Worried about baby's size

balexander1422 · December 2014

So at my 30 week appointment my doctor wanted to schedule me for another ultra sound because the baby was measuring bigger than how many weeks I was. When I went back for the ultra sound at 32 weeks, the tech said based off of his measurements he is already 5 almost 6 lbs! I have read that from now on, the baby gains ½ lb a week! I am due Jan 26^th - am I really to expect about a 10lb baby?! OR can he even out a little bit? I really do not want to have a C section. My dr. said that the baby is in the 68^th percentile, so he is a little bigger than average but everything looks good and my due date is still the same. She said she has delivered up to a 12 lb baby without a C section and she does not see any reason why I would have to have a C section as of now, but I am just curious about how big the baby will really be?! Any advice/thoughts?

4littlebears · December 2014

1/2 pound is just an average, not every baby gains that a week. Also, ultrasounds can be off by up to a whole pound either way. So your baby could be either a pound heavier or a pound lighter than their estimate. If your docs not worried, then try not to be. You can't exactly put your baby on a diet, it will be as big or small as it's going to be.

Edit ~ spelling

[Deleted User] · December 2014

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LadyXaverian · December 2014

Try not to worry. Some OB offices seem to make the estimated growth seem like a much bigger deal than it is (barring some extreme circumstances on either end of the spectrum). My baby is also high on the percentile scale. My older daughter was over 9 lbs when she was born. Babies come in all different shapes and sizes.

ellbellbr · December 2014

I had an ultrasound at 32 weeks and tech said baby was 4lbs and 10oz - give it or take 10 oz. That's a huge gap - I wouldn't be worried about it if your doctor is not concerned.

TXUltraRunner · December 2014

You should make that fat baby work out

MusicFanatic · December 2014

Ultrasounds that are done later on are typically not as accurate. I had one before my DD was born and it was over 1/2 pound off, she wasn't as big as they assumed. And I certainly wouldn't worry about a c/s for a big baby, let alone one just over an estimation that likely isn't correct

UberBiz · December 2014

I was thinking similar thoughts yesterday after my growth scan, except that I'm 36+3 today, and the tech estimated baby girl's size at about 6lb 12oz already. My son was born at 36+5 and was 6lb 8oz, so even if the estimate was right on, she is keeping pace with my previous pregnancy. I, however, refuse to believe she is that big already. I also refuse to believe that she will gain 1/2lb per week til she is born.

FitmomJess · December 2014

You still have a lot of time to even out. I know my Dr. doesn't make c-section decisions for size/positioning until 39 weeks. Good luck.

LaBellaVida · December 2014

You'll have a 15 lb baby.
I'm sure of it.

misslizzy82 · December 2014

Like others have said, it's just an estimate. Baby could also come earlier than your due date...

StarLiteKiss · December 2014

The scans are an estimate and are never exact. 68Th percentile really isn't bad. No baby grows the same. If your dr is not concerned then you are okay. Look at it on the positive side, your baby is growing and is obviously healthy.

I Haven't had a growth scan since my hospital stay at 27 weeks along and she was measuring 88th percentile for weight and 80 percentile for height for a 27 weeker. But again those are estimates.

vjdk07 · December 2014

At 33w2d my baby was estimated 5lb 14oz or the 88th percentile and just over two weeks "ahead". My OB says at this stage in the game, those estimates can be off as much as a pound either way. If your doctor isn't concerned about baby's size, I wouldn't be either.

Maebb · December 2014

Like PPs said, the estimates are just estimates, and the 1/2 lb per week thing is also just an estimate or average. Hopefully for the sake of your vagina, your baby will not be 12 lbs, but worrying about it won't do anything.

Also your build and your baby's build will have something to do with the ease of delivery. My cousin had 8-10lb babies (she thought the 8 pounder was small after the other two), but she is tall with wide hips, and she did great. The babies were somewhat long and skinny with normal sized heads, so that helped.

Good luck, and try not to worry about it.

