If one accepts the dating of my earliest ultrasound (which is presumably the most accurate) my due date is May 5. That would make me 28 weeks and 2 days pregnant. The baby should weigh about 2.4 - 2.75 lbs. So, I was a little surprised today when I went in for my ultrasound and he's conservatively estimated to weigh 3.75 lbs.
Now, I have always firmly believed that I was about a week further along than what they said I was. I tested at home using a regular over the counter pregnancy test on August 20th, which would've been only 8 days after conception using the May 5th due date. If I used my last menstrual period, that would give me a due date of April 29th, and would put me at just turning 29 weeks. If this was the case the baby should weigh about 2.8-3.1 pounds. Now, I know that every baby is different, and that the weight is just an estimate.
But the perinatologist told me that there's pretty much no likelihood that I'll carry him to term as he'll be too large. He said that based on his growth pattern that we'd be looking at a baby over 12 lbs. I almost passed out at that point. He told me that vaginal delivery at that point would be nearly impossible, due to fourth degree tears, broken tailbones, etc. I waved him off, as I couldn't hear any more about that.
I really don't want a c-section. But... I know that if it's what's healthy for the baby, it's what we'll do, without a second thought.
The perinatologist told me that he would be shocked if I didn't have gestational diabetes based on the baby's growth pattern and the amount of amniotic fluid (I don't exactly understand the connection, but I'm not a doctor). He said that until my OB refers me to a dietician to start cutting out refined flour, sugar, etc. from my diet. I've gained less than 2 lbs. in the last month. The baby's gained 2.5 lbs in the last month just by himself! Update - the doctor's office just called, and my three hour gestational diabetes tests were "within normal range." There was one result that was too high, but that's not enough to be considered diabetes.
One thing the peri did say that was interesting is apparently fetuses (fetii?) with mothers who have gestational diabetes tend to have very large torsos and bellies. Julian is proportional all over though. He's legitimately big boned. However, his larger than normal size (he's apparently over the 90% mark for size - and assuming he grows at a normal pace) puts him at greater risk for shoulder dystocia (the head is delivered, but the shoulders get stuck behind the mother's pelvic bone preventing delivery), a higher incidence of stillbirth, and birth trauma. It puts me at a greater risk of perineal tearing, blood loss, or a broken tailbone.
Now that I officially don't have gestational diabetes, I'm not sure what's causing him to be so big.
But I'm thankful that it's one less thing to worry about.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
12 lbs is NOT coming out of me that way.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Your peri is full of crap.
12lbs is not actually all that unusual, and contrary to what the person with the penis might think, female hips are made to shift during pregnancy, they're not solid rings of bone. And let's not forget that about u/s measurements are notorious for being off on weight - your baby could very well be a pound or two smaller than what you're peri thinks. Seriously.
Genes, Diabetes, and GD are the hallmarks of big babies, not the weight of the mother.
You are reading Kmom's site, right?
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/
And I highly recommend you read Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth, I think it'll ease your mind considerably, as well as giving lots of great birth stories.
Please don't get freaked out about size. Ultrasounds are SO often off by as much as a pound. And please, please, please don't get talked into a section without attempting to labor because of size. Our bodies were meant to birth! Certainly there are big babies out there and there are women who can't have them, but as long as you don't have GD and don't have a malformed pelvis, it is likely that you are NOT one of those women.
My friend's boy was projected at 12 lbs, but actually showed up at a hair over 8.
a scheduled c-section is totally different from the horror stories you hear about c-sections after 18 hours of labor. the whole thing took about 10 minutes and my recovery was way faster than some of my friends who had vaginal deliveries. i walked down the block a couple of days after delivering and we were hiking in the woods in less than 2 weeks. so don't fear the c-section if it becomes necessary!
i tagged you for a meme if you are interested...
My son came a week and a half early and he was nine pounds nine ounces. All the way along they told me I'd have a six pound baby.
Don't listen to them. ;P
Post a Comment