2nd child bigger?

[doitorelsa]

DS1 was 10lb (and I am small size 10 person). he got stuck and I needed last minute epidurala dn forceps delivery. I have requested a home birth (or birthing centre at least) for DC2 but MW has strongly advised against it as "likely to be bigger, risk of shoulder Dys-whotsit etc". She than said maybe ok if it is a girl as may be smaller. I will try to find out sex this time, what do you think and wwyd? Thanks.

[SilveryMoon]

Hi.
My ds1 was 9lbs 10oz and at my 6 month scan with ds2, they told me to expect him to be a pound heavier than ds1!!

As it turned out, ds2 was 6 days early and was 7lbs 13oz.

If it were me and I really wanted a home birth, I would request sizing scans closer to delivery time and see what they think then and then follow advice.

How far gone are you now?

[winnybella]

My 2nd was heavier by 1 kilo. And it was a girl.

Don't know about homebirth in these circs, but I generally prefer hospitals tbh-I feel safer(even if not crazy about the ambience iyswim)

[doitorelsa]

Thanks very much. I am only 12 weeks, scan tomorrow so a long time to think yet. I am not that neat to hospital either, just found it so awful last time, not labour so much as the constant being moved form room to room and various people in and out examining me etc. Sizing scan sounds sensible, do they do that with no medical reason?

[TmiEdward]

DS1 was 8lbs 6oz, 12 days overdue.
DS2 was 9lbs 10oz, 5 days overdue.
Planning on TTC DC3 next year. I fully expect 10lbs 4oz, on the due date!

I don't know if the boy/girl thing really matters, I mean, a baby is a baby, right? If the growing conditions are favourable, with the genetics taken into account?
Is DH big? What were your birth weights?

[jollyma]

Size doesn't always determine the birth experience. I had loads of stitches with ds1, 7lb3 and none with ds2 9lb12. My aunt says the road was already paved!

[Firawla]

my 2nd was quite a bit bigger (2lbs more) but the birth was much easier, although as your first was already 10lb if dc2 bigger than that then would be very big so not sure.. have the growth scans and if it seems likely that your baby may be big again then its probably safer just to go to the labour ward just incase of complications happening again? unless you have birthing centre and labour ward within the same building they may be happy with that as you can easily transfer?

[taffetazatyousantaclaus]

DS was 8lbs , 1 week early
DD was 7lb 7oz, 1 day early

DS was ventouse, head to the side
DD fell out within 4 minutes of arriving at hospital, midwives caught her - just

[stickersarecurrency]

My second was 1lb 4oz lighter (but a girl). I had growth scans with both pregnancies which predicted them both to be big babies and placed them on the exact same centile ... They were 8lb 3oz and 6lb 15oz respectively ... . I wouldn't take a prediction based on ultrasound scan measurements as gospel.

[thelibster]

dd1 was 8lb 12ozs, ds 12lb 3ozs dd2 10lbs 19ozs and no, I didn't have gestational diabetes, much to the annoyance of the medical staff who appeared what seemed like every 5 mins to take blood from either ds or me. I was monitored closely throughout 3rd pregnancy with dd2 but only got a "borderline" result at 39 weeks, 4 days before a planned section.

[doitorelsa]

oh thats interesting, the sizing scans are rarely accurate then? that may not be the answer in that case!

[thelibster]

• dd2 10lbs 10zs

[Milngavie]

Sizing scans at the end of pg are far from exact. With DC4 I was scanned at 38 weeks and they told me I would be lucky if the baby weighed 5 lbs. Scanned again a week later and told the same, in fact they were sure DC would be about 4.5lbs.

DC was born days later weighing in at 8lbs. I had been worried sick over nothing.

My other DC were 5lbs 10oz (35 weeks), 9lbs 2oz (term) and 7lbs 7oz (37 weeks).

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

ds1 - 8lbs 11oz, 16 days late
ds2 - 7lbs 11 oz, on edd.

Not sure if that helps at all

[EatingAngelPie]

my second was a full lb heavier.

but easier to give birth to - no tear, more relaxed labour.

if the birth fails to progress, you can always transfer in (and the reverse isn't true, if you decide in hospital, actually i'd rather go home....)-

as you have already delivered one 10lb baby - albeit with an assist - the way will be carved.

My Mils babies were both 10lbs and her second was at home- and she says much easier.


there was a post from a lady whose shoulder dystocia baby was readily sorted out at home by the MW attending....on a HB thread...
growth scans are notoriously innacurate unfortunately.

[ivykaty44]

my gran had her first baby - a boy and he was 10ilb7 and her next baby a boy was 6ilb

[JetLi]

Hi doitorelsa - have they mentioned a GD test at all? They may want to invite you for a test given DS1 was a bit of a belter. Uncontrolled GD can result in big babies.

[cairns]

Ds1 was 9lbs 8 and had shoulder dystocia (sp?) had growth scans and bloods ( no i do not have gest diabetes) with ds2 and scans showed in normal range ( as one bit measured was v wrong) he was 11lbs. Birth was fine but I am v v glad I was in hospital. I had high risk all over my notes due to ds1 shoulder and potential large baby. II personally would not take the risk with being at home, even though you have already delivered a large baby. I was reassured by a wonderful midwife who talked me through what would happen if he got stuck. In our area if you deliver a large baby they also keep you in for 24hrs bloods on the newborn so you may need to go in anyway if the baby is born large.

[Sisqinanamook]

DS born 2 weeks early at 7lbs 6oz, big baby for my family (nieces all around the 5lb mark) but he's the only boy so we blamed it on that.

DD born on EDD at 9lb! My sisters and I now blame my DH.

I would be concerned over a homebirth incase similar circumstances arise. Good luck, hope all goes well and you get the birth of your choice.

[Jojay]

DS1 8lb 3oz
DS2 7lb 7oz

I had late scans with both boys and with DS1 they estimated he would be 9lb+ - but he clearly wasn't!

Don't rely on those scans

[fedupwithdeployment]

DS1 7 lb 13 on due date
DS2 7 lb 9 4 days late.

DS1 - horrendous birth, DS2 textbook!

[madwomanintheattic]

they told me dd1 could be 10lb13 based on ultrasound, so they convinced me to have elcs the following morning as they were not prepared to accept the risk of me going into labour (i'm quite small). she was 8lb 6oz when they fished her out the next morning.

ds1 (back to back vbac lol) weighed exactly the same.

dd2 (vbac2) was slightly heavier at 9lbs, but was brain damaged by birth hypoxia. should have had that cs they didn't offer me

the scans are about as accurate as measuring the fundal height with a tape measure it's just a more scientific and more expensive guess, that still may or may not be anywhere near the truth.

[AngryPixie]

DD1 7lb 14

DS1 11lb .5oz

DS2 9lb 2oz

Nobody, warned me that DS1 was going to be enormous, although I felt vindicated for being an absolute PITA for the end of my pregnancy.

[SmacsFLIPpingHappy]

Yes !
DD1 8 lb 13oz
DD2 11 lb 1oz

Had growth scan at 38w for DD2 and was told she was 7lb 5oz and on 75th percentile. She was off the chart at birth.

[thecaptaincrocfamily]

MW is correct, the trend if dc is a boy is bigger but smaller if female.

dd1 9lb 12
dd2 10lb so not a huge differnce but same sex iyswim.