Edvent · December 2014

I had a scan on Monday because I'm measuring ahead as well. Was told he's measuring at 36 weeks (I'm only 33 weeks) and estimated 6lbs. I was concerned at first but my OB was not worried about it at all and just said that the estimates can be inaccurate. I'm glad he's measuring ahead though because with my history of pre-e and signs that it's starting again he may come early. I wouldn't worry too much about it at this point!

WormyGo · December 2014

I think the numbers they give or the math are off in some way. I keep measuring ahead by fundal height but am smack on by u/s. We had our growth scan this morning at 32w6d. He is in 51% so right on and they said going by size they would put my due date 1 day after my estimated due date based on LMP. Which all means he is right in average for a baby of his gestational age. They also said he is measuring 4lb 15oz. So if he is going to gain 1/2 lb each week for 7 weeks that would put him at 8.5 lbs. But everything I've read says that the average birth weight full term is 7.5 lbs. Thus the math doesn't work. I'm not worried and my OB agrees that these are all just guestimates at this stage.

Lola918 · December 2014

I'm a FTM so I probably have no idea what I'm talking about, but why are people even worrying about how much babies weigh? I don't see how that has any impact whatsoever on ease of delivery. Shouldn't we all be wondering about head circumference instead? No matter how long and/or chubby our babies are, the hardest part is the head, right?

And when babies go past their due dates and gain more weight, it doesn't make their heads any bigger... So I say bring on the ten pounder with the average head circumference! ;-)

FitmomJess · December 2014

I think it's more about the shoulders?

efujan · December 2014

I'm kind of in the same mindset as @Lola918 and #FitmomJess on this. And yes, the weight gain can totally level off. The 1/2 lb a week is just an estimate.

For my first, I was worried about having a ten-pounder & being able to deliver. I talked to my OB about being nervous, and she (tiny little thing) told me that all 3 of her kids were over 10 lbs and once the head is out, you'd never know the difference between delivering a 6 lb baby or delivering an 11 lb baby. Maybe that was just a line of crap she said to calm me down, but it worked.

Our bodies are designed to do amazing things - like have babies. And your doctor is going to do everything she can to deliver your baby safely - whatever method that may be. Try not to worry about it too much. You've still got a lot of time.

peanutpuckett · December 2014

Just for comparison...I am also due Jan 26 and just went on Wednesday for an ultrasound at my MFM (I will be 35 when I deliver so I'm being seen by the specialist for advanced maternal age). They said baby is about 5.3 lbs and said that is a "perfect" weight. That was my last visit with the MFM and they told me everything looks good so I don't need to come back for another scan.

ellasmama18 · December 2014

I get monthly growth scans. I'm also due 1/26. Last month my little guy was in the 90th+ % this month he's slowed down, thank goodness. He's still big. Almost 5 lbs and now the 76th%. They said he'd probably slow down and he has. I wouldn't worry about it too much. And besides, worrying won't change a thing. I'm sure you'll be fine!

marvan5 · December 2014

As PP's have said, don't worry! Just know that even if baby does end up being on the bigger side, that added weight makes it easier to give birth as long as you're not laboring flat on your back (gravity!!). Your body won't grow a baby that's too large for you.

robsbabygirl08 · December 2014

I was told DD would weight 8.5-9 lbs.......she weighed 6lbs 10oz. Those estimates aren't very reliable.

Bigboneded · December 2014

Mine have been big all along, my MFM basically diagnosed my GD before I got tested, based on them being bigger. We have big babies in my family, my OB isnt worried, so neither am I. I'll know how big these babies actually are when they arrive and get weighed.... :-)

shannjohnston · December 2014

LaBellaVida said:

You'll have a 15 lb baby. I'm sure of it.

Not that it will happen to you, or (hopefully) to any of us, but did you guys hear about this?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2869286/Washington-baby-tips-scales-nearly-15-pounds.html

Yyyyyyyyyikes!

lezlers · December 2014

My son was in the 95th percentile throughout my entire pregnancy. It's nothing really to worry about. He ended up coming the day before my due date at nearly 10 pounds. You're highly unlikely to have a 15 lb baby.

snowbaby1214 · December 2014

Does anyone else think "Fat Guy in a little Coat" when they read about extra large baby concerns?

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