Are second babies always bigger? What make a big baby?

[Waggamamma]

My ds surprised everyone by weighing 9lb 1oz at birth. After a long labour he was a ventouse delivery.

I'm now pregnant with my 2nd (15wks) and worrying about what size this baby will be. My friend
keeps going on how second babies are always bigger and I won't be able to push this one out .

What makes a baby big? Is it anything to do with how much I eat or my bmi. I've been eating much healthier since the sickness has lessened but I still have a big appetite.

Also what size of clothes should I buy for baby? I've bought some Next newborn sleepsuits for 7.5lbs but dp says they'll never fit and bought some 0-3 sleepsuits for 14lb. Is there no size in between?

If you had a big first baby was your second bigger?

[andreaem]

Hi yeah, firstly don't worry. I really don't think there is any pattern to the weight of babies. I have 3 DS my 1st was 8lb 6oz, 2nd 10lb 4oz and 3rd 9lb 8oz. All big babies. My mum had 3 DD 9lb 11oz, 8lb 4oz then me at 9lb 2oz. So I really don't think it matters what order the babies are. Have you been offered a glucose test? Cause sometimes they offer them if you have big babies. I don't think there is anything you can do, if your going to have big babies you will have a big baby. Clothing wise, I got 0-3 months. And they were ok even for my biggest 2. I had natural with all 3,

[ithoughtofitfirst]

Try not to worry about it too much but maybe discuss your concerns with your midwife. Sometimes they say the most reassuring things. Friends will often chime in with unhelpful comments like 'you'll have difficulty' when they know nothing about it.

[Thesebootsweremadeforwalking]

Is your friend always so tactless?

FWIW my DC2 was 1 ounce lighter than DC1.

[Sid77]

My first was 9lbs 2 and my second 9lbs 10. Second birth was way easier as everything had - ahem - stretched from big baby no 1. Having a big first baby stands you in good stead for your second so please don't worry!!

[Chopsypie]

My second was over a pound lighter.
Baby size has nothing to do with how much you eat, hundreds of women have hyperemsis and eat almost nothing for months and have big babies!

[Foxeym]

I was also told this and also that boys are bigger but DD1 was 7lbs 14, DD2 was 7lbs 6 and DS1 was 7lbs 12 and the last born so all about the same :)

[CannyBagOfTudor]

Not in my case.

DC1 9 pounds 11 (40+2)

DC2 7 pounds 14 (39 weeks)

[CannyBagOfTudor]

(both girls)

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

My three dses got progressively lighter, so second and subsequent babies aren't always bigger. And your friend is talking bollocks.

[KatherinaMinola]

On the sleepsuits issue, Next newborn size is unusually small - other brands such as M&S, Mothercare and the supermarkets go up to about 9lbs or 10lbs for newborn size.

No advice on big babies.

[HandragsNGladbags]

DD2 was a lb heavier and a much easier birth! MW told me anything over 9ish lb is considered larger, but that they are often easier births as there is no room for little hands and arms to get into funny positions.

At 8lb10 DD2 pretty much went straight into 0 - 3 but the larger new born stuff like Next would be fine, Primark not so much.

[ChicaMomma]

My mum's babies (ie me and my siblings!!!) got lighter as we went along.. 9'13 (boy), 9'7 (that's me, i was a biggie for a girl!!) and 8'7 (girl).. we were all exactly 10 days over as well..

It's kind of mean of your friend to be saying that!!!

i wouldn't bother with the newborn babygros, all the ones i've bought are 0-3...

[BalloonSlayer]

DS1 was 9lb 9oz

DD was 6lb 13oz

DS2 was 6lb 13oz

(as it happens I had a scan at 34 weeks with DS1, and his weight was calculated at, yep, you've guessed it, 6lb 13oz!)

When I was expecting DS2 everyone kept telling me I was tiny and I ended up with a consultant appointment to reassure me. Consultant said "first babies are always bigger because in the last few weeks of pregnancy you have the time to lie around eating mars bars when it's your first, but with second and third babies you're too busy with your other children!"

Maybe he was right . . .

My very old (Gordon Bourne, anyone?) pregnancy book states " a woman will have her heaviest baby round about the age of 35."

I was 35 when I had DS1, 37 when I had DD and 43 when I had DS2.

When my book was written people had babies younger and I wonder if most people would be having their last baby at the age of 35?

[Suzietwo]

Is 9lbs really big any more? Most people I know seem to have babies about this weight! Big is 10lb+ in my head.
My first (boy) was a bit over 9 and my second, girl, a bit under. I forget exact weights. Due my third and I'd imagine it will be around the same, altho will be delivered 3 weeks earlier so maybe a bit less?

Isn't genetic in my case. My mother had 5 babies all at 6-7lbs.

[MoominsYonisAreScary]

Mine got lighter, ds1 was biggest at 11lb 2oz

[Waggamamma]

Thanks everyone, that is reassuring. I know it's a long way off til delivery but it's been making me anxious.

I have been offered at 28wks because my dad is type 1 diabetic. I had an early blood test too which was normal.

It was a real suprise ds was a 9lber because the biggest baby in our family has been 7lb 7oz! Ds was born at 42 weeks so I wonder if that had anything to do with it.

Those of you who had big babies do you mind me asking how they were delivered?

[JenBehavingBadly]

DC1 was big, DC2 was tiny!!

[HandragsNGladbags]

WHAT Ballonslayer?! Who is spreading this 35 nonsense?

Guess how old I am?

[HandragsNGladbags]

Not big really but DD2 at 9lb was born in her waters quickly without pain relief - not through my lack of trying I hasten to add.

Small tear, no problems.

[Yama]

My Mum's babies were 6.5, 8.13, 8.0 and 4.11.

Mine were 7.3 and then 8.3. Both a week early.

I'm sure genetics and gestation length have the biggest impact rather than birth order.

[MrsKermittSmith]

My second was smaller :)

[Yama]

Just reread Balloonslayer's post. I was 34 when I had my heaviest baby.

[Waggamamma]

I'm 25 so if the age 35 theory is true and I have another baby in ten years time (very doubtful!) my eyes are watering just thinking about what size it might be...eek!

Thanks for all tge reassurance though, it's good to hear this baby won't necessarily be a whopper.

[Ludways]

Ds 8lb 9ozs 39+6
Dd 8lb 40+11

[munchkinmaster]

I had a 9lb baby and she fitted nicely into next newborn for 6 weeks