Baby measuring HUGE - please help
We had our 36 week growth ultrasound today, and LO is measuring enormous. All measurements they took are greater than 97th percentile and estimated current weight is 8 pounds 9 ounces. He's currently measuring at about 40.5 weeks gestation.
I know that ultrasound measurements are notoriously bad this late in pregnancy, and I know that my baby could weigh a fair bit less than that right now - but by all accounts, he's a "big one."
My biggest concern at this point is what happens next with my doctor. Has anyone had similar measurements and what did your doctor recommend? The last thing our u/s tech said to us as we were leaving was that we should bring our date books with us to my next doctor's appointment because with this size we would most likely not be going another 4 weeks. The thought of induction and/or c-section being brought up this early really bothers me - based on something that's not at all scientific (particularly since I'd really like as few interventions as possible.) My doctor's appointment is not until this Friday.
Any similar stories or advice would be greatly appreciated!!! TIA.
Re: Baby measuring HUGE - please help
I had an U/S late too and they said my LO was also larger than the 97th percentile. They sent me for an U/S 2 weeks later, and my LO was measuring right on track.
u/s measurements can be off by 10 ounces or more (this is directly quoted from my u/s technician) and this is usually the case.
Someone posted a birth story on here earlier about being told they were having a 9lb baby and their lo weighed 6lbs 6oz.
i wouldn't freak out too much about it. your body won't normally grow a baby that you can't handle.
Me: 37
DH: 36
Married: 08-25-07
DS: 11-20-09
Name change alert: Formerly Lisswastaken
He's a boy - and he's definitely our first "baby." Thanks for your well wishes!
Same thing here. At 35 weeks Lo measured at 39 weeks and 8lb14oz.
I dont see my Dr. till tomorrow but I will let you know what she tells me.
FYI:: Growth ultrasounds can be way off!! They told my best friend she was having a 9-10 lb baby and she went into labor last night and delivered a 7 lb baby!!!!!! We were all sooo shocked bc they were so sure her son was going to be huge, but he was tiny!!!!
Good luck!!
I am a runner, knitter, scientist, DE-IVF veteran, and stage III colon cancer survivor.
Did the tech tell you the margin of error on the measurement? I had one and was told the margin of error was +/- 10% and baby was measuring 52nd percentile, so either way, my baby would not be huge or tiny. I'll let you know because my water broke this morning!
I asked the u/s tech if any of his measurements were larger than the others - and she said all 4 were above 97th percentile. (2 head measurements, an abdominal measurement, and the length of his femur.) No more ultrasounds scheduled right now, but that may change depending on what my doc says about all of this on Friday . . .
I know several people who were told this and were induced just to have 6/7lb babies. If you do not feel comfortable with induction or a planned c-section and there is no risk other than a possible size then I would fight it. It is very rare that your body would produce a baby you can't push out based on weight.
I'm not sure why they do growth u/s unless there is a medical reason, it seems to just scare people.
Natural M/c 12/13/08 at 8w5d
I was on the smaller size of average (6 pounds 15 ounces), and DH was on the larger side of average (9 pounds 3 ounces). So while DH wasn't small, he certainly wasn't big enough for us to think this baby would be quite as large as it seems like he might be.
Thanks for the logical reminder - both to you and one of the previous posters - that my body can probably handle whatever it happens to be doing right now.
I said the exact same thing to DH on the way home! My doctor does a 36 week u/s across the board for everyone and I wish I had refused it.
We did a growth u/s yesterday and LO is est to be 8lbs (93%). Since big babies run in my family (I was 9.5, DH was 7.5 and early), we've talked about him being big. I'm prepared, but that doesn't mean I like it! My doc is more worried about me trying to deliver him and ending up with an emergency c/s.
So, I'm going to do everything in my power to get him out soon and if he's still there in 4 weeks she said we'll talk about a c/s. I don't feel like I look tiny. Most people who see me think I'm due tomorrow or something.
Good luck. Bottom line is that it's your decision - you have to be comfortable with it.
this can be wrong too... My aunt was 6 lbs her husband was 7 lbs 2 oz their daughter was 2 weeks early at 9lbs 2 oz... due to IF they KNOW when she was conceived
You can't always trust U/S. They vary by who does them as well as how advanced the equipment is.
At 3 of my last ultrasounds: 36, 32 and 22, LO meausured a minimum of 2 weeks ahead. Finally my doctor decided to have me take the gluclose test again to see if maybe I'd developed diabetes since the last one. Because of a complication scare, we had another appointment at 37 weeks but with a high risk doctor who had MUCH MUCH better u/s equipment. LO weighed slightly more (7 lbs 3 oz) but she was measuring perfect on for 37 weeks. Today, OB told me not even to bother with the gluclose test, that LO will be fine.
No advice, just wanted to compliment you on how great you look and your cute Berner.
Ditto to you on Hugo - your siggy pics always make me smile!
The u/s tech said my godson was over 11 pounds at only 36 wks 5 days, when he was born at 37 wks he was only 6 pounds 2 ounces. His parents didn't have any clothes that would fit him because when they heard how big he was they exchanged all of their newborn outfits for 0-3 months. (Yeah I know, don't ask me why they did) I had to run out and get him a premie outfit just so he would have something to wear home from the hospital, lol. So don't worry too much, and don't get rid of all your smallest clothes
!