Question about birthweight at 35.5 weeks.

[Anonymous]

I dont understand so Im venting. I am 35.5 weeks and the ultrasound tech said the baby is estimated at 6.8 lbs and is in the 73rd percentile and I am worried about baby getting larger. The high risk Dr I see ( I only saw him once for a consult and continued seeing him. But the only thing that would potentially make me hgih risk is that I just turned 37, but that doesnt neccesarily mean anything as I have had no complications) said that while the head is measuring over 90% the abdominom is not, which is good becuase that correlates with shoulder width (which is the real issue they would look for when discernign possibity of baby getting stuck.)

Anway, the Ultra soundtech also mentioned that according to the stats I'd be on track to deliver a 7 1/2 lb baby at full term (40 weeks). How is that even possible if the baby is 6.8 now and is supposeedly supposed to gain a few ounces each week and I still have 4 to go at least? Hopefully I am just missing somthing here.

There has been no talk of inducing early or anything and I have heard of other drs who do this as a precaution. In past appts, Dr has felt that spontanous labour is the safest thing and would be comfortable with me even going until 41 weeks but not past. I also asked about the age thing and risks of going over, and he said not the case for me. Anywa, I dont know if he has changed his tune since yesterday - it still isnt clear, but he said there is time and we'll watch closely and the good news is I'll get another scan at 37 1/2 weeks so perhaps he'll change his tune if baby is really getting bigger or something.

I am small and worry that a large birth weight, paired with a tiny pelvis would not be good for going past 40 weeks especially! Afraid of baby getting stuck, forceps, emergency c and all that good stuff. Hopefully if this were the case, we could plan for a c before during L&D rather then rushing into an emergency?

I understand that I am not a Dr and there is so much to consider in all of this that I do not know, and I dont want to push an induction simply out of anxiety. I'd love to just trust my Dr while continuing to ask these questions as they come up. I dont know whats right - there are risks on either side. Waiting to full term 40 weeks, or even past term and having large baby that gets stuck or emergency or even worse. Or induction at 39 weeks or something and that leading to issues for the baby too.

I dont know what I am really even asking h ere - perhaps just panicking during these last few weeks. I also havent had a cervical checks yet - he said the size of pelvis is what determines issues more then that. Have any of you been in similar situaiton and all turn out ok? Like similar birth weight around 36 weeks and deliver naturally?? Or get induced? Trying to relax and tap into calming vibes - not easy for me! lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dont understand so Im venting. I am 35.5 weeks and the ultrasound tech said the baby is estimated at 6.8 lbs and is in the 73rd percentile and I am worried about baby getting larger. The high risk Dr I see ( I only saw him once for a consult and continued seeing him. But the only thing that would potentially make me hgih risk is that I just turned 37, but that doesnt neccesarily mean anything as I have had no complications) said that while the head is measuring over 90% the abdominom is not, which is good becuase that correlates with shoulder width (which is the real issue they would look for when discernign possibity of baby getting stuck.)

Anway, the Ultra soundtech also mentioned that according to the stats I'd be on track to deliver a 7 1/2 lb baby at full term (40 weeks). How is that even possible if the baby is 6.8 now and is supposeedly supposed to gain a few ounces each week and I still have 4 to go at least? Hopefully I am just missing somthing here.

There has been no talk of inducing early or anything and I have heard of other drs who do this as a precaution. In past appts, Dr has felt that spontanous labour is the safest thing and would be comfortable with me even going until 41 weeks but not past. I also asked about the age thing and risks of going over, and he said not the case for me. Anywa, I dont know if he has changed his tune since yesterday - it still isnt clear, but he said there is time and we'll watch closely and the good news is I'll get another scan at 37 1/2 weeks so perhaps he'll change his tune if baby is really getting bigger or something.

I am small and worry that a large birth weight, paired with a tiny pelvis would not be good for going past 40 weeks especially! Afraid of baby getting stuck, forceps, emergency c and all that good stuff. Hopefully if this were the case, we could plan for a c before during L&D rather then rushing into an emergency?

I understand that I am not a Dr and there is so much to consider in all of this that I do not know, and I dont want to push an induction simply out of anxiety. I'd love to just trust my Dr while continuing to ask these questions as they come up. I dont know whats right - there are risks on either side. Waiting to full term 40 weeks, or even past term and having large baby that gets stuck or emergency or even worse. Or induction at 39 weeks or something and that leading to issues for the baby too.

I dont know what I am really even asking h ere - perhaps just panicking during these last few weeks. I also havent had a cervical checks yet - he said the size of pelvis is what determines issues more then that. Have any of you been in similar situaiton and all turn out ok? Like similar birth weight around 36 weeks and deliver naturally?? Or get induced? Trying to relax and tap into calming vibes - not easy for me! lol

This is your first? Asking not snarkily but it really sounds like anxiety about labor and delivery talking and this is the issue that's making it manifest.

