[VENT] Being sent for a scan to check baby's size.....

[Shanti]

I just needed to get this out and off my chest so it doesn't affect me anymore....

Had my MW appointment yesterday at the hospital and before I continue, I am going to be having this baby at a very pro natural, pro vaginal, anti-drugs hospital, it's almost practically a birth centre but it's in the hospital so not really called that if that makes sense..... it's in a small country town only 20mins from where we live. It's got the best reputation in our area for having a natural birth.

Anyway, had my appointment yesterday. I'm 35 weeks yet I'm measuring 38 weeks. I've always measured ahead with this baby and I think it's because of the way I carry the baby and the way the baby sits..... I am all out front. I look full term already!
I don't seem to fill out much on the sides, just all out front.... same as with DD's pregnancy. (I think from memory I measured a little ahead with her too).....I had DD at a different hospital (they are very busy there now hence why I am at this hospital).

I'm annoyed they didn't even try to move bub's position before trying to measure me again.... I could tell from lying down that the baby's bum was pushing up on one side as it was lying really funny...... if I was a midwife, I would have said, ok lets try and move bub then measure again perhaps..... you know?

My MW who I see every time, said to me yesterday that we're going to send you for a scan Monday to check bub's size and have a look-see seeing as I'm measuring so far ahead..... so I said OK. It's a chance to see the baby right? BUT I'm annoyed they've offered this just because I'm measuring ahead...... I know that scans are only an estimate as to what the baby weighs etc and even if it's a 10/11 pounder, I'm going to push this baby out naturally!!!! Why should size stop me? I know that position of the baby is more important anyway

So.... she also mentioned that if the scan shows bub is quite big, then perhaps we can talk about not letting you go past your due date..... ummmm hello????? Are you talking to me about induction already?????? I'm only 35weeks No, no, and no.... noone is inducing me.... unless absolutely, medically necessary and my baby and I are at serious risk.

so yeah, I'm just upset and angry that this has even been discussed with me. Even with my birth plan having been read. ie no induction etc.....

Why do they focus so much on the size of the baby, I am more concerned about the position of my baby...... (DD was posterior but only was 8pds 1)...... aggghhh just annoyed.

Now I'm thinking I should not have even accepted the scan and that I'm wasting my time having it done..... ??? Just take what they say with a grain of salt....

I'm having a home birth for #3.

[Jakabella]

Hugs Ren. I was monitored with Hamish closely as I was measuring 3-4 weeks ahead with him and due to me having a c-sect with Bella. I took the scans .. I got to see my bub and make sure he was ok. They told me he was big. At first it really effected me and my mind set then I just let go of it and just focused on getting to my due date. I had a very pro vbac ob and MW and with their help I had my vbac at 41+6... and Hamish was 9 pd 1.
Don't let it get to you. You know you can do this and you will do this! You have let the negativity out so now it's time to focus on birthing your beautiful bub!
Oh and Hamish was posterior again as well...
Good luck xo

[Heaven]

I would ask them why they want the scan. Is it just to see how big bub is? Or are there other medical situations that measuring ahead could indicate? If it's to check that there's not something wrong then they could just check that and not measure size! If it's just so they can tell you how big bub is and try to induce you I definitely wouldn't be getting the scan.

Big What a PITA! You are making the perfect sized bub for you.

[ezymay]

Hugs!! Same thing happened to me at around 32 weeks, when I was measuring 36. I had the scan which said I had a big baby measuring on the 92nd percentile (which I don't think is that "bad"). The hossy seemed ok (depending on which mw i had) with that and the measurements have settled down towards the end so they have left the induction for big baby talk alone now. Hopefully that happens with you?
I really don't want to be induced again either so I think now mine will be trying to avoid a post date induction.
Good luck! I don't understand all the hype about "big" babies either!!

[Shanti]

Thanks for the replies

Well the scan is today and I'm fine with getting it done, just taking it with a grain of salt....because I know that this baby is the right size for me and just perfect and that it sits up high in my tummy rather than back further like some other babies do..... you know how you see those women and they have small tummies and they're full term?? But they have babies that are 9 or 10pds but you'd never have guessed?? Then you see Mum's like me carrying large tummies but our baby may only be 7 or 8pds!! So, with that theory, I am not letting anything bother me.

It's a chance to see the baby!! It was good to have a little vent about it though as I don't want any negativity towards the birth and want a clear head leading up to this birth!! I had a great labour and birth with DD even though she was posterior, and I'm hoping this birth will be even better!!! And noone is talking to me about induction either until I'm at least 1 week over.... at least !!!

Jaka - another posterior bub!! Wow!! Well, even if this baby is posterior, it won't bother me because i've pushed out one before, I can do it again!!

