Not Sure What to Do??? - Elm Creek, NE

I'm definitely not a Dr. so this is only my opinion for your situation. I wouldn't be too worried...especially since you saw a different Dr. last week. Measurments aren't always very accurate from my experience. Each Dr. may do measurements a little differently, and it always depends on the position of the baby at the time the measurement was taken. A woman's belly changes shape all the time when the baby moves. Your baby may have just been in a different position than it was when you were measured last time. I would just wait until you see your regular Dr. in a couple of days as long as you are still felling well. That way you can ask her opinion, and if she thinks that there may be some concern you can schedule an ultrasound at that time. I hope everything goes well for you! Good luck!

i would call and tell her you want an ulterasound for your reasurance. she her at your apointment and then talk to her about what is going on. always fallow your gut you know your body better than anyone. if you think you want to see an ultarsound to feel more safe than do so.

I measured big from 30 weeks on. I had to have ultrasounds done every week and non stress test to make sure the baby was doing ok. I had him two weeks early because I had too much fluid and was over expanded. Once he was born I felt so much better. If you are worried about this, let your doctor know right away. This way you know for sure everything is ok with your baby. Your other babies weren't that big. Take care I hope this helps. -C. mom of 3

A.,
I wouldn't worry about the measurements either. All the other advice has been great. The only addition I'd add, I don't believe in inducing. The baby comes when the baby is ready. Why force it? My 3rd was 2 weeks late. They wanted to induce, I said no way. When I've seen inductions done on family members, sure makes the labor longer. One of my daughters-in-law was told from an ultra sound that her baby was 8+ pounds (the Dr didn't want her to deliver over 8 lbs ???) so they induced her. The baby barely weighed 7 pounds, one lung had to forced inflated. He just was not quite ready. Be patient. That's just my .02 after 9 kids, 3 in-law kids, and 9 grandkids.
God's Blessings!

I would wait til thursday and talk to your regular doctor. My girls both came a couple weeks early...had 8-13 1/2, and 9-3. Good luck:)

I would call your doctor and express your concerns, because every doctor is different. I feel for ya on your babies, I was induced 2 days before my due date and Daemean was 8'9.4

Hi A..

I was told the same thing by my gynecologist although not as close to due date as you are. They can do an ultrasound for an approximation of the size of the baby but as you have already had two babies both big in size it might not be worth it. They also have a pretty accurate idea just by measuring width and length of your belly. My doctor and myself are both very pro-natural birth so if you gave birth naturally to your other babies then why not go for it. If while in labor they discover that your baby is just too large, then, of course, they will perform a C-section. Unless your baby was to be gargantuan I'm sure you will be fine with a natural birth. Afterall, women since the beginning of creation have been giving birth naturally.

Best of luck! And let us know how it goes.

Since he was not your regular doctor, I would take what he said with a grain of salt. You have to remember that the tape measure test really isnt as reliable as an ultrasound test, which isnt 100% either. He was probably just warning you. Your regular doctor will know what is going on, trust me, you did not suddenly pop out in a snap. If your regular doctor was concerned, she would have said something by now. Doctors dont want to get into trouble for not warning a person, however, because of this, I think they put too much stress on us all by being overly careful. For example, my baby needed an MRI for a surgery on her eye. When she was born, she had some breathing problems, which caused her to be sent home on oxygen, and she stayed on it for only 3 months and her lung doctor said to never worry about it again. Now I had to tell the MRI people about it, and they freaked out. I had to reschedule this test 5 TIMES before I finally had to have my regular doctor step in and basically force them to do it. We got sent home once because she had a slightly runny nose, and the next week they tried too again, but my doctor helped me out. So you see, not all doctors know what is going on. She not only flew thru the sleep meds for the MRI, but had a successful surgery on her eye too!!! Talk to your regular doctor before scheduling an Ultrasound, because she really will know you best and your history of big babies too and will know when to be concerned. Good Luck and Congratulations!!
PS according to the ultrasound, my baby was going to be 9lbs 9 oz, but instead I delivered a beautiful 8lb 13 oz little girl ;)

By all means, if you're concerned, I think you should get a second opinion from your regular doc if you're concerned. But let me tell you my story...
I don't think the measuring they do is all that accurate. When I was pg with my second child, the doc measured me at 35 weeks and said I was "right on track". I said I was actually 37 weeks. So he measured again and, surprise, surprise, he said he'd made a mistake the first time and I was actually measuring at 37 weeks. They did an ultrasound on me with the same baby at 36 weeks and said the baby was estimated at 8'. When he was born 2 weeks later, he was only 7'4". It may sound like my doc is a quack but he is a very well respected OB/GYN and fertility specialist with a very busy practice. I kind of think God intentionally leaves the whole miracle of a growing beautiful baby a mystery to us.

