Baby Size at Birth

angelinthepit23 · August 2015

FTM, just wondering if most OB's will do an ultrasound closer to the due date to see how big the baby is.

mmk29 · August 2015

Sometimes they will do an ultrasound to check position if they feel like the baby may be breech. However, at least in my area, they don't normally do one just to check for size.

flas · August 2015

Not necessarily, only if there is cause for concern with either you or the baby, but that's been just my experience.

angelinthepit23 · August 2015

So f/u question, did you just leave tags on all the baby clothes you bought/received until the baby was born? I was a 10 lb. baby so, if LO follows in my footsteps he won't fit into anything newborn size.

kwaldy · August 2015

@angelinthepit23 I would, just to be on the safe side. Especially for newborn clothes. The others you could probably wash and put away if you wanted.

mmk29 · August 2015

I was in the same boat as you at ten pounds

I only bought one item that was newborn and the rest 3-6 (especially carters, I feel like they run small) because of that reason. Some people gave newborn clothes, but most of what I received was 3-6. If your baby is born small you can always pick up a few things. My son ended up 9 pounds when he was born and only fit in carters newborn clothes for a week. Other brands like koala and Walmart were bigger and fit longer.

lakesideknitter · August 2015

To my understanding, even if they do an ultrasound to check size, it is only an estimate. I've heard of people thinking they were having 7 pound babies and they turned out to be 10 pound babies.

MadBloom · August 2015

My husband and I were both small babies (6 something and 7 something). Our first was 6 pounds 13oz and fit into NB for 4-5 weeks. We didn't have a whole lot for clothes to begin with but I sent out my hubby to grab sleepers and stuff once she was born and we knew she was a girl and what size she was.

MargaretC5 · August 2015

As far as the original question, my understanding was that most drs measure fungal height to make sure baby is growing on track. If the fungal height is not within the normal range they may do an US to follow up if there is a concern.

For tags, I would take the tags off some clothes off before baby gets home, so they can be washed and ready. Leaving the tags on other clothes you may not need is a good idea. And FYI a lot of those baby clothing sets are packed to look cute, which means there are connectors and tape everywhere, they are a pain to get all the packaging off and it takes forever.

MollyC20 · August 2015

Even if they did an ultrasound to check size, it could be 1-2 lbs off...

nbpa3027 · August 2015

The ultrasound that some get at the end is usually to check on baby position(head down vs breech). But they could also give you a size estimate at that time. The day before my daughter was born they told me she would be right about 6lbs. She was born at 7lbs 3 oz (but she may have been a little puffed up on fluids because of the induction)

oliveoil95 · August 2015

I thought we had an ultrasound around 30 weeks?!? I wish I could have one sooner I would really like to know what I'm having. I've had 4 ultrasounds and the baby won't uncross its legs. I don't want to wait another month and a half to possiy find out the sex.

JLW0504 · August 2015

I only bought 2 newborn size outfits for DD. She was estimated to be 12lb at birth but ended up 8lb 14.9oz. I'll do the same for this LO.

TarHeelMomToBe · August 2015

I was measuring 4w ahead at my 28w appt (due to fibroids), so they scheduled me for a growth u/s at 32w. Then baby was frank breech, so they did another around 35w (still breech) and at 37w (finally head down).

If there weren't concerns about growth or position or some high risk factor, then I would not have had any ultrasounds after the anatomy scan.

Pontot31 · August 2015

My midwife doesn't not do a growth ultrasound toward the end unless there is an issue. They can notoriously be off.

My daughter was 9lbs 3oz and 22 inches. She didn't fit in any NB clothes. We bought a few of them this time but mostly 0-3 and 3-6 month clothes. My daughter barely even wore 0-3.

wedding crazed · August 2015

My ob does 8 week dating ultrasound and 20 week only unless there is an issue with baby. I will have a 36 week growth ultrasound but only as I have diabetes. And my last baby they estimated a whe pound lighter than what she was.

Cook3133 · August 2015

My midwife was sure my first baby felt like he would be a good 9 pounder. He was only 8lbs 5oz. So even with her years of doing this it's still just a guesstimate.

Fungal measurements around this time (26wks) I always seem to measure ahead and then towards the last few weeks I measure right where I should be. It always gave me hope that they might come a bit early but nope always came right on time.

At my 26wk I measured at 27 1/2 weeks.

jasbaby2 · August 2015

Mine did and said he'd be 9-10 lbs but he wasn't. He was a barely over 8

Elyse1384 · August 2015

I was given an estimate of 7lb, but DS came out 9lb. It's an estimate for a reason and OBs in my area don't do an US at the end unless they think something is wrong or justifies one (guesses on size are not real reasons unless for medical necessity).

