My Baby is Too Big — What Does This Mean?

My Baby is Too Big — What Does This Mean?

Every parent is worried about the size of the baby when it comes to pregnancy. Your gynecologist will monitor the baby’s health and development throughout pregnancy to ensure they are fit. Underweight babies are pretty common. But, can babies be born overweight? If your baby weighs more than 8 pounds, they are considered overweight. This is called macrosomia. You should see the best gynecologist in Navi Mumbai to get a better understanding of macrosomia, your delivery options, and the risks.

What is Fetal Macrosomia?

A small percentage of the babies born are over 8 pounds, although the normal weight of the baby is between 5 and 8 pounds. An overweight baby increases the risk of complications during the delivery, not only for the mother but the baby too. The risk of injuries to the babies during childbirth increases when the weight exceeds 11 pounds. 

The doctor takes an ultrasound to figure out your baby’s weight when it’s in your womb, but getting an accurate measurement is often pretty challenging. They might also check amniotic fluid levels. The higher level of this fluid indicates a baby bigger than an average-sized baby (since larger babies produce more urine). However, there’s no reliable way to measure the baby’s size accurately until you give birth. 

Causes

Your baby can be overweight due to several reasons, and your doctor may or may not be able to tell you why exactly the baby weighs more than normal. But, you have a higher chance of having a huge baby if you meet any of the below conditions.

• Your glucose level is high due to gestational diabetes or diabetes you had before you conceived
• You have a history of delivering an overweight baby
• You suffered from obesity or overweight before pregnancy
• You are pregnant with a boy (boys tend to be larger than girl child)
• Your pregnancy goes beyond 40 weeks (the longer your baby grows in your womb, the more they weigh)

You were a big baby too. Genetics can play a role. There is a chance you may have an overweight baby if you or someone from your family had a bigger baby.

The risk of complications in pregnancy increases as you age. If you are above 35, you are at a higher risk of delivering a big baby.

The doctor might feel your abdomen to determine your baby’s size. Although it’s never accurate, they might be able to detect macrosomia if your ultrasound reports and amniotic fluid levels suggest the same.

Treatment and Delivery Options

If you are diagnosed with macrosomia, there is not much you can do to prevent it. However, certain things can help prepare you for the delivery. You should also learn about the baby’s health, size, and weight so you can work with the doctor at the best maternity hospital in Navi Mumbai to plan the best treatment. They will check the baby’s position, size of your pelvis and other factors to know if you are a good candidate for vaginal birth.