Questions & Answers

Well, here's the latest update. Had appt wednesday night. Midwife said it doesn't "feel" like a 9lb baby, but at 37 weeks belly is still measuring 41cm, but I still haven't dropped. I didn't gain any weight since last week. Had another non-stress test and baby is fine, and apparently I am having contractions.

They are sending me to another site (maternal fetal medicine specialty) for an ultrasound next week because they have a "fancier, higher-tech" ultrasound machine there than the imaging place I went to last week. We will check fluid levels again and see if there is a better weight estimate.

I did ask what would happen if the baby was "too big" and they said they'd send me to the hospital to induce, but they will deliver at the birth center up to 11lbs.

I was measured 2 weeks ahead with DS, some of which was down to extra fluid, but the estimate was that he would be born around 9lbs as he was measuring between 1-3 weeks ahead depending on the body area. While he was born long he was only 7lbs 10oz, length wise he was just taking after his 6'5 Daddy,

Was told by my midwife at the time that ultrasounds tended to wrong more than right as it's hard to be that accurate.

omg I went through this with my daughter wrong they where they said my daughter was measuring at 37 weeks 7pds 3 oz I kept telling them she is not moving that much she has no room in there they kept arguing first baby first birth vaginal my baby was 8 pounds 11 oz almost 9 pounds and I was in labor 18 hours and pushed for hours I looked like I got punched in the face doctors came in to apologize because they where way off and this is still my fear they estimated my son at 7 pounds 8oz at 38 weeks he was 6 pounds 5 oz so off there again I guess its just a guessing came for them. good luck hun.

Thank you all for your helpful answers. I have my weekly appt this evening, so I will let you know what the midwife says!

My friend's ultrasound tech guessed her baby to be 8lbs, 8-10oz around 35 weeks. She was terrified her baby would be huge! But she went into labor naturally at 39 weeks, and delivered a 7lb 1 oz girl. So yeah, way off.

Based on the number of times I've seen the u/s estimates be completely off, I would not get upset over their estimations. I know women who did elective c-sections or inductions based off offense that their baby was measuring huge only to have babies in the 6 lb range. U/S estimates are just far too fallible for me to put much stock in them.

I had something similar with my first. A fundal height measurement around 34 weeks showed me measuring 37. I went for an extra ultrasound around 35 weeks. My fluid levels were normal but they guessed baby was big. I don't remember the exact measurement but they estimated 10-11lbs at birth.
They offered me an elective c-section at 38 or 39 weeks. I declined based on the inaccuracy of ultrasound weight measurements.
I went into labor on my due date and my son was born vaginally the next day. He was 8lbs 6oz. So - not small but totally within normal range. They never figured out why my fundal height was measuring ahead. It was totally normal with my 2nd pregnancy.
Personally, I was more comfortable having a large baby than an elective c-section. I figured I could always choose a c-section later if needed. Do whatever you are most comfortable with. If you don't want to be induced early, you don't have to be.

We shall see. I have an appointment with my midwife tomorrow so I'm curious to see if she thinks the baby "feels" large or not. Baby hasn't been measuring large so far, just this last week I was measuring 3-4 cm ahead, but she said that could be because I haven't dropped yet. I know they will not induce at the birth center, so I am very curious to see if they are concerned. I was only 7lb 3oz and my husband was 6lbs something, but he was born 4 weeks early, so who knows!!

Your doctor may choose to induce at 39 weeks. At 34 weeks, our u/s showed our baby was 7lb 3oz and they are doing another at 38 weeks and then going from there. We already have a c section schedule for 39 weeks. Just remember that the scans can be off by +/- 1 pound. This was our 10th scan and he has been consistently ahead and getting better further ahead since 14 weeks. Our dr said, while it may not be a perfect indicator, since this the 10th scan and he is consistent, it is probably pretty close. If you have a lot of fluid, you are also more likely to have a bigger baby. My fluid is so high that they are watching it because they are making sure it doesn't keep going up. I would ask for another one sometime during your 38th week so check again and then discuss with them about inducing if you are worried. I was 6weeks early and weighed 8lb6 and my husband was right on time at 10lb5. We are likely going to have a giant baby. Just remember that the chubbier the baby, usually the cuter!