Ultrasound before birth

[BellyBelly]

It is very common to have the cord around the neck - in fact around 30% of babies have it, as they play skippy and ballet in the womb. Very rarely does it get too tight that it affects circulation.

Having a scan now is not worth it. The baby is so big, that the image is less clear and you can't see much, and also, the baby's measurements will be based on it's own unique genes, so you are guaranteed to get things like, 'Oh wow your baby is HUGE, its on the 80th percentile!' or 'Oh your baby is very small, it's only on the 20th percentile' when in fact it takes small babies and big babies to make an 'average' baby. Because thats what ultrasounds work on. Are you 'average'? Is your partner? I don't know many people who are and we all work just fine.

Trust your body. Trust your baby. And most of all trust mother nature. Your body is the result of many, many generations of evolution and natural selection, and your body made it. Your body is designed to birth this baby and a healthy one at that. To reduce the chance of complications, have an active birth (there's an article on the main site about what you can do), avoid all inductions until at least 42 weeks if baby is happy (inductions can stress the baby = caesarean) and have some great support. Its important you are relaxed as you go into labour because if you panic labour could slow and you could end up with all the interventions! Trust yourself.

[Olive]

i too was tiny with DD finished work early to 'rest up' when she was born the midwives commented that she would only be 6lb but she surprised all been 7lb 5oz, she was perfect as was i, we all come in different shapes and sizes, you must just be compact!!

[maybub]

What a beautiful response Kelly Zantey, I'm sure you put a lot of minds to rest with that one - certainly did for me (on a range of different worrys). Thank you.