[Mad Scientist]

Good luck with the scan today. I'm glad you've made peace with it and can look forward to seeing baby again x

[HotI]

Going through a hospital they might want to talk to you about induction or whatever for whatever reasons. The important thing is you can always say no to what they are offering! You can say you don't want to be booked in for whatever test/scan/procedure. You can not turn up if you decide you don't want to have the test/scan/procedure. It can be beneficial to listen to them, and then go home and do your own research - It is a good thing if the hospital do want to discuss benefits and risks of any procedure, it might indicate that they have respect for the informed consent process.

It is important that you speak up if they are offering something you don't want. YOu can refuse, you can say you want time to consider the option, or time to discuss it with your partner or someone else. Having a birth plan is great but you may have to reinforce this and speak your thoughts as well.

best wishes for an awesome birth

[~Ash~]

Good luck today with the scan. how exciting to see the baby again!!

Sounds like you are in a great mindset for the birth. I hope that you don't end up getting pressured towards anything that you aren't ok with.


**Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dragonbub]

Hey hun,
Just thought I would pop in and say good luck. I too was told that DS was going to be big, he was always measuring about 2 weeks ahead. He was born at 37 weeks weighing 3585 grams (7pd11ounces) so yeah, he was a big bub considering. But I am thankful for that because if he was too small, he would have been sicker having been born that little bit earlier (I was induced due to pe). Luckily my very wonderful OB (yes, private hospital OB with 50% natural birth rate) said "bah, you just don't know what size baby you can push out until you are pushing! so let's not get too stressed). She even advised against the sizing scan as she didn't think it added any useful information.

I felt better in that situation, so I understand how annoyed you must feel hearing the opposite. However, the scan would have just given you some size info to take into consideration, but in the end, the choice is yours hun.

Good luck!

[Shanti]

Thanks for the support everyone

I had the scan the other day, and yes it shows bub is measuring 2 weeks ahead and that it is approx 3.5kg already BUT that is +/-500g so it could only be 3kg now.....so yeah, I'm not letting it bother me, it's just an 'estimate' after all..... even the OB I saw at the appointment last week was really relaxed about it all (more so than my MW I think!!) and said not to worry, as DD was 8pds 1 so I must make big babies although I don't think 8pds1 is big??

Anyway, whatever size it is, I will PUSH it out come hell, rain or shine!!!!!!!!!! I'm one determined woman!! Just hoping I don't go past dates like last time

[Ginger]

hi shanti, i just wanted to tell you my story to lift your confidence a bit
ds1 was 10lbs3oz. ds2 was measuring ahead- i looked huge to look at. sent for sizing scans at 37wks- they said he would be between 9 and 10 pounds, i was induced at 40wks as they did not want me to go over dates in case he was a whopper. he came out as 8lbs3oz- so a whole 2 pounds smaller than ds1!

[Shanti]

hi shanti, i just wanted to tell you my story to lift your confidence a bit
ds1 was 10lbs3oz. ds2 was measuring ahead- i looked huge to look at. sent for sizing scans at 37wks- they said he would be between 9 and 10 pounds, i was induced at 40wks as they did not want me to go over dates in case he was a whopper. he came out as 8lbs3oz- so a whole 2 pounds smaller than ds1!

Thanks Ginger, just read this now

I'm still pregnant.... not worried about bubs' size though..... just really want to meet my baby!!! Bring on labour have an OB appt tomorrow but they don't want to discuss induction, so that's good!! I'm only 4 days over.

[Ginger]

Hang in there hun you'll have your beautiful baby in your arms before you know it. Then it's back to sleepless nights lol

[Shanti]

Hang in there hun you'll have your beautiful baby in your arms before you know it. Then it's back to sleepless nights lol

nah not really, I'm already waking HOURLY anyway due to my painful hips (they burn really badly if i lie too long on one side), my heartburn is SHOCKING (i keep tums tablets under my pillow at night!!) AND i have pregnancy insomnia and pee every 1-2hrs...... so nup, I don't think I could be any more sleep deprived to be honest

In fact, I think I'll sleep better once bub is here!!!!

[Cassius2]

haha, that's what happened with me...got more sleep once she was on the outside ahhhhh achey hips are the pits!

[Shanti]

Well, for those that don't already know, my baby ended up being 10lb 6 oz (that's 4.7kg), "little" baby girl haha..... and we had shoulder dystocia!!! As the OB had predicted..... just so grateful I went into spontaneous labour and had a natural drug free birth again, without needing induction!! OB was sure I'd end up being induced.... I proved him wrong! So proud I did it. (I had midwives looking after me but saw an OB in the last week)

[hj1981]

Anyway, had my appointment yesterday. I'm 35 weeks yet I'm measuring 38 weeks. I've always measured ahead with this baby and I think it's because of the way I carry the baby and the way the baby sits..... I am all out front. I look full term already!
I don't seem to fill out much on the sides, just all out front.... same as with DD's pregnancy. (I think from memory I measured a little ahead with her too).....I had DD at a different hospital (they are very busy there now hence why I am at this hospital).

Guess it wasn't the way you carry your bubs after all! LOL

[hj1981]

i'm having a home birth for #3.

i like this very much