Growth scan

[allana]

I had my growth scan this morning. Mixed results, really.

Speck's head is measuring 35+1 weeks, so a little ahead for dates, but still relatively normal. His abdomen is measuring 38+3 which is beyond the normal ranges. I'm a little freaked by this, but the registrar doesn't feel that this is a cause for concern--I'm not diabetic, so he may just be a big baby. No horrible diseases or syndromes were bandied around which was a relief! They're re-scanning me in two weeks to see how much he's grown.

His current estimated weight is 6lb 13oz, which is um... big. At this stage babies usually put on half a pound per week, with a slow-down around 38 weeks so Speck could end up quite hefty :P Hopefully he won't be record-breakingly heavy--I believe the world's heaviest baby clocked in at 24lbs.

I'm not too worried by all of this. I've read too many accounts of grossly inaccurate growth scans and fetal weight estimates to believe it as gospel truth. I'll pay more attention to how much the measurements have changed when I'm next scanned and allocate panic accordingly.

Speck has also moved to being head-down, so if he stays there I'm all set for a normal vaginal birth. There are no current plans to induce me or give me an automatic Caesarian, so I'm really relieved about that. An actual water birth is still off the cards, but the registrar seemed to think that labouring in the pool would be okay. This cheered me up quite a bit as I might be able to avoid too many drugs during labour.

Comments

[bella-cheval.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear all is well with you and Speck (who's not so much a Speck anymore!!)!

Water births are so cool. If I'd planned to have a kidlet, that's how I would have done it. Quiet, peaceful, serene.

[well, except for me yelling my head off!!]

I'm getting SOOO excited for you to deliver. This is way cool!!

[mayqueen517.livejournal.com]

Awww! Yay! I'm glad things are okay and stuff! And I was an average baby but they told my mom that I would be a big baby so..*shrugs* (7lbs 5oz hehehe)

But am glad that things are pretty much okay for you and for Speck, Ang!

[dreammonkey.livejournal.com]

Wow! 24 lbs?!

I've heard good things about pools. But don't totally rule out drugs!

[feelforfaith.livejournal.com]

I'm not too worried by all of this. I've read too many accounts of grossly inaccurate growth scans and fetal weight estimates to believe it as gospel truth.

That's the right attitude :). *hugs you*

But 24 pounds? O.O wow.

[evaine.livejournal.com]

Good news Ang!

*HUGS*

I'm glad you're not worried. That's the attitude to have. *grin*

[kelpierocks.livejournal.com]

I'm glad all is well and I applaud your sensible attitude! Hang in there, girl.

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

I'm not ruling out drugs, other than pethidine/opiates. I just want Speck to be nice and clear-headed when he comes out. All the drugs I'm prepared to try are listed out in my birth plan so no worries there!

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

Mercifully the 24 pound baby was delivered by C/s. I can just imagine all the surgery you'd need to get over that if you even attempted vaginal....

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to stay positive. I did have a bit of a wobble yesterday when I was worrying that there was something horribly wrong but all is fine now.

I can't believe how fast time is going--there's only 45 days to go!

[screwthedaisies.livejournal.com]

Woohoo--head down is definitely good progress. :) Hopefully Speck's showing his sense of humor and faking out the growth scan.

Mmm. Labour in the pool sounds SO much better than the deal I got both times, which was labor lying on my side whilst hooked up to a bunch of machines inconveniently located on the other side of my bed where I couldn't see them. Military hospitals. Pah.

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

Oooh, good point. I shall make sure that Dave knows that I want to be able to see monitors/machines.

Speck still seems to be head down--touch wood. I was getting plenty of kicks at the top of my tummy when we went to the cinema. I really hope he stays there as C/s seems to be the default option for breech presentation these days....

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Kelpie!

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

Heh. I very much doubt that waterbirths are that serene. They dull the pain a bit, but it never goes completely. Realistically, I'll probably hop out and beg for an epidural.

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's not an exact science, although the estimates do keep improving with each year that passes. We're pretty sure that Speck will be big... he's getting very, very heavy in my tummy :)

[bella-cheval.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with the epi, Ang! There's days (like today and yesterday) that I'd have wanted an epi thanks to my !@$%$! back deciding to go wonky on me.

You're due soon, yes? I mean, like within the next 4 weeks or so?