Growth ultrasound @ 35w2d - LO has a large abdomen due to GD

Raven01

I hope it's okay to post this here - I read that gestational diabetes is classified as high risk, but I haven't posted on this board before. Thanks in advance for any advice given  

I had a growth ultrasound today, and LO is measuring slightly ahead again. Not a huge difference in dates, but originally my due date was 5 April, then it was changed to 31 March. It hasn't been changed today, but LO is measuring as 36w. LO's estimated weight is 6 pounds 6 ounces (the doctor said this can be out by approx 1 pound 1 ounce either way), which is on the 75% percentile.

I'm concerned that LO seems quite large, but I'm just basing this on what I can find on google and what friends and families babies were estimated at this stage.

However, my main concern is that LO's abdomen circumference is measuring large, at 37w4d in one measurement, and 38w2d in another. The doctor used the 37w4d measurement for the report as it was the second measurement taken (which put LO's head in the 97th percentile). I was told that this can happen with GD diabetes, which I have. It is controlled by diet, and my sugars have been very good - or so I had thought. LO's head is listed on the report as measuring 31.5cm, which is 35w3d, but it showed up on the screen as being in the 18th percentile, so I'm a bit confused about that.

Has anyone had any experience with LO's showing a large abdomen? My OB's office is closed so I can't really find out what all this means at the moment, and they are closed tomorrow so I'm planning on just waiting until my appointment on Monday to ask my questions.

=Lee=B

I have Type 1 diabetes and a BIG baby.  She has consistently been in the 97th percentile for biweekly ultrasounds for months now.  But my husband comes from a family of HUGE babies (10-11lbs but they all end up tall and skinny adults) so she got a double whammy.

Anyways our baby has a big belly.  Weeks ago they showed it to me on nthe ultrasound and it was quite ahead of her other measures and she already had a layer of fat growing on her belly!!!

My specialist said that baby's from diabetic mothers are not only bigger weight wise but they tend to be stalkier with bigger belly's and shoulders than the average baby.  So what you describe makes perfect sense.

I wouldn't worry about it at all.  Especially if she is only measuring a week or 2 off in some measurements.  My baby is 4-5 weeks ahead in her measurements.  At 32 weeks she was already 5lbs13oz.  AND she is tall...I swear she'll be like 24inches tall when born, at the rate she's growing if she makes it to 40weeks I swear her feet will be sticking out my throat!!!

emriley84

I have GD also. baby's abdomen is also measuring ahead (as well as the rest of him). As PP said, a lot of diabetic babies develop extra fat around the mid section which is why the belly measures bigger. They were estimating my LO at 7lbs at 35 weeks. I have another sono this morning, I'm a little nervous!

memali26

PrivacyWanted:

Like pps said it can be a side effect of GD or other diabetes. I was always told the important measure wasn't overall size of the baby by the head to shoulder and abdominal ratio. In other words is the head big enough to make room for the rest of the body. Plus those ultrasounds can be really far off. They said at 38 weeks dd was 9 lbs...she was born 2 weeks later at 8lbs1 oz

Ditto all of this, especially the possibility of measurements being off. They were right on with my first - measured her 6lbs 9 oz at 38 weeks, born at 6lbs 11 oz at 39w2d - but definitely off with my second. She measured 6lbs 1 oz at 36 weeks, so we were preparing for at least an 8lb baby, but she was 6lbs even at birth at 39 weeks. The later you are in pregnancy, the less exact they can be with measurements. 

Raven01

Thank you for the responses, they have really helped put my mind at ease.