It seems as though my daughter is ginormous. I had another growth u/s yesterday at 33+4....all measurements were 36-37.5 weeks with an estimated weight of 6lbs 12oz. And she is supposed to continue gaining 1/2 lb weekly for another 6 weeks?! WTAF?!
I see MFM (thick nuchal fold at NT scan, since resolved) and my reg ob/gyn. Both of them started discussing early delivery (no earlier than 37 wks) at my appointments yesterday based on her size. There is no explaination for why she is so big. We did a CVS and full karyotype right after the NT scan - normal. Fetal echo at 22wks - perfect. Passed my GD test at 103 and amniotic fluid is actually low normal so they ruled that out. Normal BP, usually at 101/68.
The perinatoligist feels confident that nothing serious is going on and that she is just big. I started weekly NSTs and BPPs because of the low fluid which has been consistent for the last month (its been at an 8 for 2 readings, 9 2 weeks ago and 8 again yesterday). They are encouraging me to do another growth check in 4wks and determine a plan of action from there. Both docs are concerned about shoulder distocia for E and severe tearing for me if she continues to measure large.
Anyone have a similar experience with thier pregnancy(ies)? If so what was the outcome? I scheduled the growth check on 1/16 to hold a place. I'm guessing that if both MFM and my Ob are still on the same page and shes huge I'll be asked if I want to schedule a c/s. Its so scary to think about but I want to do what is best for both of us. I know it comes down to personal choice and that measurements are wrong all the time.....but damn.
Post by dearprudence on Dec 19, 2014 17:14:58 GMT -5
No personal experience, but the friends I have who had growth ultrasounds showing "large babies" forcing them to be induced early all ended up with "normal size babies" (between 7 and 8lbs). I had one friend who pushed for waiting until her water broke on its own and she had the largest baby at 8lbs 11oz.
Well I haven't had my baby yet, but my guy was measuring a little over 6lbs around that same time. We lovingly refer to him as our moose child or big head (because his head is in the 90th percentile).
He's consistently measured between 2-3 weeks ahead.
There is some margin of error, but he'll probably just be a big baby. My doctor said it's normal especially since both my husband and I were big babies.
Also the half pound per week at the end isn't always accurate either. My doctor says that's the average but some weeks they grow a little more others a little less. What you're measuring is still all within the normal range.
Post by imimahoney on Dec 19, 2014 18:21:48 GMT -5
My son measured 2 to 3 weeks ahead my entire pregnancy. At 38 weeks they said, based on an us, that he was at least 9 lbs. That info pushed me towards an induction and he came out at 7.1 two days later.
Some babies are just big and sometimes the measurements are just off. If you are healthy and so is the baby I don't see why they won't encourage you to continue your pregnancy as normal. Seems a bit premature to me but obviously I'm not your doctor.
At 36 weeks, my daughter was measuring 39 weeks (according to my growth ultrasound). We went with a scheduled induction at 39w1d and she ended up being born via c-section at 39w2d. She was 9lb 1oz, so the ultrasound guesstimates were pretty spot on
Post by loreleigilmore on Dec 19, 2014 22:19:17 GMT -5
meh, my doc thought I was having a small baby based on my weight gain (16 lbs total with my first) and my overall size. She was 8 lbs 15 oz. She was perfect. I also had weight ultrasounds, etc.
Measurements are a guess. They can be off by quite a bit. I would probably try to wait until 38 weeks to be induced.
I never had any growth scans during my pregnancy becuse my fundal height measured right on every appointment. I induced at 39+0 and delivered an 8lb 5oz baby, and she was borderline LGA (large for gestational age). I would not get too worried yet. There are a lot of women who vaginally deliver larger babies and growth scans can be off by a bit often. I had no indication I was having a larger baby other than feeling huge...but who doesn't at 39 weeks!
My baby measured big as well. I had monthly growth ultrasounds for high blood pressure and they did several extra since they found high amniotic fluid levels. His femur length was always right on but abdomen and especially head circumference were large (they use those numbers and some magic formula to estimate weight). He was measuring 3-4 weeks ahead. They estimated his weight to be 7 lb 7 oz at 35.5w which was >97 percentile. I was freaking out, especially about the head circumference. I asked every doc at the practice, plus the perinatologist (I had a consult for the polyhydramnios) about macrosomia (large baby) and macrocephaly (large head). My docs would never get as worked up as I thought they should be, lol.
