Finally getting to see your little angel during an ultrasound scan is one of the best feelings, seeing them grow and develop before their big arrival is truly incredible, but what do you do if you’re told the baby has a big belly on scan imaging? Does this mean you’ll have to prepare for an earlier arrival, or is it normal? Keep reading to find out all about what happens if your unborn baby has a big belly, or is measuring up to be a chunky little babe!
Baby Has Big Belly On Scan – What Does it Mean?
Why does my baby have a big belly on ultrasound? During the second or third trimester then this could be an indicator of gastrointestinal obstruction, so your doctor may suggest a series of further ultrasound examinations to make sure everything is okay with your little one. If you have a diagnosis of gestational diabetes then this could be the reason your little one is measuring as a big-bellied baby, but don’t worry as this is completely normal.
Big Baby
All the physical and hormonal changes you go through growing a tiny human is exhausting, and the worries seem to be never-ending, so if you’re told your baby has a big belly on scan photos or appears to be measuring large for their age then it can make you doubt if your planned birth will be possible, but luckily we’ve gathered all the questions and answered you might have to answer why your baby has a big belly.
Reasons a Baby May Have A Big Belly On Scan
Going to your ultrasound scan appointments is one of the highlights of any pregnancy, being able to see how much your baby has grown and watching their little heartbeat is a precious moment any parent will cherish. As your ultrasound technician is measuring up your baby and checking everything is well, you might not have stopped to consider they would tell you your baby has a big belly, and what this means.
Usually, this isn’t anything to panic about, but you may find your doctors want you to have further growth scans to make sure the reasons your baby has a big belly on scan measurements aren’t anything serious. Let’s look at some of the most common reasons why a baby might have a big belly in the womb.
1. Intestinal Atresia
During the second or third trimester, you may find your baby is measuring with a larger belly which can be an indication of intestinal atresia. This is caused by your baby’s stomach being abnormally shaped or enlarged by a problem with the blood supply to the intestines during development.
If your baby is diagnosed with this condition, they will surgically repair the blockage once it is born, and you shouldn’t find any need for your baby to be delivered early in most cases. After surgery, most babies develop normally and have no further issues down the line, but Intestinal Artesia only occurs for 1 in 6,000 to 1 in 10,000 live births.
2. Gestational Diabetes
If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes then you will already be receiving additional treatment and help to maintain a healthy pregnancy, but you may be told during scans that your baby’s tummy or whole body is measuring large for their age.
If your baby has a big belly on scans then you may have undiagnosed or poorly controlled gestational diabetes and as your blood sugars spike, your baby will store this as extra abdominal fat which is one of the factors that contribute to birth complications in gestational diabetes.
3. Prune Belly Syndrome
PBS is a group of very rare birth defects that typically affect baby boys involving either poor abdominal muscle development, urinary tract problems, or undescended testicles. The exact causes are not known, but as the baby’s abdomen fills with amniotic fluid this can cause problems in the urinary tract, and when the liquid disappears after birth then this leads to a wrinkled abdomen.
You must remember Prune Belly Syndrome is a rare condition and your doctors will tell you more if this is what’s causing your baby’s big belly. Often this condition occurs when there isn’t enough amniotic fluid in the womb, but early intervention is key.
4. Positioning
How many times has someone told your their baby was hiding during scans, or wouldn’t stretch out and give accurate measurements for the sonographer? If your little one is comfortably squished up in your tummy then this can result in inaccurate measurements which cause unnecessary worries.
If you’re in your third trimester then you’ll be all too familiar with how cramped it’s getting in your tummy, so it is more difficult for the scans to be completely accurate. This could cause you unnecessary worry in an otherwise completely healthy pregnancy, and lead you to think your little one is facing issues. Your sonographer may ask you to come back at a later date or drink some water to get your baby moving and try to retake the scan measurements.
What Happens if Growth Scan Shows Big Baby?
As your doctors monitor your baby’s size throughout pregnancy, this will give a good indication of their health and well-being. Everyone wants their baby to grow to be big and healthy, but what does it mean if my unborn baby has a big belly?
The term Fetal Macrosomia sounds much scarier than it is and means your baby is larger than the average child which is anything above 4000g or 8 pounds 13 ounces. The chances of this are common with 3 to 15% of babies being born with macrosomia, but it doesn’t mean that your baby has bad health or an undiagnosed condition.
Many things can cause your baby to grow larger, and sometimes doctors can’t tell the real reason for a big baby as it could just be down to genetics, but there are other causes, so let’s take a look at what causes a big baby.
If you have a previous diagnosis of diabetes or gestational diabetes then you are likely to have high blood sugar which will increase the chances of developing a bigger baby, and your weight plays a part too. If you are overweight or obese or gain excessive amounts during your pregnancy then you are more likely to deliver a larger baby.
You may also find that larger babies are often boys, especially if they are of Caucasian or Hispanic ethnicity. You might want to ask your family if there is a history of delivering big babies as it could be nothing to worry about if it’s in your genetics.
The best way to ensure your baby grows healthily is to manage your weight and diet by staying within the guided weight gain based on your body. Your doctors will be able to tell you more if you need to do anything else, but remember to give your body what it needs through healthy and well-balanced meals.
Does A Big Baby Always Mean Early Delivery?
Whether you had a birth plan or not, the possibility of intervention or an emergency caesarian isn’t ideal for any mama-to-be, so when doctors tell you that your baby is measuring big, they will probably suggest that you have a planned C section or an early induction.
If you don’t have gestational diabetes, then you may not need to accept early intervention and you might find that early labor isn’t going to benefit you, or your baby. Although larger babies create an increased risk of perineal tearing and blood loss, many mothers find that having an induction forces their body into labor sooner than planned which rushes the birthing process and results in tearing or stress for mother and baby.
You might even find something as simple as a miscalculated due date or an incorrect ultrasound scan can cause you to panic for no reason and lead you to believe you’re cooking up a toddler-sized baby!
Although the magic of modern medicine is fantastic for helping us know how our babies are getting along, you may find your baby is just larger due to genetics, or the way they are positioned in your tummy, so unless your doctor tells you there’s a reason to be concerned about your babies size then your best bet is to keep eating healthy and nourishing meals throughout your pregnancy!
Wrapping Up
In summary, your body is an incredible thing, and growing a whole human is hard work- so go easy on yourself!
If your baby has a big belly on scan measurements, this doesn’t mean you need to panic as your doctors will be able to offer additional monitoring and let you know if there is anything going on, otherwise you could just be having a big baby!
Pregnancy and labor are where your body truly takes over, so trust that it knows what to do and make sure you get plenty of rest, good food, and of course trust your mama instincts when it comes to the health of your little one.
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