the dr scared me the baby might be 13lbs!!!!?

Question

What should I do to slow his growth! I am 28 weeks and he is 3 and a half pounds. I have only gained 20lbs what should I do!!!!

I dont have diabetes, he did do a u/s and did a femur mesument and that is how he got the weight.

Answer 1

Do nothing! do not try to slow his growth. Don't listen to the dr on this one, really he has no idea what the baby will weigh. It's only a guess. I've heard so many dr's tell the moms what the baby will weigh and the baby ends up being way off the guess. Then if you baby is "big" then your baby is big. Doesn't mean you'll need an automatic c-section just because the baby is "big" either. There's only a small percentage of women who's pelvis aren't adequate enough to birth their babies. Most OB's don't even give women enough credit to even try to birth a "big" baby vaginally. Just relax and you baby will be the perfect size for your body.

Answer 2

Sounds like there is a miscalculation on how far along you are, or that you might have gestational diabetes? Have you done your test yet? Which affects the baby's weight besides harmful sugars.
Also, know that they could just plain be wrong on his weight. I had a 10lb 4 oz baby at 41 weeks and for 3 weeks I kept telling them that my baby was bigger than normal (he was my second) and they even did an u/s the day I delivered and assured me he was no bigger than 8 1/2 lbs!
SO that isn't meant to scare you, but that the doctor's aren't always right when guessing the weight of your baby, especially since your only 28 weeks right now.
Tell your doctor that they need to plan an early induction if they really think your baby will be that big! And to keep monitoring his weight on u/s. Take control ;-) This is your baby and your body!!
Good luck and try not to lose sleep over this, as much as it is easy to say than do....

Answer 3

The doctor is only estimating....my dr said that my baby would only be 3 or 4 lbs at 40 weeks and I had a 6lb 2 oz baby at 36 weeks. You can't let them scare you though. I think that you should continue to eat healthy. Exercise and eating healthy are the best things that you can do for yourself as well as the baby. Don't stress!!! Everything will work out fine and at least they are saying the baby will be big and not 3 or 4 lbs.

Answer 4

I was told the same thing at 28 weeks. My baby was on a different growth schedule than the average. At 28 weeks he was HUGE so they did my gestational diabetes test again (which can make HUGE babies), then at 33 weeks he was only in the 7th percentile for size and they were considering inducing me because he was SOOO small. Now I'm 35 weeks and both baby and I are exactly where one would expect us both to be. He's around 5 lbs now... going for another ultrasound in a few hours to check again.

Relax, its likely nothing. However, if doc hasn't ordered it, ask to retake your gestational diabetes test.

Answer 5

First off, its only a guestimate on the weight. And on average a fetus gains .50 to a 1 lb a week after week 30 until birth...I wouldn't worry so much, just have the doctor check again in 6 weeks and then again another 3 weeks after that.

Answer 6

They are not always correct. It is an estimate. Your doctor should continue to monitor, via ultrasound, the growth of the baby and fluid surrounding the baby weekly. You could watch what you are eating but do it only with the guideline of a nutritionist. Pregnancy requires a lot of productive calories.
I was given an estimate that my son would be 11+ pounds and he was a perfect 8.7 pounds.

Answer 7

At 28 weeks, your doctor has no idea how fast the baby is going to grow. I was told at 31 weeks, that my son was small and would be less than average weight, a little less than 7lbs and now at 35 weeks, I'm expecting this baby to be just a little under 9lbs. There's nothing that you can do, you never know what will happen. I wouldn't worry to much about it.

Answer 8

Don't go on a diet ! The baby needs the nutrients from you so don't do anything to sabotage his growth.Doctors are sometimes wrong, that was my case.I was told that my baby was to be extremely small and would be born underweight and he was totally wrong.I was so stressed out through my entire pregnancy for nothing because my baby was 8 pounds when born.Just take it easy and try to relax .And if it is a big baby- c section will take care of it.Don't worry :-)

Answer 9

This is called Prenatal sCare, it is what passes for proper medical treatment in North America. Your doctor wants you to believe that you just couldn't birth without him, and that if anything goes wrong he is a god and it is all your fault so you shouldn't sue him.

It is not to late to get a second opinion or even transfer care. Weight gain is not a terribly great predictor of fetal size at birth, and no pregnant woman should undertake a diet to reduce weight gain unless they are under the care of a qualified nutritionist.

The fact that your doctor, however, has provided absolutely no advise or treatment options, not even tested your blood sugar levels (which is of questionable value, but at least something) tells me that he is just trying to scare you. PLEASE get a second opinion before it is too late, preferably from a midwife.

*Note, I have referred to the doctor as he throughout this, I am in no way implying that female doctors or better or that this doctor is a man.

Answer 10

Get a second opinion. I was told my baby was going to have downs syndrome by doctor number 1. docot number 2 told me that I tested positive because I have more protein in my blood stream from being overweight. ALWAYS get a second opinion before getting scared, and worse case scenario you will get a C-Section, if you do ask the for " On-Q", I had both my kids by c section and the second time this was offerd to me and oh God what a difference!!!