Giant in my tummy!

[ft90]

Hi girls, hope you're all well!

Today I had my growth scan as I've been measuring ahead the whole way through... It was my second growth scan as I measured 20cms at 16 weeks so had to have one then, but it didn't show anything strange so I didn't think this one would either... Little did I know...

The sonographer said as soon as I walked in that she thought my bump was huge for 36+1, but I didn't really take much notice. I've just always assumed that my bump looks big because I've gained much fat on my arms or legs so it sticks out. And I assumed that it was a lot of water as well.

Anyway I got on the bed thing and laid down and she started the scan. Then she did the head circumference and said "surely that can't be right..." and then she checked it another 2 times, and gave the other woman the number so she could plot it on the chart, and it was massively over the top line for a big baby. The abdominal circumference was even more over the top line, and the femur length was just under the top line... So he's a big boy!

The current estimated weight is 8lbs 14oz!

She said that obviously there's a margin for error if she couldn't get a good angle etc, but she said she was really happy with her measurements so she thinks it's more likely to be accurate...

She even got another woman to come in and have a look because she was so shocked!

Really hoping I have him early now, babies gain a pound a week now don't they, definitely don't need another 4lbs added on!!

I've been referred to a consultant who I have to see a week today to go over this scan. Then two weeks today (if I make it that far) I have another growth scan and appointment straight after with the consultant to see if I need to be induced etc, and to talk about the risks of having a big baby during labour.

Looks like my perfect water birth at the birthing centre might be unrealistic now... If he carries on growing at this rate they won't take me, I'll have to go to the hospital in case I need an emergency c-section... Bit gutted about that...

On the plus side, LO is definitely still a little boy! And you could even see a full head of hair on the scan! He'll have thick, dark ringletty hair like me!

xx

 

[Iriki]

Hi there, don't give up hope about having your normal water birth just yet..... My little boy was born weighing 9lbs 9.5ozs, and I'm not a HUGE girl and I managed a normal, natural, drug free birth

The only thing different about my birth was the position I delivered him in, it's called the McRoberts position and basically involved 2 midwives pushing my legs back over my head as much as possible (didn't hurt at all) as this apparently opens the pelvis to it's widest and helps baby pass through. They recommend laboring as much as possible, standing, kneeling or on all fours as gravity is your best friend with a big baby

So don't resign yourself to having any different sort of birth yet..... Chances are you'll be fine

 

[Sarah13]

Wow! Are your dates def right? Sounds like the size of a full term baby now! I've heard bigger babies can be easier to deliver though as gravity helps and they don't pop back like a lighter baby so your 'perfect' birth may not be a problem yet! It's so amazing you can see hair! Is your OH a big man? This has always worried me a little as my hubby is really tall and big but so far at my 4d scan baby is only measuring a week bigger!

 

[ft90]

Yeah my dates are definitely right! According to the dates from my scan, we conceived about a week after OH got back from offshore, he was away for 6 weeks before then so there's only a margin of about a week! The sonographer said even if he was full term now he'd be classed as big, I can't believe it!

My OH isn't very big really, he's 5ft9, normal build, and I'm 5ft8, normally a size 10-12, so I'm not big either, so I'm not sure how this has happened haha!

The woman at the hospital did tell me not to worry and that small babies can cause just as much damage as giant ones under some circumstances. There is a birthing pool at the hospital, but obviously as it's bigger, there's more chance it'll already be taken, I'll just have to wait and see.

Going to see the consultant next week, I think he'll probably advise me to give birth at the hospital, and I agree I guess. I'd be more stressed going to the birth centre now that I know there's more chance of needing to be transferred... So hospital will probably be the best place for me!

The sonographer was actually a midwife as well, and she warned me that it could really be any day now, my body could just say "that's it" and go into labour, and that I should make sure my hospital bag should be ready to go! So tomorrow OH and I are going out to get everything! I'm not leaving anything to chance now, and I'm bouncing on my new ball a lot as well like she told me to to help things!

xx

 

[Dee83]

Wow, he's going to be a big healthy boy then So amazing that you could see his hair too!!

