Big baby worries!

[justbreathe11]

I am pretty nervous. I had a 29 week growth ultrasound because of BP issues I have been having. Baby is measuring 3 pounds, 11 ounces & 2 weeks ahead!! He is in the 75th percentile. This completely scares me!! Not only am I worried about having a c section now, but I'm thinking he wont fit in any of the newborn diapers I have already opened, or any of the newborn clothes I have bought! Anyone else been told they are carrying a big baby?!
My doctor started to lecture me about what I have been eating, then saw I have only gained 6 pounds. Then she went to lecture me on my sugar, but the last test came out normal. So she said, "well looks like it's just gonna be a big one!"

[Melbel]

IME, ultrasounds are not very accurate when it comes to weight. Also, babies tend to gain weight in spurts, so a snapshot on a given day does not determine weight in the future. I actually preferred having larger babies. They do not seem quite as fragile and have some extra weight in the event of illness or weight loss. Wishing you the best in the home stretch!

[Hawkeyewife]

Baby #1 6lb, 1oz
Baby#2 7lbs, 8ozs
Baby #3 9lbs, 4ozs
Baby #4 9lbs, 15ozs


My easiest birth was #3, but #2 went very smoothly. My smallest was the most difficult (in a hospital, hooked up to machines in bed), all natural though. I feel it is more about positioning than size in my case. Babies 1 and 4 have rounder heads than 2 and 3, don't know if that makes a difference. Talk to a Doula, get some support now. Don't worry, sounds like you are doing fine. IMHO, don't get anymore "growth" scans unless you have a specific medical reason.

Take Care, enjoy your Sunday.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Big doesn't have to be too big for you. You need to stop psyching yourself up about this. There is absolutely *zero* way for you or anyone else to know what too big is for your body- and no one can tell by looking at you (small framed people, like myself, have birthed easily big babies).

You can't really control size. What you do have some control over is position: your position during labor and delivery (as well as in the last weeks of birth) and baby's position (a well positioned baby, not posterior or other less than ideal position, can make a huge difference!). Re. fetal position and what you need to know before birth and during:
http://www.motherspirit.net/articles...reventpost.htm

I recommend learning as much as you can about what you can do to help yourself have a better chance at a more successful birth. If your Dr. starts suggesting c-sections, inductions...you know you are really going to need to be informed and involved. Hiring a doula in a situation like that is a fantastic idea.

You need to shake off seeds of doubt about size. If labor goes slower than normal or deviates from "normal" in some way, because you already have this "big" in your head you may make decisions like having a c-section that you wouldn't if you believed baby to be a smaller size. If you had no reason to believe baby could be "too big" for you then you would probably go into labor and face it differently, imo. So, repeat to yourself that you do have control over positions and often those matter more...and that you grew this baby and given a good chance you can deliver this baby.

I could go on and on about this but I'll stop here. I'll go on and on if you ask though.

I agree with pp no more "growth" u/s. At 20w my ds2 was less than 10%. He was born 9lb 9oz (no gestational diabetes or other concerns). So, growth spurts can happen off schedule and u/s can just be wrong.

Hire a doula.

Beth

[ray7694]

My doctor said the exact same thing with ds which was my first. She kept saying over 9 and he came out 7 11 which shocked her. So along comes dd and she said I was wrong with number 1 so I don't think it will be big. The nurse and doctor kept saying I can't believe how big she is when she came out at 9 pounds 3 ounces.

Moral to the story if a doctor who has been delivering babies for years can't predict no one can.

[daisymommy]

I totally agree with everything Beth (SnuggleBuddies) said. Positioning is everything.

Also, ultrasounds can be off by 2lbs. in either direction--meaning the baby can be 2 pounds smaller than they think! Ultrasounds are not accurate when it comes to size and weight.

[JBaxter]

Do NOT worry about baby size. My largest was my easiest delivery BY FAR. Its more about head/ baby positioning. I pushed 3x with my largest and had less tearing than with my smallest who was 2lbs smaller.

[brittone2]

Add me to the chorus-

USs are notoriously inaccurate for predicting baby's size. There is quite a large plus or minus margin of error on US for size generally speaking.

In addition, there is no way to say in advance that your baby will be too big to birth vaginally. Your pelvis is held together w/ ligaments and you can't predict how much they stretch. Baby's position is also important, like PPs said.

DS1 and DD were both 8lbs 4 oz and 20.5 inches long. Both were easy births. Pushed for 20 mins with DS1, and had a very small tear (no big deal at all). DD was like a few little pushes and out...no tearing.

DS2 was my biggest, at 9lbs even, and 21 inches. 2 pushes with one contraction and he was out, no tears, no need to even use a peri bottle post partum. Felt great...no swelling, etc. You just can't predict. I'm 5'2" and about 118 lbs when not pg (eta: I don't consider myself particularly small whatsoever, but I've had friends my size be told by their OBs that their "pelvis is too small" or that they won't be able to push out a larger baby...<eyeroll>).

Do not let a number or prediction based on an US toy with your mind

[MommyAllison]

Ultrasound size prediction was way off for DD - it estimated her at .5lb higher than her birth weight, a couple days before she was born. For DS, I didn't have any ultrasounds after 20 weeks, but my midwife guessed his birth weight a week before he was born and was spot on. Do not worry - like everyone else said, ultrasound is notoriously unreliable for size prediction!

[jammytoast]

my us measurements were way off for, too....DD measured on the 39w US at 9 lb, delivered at 42w at 7lb 2. Also, they CANNOT force you into a C/S or induction for "big baby".

I know its hard not to worry, but try not to!