Should I be worried... baby measuring 39+6 when I'm 37+2

Hi there,

I've just gotten back from my ob appointment. He did a scan in his rooms to check bubs is in position (which they are). He also took measurements and it appears bubs is a big one, currently measuring 39 weeks and 6 days (I'm 37 weeks and 2 days at the moment). He's given me a referral for a proper ultrasound and says he's not worried, but just wants to make sure everything is okay. So I am booked in for this scan tomorrow afternoon.

Just wondering if I should be concerned at all. My ob doesn't seem worried, but didn't want to really go into what it would be mean if the ultrasound confirms his measurements. I asked if it would mean that he would want to consider induction earlier than normal, to which he was very non-commital and said it was way too early to talk about but if it was the case he may not want to let me go much further than 41 weeks.

So I was hoping some of you lovely ladies would be able to share some of your knowledge with me. I've heard that scans at this late stage are notoriously inaccurate, is that true? Does it matter if bubs is a little on the big side? Does it mean they're more likely to come sooner rather than later? Could it be an indication that something is wrong (placenta blood flow was good as were my fluid levels)?

i wouldnt worry - my ob last time and my ob this time said anything plus or minus 2 weeks at this point is not a problem at all.. and that scans etc are inaccurate
i know it is hard not to overanalyse and think about it all but dont worry at this point.
enjoy having another look at your gorgeous bub!!

ps have heard so many stories of ppl being told will have a 10 pounderonly to push out a little 7 pounder and vice versa

Personally, I wouldnt be worried at all.

There are many a story on here where they have measured "big babies" and induced early only to have bub pop out at 5-6 lbs. And even if they are 9-10 you can still do it! My mum pushed out a 12 pounder without a tear!

Check this out - Small Pelvis? Here?s The Truth About Cephalopelvic Disproportion (CPD) - should help highlight that even if it is a bigger than average baby, its not more than you can handle! Believe that, your body does!

I'm interested to hear what others say on this as well. I had 2 early dating scans - both saying i was a week less pregnant than my last LMP suggested i should be. YET every scan i have had since then (3) have said that bubs is 2 weeks too big for my EDD. So technically my baby is one week bigger than my LMP EDD, but two weeks bigger than the due date given to me at my dating scan. I sometimes wonder if they know what they are talking about at all with regards to size of babies!

A few years back a friend of mine was induced, as she was told that she was 2 weeks overdue. When bubs actually birthed she was tiny - the doctor agreeing she was most likely 3 weeks premmy - and she was treated this way too. So they were 5 weeks out on that one.

Bubs will come when he / she is ready. Big or Small. As long as you have been shown to be healthy - ie. no GD etc i think you will be fine. DF and me joke all the time that we just breed them big! (he was 7p9oz at 3 weeks prem - with a heavy smoker mother) and me and my siblings were all well over 9 pounds full term. Whats a "normal" weight when born anyway??? :)

NOOOOO NOOOOOOO NOOOOOOOO Please DO NOT be concerned!!!

Every 2nd woman at least is being told their bub is HUGE and measuring bigger etc!! If you have no other conditions etc to go with it forget about the size! The thing is it all works on averages a 40wk full tern baby doe not weigh x amount it might weigh 6lb or 11lb o how do they know exactly what a 37w2d baby should measure iykwim!!

I recommend checking out the induction articles on bb, your baby measures exactly what your baby measures at 37w2days try to trust that that is the exact size he/she should be rather than thinking that he/she is measuring ahead for dates and is bigger than should be!

Thanks for sharing your wisdom on this one. I tended to think that it wasn't anything to worry about and that estimating size at this stage isn't very accurate, but as a nervous first timer it's hard not to worry a little anyway. Hearing from you ladies has put my mind at ease :)

I totally agree... do not worry. I was told at 36 wks my baby was already 8 pound.... he ended up only 8 pound 4 at full term! So, no I wouldn't worry.

I'm just on 32 weeks now and the docs are telling me that bub is measuring the size he should when he's full term. And my aunt just gave birth (c-section, would've ripped her in half other wise. Lol) to a 10.4 little girl, and a year ago, a little boy weighing in at 10.6.
I've been scheduled in for an ultrasound in a couple of weeks, and the doc has warned me that if he gets much bigger by then their going to either induce me at 35 weeks, assuming his lungs are ok. Or let him go until they are, then c-section him out.

I would say since your bubs only coming in at bigger by a couple of weeks they wouldn't be too worried. Especially since your so close to term.
My bubby on the other hand is a little chubby thing. Haha

Good luck honey, don't be freaked out!!

hi, just wanted to share,
when I was 36 weeks I went in for my ob appt and the mws were concerned over my fluid retention, so did measurements etc, I was measuring 42+ weeks! so I was sent up for emergency us to check tha I didnt have hydramnios (sp?) basically too much fluid!
anyway it all came back normal, bub was supposedly on the lage side (he ended up being 9pd 11oz) and I had to have monitoring on ctg for a few hours, total stress over nothing!
Like others have said, they are notirious for being out, especially a this stage.
Good luck, hope everything goes well for your birth! x

My bub was measured at 3 weeks above his gestational age from around 30 weeks - he was big, but fine.
Hang in there. I don't think they really know how much angst they cause.

I went for the proper scan today, which confirmed bubs is on the big side. Currently they're saying that bubs is 3.5kg / 7.7 pounds which puts them in the 80th percentile, but everything else is normal and healthy. I am hoping that either their guestimate is out or bubs comes sooner rather than later, cos they are saying that bubs will be close to 10 pounds if I make it 40 weeks... I personally believe that my body wouldn't create a baby that is too big for me to birth, but I'm quite small so can't help but be a little nervous. But whether bubs is big or small the most important thing is that they are healthy.

I've seen in other peoples posts that they say that their baby is 3/5 engaged etc. I was just wondering when you're given these measurements. I asked my OB yesterday and the sonographer today if bubs is engaged and they both said partly - what does that mean?

Im here to say dont worry,
I was measuring 2 to 3 weeks ahead through my last two pregnancies.
Ds1 was 10 days over and 8lb 10 and Ds2 was also 10 days over and only 7lb