How exactly does this work?
My doctor told me I won't have any more u/s's from here on out, so for those who say they know the baby is measuring big, is this being determined with a u/s? Was the u/s scheduled, or were you measuring ahead? I have to admit I am a little scared that baby will be huge, but if I don't have any more u/s's scheduled, how could they tell? I'm confused...please fill me in. Thanks.
Re: Finding out how big baby is...
I have weekly u/s (called a biophysical) because I'm considered to be high risk.
I wish it was like my last pg, when I didn't have the weekly u/s. IMO it's better not to know (or think you know) you're having a BIG baby. Less chance of more medical intervention that way!
exactly!
Well for your sake, I hope your midwife is right....I do sonos and I find that midwives dont always know what they are talking about really.....Id personally prefer the opinion of a physician
They give a "general idea" that can be really inaccurate. And since women typically don't grow babies they can't birth, it is pointless to either slice them open proactively or to frighten them before birth by "general" predictions that aren't that accurate.
Sure, if the fundal height is high you'll be sent for an ultrasound, but it could find excess amniotic fluid, twins, or some other reason for it.
An experienced practitioner can get a "general idea" of a baby's size by external palpation, too, if they do that routinely- my midwife guessed my son's weight (before he was born) within three ounces.
But the ONLY sure way to know how much a baby weighs, is to give birth and then weigh the baby!
Its obvious that the only precise measurement is going to be the weight after delivery.....however, women who develop gestational diabetes have a tendency to have large babies, and sometimes they pass thier 28 week glucose test, so though an ultrasound may not be 100 percent accurate due to the size and position of a late third tri fetus, it is a good idea to have a sono when you measure greater than your dates because it can be helpful for both baby and Mom. Ive had a couple patients pass thier glucose and then at sono we find concern for diabetes based on babys size and fluid. A doctor is not going to cut open a patient who measures big and is preterm...in fact, I believe before 38 weeks or something along those lines, they must do an amnio to induce a baby for its size.