36 week growth scan

[Mae2020]

Should I be worried?

Got home after my 36 week growth scan. Baby measuring just over 50th centile, estimated weight is 6lbs 6oz. Midwife very happy with babies growth but because I have gestational diabetes controlled by metformin I've been given induction date for the 8th Feb.

Midwife and Dr's had no concerns, but when I got home and read the scan results myself it states that babies abdo circumference is measuring in the 95th centile... midwife never mentioned it. Is this bad?

They'd have said if they had concerns. I had a 36 week growth scan on Wednesday and my baby was 6 pound 9, good blood flow but our head and abdo circumference was 88 compared to like 50 for the femur or something like that.

They'd have said if they were worried 🙂

I got sent for a growth scan this week (week 34) because I’m measuring 39 weeks! weak abdominal muscles I’m sure 😂.
Turns out his head is 50th percentile as are his femurs but like you the sonographer measured baby’s abdomen bigger (at least a week larger from what I remember seeing on the screen) which increased his overall estimated weight to just over 50th percentile too. She said it’s not something to worry about and because unlike the head and legs, the abdomen is not a bony structure, so it’s size can be much more variable and less of an issue than the other measurements. So I’m not going to worry about it because they would have said something otherwise, although I get that’s easier said than done!

Do you not believe the sonographer, midwife and consultant when they have told you everything is fine?

This was me at 36+5 estimated weight of 6lb9oz with stomach on 85th centile, sonographer even checked 3 times. I was expecting my baby to have a huge tummy. Anyway baby arrived at 38+2, weight of 7lb7oz (so weight probably was around 6lb9oz on the scan!), stomach is completely normal.

In my experience none of the individual measurements matter much so long as they are on the chart (after all, someone has to be on the 95th percentile don’t they!). I’m having fortnightly growth scans and there is definitely a big variation on individual measurements. It’s the overall centile they give you that matters.

To prove my point, my baby was on 22nd for femur length at 34 weeks and was apparently on the 60th for femur length today at 37 weeks. Overall though, she is still tracking along the 10th percentile perfectly which is what matters