Baby's head measuring large

happyftm09132019

I'm 34 weeks. Baby's body measures appropriately but her head is measuring 38 weeks. They're sending me to a maternal fetal specialist. Does anyone have experience with this? I'm scared!

bellebaby221

My kids all had big heads. They were perfectly fine. Head circumference for them was always at or near the 100th percentile. 

harpseal135

Honestly I wouldnt worry too much.  

daffodil_shoe

Ultrasound measurements can be off in either direction. Most women can fit their babies through the pelvis, but occasionally heads can be too large. This is called cephalopelvic disproportion. Last month we ended up doing a csection on a labor patient because baby just wasn’t moving into position after 2 failed inductions. I think it ended up being like 39 cm? You’re better off with a csection in these cases, as to avoid injury to you and baby. I know the thought of a csection can be scary, but if your doctor suggests this route due to cephalopelvic disproportion, trust him/her.

varimama

DS’s head was 96th percentile. I did need an episiotomy and the vacuum but had a vaginal delivery and recovered fine. They saw this measurement early during ultrasounds but didn’t require any extra consults or intervention until the actual delivery required it. 

delujm0

My son's head was in the 99th percentile, but we didn't know that until he was out because i hadn't had a growth ultrasound since the AS.  His head came out fine, though his shoulders did get stuck in my pelvis (the nurse was able to climb on top of me and wedge them out, he did not have any injuries as a result).  He was a week late and almost 9lbs.  I had basically zero tearing at all, even though his head and shoulders were large (for reference, he is my third baby, so i was pre-stretched when i birthed him haha).
 
If your doctor isn't worried about it, you don't need to be.  Many women birth 10lb+ babies vaginally and recover just fine.  It is unusual (though not impossible) for a baby to truly be too big to be birthed vaginally, and if it is, that is usually not known until labor has started.  If you need a CS, you need a CS, the important thing is that baby gets out safely.  Your doctor or midwife will tell you what your best course of action is closer to labor or when you are in labor.