Large baby | Mumsnet

sade1988 · 2022-04-08T06:56:17+00:00

I'm after a little bit of advice please. After a really up and down pregnancy we were good yesterday at 28+6 that baby is a lot bigger than she she should be currently averaging a weight of 4.4 pounds in the top 3% of large babies. Consultant has spoken to a genetics team who have said because there are no other structural abnormalities I just need to be tested for gestational diabetes and have another scan in 2 weeks to monitor her growth. Should I be concerned about this? Could something untoward be going on?

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Steamedhams · 08/04/2022 08:18

Not quite the same but mine had off the scale tummy measurements at 28w with large overall measurements. It was just over the top line. 4 weeks later and he is more in the middle. No GD either. I am having another scan at 34w just because they aren't keen on big changes but no one is worried. The measurements aren't super accurate and baby can have growth spurts.

Original poster

sade1988 · 08/04/2022 08:37

@Steamedhams

Not quite the same but mine had off the scale tummy measurements at 28w with large overall measurements. It was just over the top line. 4 weeks later and he is more in the middle. No GD either. I am having another scan at 34w just because they aren't keen on big changes but no one is worried. The measurements aren't super accurate and baby can have growth spurts.

Thank you for your reply, that puts my mind at ease a bit

OP posts:

Hiddenvoice · 08/04/2022 08:43

I’ve measured big throughout my pregnancy. The baby has been over the 90th percentile and followed a perfect line throughout. I’ve had the gd test twice at 30 and then 36 weeks just to rule it out. I’ve had growth scans every couple of weeks just to double check, it made me worry at first but now I’m at the end of my pregnancy I’ve quite liked being able to see the baby more often.
Turns out it’s just a healthy, slightly bigger baby.
Please don’t worry about it! They measure the baby in relation to you so if you’re slightly smaller/ petite then it will be a bigger baby for your body but really just an average sized baby for an averaged size person.
As pp some babies have growth spurts which can slow down but hopefully the baby will just follow the same growth line for you!

Bigoldmachine · 08/04/2022 08:49

I had the glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes - it was negative (the test was not very pleasant, but worth it to rule it out).

DS was reluctant to be born too so he was 42 weeks when I was induced. He came out at 9lbs 7oz and was a MUCH easier and more pleasant birth than my 7lbs 6oz DD. Maybe because he was my second though and I didn’t panic (hypnobirthing techniques!). Just thought I’d share that in case the prospect of birthing a big baby is worrying you. I would do the 9lbs 7oz birth again over the 7lbs 6oz one any day of the week!! Big babies are not necessarily harder to birth.

MissingGrandstand · 08/04/2022 09:20

The measurements also aren’t hugely accurate OP - I had the exact same worry when I was told my baby was on the bigger side, had the GD test (negative), she was measuring big on all scans. I’m now holding a 7 week old that was born at a perfectly normal 8lb and has only JUST crept above her predicted birth weight of nearly 11lb!

Original poster

sade1988 · 08/04/2022 10:17

@Hiddenvoice

I’ve measured big throughout my pregnancy. The baby has been over the 90th percentile and followed a perfect line throughout. I’ve had the gd test twice at 30 and then 36 weeks just to rule it out. I’ve had growth scans every couple of weeks just to double check, it made me worry at first but now I’m at the end of my pregnancy I’ve quite liked being able to see the baby more often. Turns out it’s just a healthy, slightly bigger baby. Please don’t worry about it! They measure the baby in relation to you so if you’re slightly smaller/ petite then it will be a bigger baby for your body but really just an average sized baby for an averaged size person. As pp some babies have growth spurts which can slow down but hopefully the baby will just follow the same growth line for you!

I think we are at the 99th percentile

She is averaging a weight of 4.4 lbs!!! I'm 29 weeks today. I am a little concerned but surely if she's that big, anything untoward or abnormalities would have been picked up on the scan. It's just a waiting game now I guess. Thank you for you advice x

OP posts:

bonbons1983 · 08/04/2022 10:23

Hi OP. Similar situation, first child was 100 centile. Pregnant with my second who is measuring 97th at 35 weeks and had grown quicker than my first.

I opted for a c section due to the size of my baby. It's likely she will be 12lbs. At 34 weeks she was over 7lbs. No diabetes found. No other options really.

My first child was born via c section and has no issues but her size wasn't found out until the day before her birth. I was told it would be impossible to ever give birth to her naturally. She was healthy though and no explanation for the size of either of my children being bigger.

I have developed severe pelvic pain because of my first child engaging and the weight causing damage to my pelvis... the weight of my second has caused this to worsen significantly and I'm in constant pain. If you can do any exercise to strengthen your pelvis just in case any pain happens I recommend it.

Good luck!

bonbons1983 · 08/04/2022 10:27

To add op - my first born has no health issues due to her size, fed well at birth and was completely fine. Very alert, hit every milestone and has been in school a few years with no problems at all. She's now very tall and skinny. Loves to eat but never gains weight. She was in 3 months clothes at birth.

I know it's worrying but I'm sure your baby will be born very healthy ❤️

Original poster

sade1988 · 08/04/2022 10:54

@bonbons1983

To add op - my first born has no health issues due to her size, fed well at birth and was completely fine. Very alert, hit every milestone and has been in school a few years with no problems at all. She's now very tall and skinny. Loves to eat but never gains weight. She was in 3 months clothes at birth.

I know it's worrying but I'm sure your baby will be born very healthy ❤️

Thank you so much for advice!!!! Is she a lot taller than other girls in her class? I'm really worried about how tall mine will be in comparison to other kids as kids can be so cruel to each other.

Thanks again xx

OP posts:

bonbons1983 · 08/04/2022 11:20

She's always worn clothes a year above her from being about four but there are several girls and boys in her class taller than her!

One of her best friends was born 4lbs and is taller than her. We've not met any babies born bigger than her yet to compare. Her weight is average despite her appetite (can easily eat 2 meal portions at once, then snacks, then still say she's hungry and ask for toast!) luckily she loves fruit and some veg!

Genuinely could not tell she was so big at birth unless I mention it!