Edit: can't type today

jennakraemer · August 2015

I am a second time mom. The doctor thought my little one would be close to 8 pounds but she came out at 5.13. She was in NB clothes for 3 months. It is all a guesstimate.

scw89 · August 2015

Leave tags on clothes and don't open diaper packages until after baby comes! My cousin had a 10 pound baby who went straight into 3 month clothes and size 1 diapers. It was her first and she got a ton of newborn stuff and she had to give a lot of it away because it was washed already and packages were opened.

skabanak · August 2015

MadBloom said:
My husband and I were both small babies (6 something and 7 something). Our first was 6 pounds 13oz and fit into NB for 4-5 weeks. We didn't have a whole lot for clothes to begin with but I sent out my hubby to grab sleepers and stuff once she was born and we knew she was a girl and what size she was.

Lol I was a 6lb and hubby was around 7 lbs, both of our girls were WELL over 8 lbs!

JLB24 · August 2015

Possibly, but I wouldn't pay much attention to it. They did w my first...told me he was 8 lb+. He was 6lb8oz!

Gapeach83 · August 2015

Never had a growth scan. It's just a guess and unless you have a medical condition it's not necessary to know because they are usually off.
So far mine have both worn newborns and newborn diapers but I leave tags on just in case. First was 7lbs 8oz second was 8lbs and If I am like my mom (hers weighed more each time) this one will be over 8lbs but still fit into newborns for a bit. I was 7lb 12oz and DH around 8 so no issues with big babies. I still would buy a lot more 0-3 they might be a little big but not for long at all. You are probably safe washing 0-3 months clothing it's rare for them not to fit those. If you are really worried just wash a enough to get through first week and keep tags on the rest. Also just a little help any free and clear detergent is safe you do not have to buy the more expensive baby one.

lyankowi · August 2015

DD went straight into size 1 diapers and 0-3 mo clothes too. I would wash one outfit to bring home baby in and see what size the baby is. I brought a newborn outfit for DD and they had to stretch it to fit her and she looked super uncomfortable. I changed her as soon as we got home.

VexedMommy · August 2015

Doctors did a growth scan on my little one last time due to GD. They estimated her at somewhere near 9lbs. She was born at 5lbs 8oz. We had to go out and buy her a couple preemie clothes which she wore for about a month and she was in NB for about 3 - 4 months. I'd pop a couple tags on the NB things so you will have 4 or 5 onesies and sleepers ready to go and you're probably ok to wash all the 0 - 3 month stuff.

kestes946 · August 2015

My OB will do a growth ultrasound in the 3rd trimester around 32 weeks. Every doc is different in regards to checking growth. I've had an OB with my first child who was able to accurately estimate how big he would be at birth. You could always ask them to give you an idea close to giving birth.

CarrieOct15 · August 2015

I'm LOL-ing @ the posters saying "fungal" measurement instead of "fundal". It's a funny typo, and I keep picturing someone measuring mushrooms..

I was wondering about the growth scan, too, but it looks like no is the popular answer! I'm really tempted to wash everything beforehand, but I know that babies vary in size so I'm resisting the urge. I just love the smell of baby laundry soap!!

japostolova · August 2015

I was told 7-8 lbs and he was 6lbs 1 ounce. He only fit in the premie clothes, and a couple of newborn outfits everything else was big for a while. This time I am buying newborn sizes bc I don't think he ll be much bigger ( husband and I were both 7 lbs and under )

MargaretC5 · August 2015

CarrieOct15 said:
I'm LOL-ing @ the posters saying "fungal" measurement instead of "fundal". It's a funny typo, and I keep picturing someone measuring mushrooms.

My bad! But I do have some pretty big mushrooms in my backyard (and I am the master of typos)

Cook3133 · August 2015

CarrieOct15 said:
I'm LOL-ing @ the posters saying "fungal" measurement instead of "fundal". It's a funny typo, and I keep picturing someone measuring mushrooms..

I was wondering about the growth scan, too, but it looks like no is the popular answer! I'm really tempted to wash everything beforehand, but I know that babies vary in size so I'm resisting the urge. I just love the smell of baby laundry soap!!

Ya that would be lovely auto correct! Joys of posting from my phone!

WeirdAlice · August 2015

I was high risk with my first that was the only reason I had a ultrasound the day before. But the measurements were way off!! They told me she was going to be 11 pounds, a big baby, I had an emergency c-section (I thought it was a joke but she for real thought that the baby was going to be 11 pounds I cried out of fear) and she was only 6 lbs 7oz at birth.

angelinthepit23 · August 2015

Thank you everyone!

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