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2nd Trimester
vszapp
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Is this real? Baby measuring very large at 18 week scan
vszapp
member
We had the anatomy scan a few weeks ago, and other than learning that our risk of Downs is quite low, we didn't get the rest of the results until yesterday because I promptly left town to take a work trip. When I went for my monthly OB checkup yesterday, he said the scan looked good, but you have one large baby. I asked how large, and he said 99th percentile (he even showed my hubby on the report). We are pretty much positive of the conception date, so I don't think the dating is wrong. I would also just hope this is an anomalous scan, but our first scan at 13(?) weeks also showed the baby measuring a week ahead. My doc said we would recheck at 28 weeks with another ultrasound, but if it keeps up, "there's no way a 99th percentile baby is coming out of you naturally".
This really bums me out as I was truly hoping for a natural delivery, with as few interventions as possible. I also worry (as moms do) that there's something wrong with the baby to be this large. But I have heard stories before of ladies hearing that their baby would be huge, and they would need a C-section, only to deliver a perfectly normally sized child.
Does anyone have any experience with this? I guess it is what it is, but I don't want to get pushed into a C-section unless it really is necessary.
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Re: Is this real? Baby measuring very large at 18 week scan
I wouldn't be surprised if some babies develop differently, like get ahead of the game early on and then slow down with their growth. Saying that, I'd just be open minded about your delivery options and do some more research on all of that to see what the best plan is for you. I want to have natural birth, too, but I have to be "okay" with C section or whatever if it ends up going a different way come delivery day.
Glad to hear baby's healthy, though!!! : )
:'( CP BFP 1/6/2013-EDD 9/19/2013-CP 1/9/2013
I wouldn't worry too much. Dr.'s are sometimes wrong when they guess at the baby's size.
It also depends on your pelvis. I pushed for 2.5 hours, needed the vacuum, tore and my baby was an average 7 pounds.
I've heard the scans can be up to a POUND off in either direction... I really wouldn't worry about it, especially this early in the game. I'd also really press your doctor about his comments, re: you probably won't be able to deliver naturally. It is pretty rare for a baby to be "too large" to deliver vaginally... but it seems a lot of doctors these days take that stance (less work for them!).
Me (32) DH (30)
A Wordy Blog
Baby Evangeline is here!
Mine have all consistently measured on the large side, but DH is a big guy. I would have been able to deliver DD1 vaginally even though I'm petite and she was "only" 8 lbs 12 oz, but there were other non-size factors that simply prevented it. Just do your research, keep talking with your doctor about what your options are.
GL
That was an absolutely ridiculous thing for her to say. You have no idea how the baby will develop over the next 20 weeks.
My DS was measuring about 10 days ahead at his anatomy scan. He was four days late and was 8 lb, 11 oz, delivered naturally.
This baby was measuring nearly two weeks ahead on the anatomy scan, in the 96th percentile. My dates aren't off, either, he's just a big baby.
Some babies are bigger than others - it doesn't automatically mean you're going to have a c/s! Good luck.
On top of everything it is your body. If he thinks LO is too big, tell him you want to try anyways. If your pushing for hours with no success, as long as during that time LO isn't in distress and isn't in danger from you pushing (which shouldn't happen), you can always get the c-section as a last resort.
I was told my DS was very large as well. I measured ahead the entire pregnancy, was gaining a ton of weight, was huge. They tested me twice for GD and everything. I went into labor 3 weeks early and he was 9 lbs 7 oz, so definitely a big boy, but it can be done. A lot of people deliver large babies. I pushed for 4 hours straight which was insane, but was still able to give birth which I was very excited about. You can do and I would just let them know that as long as it's safe, you want to give it a try. Worse case, they can always take you in for a c-section but it annoys me when they don't even give girls a chance. Good luck!
I'm kinda going through a situation like this.. (sorry this is so long)
Based on my last menstrual cycle, my due date is 2/21/12. First u/s at about 9 weeks, moved my due date to 2/11/12. At my next u/s at 13 weeks, they changed due date AGAIN to 2/9/12. I asked my dr. how this is possible to change a due date by 12 days (it's not a full month, so it's not like I conceived in April rather than May). He said it's quite possible I ovulate verrrry early in the month (maybe a day or 2 after period). I've never charted (and I was actually on the BCP) so I cannot tell you how accurate his guess is. BUT I think he's probably right. With my DD, I did not have an u/s until 18 weeks (anatomy scan) and they never switched her due date. (early ultrasounds are the most accurate. once your at the 18 week scan, they rarely change your due date because the baby can be at large range of size). My DD was born 15 days early but at 7 lb 14 oz. To me- she was probably born at 40 weeks if they had adjusted my due date like that had with his pregnancy.
Here I am, at 24 weeks. I went to the dr. on Tuesday and they told me 1) that my uterus is measuring at 26 cm (should be 24 cm: # of weeks= #of cm) and 2) I'm gaining weight faster than I should be. I'm up 19 lbs which is on track to gain 50 lbs this pregnancy. I had to tell myself a bigger baby is better than a small baby. He said if I still continue to measure big, I will get another u/s toward the end of the pregnancy. With my DD I gained 68 lbs and I had enough amniotic fluid to practically support twins (which is probably why my uterus is measuring large now).
OK now that you have my story, my advice to you-
Keep calm. Remember you have a lot of pregnancy left. ANYTHING can happen. Growth spurts happen. Ultrasounds are wrong. Hell, this could just be good reason to get another u/s in a few months. Keep an open mind about inductions and c-sections but PLEASE try not to stress it until the end. Too much energy goes into worrying about this when there's plenty of time for things to change.
Good luck mama
I definitely agree that if you had a doc you loved, things would be better. During my last pregnancy, I switched drs. halfway through and it was the best decision I ever made. You're only half way there! So I would definitely consider switching (if that's an option you want to persue).
honestly if your 13 week u/s showed you 1 week ahead then why did they change your due date?
Who cares if the baby is in the 99%? Your dr. saying that at 20 weeks would make me very wary of him/her.
If you want to go natural then you should prepare yourself to do so. Very rarely is there actually a time where a baby is truly too big (especially if you aren't on your back which doesn't open your pelvis as much)
Look into squatting or being on your hands/knees for delivery and I wouldn't worry about it at all.
When I had DS, my AFP results showed a slight risk. They said they'd do extra u/s because he may be low birth weight. Well the next u/s he was measuring large so then they started watching to see how large. They estimated he would weigh between 9.6 - 11.6 so I had a c-section. He weighed 9.6. I think the u/s techs know what they're doing.
A week ahead, and the 99th percentile, is still within the normal range.
Our boy is measuring 6 days ahead and is in the 89th percentile. I'm not worried at all.
DS was always in the 99-100 percentile. Sometimes baby's grow big. I also had a vaginal delivery, but I was induced at 37 weeks due to pre-eclampsia.
He was 8lb4oz when he was born, and would have been over 10lb if I would have delivered on/after my due date. He has always run in the 95-100th and now is over the 100th percentiles.
Don't let your doctor scare you into a c-section if that's not what you want. Women have pushed out 10 lb babies for years. Do what you feel comfortable with. If I would have been able to go to full term, I still would have at least tried to deliver naturally (And he was estimated to be 37w when I had a growth scan at 32w). And with this one, I plan to do the same. I also hope I get to go to full term with this one.