can we revisit the baby birth weight estimate topic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Her labor was tough arleady, and the entire time she said she kept thinking she was trying to push out a 10 lb baby when in fact it was just a normal sized baby. She said it got into her head and messed with her. Easier said than done, but try not to let it get into yours!!!

I think this is really good advise. I was estimated to have a 7 or 7.5 pounder, and ended up giving birth vaginally, no drugs/interventions, to a 9 lb 11 oz baby. I went over my due date by a full two weeks, so by the time I went into labor I was so ready to give birth. He really packed on the extra pounds the last few weeks. I don't say this to brag or get attention, but really think the reason I was able to do this was because I thought I was pushing out an average, normal sized baby. When they later told me how much he weighed, I could hardly believe it. I mean, it was a lot of work and painful, but it was my first so I had nothing to compare it to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With mine they estimated 6 pounds, she was exactly 6 pounds. I was induced because she wasn't growing anymore at 38 1/2 weeks.

To the 15:27 poster - how did the doctor determine that your daughter wasn't growing any more? Your weight?

[Anonymous]

I'm not the 15:27 poster, but I was being monitored for IUGR as well. For me, they would do ultrasounds 2 weeks apart and do all the measurements. Then plot the measurements on a growth chart. Mine was growing OK, just in the 5th percentile for everything. If she started falling off below the curve, however, that is when they would conclude IUGR.

[Anonymous]

Here is some info from ACOG on the issue (note macrosomia="big baby" )
“Weighing the newborn after delivery is the only way to accurately diagnose macrosomia, because the prenatal diagnostic methods (assessment of maternal risk factors, clinical examination and ultrasonographic measurement of the fetus) remain imprecise. Leopold’s maneuvers and measurement of the height of the uterine fundus above the maternal symphysis pubis are the two primary methods for the clinical estimation of fetal weight. Use of either of these methods alone is considered to be a poor predictor of fetal macrosomia; therefore, they must be combined to produce a more accurate measurement. Ultrasonographic measurement of the fetus serves as a means to rule out the diagnosis of fetal macrosomia, which may aid in avoiding maternal morbidity, but is considered to be no more accurate than Leopold’s maneuver.”
~American Academy of Family Physician’s (AAFP) publication of ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 22, November 2000, Obstetrics and Gynecology

According to the ACOG published practice guidelines, “suspected fetal macrosomia” should not be considered as an indication for cesarean section unless the estimated fetal weight is greater than 4500 grams (9lb 15oz) for a diabetic mother and 5000g (11lb 0oz) for a non-diabetic mother, and even so maternal risk factors and birth history must also be taken into account. The ACOG committee (Practice Bulletin No. 22, November 2000, Obstetrics and Gynecology)

[Anonymous]

My first child (daughter) was 7lb12oz. My doctor expected my second child (son) to be bigger as typically second children are larger/heavier and also boys. He didn't do any precise estimation but said he expected an 8lb boy. We were all surprised when my son was born at 9lb5oz! Thankfully it was a relatively easy delivery.

[Anonymous]

The ultrasound indicated that my baby was 11 pounds and he was 8 pounds 13 ounces. My doctor thought he was between 8 and 9 so I delivered vaginally. I pushed for about 25 minutes and think I pushed harder b/c I thought he was going to be huge!

[Anonymous]

I was told my son was going to be on the smaller side, between 6.5-7lbs. He came in at 8lbs 9oz at 40 weeks exactly. i have no faith in these estimates.

[Anonymous]

My daughter was estimated to be 8+ pounds at birth based on an u/s at 36 weeks. She was 6 pounds, 14 oz. I had her by c-section because she wouldn't descend after 2 hours of pushing. It's really more about positioning than size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With mine they estimated 6 pounds, she was exactly 6 pounds. I was induced because she wasn't growing anymore at 38 1/2 weeks.

To the 15:27 poster - how did the doctor determine that your daughter wasn't growing any more? Your weight?

I too, was told my son was measuring small, not his height, but his stomach, so I was induced at 39 weeks. I was told he'd be about 6.5 lbs. He was 5.2 lbs. at birth. I had placenta failure and he was malnoursished. But he's big today and thriving!

[Anonymous]

I'm the 15:27 poster. I was having ultrasounds every two weeks due to having contractions starting on my sixth month, I was on bed rest for the last trimester. When I went for my ultrasound on week 38 they measured her and compared her measurements from the last time and realized she wasn't growing. They told me she needed to come out within 72 hours.

After labor my ob told me my placenta looked old, and that's probably why she wasn't growing anymore.

She is now a 22 pound 1 year old, chubby as can be .

[Anonymous]

Yes--they were way high for everyone I know except myself. Our baby measured big, and with a 39wk head at 33 weeks. It was starting to give me anxiety so I quit getting ultrasounds. My dr. said that a large baby wasn't a medical reason to induce. I think that's the attitude at most teaching hospitals. Anyway, for me, the measurement was right on, delivered a 9 pound, 1 ounce baby, 1 week early. Delivery was easy though, so again, size doesn't always matter.