At 35 weeks pregnant there are discrepancies in the baby's measurements...?

Question

I had an ultrasound done at 34 weeks 5 days pregnant. The radiologist said the baby's head is measuring closer to 38 weeks gestation, and his abdomen is measuring at 34w 3.5d gestation. There is a large discrepancy between these measurements which suggests placenta failure and or deterioration. I have to be monitored closely now and have weekly ultrasound apointments. My question is, has anybody else ever had this and went on to delivering a healthy baby? I can't find any notes or web pages on this in any search engine. If you can post any resources that would be very helpful as well.

Answer 1

What they see from the ultra sound can be different to what is actually going on with the baby. I am sorry to hear you are going through this as I imagine you are worried sick.

But if it is any consolation - they told me my son was going to be 8.5 lbs and he came out 11.2 lbs. So, I don't know how much stock I hold in the measurements, lol

Answer 2

What an upsetting thing for you to be going through. This sounds a lot like what my sister had in her second pregnancy, but her baby was diagnosed as hydroencephaly (water on the brain). This is a neural-tube defect that is in the same category as spina bifida. Neural-tube defects run in my family, and we all had to have genetic counselling to determine any links and history. My sister's baby died at birth, though an uncle had it to a mild degree and he died at 62. He was slightly disabled because of it.

We discovered it's a very common birth defect in people of Irish descent. It has been traced through families back to the 1800's when the Irish people ate green-scald potatoes during the Irish Potato Famine just to stay alive. These are the potatos with greenish skin which develops when the potatos grow too close to the surface and are normally thrown away
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Green-scald skin potatoes have a toxin called "solanin" which these experts conjecture caused some genetic failures and allow more of the neural-tube defects to occur. This chemical is the active toxin in deadly nightshade, and is also found in smaller amounts in all of the potato/tomato/eggplant family.

However, I really, really hope your pregnancy is uneventful and your baby is born healthy! I'll be praying for you.

Answer 3

Perhaps your baby's head is a bit unproportioned at this tme due to the rapid brain growth that is going on, making his head grow bigger than hs body at this point. I wouldnt worry about it too much...every baby grows differently, and hits 'growth spurts' at different times. Also, I have read numerous places, and have known people to have an ultra sound be incorrect. Ultrasounds are not completely accurate at measuring the babys growth, size, etc...they only give the technician an ESTIMATED size/weight/etc. So it could just be off.

Good luck and try not to worry. (I know...easier said than done).

Answer 4

I had that same problem with my first. She was just born with a BIG head. They ened up having to use forceps and cut me from one end to the other cause her head was to big to get past my pelvic bone. She ended up weighing 8.13 and I am a really small person so it was very hard on my body. Her dad has a big head too. She never worn any infant caps cause they were always to small. Just be ready for a big head. I wouldnt worry to much.

Answer 5

either your baby has a big head and small waist or the ultrasound was wrong ... the day i had my daughter i had an U/S done and the tech told me that maddy was about 8lbs 4oz and then the doc looked at it and said it looked like she was more like 9 + lbs so they gave me a Csection but when she came out she was only 7lbs 10oz ! but either way congrats on the baby and good luck

Answer 6

your baby might just have a have a big head i wouldnt worry to much

Answer 7

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/wha/wha_iugr_crs.htm


Just take it easy and follow your docs orders