This is where I am

[ShabbyChic]

I am so done. My feet and legs are so swollen, I feel the fluid jiggling and swooshing around. We spent Saturday in L & D on an IV. I was seeing stars, literally, so my OB had me come in. I was dehydrated, my BP was high as was my sugar at 172 and the baby's heart rate was 199. Well, all came down, with the exception of the sugar and I got put on bedrest. I had to go yesterday for a BPP where they measured the baby with 94% accuracy at almost 8 1/2 pounds. I am 36 weeks tomorrow.

So now they are talking about induction, which I so don't want, but feel on edge when they mentioned shoulders getting stuck if the baby gets much bigger. Obviously, I am freaked out about a c-section also. I go again to the OB tomorrow.

So, not much of a point to this post, just an exasperating sigh of words. Thanks for reading.

[Jster]

Sorry to hear about all your troubles! But remember, u/s weight estimates aren't about a percentage accuracy at this point, but a +/-, and usually +/- 2 pounds. Which can mean a big difference! Often, OB's work under a worst case scenario, so talking about big babies, inductions, shoulder dystocia is just warnings about the absolute worst things that could happen...NOT that they are going to happen to you!! My guess is they are talking big baby because of your blood sugar...but there can be other explanations for that as well, so I would try to find some peace! The increase in infant mortality in this country is directly linked not to increased obstetrical monitoring, but to increased intervention and increased iatrogenic (doctor caused) prematurity. Just some food for thought, and maybe encouragement to keep things as peaceful and natural as you can!!

[gratefulmum]

Well said Jster

[danotoyou2]

I've heard countless stories of women who get late ultrasounds to find that the baby is estimated at 8, 9 or 10 lbs... only to birth a 7 lb baby at term! And, sometimes I hear the stories of ultrasounds where they measure a 10 lb baby, and the mother goes on to deliver, without intervention or tearing, a 10 lb baby.

In studies, the only time the fetal outcome has been improved with c/s for an estimated macrosomia (big baby) is when the baby is ESTIMATED to be OVER 11 lbs! So your 8.5 lb baby is well under the limits for those sorts of interventions.

Also, if your baby is 'heavy' because of high glucose, it's usually fat. And fat is squishy.

Don't go in for inducing until you've done your research (pubmed is great for that) and your baby is older. 36 weeks is still young unless your life depends on it!

[Autoemesiss]

Watermelon, Cucumbers, parsley and protein need to be your best friend. These will decrease the swelling in your legs. By this time last pregnancy I had elephant legs, not just ankle, legs up to my groin. But this pregnancy I've been eating a ton of these things and don't even have +1 pitting edema.

Protein, at least 60gms or more will help with the blood pressure and slow down the spikes in your blood sugar.

Hang in there!

[eri_flores]

And the thing about shoulder dystocia is that it's more common in births with interventions such as induction which keep you from moving, from choosing your own position and being forced to deliver in lithotomy only! As pps have said, and I know it's hard to do, try to keep the focus on all the possible positives because most OBs are only trained to give you all the possible negatives. You can do it! Sending all the best wishes for you and baby.

[mom22girls]

A word about "big" babies (and I'm not minimizing your situation) but I'm 5ft, 100 lbs prepregnancy, my husband is 5'10 and 145lbs (we're not big people) My 1st dd was 8 lbs, and my second was 8.5. In the US, they were considered large. I considered them large.

During an U/S when the midwife and her apprentice doctor asked me why my second c/s, I said because the doctor thought that my baby would be large and he was right. Both of them fell apart laughing. Apparently 8.5 is well-within normal range (even at the 38 weeks when they took dd2). So, take the very good advice you've received, and take care of yourself.

Just curious - if only your sugar is high, why are you on bedrest? Wouldn't they want you walking around?? not challenging, just curious?????

[mamamoo]

Originally Posted by gratefulmum

Well said Jster

hang in there mama!! lots of protein, and water, and what the other mama said, celery, etc.

Thinking of you.

[Momsteader]

Hugs! I'm sorry you're feeling crummy I've been having the BPP/NST's and they tell me it's 11 oz +/- under 5 lbs and then 1 lb +/- over that (I'd not heard 2 lbs +/-Jster). However, I was on the other side of that coin w/ my second baby, he was estimated at about 5.5-6 lbs at 34w just a few days before he came and came out at 7 lbs 14 oz. So it CAN go the other way as well.