Obligatory standard disclaimer that ultrasound measurements are not precise and blah blah but to your second paragraph point, if your baby is measuring at roughly 6.8 lbs now (108.8 oz) then gaining roughly a few ounces a week (~3 oz) for four weeks is pretty consistent with a 7.5 lbs birthweight (120 oz). Even gaining a half pound (8 oz) a week would give you a 8.8 lb baby, which is considered normal and just under the cut-off for LGA (large for gestational age). Your baby would have to be over 90th percentile to be considered LGA at any week of gestation so right now, with a perfectly normal measuring 73rd percentile baby, it just sounds like you're borrowing trouble.

[Anonymous]

Birth weight estimations are notoriously inaccurate, especially the closer you get to delivery. I wouldn’t stress about it too much.

[Anonymous]

Those estimates can be up to a lb off too BTW. I had something similar where I was on track to deliver a 9lb+ baby and he was 8.1.

[Anonymous]

here's my take on your situation as a petite, with a small pelvis ---- and I was 43 when I had my first child.
OB in my former city had examined me for years before pg, and expressed his opinion that I could not deliver a baby over 7 pounds, that I was that small. However,
I didn't see new OB who would deliver baby until I was already pg, so he didn't really know my anatomy. We scheduled induction for 39 weeks, and planned to labor and deliver vaginally. Now, I did not have any late ultrasounds where they estimated baby's size (and as pp pointed out, these estimates can be way off). On induction day, 8am pitocin, normal course of labor (epidural at around noon) but by 5 pm had only dilated to 4. Baby boy delivered at 5:51 pm via c-section--he weighed just under 7lbs 1 oz. And his head was apparently right at my pelvic bone and going nowhere!

The OB who knew my anatomy had predicted this exactly. Oh, and recovery from c-section was not any issue for me.

[Anonymous]

The ultrasounds are notoriously wrong. Where did you have yours? I was at Washington Radiology and what they said he weighed at 32 weeks was what he was born at 39 weeks. We were all a little surprised and relieved!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont understand so Im venting. I am 35.5 weeks and the ultrasound tech said the baby is estimated at 6.8 lbs and is in the 73rd percentile and I am worried about baby getting larger. The high risk Dr I see ( I only saw him once for a consult and continued seeing him. But the only thing that would potentially make me hgih risk is that I just turned 37, but that doesnt neccesarily mean anything as I have had no complications) said that while the head is measuring over 90% the abdominom is not, which is good becuase that correlates with shoulder width (which is the real issue they would look for when discernign possibity of baby getting stuck.)

Anway, the Ultra soundtech also mentioned that according to the stats I'd be on track to deliver a 7 1/2 lb baby at full term (40 weeks). How is that even possible if the baby is 6.8 now and is supposeedly supposed to gain a few ounces each week and I still have 4 to go at least? Hopefully I am just missing somthing here.

There has been no talk of inducing early or anything and I have heard of other drs who do this as a precaution. In past appts, Dr has felt that spontanous labour is the safest thing and would be comfortable with me even going until 41 weeks but not past. I also asked about the age thing and risks of going over, and he said not the case for me. Anywa, I dont know if he has changed his tune since yesterday - it still isnt clear, but he said there is time and we'll watch closely and the good news is I'll get another scan at 37 1/2 weeks so perhaps he'll change his tune if baby is really getting bigger or something.

I am small and worry that a large birth weight, paired with a tiny pelvis would not be good for going past 40 weeks especially! Afraid of baby getting stuck, forceps, emergency c and all that good stuff. Hopefully if this were the case, we could plan for a c before during L&D rather then rushing into an emergency?


I understand that I am not a Dr and there is so much to consider in all of this that I do not know, and I dont want to push an induction simply out of anxiety. I'd love to just trust my Dr while continuing to ask these questions as they come up. I dont know whats right - there are risks on either side. Waiting to full term 40 weeks, or even past term and having large baby that gets stuck or emergency or even worse. Or induction at 39 weeks or something and that leading to issues for the baby too.

I dont know what I am really even asking h ere - perhaps just panicking during these last few weeks. I also havent had a cervical checks yet - he said the size of pelvis is what determines issues more then that. Have any of you been in similar situaiton and all turn out ok? Like similar birth weight around 36 weeks and deliver naturally?? Or get induced? Trying to relax and tap into calming vibes - not easy for me! lol

This is your first? Asking not snarkily but it really sounds like anxiety about labor and delivery talking and this is the issue that's making it manifest.

