CPT: STM, did OB predict correct baby weight/size?

Cara1024 · November 2013

I always here moms saying the OB/midwife thinks baby is about "blank" weight... and I know these predictions can be off a good bit. If you've had a baby already please vote how correct the doctor's estimate was.

Also I have a quick question: How do they make this prediction if so many of us aren't expecting to have another ultrasound?

Cara1024 · November 2013

whoops, click SS if you've never had a baby but want to see answers!

moosebaby2011 · November 2013

My OB was guessing a little over 7 lbs, and DS was born at 7 lbs 12 oz.

sugarland726 · November 2013

My OB never estimated as I had no late term ultrasounds. My fundal measurement was always right on track and I delivered a 9 pound 4 ounce child.

ac1259 · November 2013

After the one growth ultrasound I had at 29 weeks last pregnancy said DD's belly was over 90th percentile the doctor was stuck on the fact that I was having a "big baby" and how some women just can't push out "big babies"....2 growth ultrasounds later and DD was measuring in the 50th percentile and was born at 6 lbs 12 oz...if it had been up to my doctor she would've had me scheduled for a c-section because that baby was "too big for me to push out"...idk..I have a little more faith in growth ultrasounds now but not necessarily doctor's opinions on babies size.

mrsjenni · November 2013

Nailed it with each baby. Even when I measured 6 weeks ahead with DD, she still said she would be smaller than DS1 and she was. (I measured 4 weeks ahead with him and he was 9.5lbs 2 weeks early and DD was 9.3lbs 1 week early.) She was correct with DS2 as well (also 9.3lbs 1 week early.)

pennstated912 · November 2013

sugarland726 said:
My OB never estimated as I had no late term ultrasounds. My fundal measurement was always right on track and I delivered a 9 pound 4 ounce child.

This makes me fear what's ahead for me. This round of babies in my family has been hovering close to the 9 lbs mark. I'm short so there's no where for him to go but OUT. lol my fundal height has been exact so far this pregnancy.

juliasmama2010 · November 2013

Julia was predicted to be 10+ pounds. She was 7 lbs 11 oz. They also said she had a large head (soft marker for downs) and dilated kidneys (soft marker for downs). I try to take their "estimates" with a grain of salt.

Unknown · November 2013

This content has been removed.

mommygrams0730 · November 2013

I've never had estimates on weights after the 20 week u/s with any of my children. That said we were all very very surprised when dd was 9lb 3oz. We were not expecting that at all! Hoping this one is around 8...our son was 7lbs 8oz.

jmjj1310 · November 2013

My doctors both said DS would be about 6-6.5 lbs...he was 8lbs 5oz.

shortstuff15 · November 2013

sugarland726 said:

My OB never estimated as I had no late term ultrasounds. My fundal measurement was always right on track and I delivered a 9 pound 4 ounce child.

This was me for both pregnancies, except my babies were both 6 1/2 pounds.

Cara1024 · November 2013

mrsjenni said:

Nailed it with each baby. Even when I measured 6 weeks ahead with DD, she still said she would be smaller than DS1 and she was. (I measured 4 weeks ahead with him and he was 9.5lbs 2 weeks early and DD was 9.3lbs 1 week early.) She was correct with DS2 as well (also 9.3lbs 1 week early.)

not sure if anyone saw this part of my post so I'll pick you to ask since you've done this a bunch

Also I have a quick question: How do they make this prediction if so many of us aren't expecting to have another ultrasound? How do they estimate baby's weight?

MrsGraham06 · November 2013

1st: MW estimated an 8 pound baby, had a 10 pound baby. And that was 2 days after an u/s. I know they can be off by a bit. "fired" her ass after DS1 was born (didn't even see her for postnatal care at 6 weeks). Oh, he was 10 days late, too.
2nd: OB wouldn't put a number to the weight, but said he seemed to be measuring as my 1st did. He was 9 lb 6 oz, born on EDD (because of induction).
3rd: OB again wouldn't put a number on it, but thought she measured smaller. Born 7 days before EDD (induced) she was 7 lb 5 oz.

