Growth Scan Accuracy

paigep8 · November 2014

I realize none of us are experts, but for those of you with kids how accurate were the growth scans/ultrasound estimates? I went last month for one and the baby was in the 58% and this month he is in the 31%. I am curious as to how accurate the size estimates were vs. how big your baby was when born.

riansmommie · November 2014

Easily could have found this answer by

1. Asking your dr
2. Searching google

My answer they can be off by a lot. Just millimeters of a difference in measurements can change your percentages drastically.

brennabe97 · November 2014

My doctor says by as much as two pounds either way in late term. The ultrasound office where i get my measurements says + or - 15%.

bayareagirl2011 · November 2014

I've also heard they can be off by a pound or so. From what I've seen, usually the babes are smaller than what they measured at, rather than larger (I'm sure not always the case).

soulcupcake · November 2014

They can be, and often are off by -/+ 1-2 lbs. There are many factors.

However, the ones I had done were pretty accurate. The final ultrasound I had with #1 had an EFW at 8 lbs., 15 oz and "long" at 37w6d. She was born 8 hours later at 9 lbs and 22 inches. With #2, I had my last scan at 38 weeks and change that estimated her to be 8 lbs., 4 oz, and I had her at 39 weeks and she was 8 lbs., 9 oz.

I didn't have an ultrasound after 25 weeks with #3 (and had severe polyhydramnios, which makes EFW by palpation impossible). My last diagnostic ultrasound with #4 was around 31 weeks. I remember EFW being around 4 lbs. However, the day we induced, 39w2d, my midwife guessed 9 lbs, and she was spot on. My midwife with #2 guessed 8.5-9 lbs by external palpation, and 9-9.5 with #1.

This time my midwife is guessing 8.5-9 lbs between 38-39 weeks.

Njmommy2be · November 2014

Up to 2lbs in either direction. On a Monday they said DD was barely 6lbs. I had her 24 hours later and she was 7lbs 4oz, so I would say she didn't grow that much and they were pretty off on their estimate for her, but it was within the 2lbs that is to be expected.

DoctorWorm222 · November 2014

My 1st always seemed to measure on the larger side, but was only 6lb 8oz when she was born.

CandEChicago · November 2014

paigep8 said:

I realize none of us are experts, but for those of you with kids how accurate were the growth scans/ultrasound estimates? I went last month for one and the baby was in the 58% and this month he is in the 31%. I am curious as to how accurate the size estimates were vs. how big your baby was when born.

QFP - Just in case Monday has turned into the new Friday.

feeshah · November 2014

I didn't pay attention the the growth predictions because that's what they are...predictions. Estimates.

It's when they pop out when the growth percentages matter. DD has always been in the top 90th growth percentile

leoandethansmom · November 2014

Every scan I had with DS they predicted his head was 3 weeks ahead of the rest of his body. I was terrified I was pushing out a baby with a giant head and small body. Alas, he was proportionate. They are estimates to be taken with a grain of salt knowing it is exactly that, an estimate.

hellopartyof5 · November 2014

My dr said it also depends on how good of a shot they can get of the baby (especially the stomach area). If they can't get a great shot, chances are they won't be very accurate. Lots of different variables as PPs have said. My neighbor had a growth scan saying the baby was in the high 8s. Her child was over 10lbs, so it can be wrong in either direction.

[Deleted User] · November 2014

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trizzie · November 2014

My growth Sonos with the high risk dr were right on for my son. the ones at the reg ob with my DD were off. She was 2 lbs larger than they said.

bowlwoman · November 2014

I think it also depends on who is doing the scan. I get BPPs every week at my MFM office and a growth scan every four weeks. These doctors/techs have probably over 100 years of combined experience in doing the scans for high-risk moms and babies, so IMO, they probably are a little more accurate than a regular OB or tech. Just my $.02.

For both girls, my scans at the MFM office were pretty spot on, estimating them between 7-7.5 pounds. DD1 was 7lbs 1oz at 40w2d, DD2 was 7lbs even at 38w5d.

So far, LO has been measuring right around the same, tracking to be between 7 and 7.5 pounds at 40w. I'll be induced at 38w1d, so I figure he might be in the 6.5- 7 lbs pound range.

Jessie333 · November 2014

At 41 weeks with dd, they estimated her to be 9lbs 6oz. She was born 4 days later and weighed 8lbs 10 oz.

Eora3 · November 2014

My doctor told me that 2lbs in either direction is the general statistic. Her philosophy is not to worry about "too big" because it rarely actually happens, and "too small" is also rare but pretty obvious when there is a problem.

Honestly, I don't get the obsession with baby's weight. There is nothing you can do about it and it isn't going to predict what your delivery experience is going to be like.

hellopartyof5 · November 2014

Eora3 said:

My doctor told me that 2lbs in either direction is the general statistic. Her philosophy is not to worry about "too big" because it rarely actually happens, and "too small" is also rare but pretty obvious when there is a problem. Honestly, I don't get the obsession with baby's weight. There is nothing you can do about it and it isn't going to predict what your delivery experience is going to be like.

I think it might be the vagina breakage fear

soulcupcake · November 2014

Eora3 said:

My doctor told me that 2lbs in either direction is the general statistic. Her philosophy is not to worry about "too big" because it rarely actually happens, and "too small" is also rare but pretty obvious when there is a problem. Honestly, I don't get the obsession with baby's weight. There is nothing you can do about it and it isn't going to predict what your delivery experience is going to be like.

Unfortunately, a lot of providers make a huge deal about it when it isn't warranted by the evidence. While big babies do happen, the upper end of macrosomia isn't that common at all. And there are many babies that are 10.5+ born vaginally. I know a lot of mamas within the homebirth community that have birthed 10 and 11 lbs babies. A couple 12+ lbs. My midwives with my last two and this pregnancy have all had at least one 10 lb baby. My midwife with #3 had one that was almost 11 lbs. A friend of mine had a vaginal birth with her 11 lb., 12 oz baby boy. She pushed for three hours, but it was a successful vaginal birth. Her first.

This is a cool site:

https://bigbabyproject.wordpress.com/

I was actually hoping my last would be 10+. I like them solid and squishy.

byrne15 · November 2014

at 39w they estimated ds#2 to be 9.5lbs. he was born 5 days later at 7lbs 11oz.

etruelove · November 2014

I just had a growth scan today and it had an estimated weight and then noted that that is plus or minus a certain number of grams. At 35 weeks it worked out to be 14 ounces lower or higher as the range.

My doc explained that what they want to see is that the baby stays on the same growth curve or jumps one, but not lowers one. At 26 and 29 weeks my baby was measuring around 15th percentile and today was close to 50th percentile. Of course these numbers could well be slightly off but what doc wants to see is that the baby is growing at a good clip.

rshamos · November 2014

I had to go to a perinatologist bc chalupa was measuring 93rd percentile at 18 weeks and then 63rd at 28 (?) weeks. The specialist told me as long as he was above 15 and below 95, to not worry about it. This may just be in my case, but it made me feel a lot better.

Meether · November 2014

Mine was also smaller than the prediction by over a pound. I'm not sure if it's because the practice was trying to get me to induce (their norm is to just induce at 39w). Anyway, they told me she would be 9-3 and she ended up being 7-12, a week later.

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