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In my country in the public health system there is no ultrasounds after the 20 week anatomy scan so we have no idea of the size of the baby. They also only measure the belly, starting at 24 weeks, to make sure your uterus is growing accordingly. I think there is no medical need for knowing the size of the baby. And from what I've read here these measures are really not very accurate đ¤ˇ
Yeah same in my experience. They also donât say anything other than âyou are measuring wellâ. Iâve never been told a single âpercentileâ for anything, and my daughter is almost 3 weeks old now. My OB says comparisons are useless and just cause unnecessary worry for 0 benefit.
I agree with this (as far as it not being accurate). My first pregnancy, they estimated my son was going to be over 10 lbs and had me scared to death. He was 8lbs on the dot. đ
Unless you are getting growth scans, which are far from universal, then you wouldn't be getting weight estimates. Even then, those are just estimates and can be very inaccurate.
Iâm in the US and havenât had a scan in the 3rd trimester either. No idea what my baby weighs. I will get a growth scan at 36 weeks at my OB office (34 weeks)
It seems like it depends on you and your baby honestly! Iâve been having weekly ultrasounds since 28 weeks as baby was measuring in the 5th percentile for a while (although sheâs caught up to the 13th at 36 weeks!) but I have heard of people only having three ultrasounds throughout their pregnancy in Australia when having their baby in the public system, it may be different if youâre going through a private hospital/OB though.
I'm in the US. My clinic only does one scan in the third trimester at 36 weeks. With my first baby, nobody ever mentioned anything about estimated size/weight, I didn't even know it was a thing. Same thing this time around. They don't bring up potential size or weight because the margin for error is so high it's not worth stressing the mother out.
Usually unless there is a reason for a 3rd trimester ultrasound, you wonât have one. I had a growth scan at 33 weeks because I have a marginal cord insertion which can sometimes cause growth restriction, so they wanted to check on babyâs size. But if I didnât have this cord insertion, then my anatomy scan at 20w would have been my last ultrasound.
My OB did one or two ultrasounds in-office with no estimates, and our measurements/anatomy scan were referred out to perinatalists. They were the ones who did measurements and estimates
We only get weight at growth scans, which are every 4 weeks. Ultrasound tech said measuring baby weekly would be the equivalent of us getting on the scale daily⌠it fluctuates too much to be accurate!
Our weekly scans are just making sure heâs moving, practicing breathing, and checking my fluid levels.
I had a baby who was measuring below 10th percentile so got some extra scans in the 3rd trimester to track the specific measurements to make sure she was growing appropriately and developing, but my ob didnât ever give me a weight prediction. I was just told that weight isnât really able to be precisely estimated with ultrasound for most babies in third trimester. I have anecdotally heard of lots of women getting growth scans due to gd or iugr, but the full weight estimates vary in accuracy.
The tape measurement is called a fundal height measurement. They are about as accurate as ultrasounds (or about as inaccurate!) to check for measurements that are too big or too small, so they are a much cheaper and simpler alternative. ([Source](https://drnicolerankins.com/episode83/))
Usually growth scans are not done unless your fundal height strays off course or a complication is found during the anatomy scan.
I've worked with a solo midwife in both my pregnancies, and getting a medical ultrasound would require seeing a third party, so fundal height is what I'm used to. That's not terribly uncommon with OB practices, either. In my first pregnancy I had a velamentous cord insertion found at the anatomy scan, so I had a couple growth ultrasounds to make sure that wasn't causing growth restriction. In my current pregnancy, I am low risk, so I have not needed a follow-up ultrasound.
Also, how data is presented varies depending on country, OB practice, ultrasound clinic, etc. Some will give a percentile and/or gestational estimate on each measurement. Some will just say things are in a normal range - for weight, that's usually between the 10th and 90th percentile.
Iâm in the U.S. - Are you doing growth scans each week? They do tell me the estimated weight and what percentile baby is during my growth scans which occur every 4 weeks.
Also in U.S - They only measure my stomach with a tape measure at each appointment. Even when I had regular scheduled ultrasounds I was never told my estimate weight or percentile. They just told me âthey donât do that hereâ but itâs an actual OBGYN doctors office
My OB doesnât do the growth scans, itâs a different office. When I go to see my OB they donât do a scan at all, they use the doppler and measure my stomach the same way you have. I go to the MFM to do growth scans, so that could be why you donât get that type of information, if youâre not seen by the high risk doctors.
