A healthy big baby vs. fetal macrosomia

David Miller, MD Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, explains what can cause babies to be big and fetal macrosomia
Difference Between A Healthy Big Baby and Fetal Macrosomia
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A healthy big baby vs. fetal macrosomia

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What if my doctor tells me that my baby is too big? What does that mean, and what do I do about it? Well, the number one cause of the baby that measures too big, is just wrong dates, that is, the due date was not calculated correctly, and if that's confirmed to be the cause, then sometimes we have to change the due date. Another cause of a big baby that's benign is just a baby who is destined to be big, is on the big end of the normal scale, but not all causes of fetal macrosomia, that's the word that we use to describe a large baby, are benign. Diabetes is a well recognized cause of fetal macrosomia. If your doctor suspects diabetes, that will need to be diagnosed specifically and either managed by your obstetrician or if it's complicated, referred to a specialist to help co-manage that condition.

David Miller, MD Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, explains what can cause babies to be big and fetal macrosomia

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David Miller, MD

Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles

David A. Miller, MD, is Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and Children's Hospital Los Angeles.  He is the Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Director of the CHLA-USC Institute for Maternal Fetal Health, a unique alliance of medical leaders from Children's Hospital Los Angeles and USC, specializing in interdisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of complex fetal abnormalities.  Dr. Miller graduated from USC, attended medical school at the University of Arkansas, did his internship and residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and came back to USC for fellowship training in Maternal-Fetal Medicine (Perinatology).  He has been a researcher, clinician and educator at USC for more than 20 years.  Dr. Miller has published extensively in the area of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and has won numerous awards and honors including Best Doctors in America from 2001-present.

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Transcription: 
What if my doctor tells me that my baby is too big? What does that mean, and what do I do about it? Well, the number one cause of the baby that measures too big, is just wrong dates, that is, the due date was not calculated correctly, and if that's confirmed to be the cause, then sometimes we have to change the due date. Another cause of a big baby that's benign is just a baby who is destined to be big, is on the big end of the normal scale, but not all causes of fetal macrosomia, that's the word that we use to describe a large baby, are benign. Diabetes is a well recognized cause of fetal macrosomia. If your doctor suspects diabetes, that will need to be diagnosed specifically and either managed by your obstetrician or if it's complicated, referred to a specialist to help co-manage that condition.