He's a big boy!!

[SophieRose]

Had my ultrasound yesterday to see if bubby's really big or that my fundal height measurement was lying.
At 34 weeks, he's 6.9 pounds, and is expected to put on another 3-4 pounds if i go to term.
Everything looks good, heart is beating well, the cord is providing a good supply of blood, he has HUGE chubby cheeks and has the cutest little baby lip pout i've ever seen. Hehe, but then again i'm bias.

I have a meeting with the docs at the hospital on Thurs to figure out if their going to let me go to term, or their going to get him out a bit sooner.

Since last night i'm pretty sure he's engaged, not 100% sure, but since then it feels like i have a grapefruit jammed between my hips, and now i have to wee every half hour i'm pretty sure that's whats happened. Lol.
And i can no longer walk normally, i'm doing what Dp calls "The Preggo Waddle"


Has anyone else been in this situation before? Big bub and possibility of getting induced early? Would love to hear some experiences.

[~Kim~]

Hey Sophie,
Nate was estimated at 7lb at 34 weeks too. He was born 9lb1 at 39weeks. At that stage an ultrasound estimate can vary from reality a lot. Don't let them push you into something you don't want.
In my case it was accurate, but your body won't grow something that is too big for you.

[Early Kids]

I'd be interested in finding out how big your bub is at birth should you go to term.

I had Tristan at 34+3 and he was 6lb 13oz (3090 grams) I spent the first few days after birth wondering how big he would have been should I have made full term

[Liz]

I had Tristan at 34+3 and he was 6lb 13oz (3090 grams) I spent the first few days after birth wondering how big he would have been should I have made full term

Kayla was born at 34wks (33+5 according to hospital.. pfft - what do they know lol) and she was 3.5kg (7lb14oz). I too wonder how big she would have been should she have been full term! Think my body knew she was big enough and booted her out!

I was never measured, nor was a guesstimate ever made of her size. My OB had hinted at her being a big baby tho, but never in so many words. Just that he double checked my file to make sure I didn't have GD. I could tell he was looking for why the baby was so big, but he literally stopped himself short of saying she was a big baby LOL.

I agree with the others, don't rely so heavily on those measurements that you feel pressured to do anything you're not comfortable with.

Read up on birthing positions that open up that pelvis. Remember that women birth big babies every day.

[Inertia]

I have never been induced early. Had a bub that apparently these days is big O.o Still trying to work out when 9 pound became too big..

But a couple of stories from family history that might help you.

My 9 pound baby was an easier labour than my 6 pound baby.
Same for my mum - her 12 pounder was a walk in the park compared to her 6 pounder.

Sometimes I think pushing them out early is not the answer to an easy labour. I'd take another 9/10 pounder over another 6 pounder anyday.

[Taurean]

I've mentioned this in a couple of threads on BB but I'm happy to say it again.... I was 9lb and born via a drug free, intervention free, 90 minute vaginal birth. My mum is 5 foot nothing and had quite a small frame in her day. I really don't agree with induction or c-sections because the docs think a baby is too big. A friend of ours had a c-section earlier this year as her bubs was apparently huge. He was just short of 9lb so still in the 8lb region. Big? Hardly!

Good luck with your birth. I hope you get the birth you want. Good luck!

[Visitor8]

I had Ash a week early, normal vaginal delivery and he was 11 lbs, 55cm and 39cm head. They told me he would be at the end of 9 lbs... they were pretty shocked when they weighted him at 4.995kg!

My other 2 they said the weight and were way way WAY off, one was smaller, one bigger.... Don't rely on those ultrasound guesses.

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Don't let them push you into something you don't want.

And if you do want it - which we tend to at 37 weeks because we're sick of being pregnant - have a serious think about it and what the ramifications for your birth experience or your babies' health could be. In the end an extra few weeks of pregnancy isn't 'that' bad.

My Mid thought I was having a 10lb baby and DS was 8lb. That was from fundal and from looking at how I carried.
As for ultrasounds, IIRC they measure weight from the length of the femur - Do you think if someone measured your femur that would accurately gauge your weight? Just be careful with your options...

