27 weeks - big baby and worried

[LettucesAndRoses]

Hello lovely people,

My baby measured at 95th percentile for weight at my latest scan (27 weeks). Measuring at 90th-95th percentile for everything so at least it's consistent.

I'm worried about a complicated labour and the implications it can have for the baby mainly but also for me.
I was wondering if anyone had been in this situation and managed to not have a huge baby by cutting certain things out of their diets etc (white rice, bread maybe?)

For reference, it's my second baby and the first was big at birth but not measuring particularly big throughout the pregnancy (so I'm extra worried about a late growth spurt!).
I'm a healthy weight and I eat healthy (of everything, not forbidding myself a treat but in moderation), I just don't have time to walk and exercise like I used to the first time around.

Would like to hear about your experiences.

Hey, I've not had my baby yet.

At my 20w scan baby was on 50th percentile.
At 28w baby had jumped to above 99th and has been there since! I'm currently 34w.

At my earlier scans I was so scared from the potential complications that I couldn't sleep. At my last scan 2w ago the consultant went through all complications and I really freaked. However this last week or so I'm okay.

The doctor has offered me an induction at 38 weeks. She said they'll book me in at my next scan (36w), though I do have a few other complications.

I've heard a lot of woman say their babies were smaller, some were bang on, some were bigger. I'm very worried (maybe irrationally so) about shoulder dystocia so will be pleased to have her at 38w, when her projected weight will be over 9lbs.

I know how scary it is. Are they offering you extra scans? I've had to be tested for diabetes today to rule that out.

And also - because of my excess fluid and gigantic baby, I can't eat a lot and am also sick fairly often. I am definitely under my recommended calories per day (not necessarily by choice) but baby is still way big. It doesn't necessarily follow that if you eat less baby will slow down, though being healthier in pregnancy is always good as long as you're not too restrictive. Xx

@GoT1904 Thank you so much for sharing and sorry to hear you've been stressed and uncomfortable. Do you feel ready for the induction? When are you going to get the results for pregnancy diabetes?
I'm doing a first round of blood tests on Monday and if the results are bad, I'll do the pregnancy diabetes one after.
I'm wondering what's the point in finding out so late in the pregnancy, is there much time to try to change someone or is it just to make arrangements for the birth?

I feel so ready, yeah. I should hear back on Monday. Like you I don't really understand why they want to find out so late? I can't really change much, I'm doing my best already. Maybe it's for preparations, I've honestly no clue.

What bloods have you had done?

Can you ask for more tests?
I was told baby was measuring massive and I was so worried yet they were wrong and I gave birth to a 5lb 9oz. Ask for another opinion before panicking wish I had

My first baby measured on the 95th+ centile at 22 weeks. He was born at term on the 25th centile. I’m afraid I take these things with a pinch of salt now as it just isn’t possible to measure that accurately in utero.

@GoT1904 @quietnightmare
I've read studies about the pregnancy diabetes test and saw that it diagnoses more cases than normally occur in the population, most probably because triggering such a high hyperglycaemia is unnatural and causes the body to go in overdrive.
Anyway, long story short, I found a middle ground for now which is for two days next week I'll have blood taken after fasting for 12 hours, then 2 hours after breakfast then 2 hours after lunch. I like this option as it's based on what I'm normally eating. If the results are bad, I'll do the standard test but at least I'll feel like I've tried. Don't want to end of my pregnancy to be spoilt by an unnecessary crazy diet or shots of insulin when there's no need for them.

@AnnieApple123 Did you do the diabetes test? Did they put you on a special diet?

My son was 11lb at 37 weeks. I delivered by section. I wasn't diabetic; husband is 6ft3 and I'm about 5ft8, so we were never going to have a little baby.

My friends baby was measuring huge and was just 7 pounds when born. It's not accurate at all, just a total guessing game.

Fwiw my second was 9lb 3oz and the birth was a really straightforward and positive experience. You'll be ok.

@LettucesAndRoses No diabetes test and no diet. I was personally more worried than any medics were.

DC1 was enormous. One of the biggest 500 babies born that year. I was given additional growth scans in late pregnancy because they were worried the baby was not growing enough. Remains extremely tall for age and not overweight but solidly built.

Second DC measured bang-on average throughout pregnancy but was also big at birth (although seemed small to me compared to DC1). Wasn't big as an older baby, toddler or beyond though. Slightly small if anything.

