Baby above 97th percentile at 34 weeks - worrying :(

[Sarahjsxx]

Hello,
I had a growth scan at 31 weeks and baby was at 97th percentile, just had another scan now and I'm at 34 weeks and they're saying the growth has accelerated 😩 and have sent me to triage, no one has said why, I've just had gestational diabetes test this week and my results were normal. Previous babies quite large and both side of family too
I have c section booked for 39 weeks, they have mentioned if so large they might do it early. The problem is my husband is going on a business trip in 2/3 weeks and parents in law also going abroad for 2 weeks at the same time, they're the only people I know can help if something happens and help with our children
Also moving house on Tuesday
Does anymore know what they're going to say in triage?! The sonographer didn't say much and just said sorry

My baby was measuring 98th percentile at 31 weeks due to GD. I’ve got another scan next week at 33 weeks. I’ve been told I might be induced at 37 or 38 weeks if she’s still growing so much. Won’t know more til next week but it’s my first baby and I’m panicking

Oh no sorry to hear you're in a similar position it's worrying when you don't know what's going to happen and have to wait, are you planning natural birth? Hope all goes well

You need a back up plan. Book a private nanny .
Can dh cancel businesstrip or get straight back ?
Can you postpone housemove or pay someone to manage it? (Bad timing planning)

I’m afraid I may be being very ignorant, but if you are having a c section anyway I don’t understand why the baby must be born earlier? Is it in case you go into Labour? Surely they could just do a c section at that point if so. Is it a harm to the baby to be large? Providing there are no health issues like GD making them large it seems ok? Or is it the unknown reason for growth acceleration that’s concerning them? I’d want to know why they were worried and what the risks are of not delivering even earlier. I’d also want to know how certain they were of the size! I’d probably ask for all that info before agreeing to something that would be massively inconvenient! (Obviously if it’s a health issue then that’s different!)

That is a good idea, the business trip was delayed by a week which has caused the issue as it's getting closer to the due date, apparently no one else can go from his team
Everyone thinks I'm being over the top worrying

All good questions thank you! I'm just wondering why have they sent me here I've been waiting ages 😩😞 without saying anything
I'm not sure why, the baby is already apparently measuring 7.5lb, if I went into labour then I'd have to have an emergency c section

And no we can't delay the house move unfortunately

The scans are so inaccurate though. I would ask lots of questions but wouldn’t agree to an earlier delivery unless the baby or I were at risk.

I was in a similar position and was induced at 38 weeks. They wanted me to have a section and were heavily scaremongering about should distocia etc., but I stood my ground. Wasn't overly keen on being induced either but I reluctantly agreed. Baby was born a perfectly normal 7lb 15oz, nearly 2lb less than they'd said at a scan a week and a half before..

Growth scans are notoriously inaccurate, almost everyone I spoke to had a similar experience to me. You don't have to agree to anything you don't want to. Don't be scared to advocate for yourself - if your comfortable waiting and there's no critical medical reason to go sooner, then I wouldn't agree to it

I'm not as far into my pregnancy (24 weeks) but we've had to have some extra scans for various reasons, and baby is measuring pretty consistently at 95th+ percentile on all measures. If size is the only issue, then this isn't considered a good enough reason (according to NICE guidelines) to have a C-section or induction. If you would rather hold on for your current c-section - this is entirely your right. Hopefully you'll be seen soon and get some answers, but don't be afraid to hold firm if you'd rather not change your birth plans and there are no other reasons to get baby out sooner!

Seems a bit crazy that your only childcare support options have planned trips when you are so close to term! Surely if situation changes they would be able to cancel/postpone etc? As for Hubby's work saying he is the only one from the team who can go... Well he's not if his child arrives. That is a them problem.

You've had some great advice around options and questions to ask and I would definitely be following up on all of that before agreeing to anything. But ultimately, baby will come when they come and you will all make the best of it I'm sure!

My Sister and her Hubby were due to move 6 weeks before her due date with my niece. Sis got pre-eclampsia and my niece came at 34wks - C-section was literally on the day they got the keys!! My Dad had to collect for them and then Mum and I were dashing round buying prem baby clothes etc as she was giving birth. My BiLs friends helped with the move and by the time my Sis left hospital they were in their new house! So... Sometimes these things happen! You will make it all work however it goes. Try not to worry ahead too much. X

Sounds like a lot of unnecessary panic to me. You've tested negative for GD and these scans are known to be quite in accurate. They panicked my friend saying her baby was too small and would be tiny, she was 7lb5 and too big for all the tiny baby clothes my friend had packed!
They should only be doing an emergency caesarean if there are issues during birth, a big baby is just something to be aware of that's all.
Did you say it's not your first? Other babies were big? How tall are you and DH?
But DH cancelling his trip sounds like a good idea though, never any guarantees that baby will wait until the due date