Before you let them dictate what your labour will be like because a guess of the size of your child, do some research about induction, early or otherwise. Many GD and PE labours that are induced at 37 wks end in CS because baby is not ready.

In the end it's your decision when it is offered... don't let them take that from you, you do have a right to say no. A 'big' baby is not going to be seriously damaging to your health if you go to 42 weeks.

Good luck with impending labour, I hope it is ultimately a safe delivery of your baby.

[rottfren]

My son was average size right up until about 37 weeks, I went to see my ob and he was amazed at how much weight he'd put on in about a week. As a result I was induced at 38 weeks and had an agonizing 20 hour labour, with every intervention under the sun. He was a vacuum extraction and had shoulder dysplasia, and due to the extensive bruising he suffered he was under lights for a few days. I had about 40 stitches. I should have had a caesarean, all the midwifes were disgusted that my doctor had put me through this. This was a private hospital as well!

He was 10lb 4oz at birth and 58cm long so would have been well over 11lb if I'd gone to full term. I don't know if I would have had a better birth experience if I had been allowed to go into labour naturally. I suspect so, but due to his size (especially his monstrous head!) he took such a long time to get through my pelvis.

It's true that body size doesn't seem to have much impact on how easy babies are birthed, I'm tall and quite a big woman, my sister in law is tiny and she had three babies, one in my mother in law's bathroom when she didnt make it to the hospital in time! her longest labour was about 2 and 1/2 hours.

[SophieRose]

My aunt had a little boy a year and a half ago, around the same time (34 weeks) he was 6.7, and he ended up being 12.3. And that was two weeks premmie, because he was getting to big for my aunt so she had a c-section.
A month and a half ago, she gave birth to a 11.6 baby girl, also by c-section and two weeks early. And at 34 weeks she was also around 6.9 too.
My great uncle was 13 pounds two weeks early.
My Other aunt was 12.7
I was 9.7

I reckon he's gonna be huge if we go to full term. Lol.

I'm not really fussed on how soon he comes (i lie, i want him out now!!!), or how he comes, i just want him to be healthy.
If the docs think it's best to leave him in there till full term then i'm fine with that. If they want to c-section or induce me early, and they think thats the best course of action, then i'm ok with that too.

Although i will admit that if he his huge i know i'll be a little disappointed that i didn't get to have him as a tiny little newborn. But oh well. Cest La Vie

[Early Kids]

And if you do want it - which we tend to at 37 weeks because we're sick of being pregnant - have a serious think about it and what the ramifications for your birth experience or your babies' health could be. In the end an extra few weeks of pregnancy isn't 'that' bad.

Having had two prems (30+1 & 34+3) I really do agree with this. I have 2 friends who gave birth just before 37 weeks and both bubs spent weeks in the NICU because they just weren't ready. It is not a place I would want any parent to have to see their child in.

all the best, I hope you get the birthing you are looking for

[Lisa]

I don't trust Dr and ultrasound guesstimations at all and think it is nothing but a PITA that ends up worrying the mums too much.
I was told that I was measuring fine with my eldest DS and not once was anything suggested that I be induced... He was born a week late and weighed 9lb7oz.
However, with my DD and DS2 I was constantly told I was measuring large for dates, and the babies were large on ultrasounds, at one point with my DS2 a midwife voiced her concern for me carrying such a large baby as I am only 5'3... and CS was mentioned for my DD as they guessed her as being close to 11lbs. DD was born 7lb9oz and DS2 was born 7lb10oz and absolutely way off what was estimated. It annoyed the cr@p out of me because when being told I might need a CS with DD, I broke down in tears and worried for the rest of my pregnancy.
PLEASE don't let them tell you that you will need something when it is most likely not necessary.

[hayles07]

My DS was meausuring almost 7 pound at 35 weeks according to the ultrasound. I had another ultrasound at 39 weeks and he was measuring 9 pound 7 apparently.. I went into labour at 39+2 and he was born just over 9 pound, 4.1kg Big yes, but definately not huge. I had a straight forward VB.

The doctors were talking about a c/s or inducing me early due to his size. Honestly, ridiculous! No way would I ever get talked into anything of the kind regardless how HUGE my baby was meant to be.

Good luck. After all, they are only estimates and no indication of how big baby will actually be.