Size Question

I had my 36 week check up yesterday and the Dr's saying that the baby's over 7 lbs!!! He gets this by feeling around outside my belly and based on my last sono which was 2 weeks ago. At that time the sono tech said she weighed 5 lbs 12 oz. I know they gain about 1/2 lb a week right now so she could be that big, but that means she's going to be 9 lbs by my due date! Now that freaks me out!!! I have not gained any weight in almost 3 weeks and I'd only gained 24 lbs before then. I know I'm getting bigger, in fact I can't wear some of my shirts now because I stick out so far!!

So my question is this, how accurate are their calculations, even using the ultrasound? And, if she is getting that big, will they induce before she gets so big I'll have to have a c-section?

I'm a small woman, only 5'2", plus I have a short torso so I'm already VERY crowded. I don't think I can carry, much less deliver, that big of a baby! This kinda freaked me out!!

Here is my 2 cents on that issue!! When I was induced with my son the doctor did a sono and felt around on my belly and told me he would only weigh around 5 lbs well later that night I had my baby and he weighed 6 lbs 11 oz??? HMMM WHere in the world did he gain almost 2 lbs in a day??? I have heard that from the sono they can't really tell how much they weigh (I think dr Thurston said it on the news one morning??) I would not worry about it I don't think they are as accurate as they say?? I could be wrong but.... I guess you will see soon enough!!

You will be suprised how much you "can" deliver!! I am 5 feet tall and am very small but I had Autumn who weighed almost 8lbs so you can do it even if she weighs 9 lbs :) Try not to freak out too much!!!!!!! :love

They have never hit the weight of any of my kids! I think that they say 7 lbs because that is an average weight for a baby! They told me Joseph would be around 7 lbs and he was 8 lb 12 oz...oops! (he was also 3 weeks before his original due date)
I wouldn't worry at all about it. In my experience, it is not the weight...it is the dang HEAD size that can be a hindrance.
I am not small. I am 5'9 and my pre-pregnancy weight was 135. I was able to deliver my last 3 without an episiotomy and with 4 hrs (or less) labors.
You will be fine....go treat yourself to a massage before the big event!

Have your labor nurse do perineal (sp??) massage. This really helps when the baby is ready to come out!

I have also heard of drs saying a baby is 9 pounds, but then baby ends up being 7. It can go either way.

It's just an estimate, and generally they are a little off.

Good luck to you!

Doctor thought mine was 8.5 or so and she ended up being 8 lbs 12.5 oz, so they were pretty close. It's really just what I like to call a guestimate... depends on so many things, its more often off a little than not.

And I wouldn't worry, I agree that it's more the size of the head than the size of the baby and there isn't anything that you can do to affect that!

I know it's hard advice to take (I feel like I was just there) but enjoy these last few weeks. They feel like they last the longest, and then suddenly the "day" is here and it seemed to go so fast! Try not to worry about things that are out of your control and enjoy the time pre-muffin! :)

Mara

Try not to worry about it too much. The sono can be off by 1-2 pounds either way. Teri is right that the biggest problem is the head size. My older sister is 5-3 and a couple of her kids were in the 9-10 lb range so you really don't know how big a baby you can deliver until you've gone through labor. The dr. might suggest inducing you at 39 or 40 weeks if you haven't gone into labor on your own by then. Just be sure to talk about any concerns you have with him.

Enjoy this last month of pregnancy--you'll miss all those little kicks and turns once she's here.

Definitely it can go either way! I think they pick a median weight and it will probably be a pound one way or the other.

Sonos can be off up to 2 lbs either way. And dont let your size fool ya. I am only 4.10 and I delievered a 10lber!!!

And just so you know TRUE macrosomia (big baby) is quite rare. Do you have GD?? I honestly would not worry about it. I can say that since I am not preggo right now!! LOL!!!

And just in case she is that big I would stay as far away from the pit as possible!!!!

"And just in case she is that big I would stay as far away from the pit as possible!!!!"

What's the pit?

Thanks for calming me down. I've been really calm and easy going through this whole pregnancy and have had no problems, except the kidney stones, which are gone!!!! I guess I'm just starting to get nervous about delivery. I'm ready for her to be here so I'll go through anything for that!

pit is pitocin. What they use for induction.

>>>I'm ready for her to be here so I'll go through anything for that!<<<

Be careful what you wish for!!! LOL!!! You dont want a c-section unless they is truly a medical reason for it. It is no fun to have to recuperate from it.

THank goodness the stones are gone. Like I said before if you can handle stones you can handle unmedicated labor.