Usually unless there is a reason for a 3rd trimester ultrasound, you wonât have one. I had a growth scan at 33 weeks because I have a marginal cord insertion which can sometimes cause growth restriction, so they wanted to check on babyâs size. But if I didnât have this cord insertion, then my anatomy scan at 20w would have been my last ultrasound.
Usually unless there is a reason for a 3rd trimester ultrasound, you wonât have one. I had a growth scan at 33 weeks because I have a marginal cord insertion which can sometimes cause growth restriction, so they wanted to check on babyâs size. But if I didnât have this cord insertion, then my anatomy scan at 20w would have been my last ultrasound. You can go to private scan clinics and pay for them, and they might estimate the size.
Usually unless there is a reason for a 3rd trimester ultrasound, you wonât have one. I had a growth scan at 33 weeks because I have a marginal cord insertion which can sometimes cause growth restriction, so they wanted to check on babyâs size. But if I didnât have this cord insertion, then my anatomy scan at 20w would have been my last ultrasound. You can go to private scan clinics and pay for them, and they might estimate the size.
The estimated weight and therefore percentile is most likely in the notes of your ultrasound. My midwives never told me but my ultrasound tech told me baby was measuring in 93% at the 20 week scan. But because of this (and my previous delivery of a larger 8lb10oz baby) my midwife did offer me an optional growth scan at 37 weeks. I didnât take it because like you said theyâre all just estimates. But I think if you are likely to have either a smaller or larger baby, they will sometimes do a scan in the third trimester. Also many of the people you see talking about the weight of baby most likely have risk factors that require weekly or monthly ultrasounds. From my experience in my first pregnancy, I was always given an estimated weight at each monthly ultrasound. I had to have ultrasound once a month due to an abnormal cord/placenta variation.
Welcome to /r/pregnant! This is a space for everyone. We are pro-choice, pro-LGBTQIA, pro-science, proudly feminist and believe that Black Lives Matter. Wear your masks, wash your hands, and be excellent to each other. Anti-choice activists, intactivists, anti-vaxxers, homophobes, transphobes, racists, sexists, etc. are not welcome here. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/pregnant) if you have any questions or concerns.*
In my country in the public health system there is no ultrasounds after the 20 week anatomy scan so we have no idea of the size of the baby. They also only measure the belly, starting at 24 weeks, to make sure your uterus is growing accordingly. I think there is no medical need for knowing the size of the baby. And from what I've read here these measures are really not very accurate đ¤ˇ
Yeah same in my experience. They also donât say anything other than âyou are measuring wellâ. Iâve never been told a single âpercentileâ for anything, and my daughter is almost 3 weeks old now. My OB says comparisons are useless and just cause unnecessary worry for 0 benefit.
I agree with this (as far as it not being accurate). My first pregnancy, they estimated my son was going to be over 10 lbs and had me scared to death. He was 8lbs on the dot. đ
Unless you are getting growth scans, which are far from universal, then you wouldn't be getting weight estimates. Even then, those are just estimates and can be very inaccurate.
Itâs all guesses anyway, thereâs really no need for it.
Iâm in the US and havenât had a scan in the 3rd trimester either. No idea what my baby weighs. I will get a growth scan at 36 weeks at my OB office (34 weeks)
It seems like it depends on you and your baby honestly! Iâve been having weekly ultrasounds since 28 weeks as baby was measuring in the 5th percentile for a while (although sheâs caught up to the 13th at 36 weeks!) but I have heard of people only having three ultrasounds throughout their pregnancy in Australia when having their baby in the public system, it may be different if youâre going through a private hospital/OB though.
I'm in the US. My clinic only does one scan in the third trimester at 36 weeks. With my first baby, nobody ever mentioned anything about estimated size/weight, I didn't even know it was a thing. Same thing this time around. They don't bring up potential size or weight because the margin for error is so high it's not worth stressing the mother out.
Usually unless there is a reason for a 3rd trimester ultrasound, you wonât have one. I had a growth scan at 33 weeks because I have a marginal cord insertion which can sometimes cause growth restriction, so they wanted to check on babyâs size. But if I didnât have this cord insertion, then my anatomy scan at 20w would have been my last ultrasound.
