Community› The Bump Message Boards› 3rd Trimester
3rd Trimester
New Discussion

REALLY dumb question

bb80bb80 member
in 3rd Trimester

if your baby is measuring ahead weight wise, does that mean they would fare better if born early?  or would they just be a bigger preemie? 

like i said.....stupid question

Report Reply to Post

Re: REALLY dumb question

  • lesuthlesuth member
    I don't really know the answer to this, but when the Dr. measured my stomach at around 25 weeks he said I wad measuring about three weeks ahead. Now I'm measuring right on. Do you know baby's weight from an ultrasound? They told us at our childbirth classes that the weight from an ultrasound can be up to 2 lbs. off. That's huge for a baby.
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • SpiffyTiffySpiffyTiffy
    I don't think it is a dumb question. My baby has been measuring a week ahead since 27 weeks, and I am not completely sure, but I think it means he may be ready to come out a little earlier than the due date. I don't know about the preemie thing- of course more weight is better if your child is born prematurely, but there are still developmental issues that babies born prematurely face... like lung development.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Pregnancy Ticker BabyFruit Ticker
    Report Reply
  • heather121709heather121709
    Probably just a large preemie, just because that wouldnt really have much to do with the babies lung development and other things that develop closer to a baby being full term ie. eyes opening and closing, swallowing, and breathing.
    Report Reply
  • Luv-a-BugLuv-a-Bug

    Well.... I have a friend that gave birth at 30w about a month ago.  They were told by his doctor that because he was big for his "age" that it was helping his chance of survival.

    So that being said, I guess the answer is probably yes, to an extent.

    Report Reply
  • bb80bb80 member

    at this point it's just speculation, i haven't had an ultrasound in 7 weeks so i'm not sure, but i know i'm huge, here's a pic, but i guess it could just be how i'm carrying....i just worry so much about having a preemie (irrational fear)

    image

    Report Reply
  • gunsofbrixtongunsofbrixton
    weight has no effect on lung maturity...so i would say that you would just have a preemie....unless his lungs are mature he is not considered full term...
    Report Reply
  • Shell24Shell24 member

    I don't think it's a stupid question.

    It definitely means the baby is larger than other babies at that gestational age. However, I'm not sure how that impacts lung function and development and other organ development.  Measuring ahead may not mean the baby should or could be born early.

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • CrystalDaunCrystalDaun

    imagemanda3987:
    weight has no effect on lung maturity...so i would say that you would just have a preemie....unless his lungs are mature he is not considered full term...

    This! I actually know this answer for certain. My neighbor is a neonatologist for Hope childrens hosp. (chicago nesties will most likely know where that is) and I had aweful Edema w/ DD and was measuring ahead and I asked him this exact same question when I was 32 weeks pregnant and he told me that she would be a larger preemie & that weight does help but the lungs and other organs are not completely mature yet. She would spend time in the NICU is born early. HTH :-)

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • mrs_siscomrs_sisco
    Not a stupid question at all...I don't really know the answer. My friend at work is being induced 3 weeks early because her baby is measuring big, so I guess it helps to an extent...
    Report Reply
  • mom2binKCmom2binKC

    Not a dumb question. 

    Weight does not impact lung maturity, which is one of the main issues for premature babies.  So, for instance, a baby born at 34 weeks, weighing 6 lbs, would probably not fair as well as a baby born at 37 weeks weighing 5 lbs.  However, all things considered equal, a baby born at 35 weeks weighing 6 lbs might have some advantages over a baby born at the same gestational age weighing 4.5 lbs.  But babies' lungs do not mature at the same rate, either.  Boys tend to lag behind girls a bit on lung maturity.

    But really, it is primarily about lung maturity and nervous system development.

    And, FWIW, I don't think just looking at a pg woman and how "big" she is tells much about the size of the baby.  Fundal height, yes, but not just how a woman is carrying.

    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"