Large for gestational age babies

During pregnancy, a baby's birthweight can be estimated in different ways. The height of the fundus (the top of a mother's uterus) can be measured from the pubic bone. This measurement, in centimeters, usually corresponds with the number of weeks of pregnancy. If the measurement is high for the number of weeks, your baby may be larger than expected. Other diagnostic procedures may include:

• Ultrasound (a test using sound waves to create a picture of internal structures) is a more accurate method of estimating fetal size. Measurements can be taken of the fetus' head and limbs and compared with a growth chart to estimate fetal weight.
   
• A mother's weight gain can also influence a baby's size. Large maternal weight gains in pregnancy may correspond with a big baby.

Babies are weighed within the first few hours after birth. The weight is compared with your baby's gestational age and recorded in the medical record. Generally, if your baby weighs more than 4,000 grams (8 pounds, 13 ounces), she is considered LGA.