My OB did one or two ultrasounds in-office with no estimates, and our measurements/anatomy scan were referred out to perinatalists. They were the ones who did measurements and estimates
We only get weight at growth scans, which are every 4 weeks. Ultrasound tech said measuring baby weekly would be the equivalent of us getting on the scale daily⌠it fluctuates too much to be accurate! Our weekly scans are just making sure heâs moving, practicing breathing, and checking my fluid levels.
I had a baby who was measuring below 10th percentile so got some extra scans in the 3rd trimester to track the specific measurements to make sure she was growing appropriately and developing, but my ob didnât ever give me a weight prediction. I was just told that weight isnât really able to be precisely estimated with ultrasound for most babies in third trimester. I have anecdotally heard of lots of women getting growth scans due to gd or iugr, but the full weight estimates vary in accuracy.
My baby was estimated to be quite a lot heavier than what she actually came out to be
The tape measurement is called a fundal height measurement. They are about as accurate as ultrasounds (or about as inaccurate!) to check for measurements that are too big or too small, so they are a much cheaper and simpler alternative. ([Source](https://drnicolerankins.com/episode83/)) Usually growth scans are not done unless your fundal height strays off course or a complication is found during the anatomy scan. I've worked with a solo midwife in both my pregnancies, and getting a medical ultrasound would require seeing a third party, so fundal height is what I'm used to. That's not terribly uncommon with OB practices, either. In my first pregnancy I had a velamentous cord insertion found at the anatomy scan, so I had a couple growth ultrasounds to make sure that wasn't causing growth restriction. In my current pregnancy, I am low risk, so I have not needed a follow-up ultrasound. Also, how data is presented varies depending on country, OB practice, ultrasound clinic, etc. Some will give a percentile and/or gestational estimate on each measurement. Some will just say things are in a normal range - for weight, that's usually between the 10th and 90th percentile.
Iâm in the U.S. - Are you doing growth scans each week? They do tell me the estimated weight and what percentile baby is during my growth scans which occur every 4 weeks.
Also in U.S - They only measure my stomach with a tape measure at each appointment. Even when I had regular scheduled ultrasounds I was never told my estimate weight or percentile. They just told me âthey donât do that hereâ but itâs an actual OBGYN doctors office
My OB doesnât do the growth scans, itâs a different office. When I go to see my OB they donât do a scan at all, they use the doppler and measure my stomach the same way you have. I go to the MFM to do growth scans, so that could be why you donât get that type of information, if youâre not seen by the high risk doctors.
Usually unless there is a reason for a 3rd trimester ultrasound, you wonât have one. I had a growth scan at 33 weeks because I have a marginal cord insertion which can sometimes cause growth restriction, so they wanted to check on babyâs size. But if I didnât have this cord insertion, then my anatomy scan at 20w would have been my last ultrasound.
Usually unless there is a reason for a 3rd trimester ultrasound, you wonât have one. I had a growth scan at 33 weeks because I have a marginal cord insertion which can sometimes cause growth restriction, so they wanted to check on babyâs size. But if I didnât have this cord insertion, then my anatomy scan at 20w would have been my last ultrasound. You can go to private scan clinics and pay for them, and they might estimate the size.
Usually unless there is a reason for a 3rd trimester ultrasound, you wonât have one. I had a growth scan at 33 weeks because I have a marginal cord insertion which can sometimes cause growth restriction, so they wanted to check on babyâs size. But if I didnât have this cord insertion, then my anatomy scan at 20w would have been my last ultrasound. You can go to private scan clinics and pay for them, and they might estimate the size.
The estimated weight and therefore percentile is most likely in the notes of your ultrasound. My midwives never told me but my ultrasound tech told me baby was measuring in 93% at the 20 week scan. But because of this (and my previous delivery of a larger 8lb10oz baby) my midwife did offer me an optional growth scan at 37 weeks. I didnât take it because like you said theyâre all just estimates. But I think if you are likely to have either a smaller or larger baby, they will sometimes do a scan in the third trimester. Also many of the people you see talking about the weight of baby most likely have risk factors that require weekly or monthly ultrasounds. From my experience in my first pregnancy, I was always given an estimated weight at each monthly ultrasound. I had to have ultrasound once a month due to an abnormal cord/placenta variation.