Obligatory standard disclaimer that ultrasound measurements are not precise and blah blah but to your second paragraph point, if your baby is measuring at roughly 6.8 lbs now (108.8 oz) then gaining roughly a few ounces a week (~3 oz) for four weeks is pretty consistent with a 7.5 lbs birthweight (120 oz). Even gaining a half pound (8 oz) a week would give you a 8.8 lb baby, which is considered normal and just under the cut-off for LGA (large for gestational age). Your baby would have to be over 90th percentile to be considered LGA at any week of gestation so right now, with a perfectly normal measuring 73rd percentile baby, it just sounds like you're borrowing trouble.

Yes that is what my partner said to me. That this is anxiety speaking. Totally. I really appreciate the insight here!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:here's my take on your situation as a petite, with a small pelvis ---- and I was 43 when I had my first child.
OB in my former city had examined me for years before pg, and expressed his opinion that I could not deliver a baby over 7 pounds, that I was that small. However,
I didn't see new OB who would deliver baby until I was already pg, so he didn't really know my anatomy. We scheduled induction for 39 weeks, and planned to labor and deliver vaginally. Now, I did not have any late ultrasounds where they estimated baby's size (and as pp pointed out, these estimates can be way off). On induction day, 8am pitocin, normal course of labor (epidural at around noon) but by 5 pm had only dilated to 4. Baby boy delivered at 5:51 pm via c-section--he weighed just under 7lbs 1 oz. And his head was apparently right at my pelvic bone and going nowhere!

The OB who knew my anatomy had predicted this exactly. Oh, and recovery from c-section was not any issue for me.

Did he plan the induction because of your size?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:here's my take on your situation as a petite, with a small pelvis ---- and I was 43 when I had my first child.
OB in my former city had examined me for years before pg, and expressed his opinion that I could not deliver a baby over 7 pounds, that I was that small. However,
I didn't see new OB who would deliver baby until I was already pg, so he didn't really know my anatomy. We scheduled induction for 39 weeks, and planned to labor and deliver vaginally. Now, I did not have any late ultrasounds where they estimated baby's size (and as pp pointed out, these estimates can be way off). On induction day, 8am pitocin, normal course of labor (epidural at around noon) but by 5 pm had only dilated to 4. Baby boy delivered at 5:51 pm via c-section--he weighed just under 7lbs 1 oz. And his head was apparently right at my pelvic bone and going nowhere!

The OB who knew my anatomy had predicted this exactly. Oh, and recovery from c-section was not any issue for me.

also - had you gone into early labour spontaneously at all?

[Anonymous]

I almost posted a similar post. I’m angry they can’t accurately measure baby weight and head size. Why?! I had a 10lb 0oz baby for my second baby and I’m being pushed to have a c section. My first was a normal 7lb baby. I wish I could tell for baby 3. The doctor says baby size depends on whose genes the baby gets. First baby got my genes (I was a small/normal baby) and second baby got dhs genes (giant baby genes). I’m a petite person and second baby had a bad shoulder dystocia. I didn’t have problems pushing or delivering though. I’m just so bummed.

Dhs sister was 10lbs 5oz, so I know that dhs giant baby genes could get really bad. His sister is a thin, short person as an adult and no gestational diabetes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ultrasounds are notoriously wrong. Where did you have yours? I was at Washington Radiology and what they said he weighed at 32 weeks was what he was born at 39 weeks. We were all a little surprised and relieved!

Actually in this case, OP's grasp of math is wrong. Pregnancy does funny things to the brain!

best wishes OP!

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ultrasounds are notoriously wrong. Where did you have yours? I was at Washington Radiology and what they said he weighed at 32 weeks was what he was born at 39 weeks. We were all a little surprised and relieved!

Actually in this case, OP's grasp of math is wrong. Pregnancy does funny things to the brain!

best wishes OP!

I didnt explain any math. I said i was confused about 6.8 weeks becoming 7/12 in 4 weeks. The PP did the math? Is her math wrong? I dont get what youre saying.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I almost posted a similar post. I’m angry they can’t accurately measure baby weight and head size. Why?! I had a 10lb 0oz baby for my second baby and I’m being pushed to have a c section. My first was a normal 7lb baby. I wish I could tell for baby 3. The doctor says baby size depends on whose genes the baby gets. First baby got my genes (I was a small/normal baby) and second baby got dhs genes (giant baby genes). I’m a petite person and second baby had a bad shoulder dystocia. I didn’t have problems pushing or delivering though. I’m just so bummed.

Dhs sister was 10lbs 5oz, so I know that dhs giant baby genes could get really bad. His sister is a thin, short person as an adult and no gestational diabetes.

yea I'm 5'2 and my partner is 6'2. But I was a 9 lb baby. There's no telling!