question about 'large babies' having seen mw today...

[happynappies]

My dd was 9lb 3oz, and I had a difficult (32 hour - ventouse, shoulder dystocia, pph) labour. I'm now 12 weeks pg with #2, and had been preparing myself for a totally different birth experience - minimal intervention, doula, OFT... but feel a bit deflated having had my booking-in appt with mw today. She said as my dd was 'a good size' and as she got stuck and I had the pph her weight was at the limits of what my body could cope with, I'll have to have extra growth scans and be under consultant care. If it turns out that the SD was 'minor' when my notes are reviewed I may be ok to be booked into the mw-led unit which is on the same site as the consultant unit. So - as second babies are likely to be bigger, am I wasting my time even thinking about a natural delivery? She mentioned that I might have to be induced early if the growth scans indicate the baby is large. I don't want to be induced, having been on syntocin drip last time which landed me with an epidural - I want to avoid this at all costs. When I've discussed my labour/birth with other MNs I've been told that I did give birth to my dd, albeit with the 'help' of the ventouse, and I should trust my body again. I'm now frightened that I won't even get the chance to try. Anyone??

[shrinkingsagpuss]

how tall are you? what is your frame like?

I am 5;10'' and slim, but have good hips, and had 2 9lb plus babies - but i didn't have your problems with DS, so...

I wouldn't like to advise, it seems like a big risk to me. I was scared having DD, and she was bigger than DS, but it was all ok.

This second baby may be built in a totally different way to your first. I don't know the stats on having 2 births with shoulder dystocia.

sorry, not much help I know.

[happynappies]

I'm 5'7" and of average build. DH is 6'7" so that is where my dd got her 98th centile height from...

[snowymum]

I don't know why I'm replying as I'm only pregnant with my first so have no idea about anything, but I wonder if you hired an independent midwife whether you would be able to counter the potentially negative effects of consultant care? Or a good doula as you say - at the very least they can be your advocate and go head to head with the consultant to hold out for the natural onset of labour etc.

Whatever happens, good luck.

[happynappies]

Thanks - I guess I can just feel 'them' telling me what to do already, and I'm only 12 weeks pg!!!

[PortAndLemon]

My second baby was smaller (8lb 15oz compared to 10lb 5oz DS) and an easy vaginal delivery with no intervention (after difficult 40-hour labour with DS ending in c-section).

There is no evidence that inducing early for "large baby" makes any difference to outcomes (I have articles on this saved off somewhere).

Your second labour will go much faster and you won't be so tired when it comes to push. That by itself makes a huge difference IMO.

[happynappies]

PortAndLemon that is really interesting - I definately don't want to be induced and if there is any evidence I can lay my hands on... I'm going to have to be prepared to fight I guess. I've read conflicting things about SD - that size isn't a contributing factor, and that it is, and that having one makes a second more likely, and that it doesn't. Ohhhh why does it have to be such a minefield??!!

[Reginaphilangy]

My first labour sounds identical to yours and also ended in a ventouse with dd getting stuck (no shoulder dystocia though) and me losing lots and lots of blood. She was also 9lb 3oz.

My second pg was not monitored to any particular extent which left me a bit
They did predict another big baby and towards the end they were talking about a possible c-section. I went into spontanious labour 3 days before my due date and dd2 was born after a fantastic labour (got to hospital at 1pm and had her at 5pm) weighing 'just' 8lb 12 oz.

Dd3 was even quicker (just 4 hours from waking in pain to having her) and weighed in the heaviest of the lot at 9lb 5.5 oz.

I would see what happens nearer to the time. Our bodies adapt amazingly well

Good luck

[happynappies]

Reginaphilangy - can I ask you, do you know what you would have done if you hadn't sponaneously gone into labour for dd2? Did they give you a date for a cs?

[bozza]

My DS was 9 lb 10 and was a shortish labour (10 hours) and I managed to deliver him myself but with two hours of pushing and a fairly large episiotomy. I myself have very square shoulders (for a female) and my Mum says I got stuck so a bit of history on that side.

However DD was 8 lb 12 and delivered with two pushes at home and no stitches. Obviously the birth canal had been well excavated. I do think that some of the things that helped with DD were being active while in well-established labour including up and down the stairs (pausing half way up for a contraction) and giving birth stood up leaning on the bed. With DS I was laid on the bed, which slowed the contractions down, led to the drip being required, harder position for delivery etc.

But right up until 39+4 (she was born at 39+6) DD was apparently going to be bigger than DS....

[MiniMarmite]

Hi Happy

I haven't read everyone's posts here but just wanted to add that my sister in law had a difficult first birth (started at home but after 4 hours pushing transferred to hosp and had ventouse delivery, narrowly escaping emergency c section) due to the baby being large (10lb 11oz) so was under consultant care throughout her second pregnacy. In the end she was allowed to have a home birth for the second, the baby weighed 8lb and was delivered in 4 hours...

[PInkyminkyohnooo]

Happy, I don't have advice about your situation, but my first was 8lb5 and my seecond was 6lb14- so it doesn't neccesarily go that yuor second baby will also be big. Good luck.

[gem1981]

Hi HAppy

I am in a v similar situation to you but i am 30 weeks.

