Can dr tell size of baby?

tigerlove85 · March 2012

Hello, my coworker, who is also 33 wks, gets monthly u/s because she is high risk. Every month, she is told the weight of the baby. I have not had u/s since 18 weeks. If I ask my dr for estimate of the babies weight at my next routine appt, will she be able to tell me? My appts, just consist of a tape measuring, and the other routine stuff. TIA.

hollyg1920 · March 2012

They can guess...but I dont know how close they can get

My OB guessed 8lbs-8lbs 6oz for DD (without u/s) and she was born 39w2d at 6lbs 14oz

My friend had several u/s in 3rd tri and they said her DD would be 9lbs+. She had a c/s and her girl was 7lbs 10oz

even with u/s they can be off a pound in either direction

Sawyerplus1 · March 2012

Honestly, u/s measurements can be very off (by a pound in either direction), especially in the last trimester. I wouldn't put too much stock into them. I have heard that a dr or MW properly trained in the technique can more accurately determine size from touch than u/s measurements. Unfortunately I'm not sure many drs are properly trained to determine that when they can rely (less accurately) on u/s.

I wouldn't bother to ask about it. The estimates could be so off and could just cause you worry, either that baby is too small or too big. If your dr suspected a reason to know ahead of time LOs size estimate, they'd look into it.

baloneydisc · March 2012

The estimates are usually done by the u/s machine. They measure the head, abdomen & femur and then the machine actually estimates baby's weight. They can be off up to a pound either way. My last weight estimate was 5lbs 12oz at 36w & DD was born 6lbs 11oz at 39w. I have heard of OBs giving a size guess based on feeling your belly, but mine doesn't do that and I would assume its not very accurate. You can certainly ask, but don't be surprised if your OB can't tell you much.

526SadieSadie · March 2012

The only real weight guess I've gotten was from an ultrasound at 37 weeks (they thought I was measuring big and did the U/S to check). I asked my doc yesterday what she thought and she could only say between mid 7 pounds and 8 pounds.

pinksweetpea2 · March 2012

Not as well as most of them think they can.

torimales · March 2012

Not even kidding you, the afternoon before I delivered my daughter my doctor guessed her weight- to the ounce.

It never hurts to ask!

vagirl1 · March 2012

They can be way off. Mine was pretty accurate with DS. He was estimated to be 7lbs., born 38w2d at 6lbs. 9oz. He might have made it to 7 if he'd stayed in a little longer :-)

laurenmae1228 · March 2012

elainelbuck:
The estimates are usually done by the u/s machine. They measure the head, abdomen & femur and then the machine actually estimates baby's weight. They can be off up to a pound either way. My last weight estimate was 5lbs 12oz at 36w & DD was born 6lbs 11oz at 39w. I have heard of OBs giving a size guess based on feeling your belly, but mine doesn't do that and I would assume its not very accurate. You can certainly ask, but don't be surprised if your OB can't tell you much.

This. I actually just had my first growth scan done yesterday. (I am high-risk with gestational diabetes). My tech said that she got some very good technical measurements (the baby was cooperating, basically), so she felt pretty comfortable in saying that it was fairly accurate, but that yes, it could still be off by a pound in either direction. So at almost 34 weeks, our baby boy measured at 4 lbs15oz, and she made an "educated guess" that he would be ~ 7 lbs8oz full-term. (They will induce me at 39 weeks if I haven't gone into labor by then, as there are some risks related to the placenta & fluids because of GD). So in ~ 5 weeks or so, I guess I'll see if she was right! lol!

FabulousMrs.P · March 2012

They can guess...but even with an u/s they can be totally off on the weight. My doctor told me not to worry and that it felt like I was having an average size baby and she was right. No u/s to tell me weight or anything.

coryandsuzanne · March 2012

They estimated my daughter's weight to be 7 1/2 lbs but she was born 5 lbs 13 oz. They gave me their estimate from the u/s by measuring different bones/body parts. I don't really trust it this time when they tell me about how much the baby weighs.

LEFNCSU · March 2012

My Dr. guessed DS to be about 8 lbs. He was born at almost 10 lbs.

MarxieVonTrapp · March 2012

I just asked my OB and he said that he could guess, but even with an u/s, the guesses are usually off by up to 2 pounds. He said it's notoriously unreliable.

ljeckes · March 2012

When I was pg w/DD, we had a growth scan at about 36 wks where we were told that baby would likely be between 9 & 11 pounds at birth. Because of the estimated weight & w/my OB's advice we scheduled a C/S. DD was born at 7lbs 10.8 oz.

That being said, and armed with this prior knowledge, I'm still going to ask my OB if she can give me a guess. (I'm not sure if I get a growth scan - I switched practices since last time) It's kind of fun!

rubber_chicken · March 2012

My dr's office doesn't perform ultrasounds for judging size, as they find it's more accurate to use the tape and other belly measurements.

MamaGiles · March 2012

W/ my daughter, at 38wks u/s said 7 pounds 12 ounces. When i had her at 39 wks 3 days, she was 6 pounds 11 ounces. So they were a pound off.

W/ this baby, she's been measuring big from the beginning (90%tile or higher). My doc has requested a sono at 36 weeks this time to see what the measurements are. At this point, I don't care. I just want her out of me! LOL

stemms8810 · March 2012

With my DD my OB was able to determine she was small by feeling my stomach but he didn't say what weight. She was small though. I think they can tell by feel if your baby is on the small or big side but won't be able to give an accurate weight.

Cheerio B · March 2012

They can guess but even with an ultrasound they can't be sure. DD was supposed to be an 8 1/2 pound baby according to an ultrasound. She came out at 6lb 14 oz.

ABeautifulMind · March 2012

I just asked my midwife about this at my appointment a few hours ago. She told me that she can give a guess, but doesn't feel like it can be too accurate until at least 36-37 weeks. She said that she is pretty good at guessing because she does it so often, however she then laughed and said that she has to add the disclaimer that she can be off as much as a pound (just like an ultrasound), but that doesn't happen too often.

BelleIsa · March 2012

Sawyerplus1:

Honestly, u/s measurements can be very off (by a pound in either direction), especially in the last trimester. I wouldn't put too much stock into them. I have heard that a dr or MW properly trained in the technique can more accurately determine size from touch than u/s measurements. Unfortunately I'm not sure many drs are properly trained to determine that when they can rely (less accurately) on u/s.

I wouldn't bother to ask about it. The estimates could be so off and could just cause you worry, either that baby is too small or too big. If your dr suspected a reason to know ahead of time LOs size estimate, they'd look into it.

This! My previous OB (for my DD) told me ultrasounds were basically useless to determine size. He would feel my belly and he told me about how much DD would weigh and he was right on the money! (He'd been an OBGYN for over 30 years and he was trained in Australia - so maybe that had something to do with his hatred of ultrasounds...).

My MW now said the same thing though. That in her experience she can guess the size of a baby more accurately by feeling than by what the ultrasound says...

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