ETA: MW had been doing that job for 20 years, and I talked to several other women who had her, and also had problems at L&D similar to mine. She finally retired.

SunflowersBride · November 2013

I'm a FTM, but I mentioned this story last week. My SIL had a growth U/S around the 37 or 38 week mark, and they estimated the baby was already measuring 9lbs. They were very concerned about shoulder dystocia so they scheduled her for a c-section right before her due date. The baby came out weighing 8lbs 4 oz, so the doctor was pretty far off on the estimate. HOWEVER, I did just find out that when he was born, he had a knot in his umbilical cord that they did not know about, so despite the growth estimate being way off, the c-section ended up being a good thing.

brideandbreve · November 2013

My OB didn't predict the baby's weight, but the perinatologist techs who did the ultrasounds during my first pregnancy were telling me, "Oh, he's gonna be a big ol' turkey! You're looking at a 10 pounder, for sure!"

DS was 7 lbs., 11 oz.; so yeah.

HeartOverMind · November 2013

PPs' experiences are really concerning me. I'd be pissed if my doctor estimated how much the baby would weigh and scheduled me to have a c-section only to find that the baby was smaller than his prediction. I'd rather him not estimate.

:-S

Arrgcr · November 2013

I should have done SS but I saw the add underneath saying just want to see answers. I delivered a month early BUT when she was feeling on me and measuring before admitting me, she said he would weigh 6 ish pounds. He weighed 8.5. So I chose by two pounds. We are nervous about the size of this one because had he been full term he would have been 10-12 lbs and a CS baby.

purplepenguin2011 · November 2013

I remember when i asked my Dr. how big he thought DD was. He said, " Well, somewhere between 6 and 9 lbs." Then he laughed and said it's still on the small side. So i don't think he's ever going to predict an actual weight. It was pretty funny though.

aessary03 · November 2013

They were pretty right on with Ozzy's weight. Said he was 3lbs 3oz and he was 3lbs 7oz.

BuckeyeANG · November 2013

DS was predicted to be 7.5ish lbs. He was 8lbs2oz.

Piach · November 2013

My OB didn't really guess, the high-risk clinic that I was being monitored at due to GD did. They were saying over 9lbs. Tell that to my 6lb12oz baby girl :-S

dland0201 · November 2013

FTM here so no previous experience. But at my last appointment my doctor said he thought I'd have a 7-8lb baby after measuring my belly.

jessicacss · November 2013

My OB said Chloe would be about 7.5 lbs, came out 8 lbs, 1 oz, so more than half a pound more than she predicted

km0022 · November 2013

DD was within a few ounces of their estimates, but that is only because I had growth check almost every other day or every few days. Her cord flow was being closely monitored (every day check) while I was in the hospital because she was IUGR. So they had estimates around 4 lbs, 5 oz, she came out 3 lbs, 15 oz.

ach298 · November 2013

At 36 weeks, my fundal measurement was a few weeks ahead so my OB scheduled a growth ultrasound for 38 weeks. The tech estimated DS was around 8lbs 6 oz and we induced at 39 weeks due to fluid levels and his stomach measuring bigger than his head. He was 7 lbs 15 oz so I picked off by 1/2 a pound.

This time I'm measuring 3 weeks ahead already and the doctor has me going in for growth scans every 4 weeks.

valigrl21 · November 2013

My OB was pretty vague, but did say she thought LO would be small to average size, about 7 pounds or so. And DD was 6 pounds 6 ounces.

LexGator · November 2013

At 37 weeks, my OB said she'd be between 7 1/2 and 8 lbs if I made it to 40 weeks. She was 7 lb 3 oz at 39 weeks 1 day when she was born, so I think my OB estimated well.

last14real · November 2013

Not even close DS was not really moving 9 days b4 EDD so OB sent us for sonogram and the estimated weight was 7 lbs. He was born 11 hrs later 5 lbs 13 oz, little bitty guy!

mrsjenni · November 2013

Cara1024 said:

mrsjenni said:

Nailed it with each baby. Even when I measured 6 weeks ahead with DD, she still said she would be smaller than DS1 and she was. (I measured 4 weeks ahead with him and he was 9.5lbs 2 weeks early and DD was 9.3lbs 1 week early.) She was correct with DS2 as well (also 9.3lbs 1 week early.)

not sure if anyone saw this part of my post so I'll pick you to ask since you've done this a bunch
Also I have a quick question: How do they make this prediction if so many of us aren't expecting to have another ultrasound? How do they estimate baby's weight?

