These babies also may need to stay in neonatal intensive care because of breathing problems, low blood sugar hypoglycemia , or both.
The risk for problems increases as the birth weight increases. The risks are highest for babies who weigh more than 9 pounds, 15 ounces 4, grams. LGA babies are more likely to have an excessive amount of red blood cells polycythemia. As these red blood cells break down, the liver may not be able to handle the increased amount of bilirubin needing to be conjugated.
This may lead to high levels of bilirubin in the blood, resulting in jaundice. Regular prenatal care is important in all pregnancies. Regular checkups can help your healthcare provider find out how your baby is growing. If your baby seems large, it may be a sign that you have undetected diabetes or other problems. To lower some of the risks to your baby:.
Babies are called large for gestational age if they weigh more than expected for their gestational age weeks of pregnancy at birth. If a baby is too large to fit through the birth canal easily, delivery can be difficult. If ultrasound exams during pregnancy show a baby is very large, your healthcare provider may recommend early delivery. Regular prenatal checkups can help your healthcare provider find out if your baby is too large. At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis and any new medicines, treatments, or tests.
Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you for your child. Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed and how it will help your child. Also know what the side effects are. Know what to expect if your child does not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
If your child has a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit. In many cases, women who are told they're going to have a large baby actually give birth to a baby within the normal range.
A baby may be large at birth due to genetic factors, the mother's health or, in rare cases, a medical condition that causes the fetus to grow too quickly. In some cases, larger-than-normal birth weight doesn't have a clear cause and can't be explained. Most large babies who weigh more than 4. But there are still some risks associated with having a big baby. Labour may take longer and be more likely to involve complications.
There's an increased risk of having a forceps or vacuum-assisted delivery or a caesarean , and of birth injury to the mother or baby. There is a link between fetal macrosomia and shoulder dystocia. Shoulder dystocia occurs during a vaginal birth when the baby's head has been born, but one of the shoulders becomes stuck behind the mother's pelvic bone.
The baby's shoulders need to be released quickly so the baby's body can also be born, and they can start breathing. Shoulder dystocia can happen during any birth. At least half of all babies who experience shoulder dystocia at birth weigh less than 4kg. Large babies can be born via a normal, vaginal delivery — but it's best to give birth where you can access specialist medical services , just in case things don't go according to plan.
Every pregnancy and birth is unique, so talk to your doctor or midwife about the best place for you to give birth. Since many large babies are born to mothers with diabetes, some babies will need help regulating their blood sugar after they're born.
Later in life, the risk of childhood obesity or being overweight may increase and the baby may develop other problems with their metabolism. A larger than average baby may need help breathing following the birth, so they may be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit NICU or special care nursery SCN.
There is also an increased risk of jaundice yellowing of the skin among large babies. Regardless of their size at birth, a baby's weight is always monitored closely after they are born to make sure they are healthy and growing properly. But their weight isn't the only thing that's important.
How well they are feeding and the number of wet nappies and poos they produce daily can also indicate that your baby is doing well.
Often there's nothing you can do to avoid having a large or small baby. But looking after yourself during pregnancy is important for all women.
You should consider:. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview The term "fetal macrosomia" is used to describe a newborn who's much larger than average. Fundal height Open pop-up dialog box Close. Fundal height Fundal height is the distance from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus measured in centimeters. Polyhydramnios Open pop-up dialog box Close.
Polyhydramnios In polyhydramnios, excessive amniotic fluid accumulates in the uterus during pregnancy. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter.
Show references American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Practice Bulletin No. Abramocwicz JS, et al. Fetal macrosomia. Accessed March 17, When the condition is diagnosed early, it can be properly managed. Find out more about macrosomia and what to do about it. Back to Top. In This Article. Continue Reading Below. Read This Next. Preeclampsia: Symptoms, Risk Factors and Treatment. Late Pregnancy Warning Signs and Tips. View Sources. Mayo Clinic, Fetal Macrosomia , May Cleveland Clinic, Fetal Macrosomia , July Fetal Health.
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