What counts as 'big'?

[bethanchloe]

Hey,

Another random one - just wondering at what point do they consider your baby to be 'big'.
I'm 37 weeks and measuring 39 which I know is fine (although over the 90th centile) - I was just wondering how many cm over do they consider 'big enough' to need early induction - I don't want this particularly - justnosy!

Thanks

 

[secretbaby]

At 37 weeks I was measuring 42 weeks - I have raised amniotic fluid (they gave me extra growth scans as my first son was 4llb full term!)

I don't think they induce just on babies size - well that is what it said in the literature I read yesterday (o.k scan read ... A4 induction brochure thing they gave me at hospital).

It is quite usual for them to be measuring you up to 2 weeks ahead - it was only when I went significanly up that my midwife freaked out (but as I was having regular growth scans she left it to my consultant to deal with it -normally if midwife is concerned she will send you for a growth scan).

 

[TattooedMama]

I'm pretty sure the rule on thumb for 3rd tri is 3cm above or below is considered to still be within normal range. So if you were 4 or 5cm over then they would be concerned.

 

[blondey]

I don't think they usually induce just for big babies (I guess they might consider it if you were having a 14lb-er though!) I think they usually induce if there is an underlying cause for the big bubs like GD.

I have heard some women say pushing a bigger baby is easier! And also the measurements and the scan sizes can sometimes be so wrong! I know someone who was measuring 42 weeks at 36 but her bubs only weighed 8lb when born!

xx

 

[bethanchloe]

I did wonder where this sudden growth spurt had come from - had a different midwife three times now and the baby's been about 0.5-1cm over every appt until this one where she's 2cm over - I'm not concerned though, just nosy hehe
Midwife said she's definitely a big baby from having a feel so I'm sure that'll be fun

 

[Tryingfora4th]

I dont think the tape measure method is very accurate tbh, this is my 4th and I've never been measured with a tape in any of my previous pregnancies, they used to go by the height of your fundus plus fingers widths.

My friend who is due a few weeks ahead of me keeps saying she's measuring ahead of her dates but her baby has been estimated to me 7.5lb at term.

 

[donna-c-86]

take their guesses with a pinch of salt. with ds1 my mw said he would be around 6lb and he was actually born at 8lb12. there is no way for them to know until ur baby is on the scales, which wont be long now!

 

[spring_baby]

yep the measurements dont stand for much my first second and third were supposed to be small and my third was prem 5 weeks early,
1. 8lb 4oz
2.9lb 9oz
3. 9lb 6oz 5 weeks early thankfully he was bigger due to how early he was, but with this baby they were originally concerned that he was going to be huge at least a stone was what the hosp predicted going on my other births (didnt have gd in any of them)
But now 6 scans later they can see he has problems with growth, but if you go by my mw measurements at 25 weeks i was measuring 27 and I had, had a growth scan the day before and seen the consultant and my baby was still measuring small, so mw measurements take with a pinch of salt, tbh I was never scanned a lot in my other pregnancies so only had the mw measurements to go by, but the measurements of our bumps via mw as they dont factor in the amninotic fuid placenta etc xx

 

[Tanikit]

Over the 90th percentile is considered big but then there is no accurate way to determine baby's growth - even ultrasound scans which are about the most accurate can be drastically out. I was told at 33 weeks that my baby was 5lbs (2 weeks ahead) Two weeks later at 35 weeks they tell me she is 7lbs 5ounces - I questioned it since babies are only supposed to grow about 1/4 to a 1/2 pound a week - not 2 lbs 5 ounces in 2 weeks and the doctor says he suspects one of those measurements must be quite out - so now it is a wait til 37 weeks to see what that one says, but I have lost faith in the growth scans completely now and would have even less faith in the fundal measurements.

 

[Jem88]

At 38 weeks i'm now measuring 41 weeks by the fundal height. I was told at a consultant appointment i had last week that they'll induce me at 41 weeks and i'll once i go into labour they'll leave me 6 hours and if she's not engaged or if there's no progress being made they'll then do a C-section. I got told they don't like to induce before your due date as natural contractions are better than induced ones.

 

[bethanchloe]

I just hope being a fatty means she fancies coming out a little early haha

 

[aliss]

Here in Vancouver my doctor would not induce me for baby size, he was expected to be 10lbs. I was induced for other reasons (leaking waters, group b strep positive) and he was 9lb 3oz (1 week overdue).

It seems more common in the US & other countries to induce for baby size, but not in the UK or Canada. Aside from medical circumstances (previous shoulder dystocia, gestational diabetes), it's unlikely to be induced for baby size.

 

[Fabby]

it depends on the consultant you have and their prior experiences in their proffession as to weather they decide to induce and if or when to induce x

 

[bethanchloe]

it depends on the consultant you have and their prior experiences in their proffession as to weather they decide to induce and if or when to induce x

Thanks
I've got an appointment with the consultant anaesthetist in just over a week so we'll see. The obstretic consultant had nothing useful to say so hopefully the anaesthetics dude'll be able to advise xx