What are the complications of having a large baby?

Question

Hi doctor,

Kindly answer the query as elaborately as possible. I was hoping I could have someone answer the following questions for me.

I wanted to know about delivering large babies and whether it should be discussed with obstetrics and gynaecology doctors.

Can the doctor tell if someone will have a large baby?
How can obstetrics and gynaecology doctors tell if a woman will have a large baby?
What is the average size of a baby that is carried to deliver in a normal timeframe?
Is there anything special the mom or the doctor has to do if the baby measures abnormally large?
What size is considered abnormally large for a baby?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to iclinq.com.

Obstetrics and gynaecology judge baby size by ultrasonography of the abdomen or some other scans. The normal body weight of a baby who reaches full term between 37 and 40 weeks is five to nine pounds. A baby who weighs more than 9 pounds at birth may be referred to as macrosomia, a term used for a large baby.

The normal length of a baby who reaches full term is 18 to 20 inches long, with an average length of 19 inches. Babies of tall parents are likely to be longer, while those of short parents are often shorter. There should be nothing to worry about large babies as the doctor will physically examine the baby at birth, detect any warning signs if present, and continue the treatment if required. Large babies are often born to mothers who develop gestational diabetes while pregnant. You may also have a large baby if:

You were a big baby when born (genetically).
You were overweight before and during pregnancy.
You gain lots of weight during the pregnancy.
The baby is born more than two weeks past the estimated due date.

Thank you.