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Reduced movements discovered big baby!

On exactly 33 weeks I was feeling less movements from my little man. Even after eating he’s usually kicking me in the ribs and doing somersaults but he had gone quite quiet. I went in for monitoring and as the nurse was strapping me up he started his acrobatics again. Heart rate was very high but came down as I had a glass of water. Must remember to drink enough water from now on. They routinely offer you an ultrasound to measure growth after an episode of reduced movements so I reluctantly went in the next morning, by then I felt pretty stupid and thought everything was fine. As the sonographer measured his head and torso she must have pressed a buzzer to call for a second opinion. I’ve already tested normal for gestational diabetes, so that was ruled out. ‘He’s perfectly in proportion but he’s very big, how big were you when you were born?’ I found out I was just over 8lbs and I knew I was an emergency c section after a long hard labour. They showed me his hair growth, his cute nose which is exactly the same as mine and checked his lips, stomach, brain and heart. Everything seemed as normal. ‘He’s measuring 6lbs 7oz’ That’s crazy big for 33 weeks old? I have to see a doctor and go for more scans. They told me the amniotic fluid around him was slightly higher than it should be, but when I asked what this could indicate they simply said because he’s big he might just produce/need more. Maybe I’ve got my dates wrong and baby will be here by Christmas? He was conceived immediately after a missed miscarriage so period dates were all wrong. Maybe they’ve guesstimated his weight wrong? Should I stop eating sugary foods creating a monster babe? Will I get to have an elected caesarean? Must start perineal massage for my poor vagina! Most importantly is he going to have any birth defects? This question has bothered me throughout the pregnancy, firstly with the tests they do for downs and edwards which came out 1 in 310 for me (putting me at 35 and I’m actually 30). I won’t be doing that test if I have any other children. Before I left the second sonographer said ‘don’t go googling’. Easier said than done. My little man is not going to be so little anymore, no need for any newborn size clothes. To make up for the quiet spell he kicked all day the next day. Maybe I should think of a new name for him, Bowzer? Has anyone else experienced this? 97th centile
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My son was born at term 6lb 8! ok so they probably will offer elective c section. usually I’d say don’t take it as our babies are made for this it doesn’t matter size. BUT following how your mother birthed you I would say maybe consider the section, as our labours often mimic our mothers. For example my mum laboured for 7 hours exactly with all her children and then that is how long my son took to be born. Just want to add that my step brother was ELEVEN lbs!!! It was in the local news paper! but his mother did natural, VBAC. so it is possible. Also measurements aren’t always accurate. Don’t stress about it too much, baby is healthy they said

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Thank you for your advice I definitely will consider this. My mum is a very small Japanese lady and my dad a big welsh guy and I’ve followed him more in size so I might be ok. Its gonna be a matter of wanting my husband there with me I think, as they can’t if it’s an emergency.

I delivered my son vaginally at 10.4lbs after laboring for over 30 hours. You got this!

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Woah, yeah I hope so thank you x

I recently just had my son and he was in the 98th percentile, came out 9 pound 8 ounces. Due to the predicted size they gave me the option for a c section. I did take this option due to I had a big baby with my first and she was 10p2! Which caused fourth degree tearing. They did predict he would be around 10-11 pound and he also did have a high volume of amniotic fluid around him. No problems at all after birth just a big baby. 😃

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Thank you this makes me feel a lot better x

My baby was 9lb 13.5 - they don’t offer elective c-sections or early inductions for big babies anymore. They knew she was big throughout and a midwife told me bigger babies are easier to birth! I went into labour naturally at 39 + 5, had a vaginal birth with no interventions, I was pushing for the maximum time until they would intervene but managed just in time! Came out with a 2nd degree tear. So not bad going! You can do it 💪

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It’s amazing what women’s bodies can do!

I measured big with my baby,and had a lot of fluid,tested negative 3 times for diabetes. He was measuring on the 97th centile,I’m tall and usually slim,but my baby’s got his daddy’s genes 🤣. My partners tall though,but was nicknamed rocky as a baby! My baby was born 8lbs 7,I woz only 6lbs 5 when I was born!They did mention downs very very late in my pregnancy,but after a very in depth scan,he was developing as he should,&he just liked to drink mammas juice.There’s a margin for error with scans,&you’re on their radar now,so don’t worry too much,if they don’t seem to be.I had regular scans,so I saw my baby every month in my pregnancy,which is a gift.I delivered naturally,although it ended up been an assisted delivery,but he’s healthy and my little milk monster

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Thank you for this makes me feel better. X

No advice on birthing a big baby just wanted to say growth scans are not always accurate, I was sent for a growth scan at 33 weeks due to my bump not getting any bigger however at the scan he was measuring slighter larger than average around 5lb 5 and was told he would be about 8lb 6-7 if he went to full term so when I went 2 weeks over I was fully expecting him to be well over 9lbs and the midwife kind of told me to expect that... he came out at 7lb 6oz so smaller than both his sisters who were born earlier than him! Although he did come out with a hand over his head, probably trying to make up for the lack of size lol ... try not to worry too much, hope it all goes well x

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ThNks lucie x

The sonographer told me at my growth scan that the estimated weight can be off by + or - 10 oz. Just a heads up! :) super exciting g you got to see your little bundle and his cute nose! Wish you the best!