If you are worried about your baby then I would see about having an ultrasound. Otherwise I say wait until Thursday and they may do one then to measure the fluid around the baby. Given the fact that you went late with your other children, I wouldn't be too concerned unless you haven't felt the baby move as much. Good Luck!

Maybe this new dr. measured you incorrect. It can happen! I wouldn't worry too much till you see YOUR dr! Who knows you and has watched you this entire pregnancy. Try not to worry. Just discuss your fears with your dr on Thursday. I'm sure they will be able to guide you.

Relax! I would just wait until you see your regular Dr on your weekly visit. SHe has been with you through this pregnancy and knows your history. You may have been measuring big through the whole pregnancy. I know I measured big with both of mine. Just wait and I really don't think there is much reason to worry.

I don't know if being too large is a reason to be concerned or not, but I do know I tripped and fell on the way out of my ultrasound one day, and went right back in and they did another one, insurance covered and everything. Just a thought. I know it's hard to change OB this late in the game, but maybe you could get in to see someone else.
Your Doctor should be ther for you, And it is her job to put your mind at ease. If she doesn't, then you must demand it of her.

number 1- you aren't just SUDDENLY measuring big- if you talk to your regular doctor about it, you will see that you have been measuring big all along, and apparantly it wasn't a cause for concern for your regular dr. or she would have mentioned it already/

number 2- measuring 40 after having other big babies is perfectly natural as it means your uterus is used to getting bigger and has a memory per se... I am 38 weeks pregnant with a single baby after having twins 2 yrs ago- trust me.

Number 3- If this other dr. is saying that, then he/she may not realize this isn't your first birth- if it was, he might think about being concerned, but one thing to remember is that most of the time when doctors use the excuse that a baby is "too big" it is another way of saying it is posterior and not aimed right to come through the pelvis, though they won't tell you there are ways opf helping the baby spin around.

with my son i ALWAYS measured bigger than i was. 2 to 3 weeks every appointment. obviously you've had babies before and you know what you're body can do. and since you have already had 2 big babies, you were probably expecting this one to be a big baby too. i wouldn't worry about it. you should be fine!!

I would not worry personally. The baby could have just moved up and made you measure bigger that could change this week. It is nice to stay with the same Dr. when possible. And also about having big babies. I have had 2 at 8.10 and one at 9.11 and feel that they were healthy babies ( and I was late with all of them). So take your peace and I will be praying for you.

I absolutely agree with what Vicki said! I was induced due to high blood pressure with my first child and the pitocin they give you is HORRIBLE! It makes your contractions so much more intense and seeing as I chose no epidural I was pretty miserable! Luckily she came out fast after the pitocin finally did its job after being on it for 14 hours! I am not sure that having a different doctor check you at your last visit made a difference but I am thinking that this doctor probably is not as up to date with your pregnancy as your regular doctor is so I would just let nature take its course. Seeing as your body is used to having larger babies I would think you would handle this one like a pro! If there is nothing wrong with the baby I think letting your body do all the work like God intended is the best way to go. Good luck with the birth of your baby, and just relax, your body knows what it needs to do and your baby knows when it is ready to meet you! God Bless.