Notably, one of the OBs in the group told me that unless the baby is estimated to be ridiculously large (like significantly over 10 lb), the lowest risk way to handle the pregnancy was to do nothing unusual, although they planned to have extra assistance at delivery in case of shoulder dystocia. The research I did actually validated this approach. Basically, studies have shown that outcomes are worse when the provider believes the baby to be big than outcomes when the baby actually *is* big. Also, ultrasounds are not very good tools for predicting size (margin of error is ~10%).
Anyway, my baby came on his own at 38w1d and he weighed 7lb 1oz, which was 6oz LESS than he was estimated to be 2.5 weeks prior. I had at least 8 growth ultrasounds and he measured big very consistently. All that worry, for naught.
One more thought - bad positioning makes the head effectively larger and harder to birth. I started doing the spinning babies exercises around 37w to try to get him in the best position. Mostly that meant leaning forward - I would sit on the couch and lay forward on my birth ball but there are lots of options.
I would ask them why they feel the need to go against that recommendation. As far as shoulder dystocia, I think there are other ways to check for that like chest to head ratio or similar to see if that might be an issue. I would not agree to a 37 week induction solely based on size estimates (which are notoriously off).
My son was 9 lb 5 oz with an off the charts huge head and birthed vaginally without complications. Lots of MMMs have had even bigger babies as well (scribellesam and namasteak come to mind).
Post by scribellesam on Dec 20, 2014 11:18:43 GMT -5
I've definitely heard a lot of stories regarding induction for size, but the baby ended up normal size. I had the opposite experience so I'll add mine in.
I measured normal throughout both pregnancies; I am nearly 6ft with a long torso for my height so I just carry well. DS1 was 11lbs1oz, delivered vaginally at 40w6d but required 4 hours pushing, an episiotomy, and a vacuum assist.
As a result of my personal history, we decided to schedule an induction for DS2 when he was estimated to be large as well. My induction was scheduled for 39w1d; I ended up going into labor on my own after a membrane sweep and gave birth to DS2 at 38w6d. He was 9lbs4oz, vaginal birth after 20min pushing and a minor tear.
Thank you for all your input ladies, I appriciate you sharing your experiences. We didn't have a very in depth conversation at either practice regarding early induction or c section for that matter. I think they were mainly prepping me for further discussion at some point.
I think they will have a more in depth conversation with me at my 37wk growth check next month. I certainly wouldn't want to deliver prior to 38wks unless needed. Besides her estimated size (>97th) they are concerned about my amniotic fluid since its been consistently on the higher end of the low range for a month now. The perinatoligist did say if she keeps growing and my fluid can't offer enough cushion then they would discuss early induction but would prefer to wait until 37wks for that.
So much to take in! But I plan on taking things one day at a time until we get there. Its all I can do, ya know?
Post by incognitony on Dec 21, 2014 10:10:34 GMT -5
My son measured ahead my whole pregnancy as well. I had him vaginally at 40 weeks 5 days when my water broke, he was 9lbs 13oz no complications! I was shocked that I was able to birth such a large baby but was so happy to have avoided a csection. He measured around 8lbs 9oz at my 40 week untrasound. Ultrasounds can be up to two lbs off in either direction
I measured ahead for most of my 3rd tri, at one point more than 5 weeks ahead, which spurred on an ultrasound to look at her size or excess fluid. Everything looked fine. I was still ahead by 2 weeks when I delivered at 39w1d. I gained 57lbs.
She was 7lbs 4oz and is a skinny little mini today.
I went through this. My OB was basically forcing me to have a c-section. I kept avoiding the convo and wouldn't schedule myself for a c-section. They said they would not induce me at all and once I hit my due date I would have to have a c-section. Towards the end there were no surgery slots available.
They called me at 40w2d right as I went into labor. When I arrived at the hospital I was told it wasn't necessary. I gave birth to a 9lb baby after pushing for 3 hours but I also believe head size plays a large role. It was hard as hell. I still question if my decision was the right one. I had to be cut 4 times for him to fit.
I have been attending deliveries for over 2 years, and I can count on one hand the number of times a "big baby" ended up actually being as big as the ultrasound predicted. I don't really trust growth u/s.
C was born at 40+2. He had a big head. I pushed for exactly 6.5 hours of a 36 hour labor, which is apparently a record. He was delivered on the last push I had in me with a forceps. His head measured at 97% ear to ear and 90% for circumference at our 37 week growth scan. It was tough, but we did it.
ETA: he weighed 9 lb 2 oz
Wow. This sounds so painful. I thought I was going to die at the end of 3 hours. It's amazing what our bodies are capable of.