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Thank you ☺️ showed me the little spikes on his head showing he has hair. X

My little girl was growing really fast and I got scared so I asked them to do me a sweep at 38 weeks she came the same day weighing 7 lbs 8oz they said she would of been atleast 9 pound if I went another 2 weeks baring in mind I'm only 5ft 1 and weigh around 6 st 7 all the way through my pregnancy x

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It suddenly feels like I’m just a few weeks away from becoming a mum. So exciting 🥰

My baby was born 99th centile last month (10lb 1oz) totally natural water birth and was much easier than my first baby (smaller!) I also had a high downs/Edwards score (1 in 290) but baby is healthy. My baby wore newborn size clothes for 7 days then straight into 0-3 months, we are now in 3-6 months at 5 weeks old 🤣 Feel free to message me if you have any questions! Xx

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Thanks Jessica, this sounds ideal I think that’s what I would really want (water birth) luckily I’ve been given loads of 2nd hand clothes but have loads of 0-3 so hopefully he can stay in those a bit longer than that!

I had both my sons at 41 weeks, and I was induced both times. One was 8.5, and the other 9.5 both vaginal births. When I went in for my scans and measurements they were off.

Had my second a month ago at 39 weeks, 9lbs 4oz. They told me at growth scan at 36 weeks baby will be big, but wouldnt be 9lbs unless I went overdue! Had an elective section as had a previous emergency section so can only imagine what size he would have been if I waited! He wasn't engaged or anything when they went in to get him so had to forceps him out (I'm very petite so he didn't have much room!) So he would have definitely went overdue as well! I was told its nothing to do with food I've ate or anything, just someone who has big babies it seems, my first was 8lbs 7! Was asked several times if I had diabetes or anything to make baby big, I was 6lbs when I was born and my partner was premie so was 3lbs so we just assume had he not been premature he would have been a big baby!

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Thank you for your response. Did they allow a partner in with you for an elected one?

Yup! He had to wait til I was being brought to theatre so had to do the prep bit alone (bloods, checks etc) then he took the baby after til I came back to the ward and had to leave then but could come back in the evenings thank god!

So, when I was 33 weeks too they told me that my son was big, that he was already 8 lbs. He was born 7.14 lbs 🤷🏻‍♀️.

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Wow! How can they be so wrong! I’m reading this a lot and I think this is likely with me tbh

Please remember that even with scans and measuring bump they can be off by up to 25% either way. My boy was supposedly measuring big but was born at 6lbs 4

A friend of mine is Japanese, her husband Irish. They were in Ireland for the first baby, Japan for the second. The second was completely off the growth charts - I cant remember the exact weight but he was big by any standards (and she really isnt) He was born naturally and without complications in his own time. I'd take the medical advice you're offered as there are always other factors, but some babies are just big!

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Funnily enough I’m half Japanese and my husbands half Irish 😊

I'm 36 Weeks and my baby is 7lbs already lol. Still have a few weeks to go until my c section. I wouldn't worry about it. I have Gd and they were concerned he was gonna be too big but I think 7lbs is okay lol my first was 8.11 so they will probs be around the same or a little less lol xxxx

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Thanks Michelle this makes me feel better. X

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My oldest I was told similar things after she went quiet for a little...I was always measuring bigger and they kept telling me I was going to have a huge 9-10 baby! I was freaked out like how am I supposed to push her out!? I ended up going two weeks over my due date and she was born at 7 ounces 20.5 inches long. She didn't fit newborn clothes well..but she was skinny and long 😅 and my oldest was measuring smaller...she was 8.5lbs...doctors were wrong both times.

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Aw ok so similar situation. Thanks for the reassurance x

Wow! My little boy was born at 33 weeks and was 4lb x

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I went to the hospital last night due to having pain and having contractions I'm only 25 weeks pregnant but I feel as something Is off. You said u had your baby boy at 33 weeks. Were there complications before and afterwards. Just wondering...

My first was 10lb 6oz and 22 inches and they predicted 8 lbs. My 4th (born in August) measured big the whole time and was born at 39+1 via emergency csection weighing exactly 7lbs. Its all a bit of a guess but I know many people who had measurements be way off. Try not to Google too much 😀

I was supposed to have a massive baby, growth scans the lot. My waters went early (38+4) and after a 36 hour Labour (he was pretty comfy) he came out at 6lb11oz! I was like where is the rest of him?! Had to go out and buy smaller clothes xx

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Ah ok, I’m gonna keep the smaller clothes I’ve got just in case then. I’ve repacked my hospital bag but just kept a range.

I've GD positive but at 33 weeks by girl measured about the same but she was at the 99th percentile. I'm not going past 39 weeks so we will see how big she is when she comes. I've split her clothes between nb and 0-3 months.

I was big my entire pregnancy as my other and i were both big babies. I measured at the end at 10.5 lbs. He was a mandator csection due to concerns of shoulders not fitting. Came out 9.5 and thank goodness for csection the cord was wrapped around his neck. I would have been an emergency csection it was so wrapped.

I think they test for birth defects like when you blood test for baby and yourself. It isn't birth defects if you have a Caesarean, but there are risks if you have to have one. If day easy more veggies and fruits, because you need a balanced diet. If you aren't doing that already. It can be true as well they guessed the weight wrong, because I've heard that the ultrasound tech measures and tell you the weight by guessing. It can be wrong. I'm not exactly sure how they get their estimates, but they do it by measurements through the ultrasound.

I had a scan with my consultant today and he measured 5lbs 15. He said there were no concerns and that baby is a ‘good size’ head seems to be in 97th centile while the rest of him is less, but my partner and both have big heads! I’m so pleased, thank you for all your responses. This app is great. Xxx

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