Depending on the skill of the tech and how accurate the measurements are, the guess on weight can be very accurate. IMO, it's partly one of these things where you always hear from the people it was sooo off for and they were told they were having a 10 lbs baby and had a 7 lbs one. You don't hear as much from the folks who get an accurate guess I think. On another board I'm on, I've seen quite a few be pretty accurate from folks who are having the serial BPP/NSTs. It generally is that they are estimating the baby larger, but they do sometimes end up estimating them small as well.

Take it easy and drink, drink, drink!

[pfamilygal]

My last two babies were estimated to be in the 7 to 7.5 lb range on sono (one at 33 wks! and one at 36 wks) - both were born within two days of the sono. The first weighed 4 lb 15 oz, and the second was 8 lb 3 oz. And we'd been given the exact same estimate. Go figure.

I would be concerned about the HTN and fetal tachycardia. 199 is way to high for a termish baby.

[ShabbyChic]

Oh, it just gets better and better. I went today for my regularly scheduled appointment and the baby's heartrate was fine, my BP was 120/72, and no sugar. Then she measures and looks at the BPP and says "I am concerned about the size of this baby and I think we need to discuss the concept of a c-section." So I look over my shoulder to see who she is talking to and say "You are not talking to me are you?" She looks at me dumbfounded. I say "I am not having a c-section for no reason. I have birthed 2 babies naturally and I don't want to even discuss the thought again". So, I have lost all faith in her. It is clear that she has no intention of giving me a chance. Turns out after our chit chat that I am 2 cm dilated, which she seemed pleased about. Well, I am done with her. I am going tomorrow to my original OB in NYC who had me push DD for almost 4 hours so I could give birth to her without a c-section. I should have stayed with him all along and suffered the minor traffic into the city. Oh well, live and learn.

[mamamoo]

Oh, man. I am so sorry that she does not trust your body. I'm glad you stuck up for yourself and your baby, and you know you can do it!

[Blue Belle]

: !!!!

[Carma]

With my first pregnancy I found a formula to calculate the weight of your baby at birth, it is supposed to be as accurate as an ultrasound according to the research group that developed the formula. For me it worked quite good with DD, the ultrasound estimated her much heavier than she really was (they also started talking induction). For the people having Excell on their computer, you can try the following link, you should only change the numbers in the yellow squares. You can read the result in the red square.

Formula

Carma

[mamamoo]

Originally Posted by Carma

With my first pregnancy I found a formula to calculate the weight of your baby at birth, it is supposed to be as accurate as an ultrasound according to the research group that developed the formula. For me it worked quite good with DD, the ultrasound estimated her much heavier than she really was (they also started talking induction). For the people having Excell on their computer, you can try the following link, you should only change the numbers in the yellow squares. You can read the result in the red square.

Formula

Carma

That said mine would be 11 pounds!! I think it relies too heavily on mamas weight. I gained 80# with my first kiddo and he was only 7. 13

[Carma]

Originally Posted by mamamoo

That said mine would be 11 pounds!! I think it relies too heavily on mamas weight. I gained 80# with my first kiddo and he was only 7. 13

Haha. Ok, yes I need to refind the original research paper. It probably has some assumptions on those type of things. Like a maximum weight gain of x% for it to be accurate, etc.

Carma

[mamamoo]

So i guess I *could* have an 11 pound baby, but I would be so mad because none of the clothes or dipes I have for ehr would fit.

My babes were:
7.13
8.14
8.4 (2 weeks early)
7.4

I am expecting a 7-9 pounder.

[danotoyou2]

I used the formula... it actually might be right, according to what I think and what my MW thinks.

The Formula says that the baby is 7.4 lbs now, and will be 8 lbs at birth.

My MW estimates the baby is around 7 lbs now, and will be 8-8.5 at birth.

Personally, I HAD expected a baby larger than my first (9 lbs 6 oz), but now think this one is smaller. I think 8-9 lbs is where he'll fall.

[ShabbyChic]

I can't go into it all right now, but today I spent the day in the city at a high risk specialist. I measured 50cm. I am going back to another specialist on Monday for some tests. The specialist today, feels that the weight of the baby has been UNDERESTIMATED. I feel I am in good hands now though, so while stressed, I feel comfortable.

[Morwenna]

That's good! I'm glad your BP and sugar were normal too. Hope you can update soon.