@Cara1024- She determined their size from a variety of factors... the first thing was a large belly/fundal height. They then did growth scans each time at around 34-35 weeks to make sure it was the baby and not extra fluid, etc. The growth scans at 35ish weeks showed that my kids were over 7lbs at the time, which estimated them to be over 10lbs by my EDD. But she really would just feel my belly and the baby's position to estimate the size as well! She was really good at it, actually.

So yeah... DS1 would have been WELL over 10lbs by my EDD with my other 2 pretty close to the 10lb mark at that point as well. I was induced at 38w0d for pre-e and then 39w0d the next two times for pre-e, a cervical mass and a bleeding disorder (that was known, but became VERY apparent after my first delivery. Yikes.)

Cara1024 · November 2013

mrsjenni said:

Cara1024 said:

mrsjenni said:

Nailed it with each baby. Even when I measured 6 weeks ahead with DD, she still said she would be smaller than DS1 and she was. (I measured 4 weeks ahead with him and he was 9.5lbs 2 weeks early and DD was 9.3lbs 1 week early.) She was correct with DS2 as well (also 9.3lbs 1 week early.)

not sure if anyone saw this part of my post so I'll pick you to ask since you've done this a bunch
Also I have a quick question: How do they make this prediction if so many of us aren't expecting to have another ultrasound? How do they estimate baby's weight?

@Cara1024- She determined their size from a variety of factors... the first thing was a large belly/fundal height. They then did growth scans each time at around 34-35 weeks to make sure it was the baby and not extra fluid, etc. The growth scans at 35ish weeks showed that my kids were over 7lbs at the time, which estimated them to be over 10lbs by my EDD. But she really would just feel my belly and the baby's position to estimate the size as well! She was really good at it, actually.

So yeah... DS1 would have been WELL over 10lbs by my EDD with my other 2 pretty close to the 10lb mark at that point as well. I was induced at 38w0d for pre-e and then 39w0d the next two times for pre-e, a cervical mass and a bleeding disorder (that was known, but became VERY apparent after my first delivery. Yikes.)

thanks for explaining!

ChuggingWater · November 2013

Size was never mentioned with DS1. I will probably decline if a growth scan is offered this time unless there is a significant reason.

jldubb0626 · November 2013

I don't remember the exact numbers, but Eli was always measuring small. I know he never measured over 6lbs and he was born at 5lbs 4oz.

MamaP19 · November 2013

I was told throughout my whole 3rd trimester that I was measuring large. Every time I went for an appt they asked how big DH and I were at birth, both close to 10lbs. They would knowingly nod and say that's right around what this one will be. DD was 8lbs 3oz and came at 42 weeks. I had an u/s three days before she was born and they had guessed around 10lbs also. Late-term growth scans are pretty notorious for being inaccurate as far as baby's weight.

buckeyebride22 · November 2013

With DS I measured fundal height wise two weeks ahead consistently. After multiple US the estimated close to 9 pounds. He was 6 pounds 13 oz at 39 weeks. This LO has measured "skinny", right on track, and now fundal height 2 weeks ahead. I'm guessing she'll be the same size as DS.

ksonne · November 2013

Close, my OB guessed 8.5 pounds when I went into labor, DS was 8lb 5oz.

katags · November 2013

I'm a SS vote becaus I'm a curious FTM and wanted to see the results!
Edit: silly me didn't read further down that this was acceptable and I probably didn't need to comment at all. Sorry.

Want a personalized experience?

CPT: STM, did OB predict correct baby weight/size?

CPT: STM, did OB predict correct baby weight/size? 181 votes

Re: CPT: STM, did OB predict correct baby weight/size?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards