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Pregnancy

What causes a big baby?

43 replies

Kayzr · 30/12/2009 07:47

We are planning to TTC #3 next year and I am just looking into the causes of big babies.

DS2 was 10lb 5oz and there were no indications that he was going to be so large. I never measured large for dates, no gestastional diabetes and the MW estimated he would be about 8lbs.

I just want to know what can cause some babies to be so large. I have had a look and a few places say that large weight gain during pregnancy can cause large babies. I am quite overweight but I put on just over a stone with DS2 and lost it all as soon as he was born due to his size.

Could the fact that I am overweight be the cause? The MW doesn't think it is to do with that and that it was just a one off.

Don't fancy another huge baby

Thanks.

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LoveBeingAMummyKissingSanta · 30/12/2009 07:49

As far as I am aware there are med conditions that can cause a large baby but other than that its just luck

What weight was dc1?

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Kayzr · 30/12/2009 07:53

DS1 was 7lb 2oz. So tiny in compared to DS2

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EldonAve · 30/12/2009 07:57

Did they actually check your glucose levels or give you a glucose tolerance test during pg with DC2?

They will likely monitor you more closely for GD during another pg and possibly give you a GTT

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Kayzr · 30/12/2009 07:59

Yes I had all the normal tests and 1 fasting blood test and they were all normal.

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sharon137 · 30/12/2009 08:05

I think it is fairly random. I am one of five kids and we were all between 9lb and 11lb (that was me!), my mum is a tiny little woman, healthy as an ox and never overweight. My sisters two kids were small, my baby (am 33 weeks) is apparently measuring big, my bump certainly is massive! I have a friend who has two kids, one of whom was 14lb (!!) and the other was 8... she had pretty much the same kind of pregnancy with each, and ate the same sort of diet etc.
I am hoping for a big baby TBH - I know it is prob more painful but teeny tiny babies frighten me!

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Kayzr · 30/12/2009 08:08

I don't think giving birth was more painful with DS2. It was about the same really, but more relaxed because I was at home.

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Tillyscoutsmum · 30/12/2009 08:13

I've had two larger babies - dd was my first and 9lb 12oz. DS arrived a couple of weeks ago at 10lb 5 oz.

Neither me nor DH are particularly big or tall. I was an "average" weight before being pg (about a size 12) and I put on about 2 stone with both of them.

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PacificMistletoeandnoWine · 30/12/2009 08:15

What causes big babies: genes ! I am still shuddering at the thought of the 12lbs 5oz baby I once met - both parents over 6ft tall, but not at all overweight, either of them.

In all seriousness, it relates to placental function which is down to genes, luck and where and how exactly the fertilised egg implants. If the placenta grows well with a very good bloodvessel supply, then the baby gets lots of nourishment.
This is why it is possible for v mal/undernourished women to give birth to normal sized/weight babies - at their cost of course.

I think if you had one normal sized baby and one big baby, the jury is out there what will happen next... .
OGTT might be a good idea, just in case, to rule out subclinical gestational diabetes.

My son (6) requested a !

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Kayzr · 30/12/2009 08:19

DS2 is very very tall for his age(just turned 1). He is 4 inches taller than DS1 was at the same age so I think a lot of his weight is really length. I am 5ft 8 and DH is 6ft. Though I think he must get it from my brother who is 6ft 5!!

I have been told I should get growth scans though HV reckons I have made them up.

Love the It is cool.

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picc · 30/12/2009 08:34

Ah thanks Pacific. Was wondering about this too, but from another point of view.

DS was only 7lb 5 when he was born and struggled to put on weight at first etc etc. Both DH and I are kind of average height (6 ft and 5ft6) and I'm a bit overweight. Hardly put anything on during pregnancy though.

I have always looked with envy at the bigger babies (! they seem to thrive a lot more from birth... although that may be greener-grass syndrome!), and wondered how tiny mums had given birth to such huge babies!

I had BP probs, and I assumed it was my fault that DS failed to put on so much weight while I was pregnant. That I was depriving him of nourishment due to crap blood supply.

Guess that might be the case.

But then my mum had 3 kids and we were all about 7 and a half pounds. Same for MIL's 3 kids.
So maybe it's a genetic thing too...

Were both your babies full term, Kayzr? Were you induced at all? Or did they come of their own accord? Good luck with the TTC anyway

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CoteDAzur · 30/12/2009 08:36

My understanding is that main cause of big babies is genetic - If your mum made big babies, so will you, generally.

DD was 4 kgs. Consultant thought if I gained less weight in second pregnancy, baby would be smaller I put on half the weight and DS's estimated birth weight was 4.3 kgs. That is when consultant admitted macrosomia doesn't happen because mum stuffs her face and I had an el-CS two weeks before term.

