32 week scan and baby 5lb14!!! help

[ballio]

Hi i have just been for my 32 week scan and the baby is very big, 5.14 already. Im having scans because my ds was 9lb3 and had to have emergency c section. I have to see the consultatnt on Friday.
I want to try for a natural birth but not sure they will let me.
Any ideas what they might suggest? or has anyone similar experiences??

[mogend77]

They don't have to "let" you. Do remember it's your decision - they can only advise & you are entitled to second opinions etc. Growth scans can also be very inaccurate.

How was your labour otherwise with your ds? What positions were you in? What pain relief did you use?

9lb3 doesn't seem that big. It's extremely rare for babies to actually be too big for the mother to birth - the vast majority of the time it is due to labour positions, epidurals etc.

[ballio]

I was walking around a lot of the time, then had an epidural so was sitting. Im only 9st and 5ft 3 so 9.3 is big for me. Maybe it was just bad luck last time, i got to 8cm then he got stuck

[pasturesnew]

I would still think natural birth is OK if baby is in good position and if head circumference is not enormous?

[ballio]

yeah baby is head down, the HC is big but then so is everything else. Will wait to see what consultant says on Friday. Thanks

[mogend77]

Yep. Walking around will have been good at the time but if you are sitting due to epidural the space available for baby is reduced by something like 30% - it's a heck of a lot. 9lb3 is a good sized baby, but small women can birth big babies.

Just trying to give you a confidence boost! You might well manage to birth just as big a baby, given the right support etc.

Have you considered a water birth? Both for pain relief & relaxation - so that you are more able to be in the best position for the delivery. Water is considered to be 2nd only to epidural and better than, for example, opiates in terms of pure pain relief - and comes with none of the drawbacks.

[fidelma]

My first was 9Lb 3oz. 2nd 8lb.7oz (much easier)3rd was 10lb and now 32 weeks with my 4th.all not that easy.Gave birth with my legs on the hips of MW and DH while lying on the bed!!!!This one also looks quite big hopefully the way has been made.

[Ilovebeingamummy]

Bigger babies are actually usually better positioned to birth as less room makes their heads more likely to be properly flexed (chin to chest) pressing on the cervix properly.

And growth scans are a load of rubbish anyway (av of 1lb-2lb accuracy either way!!)

NICE guidelines are that a VBAC should always be "offered" (in fact encouraged and a repeat section is not supposed to be routinely done)

Try to stay upright, keep moving and avoid epidural...and rejoice in growing big healthy babies!!

Mogend is right - waterbirth would be perfect (and is shown to support previous scar)....but if you can find a supportive unit for a VWBAC then sing from the rooftops as you have a rare thing....

Thought of a HVWBAC ?!? (home waterbirth after Caesarean)
Enjoy your birth and baby

[mogend77]

Oh dear! Sorry - hope I haven't got your hopes up wrongly. I didn't realise NHS weren't supportive of VWBAC. I know people who have had them but thinking about it they may have had IMs.

Worth asking anyway!

[ballio]

Hi All, thanks for all your comments

Saw consultant today who didnt seem very bothered about anything at all, think she was just trying to get rid of me. I was there for about 3 minutes i explained everything and she said to come back at 38 weeks and they will decide then what would be best for me. So feeling quite frustrated really, thought they might give me some idea of what will happen to me.
Dont think they will let me have a HVWBAC as it was an emergency section cause ds was distressed
Hey ho, will wait to see what happens

[Habbibu]

My consultant is the head of ultrasound at our hosp - he said scans are not accurate for very big or very small babies - quite good for those in the middle, which kind of defeats the point! he doesn't pay much attention to growth scans, therefore.