Uhhh....really? THAT much?

[MrsKitty]

We have spent most of my pregnancy in mild worry, because of the growth of the fetus. She wasn't growing, measuring quite behind, ended up having to have frequent ultrasounds throughout the whole thing to make sure she was doing okay, suspected IGUR..

Anyways the conclusion as of a few weeks ago was that she was going to be okay, we didn't have to switch to a specialist, no IGUR, she is just going to be a smaller than average baby.

So today the midwife who I normally don't have was measuring me and feeling the baby. First she had trouble finding my pubic bone, and pressed so hard that I was wincing, which my other midwife never does. My fundal height has been always about a cm under the week I am at (so 35cm at 36 weeks)

So I am 38 weeks now..and 41cm? That seems like quite a big leap. Then she asked me how big my first was and I said 10lbs, and she said it looks like your going to have another one close to that size.

Uhh... ? She said she had a growth spurt. Can you really have a growth spurt from a smallish baby to a close to 10lbs baby in a few weeks? Can she really tell the baby is going to be close to 10lbs by my fundal height and feeling on the outside with her hands? It just seemed off to me.

[Camille]

I was under the impression that they could only estimate weight by u/s measurements, and even those can be off by a pound either direction. And, really, baby could be stretching out and seeming bigger than she is, which might explain the jump from 38 to 41 in a week.

I would guess that it's also partially because she measures differently than your normal midwife. Kinda how my cervix closed back up when a nurse w/fat fingers checked me. "lol9"

[Camille]

oh, and one more thing. The whole time I was pg with dd2, they kept telling me that she was going to be big (I had GD and always measured 1 to 2 cm ahead). They induced me at 37w1d and she weighed 6lb11.6oz. I can't imagine her being much bigger (a pound maybe 1 1/2) had we gone full term. So, IME, they aren't horribly accurate when guesstimating babies' weights.

[MrsKitty]

I know the ultrasounds are so inaccurate..so I didn't know how the heck she could tell me it was going to be close to 10lbs using her hands? And after this whole stress and shebang about being small.. I just don't get how you can get small measurements the entire pregnancy and then BOOM looks like a 10lbs baby.

Either way Im not too fussed because the baby is coming out big or small.. I am just confused.

[rock__]

More likely is that the baby is in a different position or something, lol. It's so hard to determine baby's size based on these measurements.

DH was delivered via induction weeks early because his mom was measuring "big". The doc was certain he would be a ginormous baby, far too big for a normal person to birth, apparently. When they delivered him, he was barely 5lbs. His mom couldn't even put a normal diaper on him at first.

I wonder what size baby I'm carrying this time. My measurements have bounced around some during this pregnancy. I'm assuming another big baby though, just because my first two were.

[MrsKitty]

She isn't allowed to be born yet, the suite I am having the baby in isn't clean. It was, but I asked my husband to help me clean upstairs for my baby get together, and he did.
I was so impressed until I went downstairs to put some birth supplies in the suite and realized he had moved like a billion tonnes of laundry into the suite, and its all over the place. I can't lift and move it around. Also I think maybe there was a wet towel or maybe a towel used to clean up spilled milk because the laundry freaken reeks.

So..she isn't allowed to move until he cleans up the suite.

[Amy_G_]

Since it's a different midwife than you usually see and the numbers don't match, I'd nod and say thank you and then see what your normal midwife says next time.

[BeachMama]

I'd be inclined to go w/ the midwifes opinion over the u/s.

[maksmom]

I know that guess-timates of baby's weight can be way off, but they have always been pretty acurate for me, using u/s or the OB's hands. I've always wondered how I have been so lucky, my DH thinks it is because I carried way "out there."

ETA- my OB always measured my fundus 1 cm larger then his PA.

[Meredith]

There are so many factors that can affect fundal height measurements and palpation for size, in my experience - amount of fluid, change in baby's position, change in baby's size, fullness of your bladder and stomach, etc.

From what I've read, a skilled practitioner palpating for size can be as accurate (or even more so) than an ultrasound, but they can still be off. I wouldn't be putting all my eggs in either basket - U/S or midwife.

[MrsKitty]

In the end it dosen't matter. Either way she is comming out, and I had a 10lbs baby with a huge head and didn't tear at all with no episiotme. I have no doubt in my ability to birth another large baby.

It's just.. kind of frustrating. I have been through so much stress with this pregnancy. I was told to take it easy, eat more, this and that, because I lost so much weight and the fetus was measuring so small every time I went in. I was told if she didnt' gain weight I would have to forgo a homebirth and maybe switch to a specialist. They suspected IGUR and that gave me so much stress... and then suddenly "I think its another 10lbs baby"

[Earthmama]

We totally need some belly pics before the little (or big) lady makes her appearance.

[pawprint]

Often times midwives can tell a heck of a lot with their hands. But it's an old skill learned with lots of practice and it takes many moons to perfects. My midwife felt my belly the morning ds was born and said "I'm going six pounds". He was six pounds four ounces. He was only 34 weeks and I had not had an ultrasound, so she had no way to guess that. She either took a shot in the dark or just really knew what she was doing.

That said, with a change this big and a different midwife I wouldn't stress. Besides, even if she is ten pounds you can do it. You're no shrinking violet. You'll get her out. :)

[Crabbie]

Gotta luv guestimates.

I was told two days before my dd was born that she'd weigh about 6 1/2 or 7 lbs. She was 8 lbs 10 oz. Surprise! ;)

At least if she did all of a sudden grow, you already know that you can do this.

[Jacksmommy]

I was always told that these things are plus or minus at least a pound. They guessed ds within 10 ounces of his birth weight.

[alejorge]

My doctor from my first pregnacy guessed my DD's weight exactly by just feeling my stomach.

My dotor from my second pregnacy guessed my DS's weight within 6oz by just feeling my stomach.

No one could guess my 3rd baby's weight. After he was born everyone was taking dibs on how much he weighed:) He was my smallest baby so far!

[jessiehannan]

My OB with DS "groped" my stomach a bit and guessed that he would be an 8 lb baby. He weighed 7 lbs 7 ounces.

[ima062002]

What does your gut say?

A study (I think it was from Sweden) showed that moms hunches where more accurate than u/s measurements and doctor's/midwifes guestimates.

[Maret00]

They can guess but there is no real answer. My son was going to be about 7and half lbs he was just over 6 so go with what feels right see what they say next time and see what happens.

[The_Market]

I know the ultrasounds are so inaccurate..so I didn't know how the heck she could tell me it was going to be close to 10lbs using her hands? And after this whole stress and shebang about being small.. I just don't get how you can get small measurements the entire pregnancy and then BOOM looks like a 10lbs baby.

Either way Im not too fussed because the baby is coming out big or small.. I am just confused.
While I agree that a baby suddenly going from unusually small to unusually big is a stretch, studies have found that palpation from an experienced professional is more accurate than ultrasound for fetal sizing (at the end of pregnancy).

Of course, it's all based on human judgment which means it's subjective and can only be so accurate; ultrasound, palpation, meditation, whatever.