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Baby length at 20weeks

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Minnieosc

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Hi, I’ve just had my 20 week scan and our baby is measuring 6 days ahead. The obstetrician said this is more likely because me and my partner are both tall (I’m 5,10 and he’s 6,1) however I’m still concerned that this is because of the GD? Isn’t their measurement at this stage a marker for GD? I’ve been really strict with myself and am managing to control with just diet at the moment. Any insight on this would be really helpful! Thank you
 
Minnieosc said:
Hi, I’ve just had my 20 week scan and our baby is measuring 6 days ahead. The obstetrician said this is more likely because me and my partner are both tall (I’m 5,10 and he’s 6,1) however I’m still concerned that this is because of the GD? Isn’t their measurement at this stage a marker for GD? I’ve been really strict with myself and am managing to control with just diet at the moment. Any insight on this would be really helpful! Thank you
Click to expand...
Hello,
Please try not to worry, sometimes the more scans and tests we have done the more we start to over think with all this new information. Are you diabetic? Have you been told you have gestational diabetes from a blood sugar test result?
If so then you should be seeing diabetes team, and they can advuse re size and baby’s term.
I had gestational twice and both where very different pregnancies and experiences. The test and care offered where very thorough especially in the last trimester where they do growth ultra sound scans to monitor the babies size. They like the baby to be in for as long as possible but might look to induce if becoming large. I have to say if it’s any help...both times the scans predicted my baby to be bigger than they actually where at birth.
I saw diabetes nurses, midwifes and diabetes consultant as part of the care. I controlled with my first pregnancy by diet and walking etc. Second gestational was much later but had to use insulin as couldn’t get it in range with diet and exercise.
 
Scans are notoriously wildly inaccurate and should only be used to gain a part of a whole clinical picture and not a diagnosis is the absence of any other information.

Weight estimation on scan can be as high as 25% inaccurate and means little. A 4lb baby can get stuck, a 10lb baby can glide out and isn’t an indication of macrosomia.
 
Minnieosc said:
Hi, I’ve just had my 20 week scan and our baby is measuring 6 days ahead. The obstetrician said this is more likely because me and my partner are both tall (I’m 5,10 and he’s 6,1) however I’m still concerned that this is because of the GD? Isn’t their measurement at this stage a marker for GD? I’ve been really strict with myself and am managing to control with just diet at the moment. Any insight on this would be really helpful! Thank you
Click to expand...
Minnieosc said:
Hi, I’ve just had my 20 week scan and our baby is measuring 6 days ahead. The obstetrician said this is more likely because me and my partner are both tall (I’m 5,10 and he’s 6,1) however I’m still concerned that this is because of the GD? Isn’t their measurement at this stage a marker for GD? I’ve been really strict with myself and am managing to control with just diet at the moment. Any insight on this would be really helpful! Thank you
Click to expand...
Hi, GD makes the baby grow bigger if it’s not controlled but in my case my baby was small. He was not getting enough blood flow. Pain was induced at 38 week three days and delivered a healthy baby and the delivery was normal. Hence keep your stress level down.
 
Rose22 said:
Hello,
Please try not to worry, sometimes the more scans and tests we have done the more we start to over think with all this new information. Are you diabetic? Have you been told you have gestational diabetes from a blood sugar test result?
If so then you should be seeing diabetes team, and they can advuse re size and baby’s term.
I had gestational twice and both where very different pregnancies and experiences. The test and care offered where very thorough especially in the last trimester where they do growth ultra sound scans to monitor the babies size. They like the baby to be in for as long as possible but might look to induce if becoming large. I have to say if it’s any help...both times the scans predicted my baby to be bigger than they actually where at birth.
I saw diabetes nurses, midwifes and diabetes consultant as part of the care. I controlled with my first pregnancy by diet and walking etc. Second gestational was much later but had to use insulin as couldn’t get it in range with diet and exercise.
Click to expand...

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes very early - at 14 weeks, Due to the fact I was already insulin resistant (linked to my pcos). Iam currently mnaging it with just food and have a specialist I see every couple of weeks. It was just mt general OB that I saw the other day who told me she is measuring 6 days over.
 
Minnieosc said:
I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes very early - at 14 weeks, Due to the fact I was already insulin resistant (linked to my pcos). Iam currently mnaging it with just food and have a specialist I see every couple of weeks. It was just mt general OB that I saw the other day who told me she is measuring 6 days over.
Click to expand...
That was same as me in my first pregnancy, was picked up in the first blood tests the midwife did, I wasn’t expecting a call to say I had gestational diabetes! But it sounds like it is going really well, as you are controlling diet alone. Try and go with the flow, pregnancies are never a predicted route, enjoy this special time! I think the measurement being few days over isn’t anything to be concerned about. Nearer the end of the pregnancy you should have growth scans more often and that should give an idea of babies size, but as others have mentioned they are a guide, and tend to over estimate. You have a choice in delivery and care during pregnancy so go by what you feel is best for you and baby. (Without letting the diabetes part scare or interfere too much) Xxx
 
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Minnieosc said:
Hi, I’ve just had my 20 week scan and our baby is measuring 6 days ahead. The obstetrician said this is more likely because me and my partner are both tall (I’m 5,10 and he’s 6,1) however I’m still concerned that this is because of the GD? Isn’t their measurement at this stage a marker for GD? I’ve been really strict with myself and am managing to control with just diet at the moment. Any insight on this would be really helpful! Thank you
Click to expand...
I think what they are more worried about is later on when baby is putting down fat so they will be checking the AC and fluid level as that can rise due to gd.
Babies sometimes will measure behind and then have a growth spurt and measure ahead, they only start to worry if they are behind and and keep dropping further behind as this flags up a problem, measuring ahead by 6 days isn't a big deal it's quite literally a couple of millimeters. It could be you are having a tall baby my baby (I'm 32wks and 4 days) is short with fm measuring on the 13th centile while her head on last scan was 55th centile and her AC is on the 83rd centile. It's just how she is growing... we are all unique, I'm short and my dh has a big alien head!!! 2 months ago little girl was measuring 2 wks behind and then in the 2 scans we had since she went to 6 days behind to a little bit ahead... I have another scan tomorrow so will be interesting to see what happens... even after baby is born they will grow the way they want and being on the 50th percentile isn't the norm it is the average and ita the same in pregnancy... your baby is growing normally for your baby.

Hope everything goes well for you.
 
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