What Is A 99 Percentile Baby?

While you cannot ever know everything about parenting, as there is always a new load of information. Right now, what is making rounds on TikTok is the 99 percentile babies. A Brisbane mom went viral after she shared her experience of giving birth to a baby in the 99th percentile size. Britanny Opetaia-Halls birthed her daughter who weighs 22 pounds, 9 ounces, which is about 5 pounds heavier than the average baby her age.

Dr Sermed Mezher, a digital health content creator, and a London based GP, shared: "Babies in the womb who measure in the 99th percentile for weight are refereed to as macrosomic baby, meaning they are significantly larger than average for their gestational age. While most macrosomic babies are healthy, their larger size can increase the risk of certain complications during pregnancy and delivery."

What are the risks?

Fir such babies, macrosomia can lead to shoulder dystocia, where shoulders become stuck during birth, or a higher likelihood of requiring a cesarean delivery. For the mother it can increase the risk of perineal tearing, excessive bleeding, or longer weight gain during pregnancy. Maternal diabetes, genetics, or excessive weight gain during pregnancy can also contribute to a baby being macrosomic.

This is known as fetal macrosomia, when your baby's weight is in the top 10% of the stage of pregnancy.

What causes it?

There are certain reason why your baby can be macrosomic:

You have a large fundal height (a measurement of fetal growth)

You have gained a lot of weight during pregnancy

You have diabetes or were diagnosed with gestational diabetes

You have previously delivered a large baby

You have gone past your due date

You were a big baby as a child

How is fetal macrosomia diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider may ask you to get an ultrasound to check the fetal weight and amount of amniotic fluid. An ultrasound is a diagnostic procedures that transmits high-frequency sound waves through body tissues. These waves transform into video or photographic images. An ultrasound is important because it can estimate a fetus's weight within about 10%. However, it means if the ultrasound estimates your baby is 9 pounds, it is the "best guest". However, it means the baby actually weighs somewhere between 8 to 10 pounds.

While the ultrasound is not precise, and it cannot predict shoulder dystocia, your healthcare provider will combine information from your ultrasound and pregnancy history to determine the safest route of delivery.

Risk In Babies

As per a 2013 study published in Maternal Child Health Journal, fetal macrosomia is a risk factor for the development of obesity late in childhood. A study also found that children born macrosomic had a 1.52 fold higher risk of being overweight or obese at age 7. Another study found that children born macrosomic had a 1.5 times higher chance of being overweight or obese in early childhood.

Such babies may have other complications, including a lower than normal blood sugar levels and a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart diseases, stroke, and diabetes.