weeks where he’d measured 5lb 5oz, so based on his Frye that between that scan and him being born, the scan was pretty accurate. However this durum is full of stories where the scans have been way off!

If you did have gd they’d want you to alter your diet and try to control it that way, they’d have you monitoring your blood sugar levels daily and may look to start you on metformin pretty quickly if you couldn’t control levels with diet alone.

I ended up on insulin 2 weeks after my diagnosis as diet and metformin didn’t keep my fasting levels under control. I was then given a section at 37+4 due to being on insulin. As you’re already 37 weeks I wouldn’t think they’d start you on insulin so late and may instead look to induce you early.

But as I said, scans and measurements at such a late stage can be notoriously inaccurate, or you could just have a chunky little baby growing in there!

Good luck

Our daughter’s baby was estimated around the same at your stage (they’d said he was measuring big pretty much all along). He was born two weeks past date at just over 9lb. Mum and baby both fit and well.

Easy to say, I know, but do try not to worry, just look forward 💐

My DS was predicted at 8 ibs at a similar point in the pregnancy. They based it on his leg measurement. When he was born he was only 7 ibs but very long (I had invisible preclampsia which wasn’t picked up in any of the scans).

It's absolute guess work. I had 2 dc, one on the big baby pathway, the other on the small. They came out in reverse, the big baby was 6lb 2and the small baby 9lb 13.
Dont give it a second thought.

I had a scan the day after my due date as I hadn't been scanned in 5 weeks due to my appointments being messed up and they predicted he was 10lb, I already had to GD test and they came back clear. They strongly advised me to get a c section as I'm a first time mum and they scared me by saying in bigger babies sometimes there shoulders can get stuck and then it becomes an emergency. I just followed there advice as I really didn't want that to happen, they booked me in for the c section the next day and he was 9lb 5oz. I'm glad I listen to them and got the c section. Also it's not scary having a bigger baby I actually glad he was

Scans are a bit of guess work I think... I had to have a growth scan as the old tape measure method showed baby wasn't growing at 38 weeks. I was scanned at 39 weeks and they estimated baby was around 8lb2oz... I gave birth at 40+4 to an 8lb12oz baby girl, so in this case, it was accurate. My daughter is now 3 weeks old and still on the 91st centile!!
But my birth was quick, easy and straightforward - her size caused absolutely no issues!

I measured three/fours weeks ahead for most of my pregnancy and as a result I was repeatable told I would have a large baby (over 9lb). My baby was born 40+1 and was 6lb 10oz!

Thanks so much ladies, very reassuring to hear all of your stories!

I'm in a similar position, had a scan today and he's nearly 4kg and I'm 37+2, booked in for a C-section at 39+5 but desperately want to get this moved sooner, the pain is unbearable! I had the glucose tests and they came back negative, unsure what's caused the huge growth spurt! Reassuring to know that the scan weights can be inaccurate though!

Just to chip in, I was tested for gestational diabetes three times in my pregnancy because I was told she was measuring big - every time the tests came back negative. The consultant I was under was pushing me to be induced which I refused, however I opted for an elective C section in the end (due to several reasons, not just the concerns about size of baby). She was born at 39+5 and 7lbs5oz - no way near as big as the scans had suggested.
I was still happy I went for an elective c section because it was the right choice for me and my baby - but the concerns about her weight were completely unfounded. Try not to worry OP - and make sure any decisions around you and your birth are the right ones for you x

Wowzers, it really is crazy to hear about how inaccurate their measurements can be! It sounds like us poor women are being stressed out for nothing most of the time haha!

I'm so glad I've posted in this forum as it has really eased my mind thanks to all of you lovely ladies. I really appreciate you all sharing your stories with me!

Also good luck with everything AstralAuryn! Hopefully we will both have our bundles of joy with us soon! Xx

My dd was 11lb 4 at 38 weeks when she was born.

I had a growth scan at 37 weeks and was told she would be around 8lb 9.

At my growth scan at 37 weeks they said baby was average size (consultant was hoping he was big so he had another reason to dissuade me from a home birth!). He arrived late, vaginal delivery at 9lbs 8! They really can't tell accurately at this stage. Best of luck!

So update.. my gestational diabetes test was all clear! I've had an appointment with the consultant today who has booked me for an induction next week, a day before my due date.

Does anyone have any experience of any weird and wonderful ways to encourage this baby out of me beforehand? The induction itself doesn't worry me too much, but I'm aware my partner isn't going to be allowed to be with me for a lot of it and the thought of that really stresses me out. I dont like the thought of going through it all alone xx

Antenatal expressing may help! Look up some YouTube videos of how to hand express. If some colostrum starts coming (usually takes 2-3 days of regular tries at hand expressing) then you can collect it in syringes (buy on amazon) and take them into hospital with you.