Hi A.,
I was that late with both of mine and they were both 8+ pounders like yours. I just assumed they were that size because they had that extra time to grow. I don't think your first two were that large considering their term. This time I would be concerned though and I hope that you don't have to wait. I'm sorry that the other doctor scared you(he scared me!) and that your regular doctor will have some answers, reassurance, and a plan. I don't know if you could get another ultrasound, but it wouldn't hurt to call your doctor to express your concerns an hopefully she will calm your fears. Waiting until Thursday would be torture for me as well. You didn't say if you have had complications and maybe that is why the doctor isn't worried.
I am 34 weeks and measuring larger though not sure how much until next weeks ultrasound. I already know that this time around I get to go a little early because of prior blood clots and I am on twice daily blood thinner injections. I have a new doctor this time around and he said there is no need to go beyond term. So I am excited to say the least. I want my son to grow as he should, but not to the point where it ends up dangerous for us both.
Please let me know what you find out and I hope the best for you. Get your packing and nesting done just in case ;-)
Anyway, call the doctor. It won't be a first for her. It is their job to help you.
D. W

I would not worry! Measurements are not very accurate, as long as the baby is moving fine there is no reason to worry. And 8 pounds for being late is not that big of a baby. Our bodies grow the babies that we can birth so you can do it.
I actually had the opposite problem. I was 39 weeks and measuring only 36 weeks so the Dr. was concerned and made me have ultrasounds and NST twice a week. I wasn't worried because the baby was moving fine and I carry them really small. Plus I knew he had dropped which makes a difference in the measuring. Sure enough he was born at exactly the same weight as my first, 6'11 and he was just fine. I think Dr's are sometimes overly cautious because they have to be. Unfortunately with pregnancy hormones us mommies can get very worried unnecessarily.
Good Luck

Hi A.:
I dont have any advice for you, just wanted to give my condolences on being late with the hot weather. You've heard of Bridezilla right? Well maybe you should invent Pregnantzilla and walk in and demand to be induced, lol! Maybe this will make you laugh your way right into your water breaking.
I wouldint worry until there is something to worry about, like you said both of your children didint want to come out either when they were supposed too. Are they Taurus by chance? Just wondering because i am a Taurus and VERY stubborn. I can also say that none of those old time traditions to put yourself into labor work. I was so sick of being pregnant two weeks before my due date that I tried the Castor Oil, nothing. I put hot sauce on everything, and I mean EVERYTHING that you can think of, nothing. The day of my due date was the day he arrived, so all of the heart burn and diarrhea was for nothing.
I think that walking helps though, take a walk a few times around the block, just make sure your husband/boyfriend is there with a catchers mitt! Good Luck

Hi A., I was 9 days late with my first and she was 9'4 and my doctor would not induce me until I had gone over close to two weeks. My second was 5 days early and she was 8'15, I thought this would make her smaller but it didn't do much. Both of my girls were induced. I would wait and see what your doctor thinks. She is the one who is the most familiar with you and your pregnancy. Your doctor will know more about what is going on because she has been with you for your whole pregnancy. Thursday is not terribly far away if she thinks you need to get one she will let you know. I wouldn't sweat it.
C.

Clear from the beginning I measured 2-4 weeks early each time. They did a ultra sound every month to check and make sure it was the baby or just me. I would ask the Dr. thursday when you are there about the ultrasound. My son came 2 weeks early according to the doctors(I think I was just 2 weeks more then what they said. I know when i got pregnant) and he was 8lbs 1oz. I wouldn't worry to much but I would ask for the ultrasound to see how big the baby is.

D.

I wouldn't panic. If your doctor isn't concerned, everything is probably fine. Don't get an ultrasound if it isn't needed. Especially if you saw a doctor other than your own. Just enjoy the last weeks of your pregnancy and don't spend it worrying. I'm sure everything will turn out just fine! (And I just have to say, if you think 8 lbs is big...you're lucky! My son was 10'5!)

My first son as 9 lbs 10 oz and was a week late and induced. (I had him on my 21st birthday.) The second came on the due date and the third came one week late and was induced. My doctors wouldn't even do anything until I was one week over with the first and last. Due to my high blood pressure (which I had before I was pregnant) I had several ultrasounds. But they did do one later on to make sure that the placenta was not getting old. If you recently had one don't worry. It's called a due period two weeks before and two weeks after the date that they give you. If you are concerned about the placenta getting old then bring it up at the next visit with the mention of the 36 weeks vs 40 weeks. My due date changed three times on my third child! The only reason she set me up to induce on the day I was a week late was because I had a history of being overdue.