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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Bump measuring big concerns- 39 weeks

8 replies

btro56 · 02/10/2025 11:23

I am just over 39 weeks and my bump is measuring over 97th percentile on grow chart. This was not mentioned at my last appointment so I phoned the midwife to chat about it once I’d seen it in my notes and they said they’d never do anything about a big measurement, just a small measurement..
I know all of these measurements need to be taken with a pinch of salt but I’m slightly concerned I’m going to have a big baby especially if I go far over due date (first time mum). The baby is also in back to back position which I’ve heard can make things worse.
Has anyone been in this kind of situation before and what was the outcome? I don’t mind how I give birth, I just want it to be safest for baby.

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Ciderapplevinegar · 02/10/2025 12:45

A lot of trusts don't even bother with bump measurements any more because they are so inaccurate. Don't stress about it.

fruitj · 02/10/2025 13:02

Have a look at Spinning Babies website. Positioning of baby can be really important and there are some practical things you can do to try and increase the space available to your baby so they can find the best position for them.

FunnyOrca · 02/10/2025 13:03

I was measured twice in one day. One measurement came out at 51st percentile, the other 20th…

Emergency growth scan confirmed perfect 50th…

I really would not take the fundal measurements too seriously.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 02/10/2025 13:10

I measured big in one pregnancy and it was due to having way too much fluid. If you’ve always been in the 90s though it’s probably just normal for you

FlyingHighFlyingLow · 02/10/2025 13:13

I had growth scans every 2 weeks and LVD scans every week because my bump measurements and growth scan measurements were always all over the place. Within 2 weeks I had bump 60th centile, growth scan 20th centile, then bump 15th centile (it actually apparently got smaller) then a growth scan show 45th centile triggering another growth scan because was so much bigger than the 20th centile previous week. Think the next growth scan was then like 15th centile and they started talking about inducing me at 37 weeks for IUGR (pushed against by a different consultant seen the next week as the LVD and CTG were fine). This continued all pregnancy.

I had a growth scan at 41 weeks showing 7lb baby, bump smaller than the previous week. Went for induction next day, baby was born day after at over 9lb on 90th centile - not a single scan had measured him above 60th centile.

My neighbour had a baby 2 weeks before me, induced for giant baby (10lb plus, been 99th centile plus all pregnancy), baby was less than 8lb.

Growth scans are great for highlighting who should be looked at more regularly if baby may be looking a little small, not very good at predicting big unless other associated factors like diabetes. Bump measurements are shit 😅

ThatLoudSquid · 02/10/2025 17:38

My midwife says "bump measurement measures the garage, not the car."

Bump in first pregnancy was 95th centile, baby born at 75th. Vaginal delivery, no induction.

Bump in this pregnancy is off the top of the chart but no one has any worries.

Big babies much much much preferable to small babies!

btro56 · 02/10/2025 17:41

Thanks so much for sharing all of your experiences! I think my concern was stemming from them being back to back and potentially also being big causing a difficult birth but hopefully it’s just my bump that’s measuring big and labour will be ok.

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FlyingHighFlyingLow · 02/10/2025 18:32

My baby wasn't back to back. In labour he rotated himself sideways and got himself stuck, so went to forceps. Rotated back to back while they were trying to get the forceps in, then still refused to come out when rotated right way round with the forceps so out the sunroof it was! I had a gorgeous healthy baby.

Babies position will change right up until they come out. Back to back now might no longer be back to back even now since last scan. Even if not I know many who successfully gave birth to back to back babies. If things don't go to plan, which can happen for many reasons unrelated to babies position, we are lucky to have c sections available. Goal is healthy mum and healthy baby, method of exit is immaterial x

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