Will the baby be born early if it is bigger?

During the development process, the fetus may appear different sizes due to factors such as genetics or the maintenance of the pregnant woman. Generally speaking, the size of the fetus is within a normal range. If it is not within this range, the fetus is too large or too small. Many people believe that if the fetus is too large, it will be born early. In fact, this is a view that has no scientific basis. There is no connection between the size of the fetus and premature or late birth.

1. Will a large fetus be born early?

If the fetus is too large, it will be born prematurely, and if the fetus is too small, it will be born late. This logic is definitely incorrect, because whether a child is born prematurely is not determined by the size of the fetus. In addition, the normal delivery time is not only on the due date. The two weeks before and after the due date are both normal time periods. If the child is born within these time periods, mothers do not need to worry too much, because your baby is not a premature baby and will not leave any sequelae.

There are many factors that determine whether a baby will be born prematurely. For example, if the fetus enters the pelvis too early, the baby may be born prematurely. The fetus will put pressure on the mother's bladder and other parts of the body, eventually leading to premature birth. There are also cases where the amniotic fluid of a pregnant woman ruptures due to various reasons. At this time, the baby needs to be born. Even if the baby is premature, the child's safety must be ensured. As the amniotic fluid is lost, the fetus in the abdomen will be in danger of deprivation of oxygen, and a caesarean section is required in emergency situations. Some women may have premature births in the last month of pregnancy due to not paying attention to their health, working too hard, or doing heavy work.

2. Reasons for a large fetus

1. Genetic factors: If the parents are tall, they are more likely to give birth to a larger fetus.

2. Parity: Statistics show that the weight of the fetus increases with the mother's parity and gestational age.

3. Nutrition: Excessive nutrition during pregnancy has a certain relationship with fetal weight. It requires a reasonable combination of nutrients during pregnancy, and the amount should be the same as that during the non-pregnancy period. Macrosomia often occurs in mothers whose weight before pregnancy is more than 65 kg.

4. Diabetes: Pregnant women with diabetes, especially those with mild diabetes, may often give birth to giant fetuses. Fetal chondrodysplasia and fetal hypothyroidism can also lead to macrosomia and fetal malformations.

5. Post-term pregnancy and over-maturity of the fetus: If the post-term pregnancy continues to develop and the placenta functions well, macrosomia may occur. However, in some post-term pregnancies, the placenta is aging, the amniotic fluid is low, and the fetus develops and weighs normally, but is often accompanied by intrauterine asphyxia.

3. How should I choose the delivery method if the fetus is too large?

1. Cesarean section

If the fetal weight of a non-diabetic pregnant woman is estimated to be ≥4.5 kg, or the fetal weight of a diabetic pregnant woman is estimated to be ≥4.0 kg, even if the pelvis is normal, cesarean section should be performed to terminate the pregnancy to prevent maternal injury during delivery.

2. Vaginal delivery

Doctors should closely monitor the delivery process of pregnant women whose fetuses are estimated to be large. Because the fetal head is large and hard and not easy to deform, the labor process will be slightly prolonged and the cause of slow labor should be found out in time. Therefore, it is not advisable to try labor for too long. During vaginal delivery, special attention should be paid to shoulder dystocia during delivery. When the fetal head is delivered, the broad shoulders are obstructed, causing shoulder dystocia. Difficult delivery can lead to fetal death if not handled properly.

Therefore, pregnant women with large fetuses should accurately estimate the weight of the fetus before delivery. They can use B-ultrasound to measure the head circumference, abdominal circumference, and chest circumference to predict the possibility of dystocia. More importantly, they should receive reasonable nutritional guidance during pregnancy. If there is any abnormality in sugar metabolism, it should be discovered and treated early to prevent the occurrence of giant fetuses.