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Antenatal tests

baby's tummy measuring bigger than the <98th centile at 28 weeks, any experience?

11 replies

honeytea · 06/10/2012 22:15

We had a 3d scan mostly to just have an little peek at pfb. They also did some growth measurements. The baby's leg was on the 72nd centile his head was on tge 82nd centile and his tummy was the same size as his head and greater than the 98th centile. It was a bit of a shock because the previous week my bump was measuring small.

I took the info to the midwife and she remeasured my bump, it was now on the 50th centile. She referred me to the Dr. My blood sugar has always been fine despite having a family history of type 2 diabetes.

The Dr said to me 'we dont tend to worry about big babies it's tge little ones we worry about" I said to the Dr "that's easy to say you don't have to give birth to the baby" my cousin was a huge baby and he got stuck in birth and consequently has brain damage so I'm really anxious about growing a baby that is too big f our my body to safely birth.

The Dr has booked me a sc as n at 32 weeks to check tge growth.

Has anyone had scans around 28 weeks showing big babies and then the baby's size leveled out?

Could a big tummy be a sign of an underlying disorder?

Thank you for taking the time to read this :)

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MainlyMaynie · 07/10/2012 14:51

My DS's head was measured as 98th centile, both at a scan and after he was born. Most big babies have normal births, the position is usually more important than the size. DS actually had his hand on his head and was still born quickly, him with agpar of 9 and me with only a minor tear. Try not to worry!

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lotsofcheese · 08/10/2012 18:11

If you have a family history of diabetes, perhaps they might offer a glucose tolerance test? Might be worth asking?

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honeytea · 08/10/2012 18:15

Thank you for the advice :) It is good to hear about big babies having uneventful births!

Lotsofcheese that is a good idea to ask for a test, I also have PCOS and a highish BMI both are also diabetes risks but my blood sugar has been around 5 everytime they have tested it.

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lotsofcheese · 08/10/2012 18:47

The only way of diagnosing gestational diabetes is GTT. In the clinic where I work, a fasting glucose over 5.1 is diagnostic (as part of GTT) so you don't need to have abnormally high blood sugars to have it.

Good luck!

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honeytea · 08/10/2012 19:52

They only send you for the test here once your blood sugar reaches 9, I will try and push for the test.

Thank you!

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AdiVic · 09/10/2012 09:23

both my babies had the same, both came out fine:)

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tanteclaire · 09/10/2012 22:27

yes - around 26w I think AC was slightly off scale. I had repeated growth scans (for other reasons) and AC gradually decreased, now is on 50th c. Obstetrician said the measurements of what is 'normal' are pretty tight until the later weeks. He read over my bloods again (which were normal) and sure enough it fell within normal next time.

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libelulle · 09/10/2012 22:30

Both my dc had huge tummies (98th centile) in utero but other measurements were on the smaller side (9th to 50th). No one ever suggested it as a problem and their tummies now (aged 2 and 4) seem fairly normal-looking to me:)

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DarkMatter · 09/10/2012 22:36

I just had this. DC3's head was 98th, length 50th (!) and tummy above the 98th. I did press for a GTT and although I didn't come across as having gestational diabetes something was amiss as DC3 had the plummeting blood sugar after birth that is typical when a mother has diabetes (he was huge, 10 lb, but had no other probs at all, and quick natural births).

I was prepared for the blood sugar issue as DC2 had the same problem, and I have to say that both times it was DH and I that alerted the hospital to the problem, initiating treatment (including a stint in SCBU) to normalize the blood sugar. What you could do for peace of mind is make sure they take your baby's temperature several times after birth, as the first sign of low blood sugar is low temperature. Then there is a heel prick test to confirm.

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hellymelly · 09/10/2012 22:42

My dds tummy was off the scale and it looked as though she would be born the shape of an olive on top of an orange. I was sent for lots of detailed scans as they were worried about a genetic abnoramity, thankfully all the scans were fine and she was born a very average 7lb 10oz, and with no noticably vast tum. I remember the person doing the scan said "maybe that's just the shape that runs in your family" looking at me and I was highly offended, as although at that point I looked like Tweedledum, I'd had a 23" waist pre pregnancy. (DH is very slight).
When I had the 20 week scan for DD2, they started muttering about her large abdomen, and I was happy to tell them that was just the shape my babies seemed to take. (no huge tummy on her either).

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krisskross · 09/10/2012 22:42

i cant remember exact measurements but both of mine measured high- tummy somewhere in 90th- and with both i had growth scans pretty late on - after 30 weeks- and was told they were both big babies- to the point that i was quite anxious. First time round a very unpleasant doctor told me DS was very big and could get stuck, so i would have to have him in the labour ward etc etc . I was in complete shock. I am telling you this to reassure you- as actually both were totally fine, 8lb 15 and 9lb 1- so big but not huuuuggee. And They were fine and so was i- tiny tear, no stitches etc. and so much for him getting stuck and being born in the labour ward- DS was born in triage with a curtain around me- he was in such a rush
that bloody doctor!! they can frighten the life out of you!
ps isnt the glucose test the norm?

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