Measuring HUGE???

[Meg461]

Anyone else out there measuring HUGE? As in 9 weeks big? And not having multiples (as far as you know)?

I'm measuring so big that my doctor is really starting to freak out. I'm having trouble keeping him calm and now at 37.5 weeks, I'm thinking I might want to encourage baby along. Not because I'm scared the baby will be huge, but because I'm afraid of decisions my doctor will start making if we go on too much longer. I am confident that I can handle a big baby (I'm not so tiny myself), but he is definitely not. And although I thought I had chosen a doctor that is very pro-natural birth, he actually threw out the possibility of scheduling me for a c-section!!! I told him there was no way, but he's making me nervous that he's gonna freak out at the slightest upset in labor. 

So just curious?  Did anyone else out there measure 9 weeks big at the end of the pregnancy and was it hard holding your ground to deliver vaginally (and naturally)?  Just looking for a little extra encouragement!

[Naturallove]

I have not had this experience, but measuring that much larger without multiples could indicate excessive fluid which would mean that your doctor is probably more concerned with the health of your baby than just the size.

[L&K'smommie]

Originally Posted by Naturallove 

I have not had this experience, but measuring that much larger without multiples could indicate excessive fluid which would mean that your doctor is probably more concerned with the health of your baby than just the size.

This was my thought.  I'm surprised he hasn't ordered an ultrasound to see if it's fluid or baby.  Also, do you see him every week or do you have different providers measuring you week to week...that can make a difference in measurements as well.

[eastmillcreekmama]

Also, unless you are lying flat or nearly flat while they measure, it can dramatically change the measurement. Just a slight change in the angle of my back at my last visit changed the measurement by 2 cm.

[cinderella08]

Fundal height, IMO, is grossly inadequate and no accurate - there are just too many variables.  I wouldn't worry!  Your body is made to birth your baby perfectly!

[tourist.]

Originally Posted by cinderella08 

Fundal height, IMO, is grossly inadequate and no accurate - there are just too many variables. 

ITA.  I've repeatedly, over two pregnancies, been measured by my midwife one day and my OB the next and they get really different measurements.  Right now I'm measuring +5/6 at my midwifes office.  She just attributes it to being my second baby, she shows no concern of it being baby size or fluid issues.

[Snowflake777]

Originally Posted by cinderella08 

Fundal height, IMO, is grossly inadequate and no accurate - there are just too many variables.  I wouldn't worry!  Your body is made to birth your baby perfectly!

Originally Posted by eastmillcreekmama 

Also, unless you are lying flat or nearly flat while they measure, it can dramatically change the measurement. Just a slight change in the angle of my back at my last visit changed the measurement by 2 cm.

Very true, and if it were, say, 3-5 weeks, I wouldn't think anything of it. However, measuring as much as 9 weeks ahead is pretty uncommon.

OP, have you been tested for GD? Have you had a growth ultrasound?

[noahs.mom06]

I agree with the poster who mentioned the possibility of excess fluid... That is a sign of potential health issues with the baby, and no matter how perfectly your body is made to birth your baby, if the baby has issues it could be better for the baby to know that ahead of time. I have pretty consistently measured a few weeks ahead for the past couple of months, but we know that the baby is a normal size (I was measuring ahead when I went for my anatomy scan at 25 weeks and baby actually measured a week behind my due date then), and I don't have excess fluid, so we've blamed it on positioning and possibly my anterior placenta. 9 weeks is a big discrepancy though, and something I think I would look more seriously at to figure out a potential cause...

[finnegansmom]

I was measuring REALLY big nearing the end of my pregnancy with my third.  I just out of the blue started growing 2 or 3 weeks every week. 

I did have a few NSTs and a biophysical profile done, and they did confirm I had a lot of amniotic fluid.  There was so much fluid, that the baby never engaged and I did not go into labor until I was just about 42 weeks.  There was nothing wrong with the baby, it was just a fluke that this time around, I had a ton of fluid.  He was perfect, albeit 10#5oz.

My midwife never pushed me for an induction although I think she felt badly for me hobbling around.

And I don't believe in fundal height correlates to big babies. 

My second was almost 10# as well, and I never measured more than 39 weeks with him (he was born at 41 weeks).  I think I was measuring about 50 this time at 42?

And for the record, both of these "big babies" were really easy to deliver. 

[BetsyS]

I measured big the last time.  I had polyhydramnios (though not terrible; normal is 5-25, and my level was 30), and my baby weighed 11 lb, 1 oz.  Together, those made for one big belly.

[Monkey Keeper]

Originally Posted by finnegansmom 
And I don't believe in fundal height correlates to big babies. 

Me either :)  I never measured over 36cm with #3, even thought I went over 41w. DS was 9lb5oz, 22.5" and my fluid was estimated at 31cm!