01/04/2026
This gets said a lot. It’s not that simple.
If I wasn’t afraid to hurt your feelings, I’d tell you this:
“big baby” on ultrasound is not a diagnosis.
Estimated fetal weight is exactly that — an estimate.
RANZCOG states prenatal prediction of birthweight is imprecise, with variability up to 20%.
And when we look at the evidence:
Induction for suspected macrosomia
does not clearly reduce caesarean birth
and does not clearly reduce serious injury.
It may reduce some risks —
but it also relies on a prediction
that isn’t always accurate.
So the conversation shouldn’t be:
👉 “baby looks big, therefore induction”
It should be:
👉 what do we actually know?
👉 what are the risks, benefits, and alternatives?
👉 what matters to you?
That’s informed choice. Not fear.
Were you ever told your baby was ‘measuring big’? What did you decide?