Growth Scans - What happens and What is a registrar?

[LuckyStarOfBethSalem]

I went for my 36week MW apt last weds and got told as the baby is over the average (by a fair bit on measurements) to go for a growth scan.

I want a HB and they've said as long as I'm normal (the baby isn't too big) I can have one.

What exactly happens at a growth scan. How far wrong can they be?

Also I'm seeing a registrar. I thought they were the people who scanned you until they asked me to take a urine sample in as well? Can this registrar tell me if I'm in the "right" weight reference for a HB?

Also if they decide the baby is too big can I still insist on a HB if I want one? (I'm pretty sure I've got larger and wider than average hips)

A registrar is the grade of doctor when they've chosen their specialism and are getting the experience they need to apply for consultant posts. They're registrars for at least 4 years I think, usually longer.

Never had a growth scan and I hope yours goes well and you dont have any hassle getting the ok for your homebirth. I believe that they can be a lb either way out. Certainly my friend wasn't all to impressed (not that she actually cared in the end) when the whopper she was told to expect came in at 7lb on the dot.

Okay, the growth scan can be out by up to four pounds. Trust your midwife if you can. They can't force you into hospital if you don't want to go and women can push out ten/eleven pound babies (and do regularly all round the world). Unless you are under eight stone or very small, you are unlikely to have a problem.

A registrar is a hospital doctor. The sonographer is the person who scans you, they want urine to check for gestational diabetes which can cause macrosomia (big baby).

Stick to your guns. They can't force you to do anything and you can decline the growth scan if you like too.

Thanks guys.

I'm not worried about the scan or what they'll find. This baby is fine (or so it tells me every time it boots me) Just that they'll try saying it's too big!! Personally i'm a good 4stone overweight and I think they're measuring my belly not the baby.

I went in to hospital to see a registrar the other day because the mdiwfe had measured me at 36 cms when I was only 32 weeks, and had been measuring spot on for dates up until then. Waited 3 hrs, went in to see registrar, she measured me and I was spot on for dates again - don't know what was going on when midwife measured me, but maybe baby was just in a funny position or something. FWIW, I am decidedly overweight too, and they do seem to be able to compensate for that and just measure the bump; think its coz I am lying down and the fat kind of falls to the side whereas the baby doesn't!!

I had a growth scan last week. Really I started a thread that I was paranoid I had made the baby too big, go find it! Am 33 weeks, and my MW put me fwd for one as I was measuring full term and she wanted to (a) check the dates they had given (b) see what was going on in there as it felt to her there was more baby than fluid, so was curious!

I ended up seeing a load of fluid plus the head measured more than the 95th centile and the body just under.

More than anything it's great to see babe again and the info can be useful to YOU never mind anyone else. I was down for a ES as last time I was predicted a big baby and told wouldn't be a problem with giving birth as I had the hips.. it was the big head in the end that capped a natural birth. This time my consultant was very negative about me opting for a ES, but having the info on the size of the head is like a sticking my fingers up at the consultant because I am NOT going down the road of ES again!

If you want a HB I think go for it, as I've learnt lots of people get told they are having whoppers and don't (in my case I am more concerned about head size than body!)