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Kayzr · 30/12/2009 08:38

DS1 was 2 days late and no induction or anything. DS2 was born on his due date and was born at home again with no interventions.

The main reason I am looking into this, is because I want another home birth and my HV(interfering old bag but another thread) has said I can't have a home birth.

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izzybiz · 30/12/2009 08:42

My Dh's family were all pretty big babies and a lot of them have had big babies too.

My last baby Ds2, was 10lb 10oz at birth!
My first(different father) was 7lb 4oz, and my second(with Dh) was 7lb 15oz. So Ds2 was a bit of a shock, especially as I was told to expect 8-9lbs. We both had blood tests for GD but were both clear!

I was 6lb 13oz and Dh was a little over 6lb, but he is a twin!

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LeoniedElf · 30/12/2009 08:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Rindercella · 30/12/2009 09:01

I agree that it's down to genes (although I'm no medical expert, unlike Pacific ).

When I was pg with DD1, my aunt told my mother to warn me that I was going to have a large baby. I went, "la, la, la" with fingers in my ears as I just didn't want to hear it. Apparently my father's side of the family were all 10lb+ and my cousin's two babies were very large. DD1 weighed in at 9lb 9oz, so large, but could've been worse bigger!

Both DH and I are quite tall - I'm 5'10" and DH is 6'2". I am pg with DD2 and am expecting her to be quite large too.

I'm another who likes larger babies!

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EdgarAleNPie · 30/12/2009 09:09

propspective large baby fo a woman who has already birthed a larger baby without intervention is no reason to deny a HB. why is your HV involved anyway? surely down to your MW?

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katylou25 · 30/12/2009 09:14

I am one of 3 - we were a ll 10lbers. Dh was 8 and a 1.2 pounds ish

I always knew I was going tohave big babies

Ds1 was 9lb 9oz
ds2 dead on 9lb although the growth scans they made me have out him at 11lb??!! hmm

am 20 weeks with dc3 so we shall see...

Am alway shocked at the amount of stress I get from the midwives about these big babies... I am sure it's genetic - I delivered both of them naturally with only gas and air - no stitches etc - I think women in my family are just made to havve big babies but still I'm getting greif about where and how I have dc3 already!

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Rindercella · 30/12/2009 09:17

I was the same with DD katylou - DD was delivered within 3 hours of my arriving at hospital, I only had G&A for pain relief and I didn't tear. I consider myself to be lucky!

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ilovesprouts · 30/12/2009 09:20

dd1 was 7lb 11 oz ds2 8lb ds1 3 13lb as he was early ,and one of my pals dd was 11b 11 oz ouch

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Kayzr · 30/12/2009 09:25

Edgar, I am not sure why HV is involved. She just keeps moaning at me whenever I see her. Like yesterday when I was at work she moaned at me. I haven't ever mentioned that we want another baby to her.

Cote, I missed your post sorry. I was 7lb 2oz and my brother was 7lb 6oz. So not that big.

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EdgarAleNPie · 30/12/2009 09:43

i always thought HVs were there solely to moan at us abut their own petty prejudices....

i see mine as little as possible!

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Kayzr · 30/12/2009 09:45

I see mine as little as possible too. So whenever I happen to bump into her she moans about us not getting DS2 weighed very often.

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EdgarAleNPie · 30/12/2009 09:48

ah yes, as though they could suddenly starve without us noticing...

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merryberry · 30/12/2009 10:00

think it is me being 'well nourished' plus genes plus going post-term in my case. ds1 was 6lb13oz only, i put on loads of weight with him over 3st. he was born looking long and slender and only once was briefly chubby. same as his dad's side of the family.

ds2 was 11lb11oz, neear 25" long and born 40+10. He had rolls of fat on his rolls of fat, but beyond that, he was muscled like a small human tank and makes people startle as they pick him up now, he is still even heavier than he looks. like my side of the family. we're replete with 6ft5+ uncles. and my maternal grandad was 14lb1oz at birth, in the days before the food overabundance.

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GhoulsAreLoud · 30/12/2009 10:11

I was the same as you leonie - under 7 pounds at birth, DH was around 8. He's 6ft5 now and dd was 9 pounds 11 at birth.

DH's (female) cousin was 10 pounds at birth though and his male cousin not far behind her (and delivered 2 weeks early). So I blame DH's side of the family!

Interesting about the placenta - apparently the medics at DD's birth were fascinated by the size of the placenta

I put on 2 stone when pregnant with DD and was a healthy BMI to start with. Be interesting to see what happens this time round as I'm a stone heavier than I was then.

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