From the article: Can they tell how big the baby is by ultrasound?
Ultrasounds are a very common test in pregnancy. They can give us a lot of information about how a baby is doing and what complications might befall a pregnancy. However, ultrasound does have its limits. One such limit is the inability to tell the size of the baby accurately. Despite this fact, many practitioners are still trying. This can lead to many complications including induction of labor for a big baby, cesarean section and other issues. Some estimates are that ultrasound can be off by more than a pound in either direction. Did you have an ultrasound for fetal weight? How did that knowledge affect you? Share Your Story
very accurate
- They told me my baby was 5 pounds 5 oz (had many ultrasounds cuz she messured 3 weeks behind) she was gaining bout 3-7 oz a week i had her less than a week later and she was 5 pounds 8oz the ultrasound tech at the hospital troed to tell me she was 7 pounds. My dr ultrasound tech said there was no wat.
- —Guest trisha
Big baby's
- My second child was 10 pounds 11 ounces all natural it hurt but didn't have any problms
- —Guest Nat
Off the chart big!!
- The midwife sent me for a ultrasound at 38 wks as my measurement was off the chart! They said he'd be at least 10lbs, they offered me a c-section which I declined! 5 days later he was born weighing 8lb 8, all that worrying for nothing!!!
- —Guest Hayley
ehh.
- The monitored my son via ultrasound for several things last of which was weight. Throughout the entire pregnancy he was consistently in the 99th percentile which given genetics was not that surprising. I was told at my last ultrasound that if he were born at 400 weeks he would probably be about 10lbs give or take 1/2lb. My doctors said that past a suspected birth weight of 11lbs they preferred c sections but given my body structure and low risk they would let me try. As he was approaching two weeks late and the 11lb mark my doctors encouraged me to be induced to avoid the possible complications of both a large and late baby. I was medically induced 12 days late & delivered vaginally at exactly 42 weeks(long labor) with some tearing (2nd degree). He weighed 9lbs 7ozs- a full lb less than their prediction. He did not lose weight during those first few hours and days though as many infants do. Although I do slightly regret my induction, I realize that it was likely best.
- —Guest Megan B
unnecessary tears
- I was told my daughter was going to be a tiny baby and kept tabs on from 24wks (following an equally inaccurate fundal height measurement). I went home feeling scared and upset and just constantly reassuring myself that as I had only been 5lbs 9oz and perfectly fine there was no reason to panic. However you can't help worrying can you? I bought tiny baby and newborn clothes to fit any eventuality but she was 8lbs 5oz and 51cm long (not massive but big enough to not fit any of the stuff I had bought and by far big enough to negate all the worrying I had done!). I don't think they should tell you anything about the size if they cannot be accurate - they tell you try avoiding stress in pregnancy then are the cause of it unnecessarily. And all this sending people for intervention for big babies prior to labour even starting is appalling - the human body rarely gets it wrong and the individual mummy will know when it is time to accept help, but only after labour begins. xxxx
- —Guest mummyto1and1intheoven
They Can be to big
- I will be having an ultrasound to determine the weight of our growing girl. I know its just an estimate and will not take the answer to the bank however I will take it into account. My family has a history of big babies (over 10lbs) and just want to be ready. Yes I do believe our bodies can do more than what people may think but it can have its limits and yes it is a fact that a baby can be to big to pass. It comes down to weighing the information given to you and what you believe is best for your baby and you!
- —ABabyGirlForUs
This is kinda sad...
- I'm reading everyone's posts and I'm saddened by how many say "The doctor was afraid the baby wouldn't fit so I had a C-Section" Ladies, women can give birth to large children. My husband's great grandmother gave birth to a 13 pound child at 44 weeks. Vaginally. There is RARELY such thing as "too big for the birth canal." My 100 pound cousin gave birth to two over 9 pound babies naturally..and her mother gave birth to 8 children ranging from 7 pounds to almost 11 pounds all vaginally, at home with a midwife.
- —Guest Sara
Not Even Close--during labor!
- I had an ultrasound while I was PUSHING in labor because my baby wasn't moving down the birth canal and the OB wanted to see what was going on. At that point he said my baby was around 7 1/2 pounds. When my son was born 1 hour later....he was only 5 lbs, 15 oz! Ultrasounds have great benefits, but accurate weight is NOT one of them.
- —Guest TanyaA
Nearly right with me
- I was sent for an ultrasound at 38 weeks with my first because my midwife thought my son may have been breach and my partner had been joking that i would be having a 9lbs baby at least knowing my luck so I asked if she could tell the size, she checked and he was measuring well above the 91st centile so she sent me to a consultant. He sent me in to be induced at 39.6 weeks but then changed his mind because my son wasn't engaged, he decided to send me for another ultrasound to ask for an estimated weight which they said would be 9lbs 14oz. He convinced me that it would be best to go for a c section (which I really didn't want). Jack was born by c section 4 days later weighing 10lbs 4oz. Although I do hate the fact that I didn't go into labour I don't regret having a c section as it's better to be safe than sorry. I'm now 30 weeks pregnant with my second and I'm having an ultrasound at 36 weeks to estimate her weight, hopefully I'll be able to have this one naturally. :)
- —Guest Sam
Scare tactics!
- Got in literal screaming match with obgyn who was fired one month after I delivered and filed complaint she wanted cut me open for 10.5 in 2nd baby, I didn't let her, but agreed to induction at 37 weeks baby was 8ibs 13oz, 6oz bigger than my first baby. Found out she was on vacation 2 days later and I was the 30th unnecessary c-section within the last 6 mnths. Wow it's amazing the info lawyers an get. I go to the same practice still because they ALL know and are afraid of me, they haven't dropped me yet!
- —Guest Big baby mama
Scare tactics
- I am by my own estimate about 35 weeks pregnant but the doc insists that I'm really only 34 weeks and some days and that my baby is growing about 2 weeks ahead of schedule. He said the baby was big and sent me for an ultra sound. The tech said he was close to six pounds already and went on to tell me if he was a ten pounder by labor day that I would have to have a c-section. I asked...what happened before c sections when people had big babies? I don't think I need to jump into having a c-section just because he might be a little big. She said "They died...that's what happened to them." I'm due soon and I'm interested to see how big he will actually be and I'm sticking to my guns and having my natural vaginal birth!
- —Guest feathers
big babies
- I went full tern with my son, the docs told me he would be about 8 pounds a week before I had him. He turned out to be 11 pounds. This is proof they can't always tell!
- —Guest sryan
way off
- Doctors told me at 35 wks that my baby was around 4 pounds and would probably need medical attention 4 days later I give birth naturally to a 5lb 10oz healthy baby girl
- —Guest stacey
historically high on both
- First time I was told I would have a 10lber -- he was 8lbs, 4oz. Second time, a 37w u/s said he was 8lbs, 13 oz, when he was born 2 weeks later he was 8lbs, 14oz. It really is just another tool used to scare mom's into a section. There is no such thing as a "too big" baby UNTIL you have had the trial of labor. Jumping to sections is one of the reasons I had to leave the med mal defense side of things -- I couldn't in good faith defend doctors who where lying to patients to make their job easier.
- —Guest wmbk
Induced both times
- I was induced both times and I had a 9.8 and 9.1 pound baby. First one I had an episiotomy and second one I didn't need one. Third one on the way and will be induced next week.
- —Guest Seena
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