I may well be in the same boat as you hun! I have to go for a growth scan at 30weeks and 36weeks too. I keep being told by everyone that i look really huge for the amount of weeks i am. I am also consultant led so will be discussing everything with him after my 30wk scan. I am a wee bit worried as i'm 5ft9 (and a size 10-12) and hubby is 6ft4 and quite big built so i think LO is going to be a bit of a whopper!!!

Do they tell you the estimated weight of LO at the 30wk scan? xxx

 

[Sarah13]

Its quite exciting you could have baby any day now though, esp as OH will be home today! My grandad was a massive baby (over 12lbs) but all our family are small so I guess some babies are just born bigger! Know what you mean about knowing almost exactly your dates though, I could only be a week out most as well! Least they are keeping a close eye on things for you x

 

[ft90]

Dee - I don't know about the estimated weight... Everyone else I know seems to have been told theirs at every scan, but this is the first time I ever got told, even though I went for a growth scan at 16 weeks! I moved down here from Cheltenham around 28 weeks, so they probably have a different policy here in portsmouth...

It's so weird how different babies are such different sizes! If my baby carries on growing how he's expected to, he'll be the biggest baby in my family for a few generations. I find that really strange, because on my Mum's side, all the men are over 6 foot and built like rugby players! And they've never had big babies!

So I agree that some babies are just born big!

I just want to fast forward to next week to see the consultant so I can get a better idea of what's going on! I feel quite calm about the whole thing but OH is freaking out!

xx

 

[Nat26]

If it reassures you a bit, I was a 10lbs 2oz baby, my mum gave birth to me naturally without an epidural! I believe I have an increased chance of having a big baby as I was a big baby myself. Had a scan at 33 weeks and he was measuring 5lbs 7oz, I think they put on at least half a pound a week don't they? If I go over due I could have quite a big baby!

Oh and by the way - despite being a big baby I am 5 '1, pre pregnancy weight 8 stone (size 6 - 8) so it does not necessary mean the baby will be a big person xx

 

[BabyBrain]

My nephew was a month early c-section and was 9lb on the dot. My sister was so glad he was her last, the next one would have probably come out in a school uniform lol xxxxxxxx

 

[Dee83]

Dee - I don't know about the estimated weight... Everyone else I know seems to have been told theirs at every scan, but this is the first time I ever got told, even though I went for a growth scan at 16 weeks!

I've not been told at any scan either, will definitely be asking at my 30wk. Thanks hun

Hope the consultant appt comes around quickly for you hun, not long to go now xxxx

 

[Lettie]

Sensible to get everything soon incase just noticed you said Portsmouth, you heading to QA? I'M in fareham so heading there. Saw the labour ward etc yesterday, pool is really nice )

 

[ft90]

Haha my OH made a joke about LO coming out so big he had to lend him something to wear haha!

Lettie- yeah I'll be going to QA if I have to go to hospital. I live in gosport so I wanted to go to blakes as it's 5 mins away from my house, but if I'm having a giant they won't take me! I wanted to avoid the hospital if I could because getting through fareham is a nightmare! QA seems nice though, all new and everything. I've only seen the maternity outpatients bit where I had this scan, it was my first time there but looks like I'll be there a few times over the next couple of weeks!

Xx

 

[Lettie]

I fall under winchester catchment but have chosen QA as I work there and at least know I can get there safely if its snowing in December ) I wad having a chat yesterday with one of the midwives there and they were saying its nice how QA is as its purpose built so the rooms and stuff are bright and spacious. Which they seemed when I was nosing about yesterday. Gosport that's close! What a small world )

 

[AugustMum]

Ahh you moved out of Cheltenham too soon. Theres a lush hospital here now

 

[Laura_C]

My hubby came early at 36 weeks and he weighed 8lbs 13oz, so if he would have gone to 40 weeks he would have been huge! Sounds like it is possible he could already be this size. Def a big healthy boy

 

[ft90]

Lettie - Yeah my midwife was saying the same thing about the maternity ward at QA. I just worry about it being really busy!

Augustmum - I know, I'm gutted about having to leave cheltenham now there's such a nice hospital nearby!

Laura - I came 6 days early and was 6lb13 and OH was 7lb and he was a week and a half early, so I don't know how I'm growing a giant!

I really hope he fits into his clothes... Most of the stuff I bought goes to 14lb so he should get some wear at least out of them!!!

xx