QuestionI am curious to know if there is any correlation to the size of a baby at birth to the size of what it's parents were at birth?
I am 5'5". Prepregnancy weight was 134.2. I am 31 weeks and currently weigh 164.4.
My mother's first child weighed 9lbs., 12oz. and was 22 inches long. I was my mother's second child and weighed 7lbs., 2oz. and was 20 inches long.
My husband was over 9lbs. when he was born.
My father (the baby's maternal grandfather) was 10lbs. when he was born.
I am scared that due to the history of my own mother's birth weights (my brother and I) and my husband's birth weight that I will have a large baby at birth.
Can you tell me if I should be worried? Or would it be more likely that my baby would be more the size of what I was when I was born - 7lbs., 2oz. and 20 inches long?
Thank you for your advice/opinion/help!
AnswerThe jury is still out, so-to-speak, on how much genetics play a role, if any at all, in determining birth weight. Your diet during your pregnancy and other factors (such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, etc) play a much bigger role in determining birth weight than genetics. It also sounds like your mother didn't even have a typical birth weight with her children, so the variance is there. If you came from a family where everyone had 9 and 10 lb. babies at birth, there might be some concern, but there's enough of a variation there that there's not a clear genetic tie to any birth weight.
At this point, if your pregnancy hasn't had serious complications, you should relax. =) Even if you have a 10 lb. baby, remember that the body is very accommodating during birth. =) A friend of mine recently gave birth to a 10 lb., 6 oz. baby boy via a vaginal, natural birth- so it can be done (and it was her first child as well).
Please let me know if I can help you further or with anything else.
Best wishes,
Helen =)