Well I was planning a natural birth and they actually said they can induce me to have a natural birth but it just depends. I asked if they would want to do c section and they said possibly. If she is healthy and it’s just her size then im leaning towards natural. Problem is like others have said; they are notorious for scaring us and getting these scans wrong. She’s been consistently on 60-70th percentile but jumped to 98th in 2 weeks 🤔

I suddenly started measuring big at around 34 weeks but this was the bump size measured by the midwife and not the scan. I was then sent to the hospital to get a growth scan and they said the fluid around baby looked like a little more than normal and also baby was measuring big. They also ruled out gestational diabetes. Was sent home. A few days later my mucus plug came away but was told not to worry. Then another few days later, I noticed fluid leaking slowly (filled a sanitary pad over the next few hours). They said it was a 'hind water leak' and admitted me to hospital. Baby was getting distressed overnight so they broke the rest of my waters. Midwife said she had never seen as much fluid before! Baby got distressed and it turned into a c-section in the end. My son was born at 35+6 and measured in the 97th centipede for length so was a big baby- he also measured 6lb 5.

I wouldn't put too much stock in it tbh - growth scans are very innacurate, the calculations don't work for all babies, and suspicions of a big baby alone with no other cause for concern (ie. No GD) aren't enough cause for induction or C section. If that's what you're comfortable with and it's on offer, I understand, but there's no reason to think that your baby is actually too big. Half of all cases of shoulder dystocia happen in normal sized babies. And induction is a very good way of getting a big baby into a bad position.

I've had two pregnancies with babies predicted above the 95th and off the charts, respectively. Both spontaneous, natural, unmedicated, vaginal births, with no complications or interventions. Both were suspected to be 8lbs or so around 36/37 weeks. Both were born at 41 weeks & change, weighing 8lbs12oz and 9lbs13oz respectively. Perfectly apgars, no tears, very positive births. And absolutely no need for induction or C section, both of which were incorrectly advised by consultants. I'm currently 40 weeks with baby #3 who is also "off the charts" and my home birth midwife isn't concerned at all, as I've already had an official "Big Baby" with my 2nd, and the growth scans overexaggerated both times. My midwives are fully supportive of me birthing at home and don't foresee any complications. I'm not telling you my account because I think it's the same with you, I just want to give you some perspective. You have choices, and consultants scaremongering you isn't helpful.

I highly recommend reading the NICE guidelines and trying to stay calm and level headed.

Your baby might not be that big, and even if they are, it doesn't mean you can't give birth spontaneously and vaginally.

Wishing you the best of luck with whatever choices you make x

I had the same thing in that my baby measured above the 97th percentile continuously from 32 weeks. I spoke to lots of medical experts and I would say don’t be pushed into an early c-section, anything before 39 weeks can mean they are born with breathing/lung difficulties.

We waited until 39 +3 and baby did come out on the 96th percentile so the scans were totally accurate.

You ok OP how did it go at the triage?

Hi everyone thank you for the replies, it ended up being a waste of time, however the doctor reviewed the scan and said they're happy with it, it's just a big baby 🙃 they booked my pre op for the day before my c section (booked 39 weeks)
My previous children first was 76th percentile and natural birth, second was on 87th percentile (I had growth scans with her) and they were pretty accurate; I know from reading online and all the comments that they deffo can be inaccurate tho. My second (the c section ) was done at 38 weeks last time as I had a cyst removed at the same time
If they did say they wanted to do it abit earlier I wouldn't be against it, I'm just super worrried about my husband being away and going into labour or something, is it possible the baby can come earlier if it is larger?

Bump x anyone? X

I'm only 1 person with 2 anecdotes but if it helps:

Baby 1 was estimated to be 8lb at 36 week growth scan, and was born 2 weeks later at 7lb 6.

Baby 2 was over 9lb but that didn't cause early labour. He came spontaneously just shy of 40 weeks.

I would still put my foot down about the business trip, though! You should be resting!

I guess it can happen (baby can come earlier if larger) but it didn't for me - DS 1, 10lb2oz, one week late, DD1 - 9lb 2 oz, nearly two weeks late "the dainty one" DD2, 9lbs 13oz, induced on the day, for convenience and large size (not mine, it hurt !) and DS2, just 8lbs 13oz, induced 3 weeks early due to large size and lying badly (on his side, with a history of fast labours so they did not want to take the risk) he was not ready for coming out, covered with vernix. Being induced hurt, wish I had left it until he was ready. Giving birth alone is not the greatest, but you are so focused that it is not the hardest thing either - but obviously if you have other children that's when you need someone. I hope you have a friend that you could ask as a "step in" if other things fail, and those that are close to you genuinely cannot cancel or get there quickly. HTH xx

Hello,
Just came to report back that I went into Labour a week early at 38 weeks, my baby actually was on the 99th percentile so the scan was fairly accurate I could hardly breathe in the end

I went into Labour 3 days after my husband got back thankfully

Congratulations!