DS was 9.3lbs and my MW and the hospital have all gone into panic mode about this one being bigger.
I am 6ft and hubbie is 6.2ft so i don't know why they are so surpised that we have larger babies.

I had a PPH last time, and DS was delivered with forceps as I was too tired and couldn't feel where to push after a back to back labour and an epidural.

anyway .. what i am trying to say is that yes I have been refered for extra scans but so far this baby seems to be slightly smaller than DS was....

I am now no longer as worried as I was after they made me panic abot having another 'large' baby - i am quite philosophical about it - deep down i know my body can cope with larger babies and i am happy to be monitored - they can do that till the cows come home and from what they have said c-sections/inductions won't be mentioned until the baby hits 12lbs in which case i think i will ask for a c -section

ouch!!!

not sure how his helps you but wanted to let you know my experience.

[Reginaphilangy]

Happy - they spoke about a c-section should i have gone over dates, but no, no date was set.

Not sure what i would have done if I hadn't have started spontaniously ...i was desperate to avoid an induction because as far as i'm concerned dd was not ready to be born and i'm convinced that the problems all stemmed from that.

My advice (and its based on nothing apart from my own experience) to you would be to give yourself chance. Give your body chance.
Second births are so often much much easier than the first time around. If nothing else, you are not going in there blind - you know whats going on and can be a bit more prepared.

Try not to worry

[bythepowerofgreyskull]

My lovely friend gave birth to her first child 10lb 8oz vaginally at home

2nd baby they were paraniod about baby being a big baby. They said they wouldn't risk things, she had to have him in hospital

he was 11.2 vaginally no pain relief no real need to have been in hospital.

Good luck

[dizzyg]

I know how u feel dd was 9lb3 and had very long labour need ventouse after screaming for help to get baby out!! now this baby at 12 week scan is off scale and MW says not to worry that my body will adapt, but am scared of having very long painful labour again as doctor cant give me epidural because i have scolios!! due 20 week scan in 2 weeks time will see how big it is then but im already as big as house!

[happynappies]

Thanks for your words of support everyone - really great to hear that not all 2nd babies are bigger, and to hear positive advice about dealing with the situation.

Dizzyg I hope that the scan is helpful - I didn't measure large for dates at all last time, and my scans didn't show anything, but I know other people who've been told their baby would be huge, and it wasn't at all! It all seems so hit and miss, but I like to think that 2nd time around it will be easier, the labour will be shorter, and my body will know what to do. Good luck!

[mummy2t]

hi, my sil is a tiny frame, size 6 -8. just had a 9lb 11oz bubba. second deliveries can often be alot easier and quicker.

[MrsMattie]

Watching this thread with interest.

I had a c-section after a failed induction with my first baby. I'm now 24 weeks pregnant with my 2nd and hoping for a VBAC, but I get very nervous thinking about this one being bigger than my son was (10 lbs 2 oz)...

[Elasticwoman]

I have said this so many times on MN: I had huge baby (10 lb 6 oz) normal birth, no perineal damage. And I am a smaller woman than OP. I believe that ease of birth bears no relation to size of baby.

What helped me was to be RESTED (ie not exhausted before I started) when I went into labour; I used the birthing pool; I was calm and confident; I did not listen to the pessimists who threatened me with shoulder dystocia (ie giving birth to head, then shoulders getting stuck); I had support from dh and knew my other dc were being looked after.

[happynappies]

Hi Elasticwoman - can I ask you though, have you had problems with any other births? The mw seemed to be suggesting that because I almost couldn't give birth to dd - and her evidence was the shoulder dystocia and the haemhorrage, I wouldn't be able to give birth to a bigger baby. I don't know how much of the 'not being able to' first time around was due to the syntocin/epidural/lying on bed with legs in stirrups/tiredness after 32 hours - I just don't know whether to trust my body this time around, or listen to the mw/consultants...

[Lio]

Early days yet, pls don't let the mw worry you. First baby 9lb 10oz, induced, not pleasant, second baby not induced, home birth (planned), 9lb, quick and wonderful. DOula made me full of confidence, did a lot of reading including the wonderful Your Birth Rights by Pat THomas. YOu can refuse induction, and this book gave me the confidence to make an educated refusal. Good luck.

[Milliways]

I am tall and average build.

DD was a very difficult induced birth, took 2 days and she was 6lb 2oz.

DS was therefore monitored for Growth Retardation (DD's problem) and I was consultant booked. DS arrived 2 weeks late at 9lb 6oz and shot out in less than an hour and only 1 push and his head was out!

Give me the large baby if I have to do it again

[Elasticwoman]

happynappies - I did have 2 normal births first (8 lb and then 9 lb). But a friend in my antenatal group had terrible first birth - very long labour, 4 hours 2nd stage, forceps and finally emergency c section, but 21 months later gave birth to 10 lb whopper in 3 hours flat. Her first baby had just got stuck.

[Elasticwoman]

Stirrups? Sounds like you were trying to push it out uphill. Almost impossible. I was always upright to give birth.

Dd2 I delivered myself. I was in the birthing pool, standing up because the mw had filled it too full and if I wasn't standing I'd have drowned! I remember her saying: Your baby is about to be born, just reach down after the next push and bring her up to the surface. And that's what I did.