Try not to stress, keep eating a balanced diet and move around a bit.

You seem to mix up big babies with calories, being a healthy weight and exercise and that is not true.
What makes big babies? Genetics? How big was your 1st when they were born? Were they well at birth?
Also Gestational diabetes can be down to genetics also!
Any glucose in your urine?
Large abdominal circumference is normally baby receiving more sugar. Things that can spike sugar is carbs (bread, pasta etc) some vegetables such as peas, carrots and sweetcorn. Breakfast cereals, porridge etc. Not necessary unhealthy food.
Fwiw I had GD, no risk factors apart from my sister had polycystic ovaries which increases your insulin resistance. My baby was growing small due to placenta issues due to GD.
I wouldn't mess around with GD diagnosis of blood sugars aren't controlled it can have devastating consequences and I think everyone should be tested

Also they don't normally test for GD until 26 weeks due to an increased in hormones released in pregnancy which affects insulin production

My baby was 99.6th centile at birth. We always knew he was going to be a big one and I had growth scans all the way though. I was checked for GD but I was fine, you can't change it via diet, it is what it is.

I had shoulder dystocia with one of my pregnancies so I was a bit worried about that happening again but as it turns out, his giant head wouldn't move low enough anyway, so I had a EMCS c-section after being induced 2 weeks early.

Scans can be wrong, mine were - he was a whole 1lb heavier than predicted!

His giant head 😂😂😂😂

My baby was predicted at over 9lb at 38 weeks but was born a few days later at 8lb so the measurements were a bit out. Granted they would have been a decent weight by 40 weeks but equally I don't think my body had any intention of going that far.

Please don't worry about what you are eating and definitely don't restrict what you are eating. It's not going to make a difference unless you have GD and you will know soon enough. Listen to the professionals and take all the advice you can but take the measurements with a pinch of salt. Are either you or your partner particularly tall? I think it's easy for a long baby to be predicted as a large baby

Your not alone with your worries @LettucesAndRoses I'm pregnant with my 3rd and I'm having growth scans, my first one at 28 weeks baby was measuring on the 90th centile! My next scan is on Monday when I'll be 33 weeks and to be honest I'm anxious for it. Neither of my children were big babies when born they were just over the 7lbs mark. However my consultant seems to think this baby is going to be some what bigger. The estimated fetal weight at 28 weeks was 3lbs2oz. I don't know whether to take it with a pinch of salt or what but its more the labour/delivery that I'm on pins about, the consultant mentioned about c-section, or induction at 39 weeks and I just want a spontaneous labour. I was induced with both mine due to reduced fetal movements, one ended up as a traumatic emergency forceps delivery, the other was ok but it still doesn't make my thoughts and feelings any easier this time round 🙁

Thanks everyone for the replies.

@Boopboopboo we're not particularly tall, no. DC1 is tall for her age though so maybe DC2 will be tall too.
@allthingssparkly let us know how you get on with the scan on Monday. I think it was a bit premature for the consultant to start talking about a C-section at 28 weeks. My first baby was pretty big (for a first, especially) at 8lbs6oz and I managed a normal birth so there's hope for a third delivery!

My scan and appt went ok this morning @LettucesAndRoses baby is just below the 90th centile with an approx fetal weight of 4lbs9oz, consultant had no concerns there. My only problem now is that baby is now footling breech from cephalic(head down) so I've got till 36 weeks to hope that he turns 🤞

Both mine were over 9lbs. Easy vaginal births with both BUT I'm 6ft and DH is 6ft7... we were expecting big babies. I know the sonographers had an argument over DC1's scans and the requirement for more growth scans. One said on paper baby was big, the other said look at the parents lol.

Scans are also quite unreliable. A week before I had DC1 a scan showed him at about 7lbs. He didn't grow that much in a week!

@allthingssparkly Great news! Let's hope this baby turns on time for you to have the birth you're hoping for. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

I did a first round of blood tests today. One early morning fasting, one two hours after breakfast and one two hours after lunch and they all seem okay. Probably have to do the same again on another day this week to confirm. So that would mean it's just a big baby and I can't do much about it!

I got my GTT results today too at 34+2 and no diabetes here either. Just a giant baby.

@GoT1904 That's good news! We'll just have to trust that our bodies are growing babies they can deliver. We can do this!