Question about birthweight at 35.5 weeks.

[Anonymous]

My “measuring a perfect 7.5 lbs!” baby was born at 6lbs 3oz. They really are astonishingly inaccurate considering how many decisions we make using them.

Petite people— I am one— have babies all the time without any trouble OP. But. You’re fully entitled to a candid discussion with your doctor where you ask about the potential risk/benefits of a 39 week induction. It’s a frustrating element of the prenatal care system but I have not found many doctors very forthcoming about various choices and options other than what they have always done (one doctor “hates” letting people go past 40 weeks, another is fine until 42 etc) it’s all very idiosyncratic.

[Anonymous]

My doctor said my first son would be around 8 pounds. He was 10 pounds 11 ounces.

[Anonymous]

I have had a 8.5 lb baby and a 7 lb baby. Labor with the 7 lb baby was harder than with my 8.5 lb. I’m also 5’3.5”. My 8.5 lb baby was spot on for his ultrasound measurements but my smaller baby weighed less than his estimates (although the OB’s hands on guess during labor was spot on). A larger head is actually good as you want to biggest part of the baby to go through first - I was induced with my first because his abdominal circumference was measuring larger than his head.

[Anonymous]

I’m 38yo and my practice is having me go in for weekly NST and fluid measurements after 36 weeks.

Your best bet for natural, uncomplicated delivery is if you wait for spontaneous labor.

My due date is today and I’m personally willing to go to 41 weeks at my age. I’m 100% sure of my conception date.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 35 weeks, they said mine was 6.8 lbs. I delivered a 4.75 lb baby the next day.

+1 to all who say birthweight estimations are notoriously inaccurate.

damn! Thats crazy

At 36+1 mine was said to be 8 lbs. That same appointment I was diagnosed with pre-e and induced. Baby was born at 36+3 at 5 lbs 11
oz.

[Anonymous]

Ultrasounds are 50/50

If you don’t have gestational diabetes your body won’t grow an abnormally large baby fir you.

If a baby getting suck is a concern for you or stalled labor look into movement and comfort measures. If you lay in bed with an epidural there is a high chance of any baby getting “stuck” as they are working against gravity and it makes the exit to your pelvis smaller.

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Big-Babies-Handout.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 38yo and my practice is having me go in for weekly NST and fluid measurements after 36 weeks.

Your best bet for natural, uncomplicated delivery is if you wait for spontaneous labor.

My due date is today and I’m personally willing to go to 41 weeks at my age. I’m 100% sure of my conception date.

why is your dr having you come in work weekly fluid measurements and nsts? Are you high risk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have had a 8.5 lb baby and a 7 lb baby. Labor with the 7 lb baby was harder than with my 8.5 lb. I’m also 5’3.5”. My 8.5 lb baby was spot on for his ultrasound measurements but my smaller baby weighed less than his estimates (although the OB’s hands on guess during labor was spot on). A larger head is actually good as you want to biggest part of the baby to go through first - I was induced with my first because his abdominal circumference was measuring larger than his head.

Thanks for the information. Did you have weekly scans or nsts ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 38yo and my practice is having me go in for weekly NST and fluid measurements after 36 weeks.

Your best bet for natural, uncomplicated delivery is if you wait for spontaneous labor.

My due date is today and I’m personally willing to go to 41 weeks at my age. I’m 100% sure of my conception date.

Are the fluid measurements via scan?

[Anonymous]

7.5lbs is nothing OP. Relax!

-signed mom who had a c section due to failed induction that she pushed for after a vaginal birth for #1 (i.e. the induction had a 2% chance of failing)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My “measuring a perfect 7.5 lbs!” baby was born at 6lbs 3oz. They really are astonishingly inaccurate considering how many decisions we make using them.

Petite people— I am one— have babies all the time without any trouble OP. But. You’re fully entitled to a candid discussion with your doctor where you ask about the potential risk/benefits of a 39 week induction. It’s a frustrating element of the prenatal care system but I have not found many doctors very forthcoming about various choices and options other than what they have always done (one doctor “hates” letting people go past 40 weeks, another is fine until 42 etc) it’s all very idiosyncratic.

Two things.

Tiny women who happen to have stretchy connective tissue can birth huge babies. You can stretch. You won't know if that is you unless you try labor.

As for the variability in doctors, I feel like they can see one bad case in residency and that colors them for the rest of their career. It is also a personal taste for risk thing. Reproductive endocrinologists transfer embryos into 42 year old first time moms because a 4 week nicu stay is an ok outcome for them. If you're a doc that has low risk patients, that 4 week nicu stay can be the worst patient you had in years.

[Anonymous]

Just co-signing all of the above about incorrect estimates. I had GD and so had a Level 2 ultrasound right at 40 weeks.

They estimated a baby over 8 lbs at the time. Five days later I delivered a baby that was a little over 6 lbs.

In my case, I think the radiology folks were ready to assume my baby was big due to the GD, despite my numbers being fully controlled for the entire pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

My estimates were WAY off too. I was told I was having a nice 7lber and birthed a 10lb whopper of a baby. He was a shoulder dystocia and had his clavicle broken. I am petite (5'1, 120lbs) and only gained 30lbs, no GD. My stomach wasn't even that big. I had a weekly NST because I was overdue. I didn't have any problem delivering that 10lber either, just his shoulder got stuck obviously.

I'm pregnant now and really anxious and scared. WHY can't they give better estimates on weight and baby size? With all the technology, you'd think they could. It's making me very anxious and I worry a lot about the food I'm eating. Somehow in my mind, if I don't gain much weight, I'll have a normal sized baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ultrasounds are 50/50

If you don’t have gestational diabetes your body won’t grow an abnormally large baby fir you.

Hahahahahah, says a petite mother of 9 1/2 pound baby and a 10 1/2 pound baby who didn't have gestational diabetes either time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ultrasounds are 50/50

If you don’t have gestational diabetes your body won’t grow an abnormally large baby fir you.

Hahahahahah, says a petite mother of 9 1/2 pound baby and a 10 1/2 pound baby who didn't have gestational diabetes either time.

NP same here. I was the one above with the 10lber with a shoulder dystocia. Clearly he could have died, so I'd consider that "abnormally large". No gestational diabetes. My MIL had two 10lb babies, so I assume that's why my baby was so large. I don't know if she had GD and I think testing wasn't as good then, but she doesn't have diabetes now.