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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Big Baby birth story's.. positive or negative welcome

59 replies

anonny55 · 25/01/2025 14:31

First time mum - baby estimated to be over 10lb

No GD
No health complications
BMI - 38

Been offered early induction due to size - I queried about having an elective section instead and was met with a consultant who basically said don't be pathetic you can birth a big baby there's just more chance of complications , he wouldn't sign me off for one he would only accept induction.

I've requested to speak to another consultant who I will meet with on Tuesday at 35+2 so hopefully they'll grant my wish!

I'm 90% sure I'm going for an elective over an induction however if I were to have an induction or go into spontaneous labour before 39 weeks, id love to hear your big baby birth story (please mention if it was your first baby too!)

I'm aware growth scans can be wrong. I've had them since 16 weeks and baby's always been above 95th centile. I don't feel safe to 'just leave him to come when he wants' as that gives time for even more growth.

Thanks!

OP posts:
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Lgn90 · 06/02/2025 15:21

Hi! My first baby was 10 lbs 1, had no idea he was going to be so big, I'd been measuring 50th centile until 36 weeks and never had a growth scan or anything. I went overdue by 12 days so was induced with a pessary - you hear induction horror stories but mine was fine, had the pessary at 10am, went home, contractions started around 5pm and he was born at 1.30am.
I had a natural non instrumental delivery with just gas and air and codeine. Now, it was painful 😂and I was pushing for 2.5 hours which was not pleasant (but check up GP said that was good as I could have done real damage if he'd come out much quicker). I was mainly lying down on my side but gave birth on the birthing stool. I had a 2nd degree tear which was quite sore after but consider that soo lucky with his size! I had done a lot of perineal massage beforehand which I think possibly saved me from a 3rd.

Original poster
anonny55 · 04/02/2025 20:55

@Teamrofl thanks for commenting. Glad you had a good experience and recovery. I'm really nervous for a section but even more nervous for the unknown of how a vaginal birth of a big baby will play out. I guess you know what you expect with a section. I bet you were relieved you went straight for the elective when you see how big he was😅

It's funny you say that actually as I have high bp and symptoms of pre e so I'm having 2 weekly check ups and blood tests so they catch it asap. For now it's just 'hyper tension' but my consultant is convinced it'll turn into pre eclampsia soon as I have the headaches, visual disturbances, swelling in feet and hands etc. id had such an amazing straight forward pregnancy before all of this😆

I'm just shoved on bed rest really and consultants plan is to just leave the section as 39 weeks and if I get pre e before then they'll bring it forward😅

OP posts:
autumngirl714 · 04/02/2025 20:45

@anonny55 so my eldest was born on his due date but I went to to Labour 2 days before.

I went 3 days over with my youngest. It turns out my waters had gone without me knowing so I had to be further Induced due to risk of infection. He was born the next day!

Recovery was pretty straight forward to be honest. I probably never gave my body enough credit for its ability to just crack on with it!

Oh I can imagine your shock when they said that! What I would say though, I genially don't know anyone who has had accurate measurement scans, truly!!! I have no idea why they share weight guesses as all it seems to do is cause panic.

I was so excited to hear my baby was going to be small as I have massive anxiety after my first giant, only for his to be nearly a pound heavier 😂🙈

Teamrofl · 04/02/2025 20:39

I could have written your post as was in exactly the same situation with my first who was measuring big, with a massive head. I then developed pre eclampsia and was strongly advised to have an induction but knew that I would want a section in that case due to the risks of needing an emergency section any way and shoulder dystocia, lack of oxygen etc. Felt like I met a lot of reluctance but I stood my ground and had a section at 39+3. Son was 9lbs 12 and his head was enormous, the consultant who did it said there was no way he’d have delivered vaginally. My thinking was I’d only know if I’d made the wrong decision if something went wrong, otherwise it’s all unknown. My post section recovery was absolutely fine, I was out walking the dog again after 2 days, much smoother than friends who ended up needing an emergency. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

caffelattetogo · 04/02/2025 20:19

Mine were 10 pounders and I had elective sections. Friends who had big babies had inductions and all
ended up in emergency c-sections. But we were all geriatric mothers, so maybe that was a factor.

PreggersWithBaby2 · 04/02/2025 20:07

@anonny55 labour happened quick for me when I had those symptoms but I've heard other people having those symptoms for quite some time beforehand. Unfortunately that's the thing with pregnancy and childbirth, there's no one size fits all. You seem to have done your research and have thought about what's right for you, that's all you can do. It might not go exactly as you want though so be prepared for that too. Once the baby gets here safely and you are safe, you'll forget all about this planning and research you did 😅 best of luck!

Original poster
anonny55 · 04/02/2025 20:00

@PreggersWithBaby2 it's booked for 39+3. I've said I'm happy to give vaginal birth a try if I go into labour myself before hand. I'm not accepting induction as 60% of first time inductions fail in my local hospital..that's more than 1 in 2! Then how many of the 40% that have a vaginal birth end up needing forceps or ventous?!

Now to try all the labour inducing things!🫠

I've had parts of my mucus plug coming away, more braxton hicks, period pains on and off, emptying my bowels (nice way to put it!😂) for days now so I wonder if my body's getting ready!! We'll see😆

OP posts:
Tubetrain · 04/02/2025 19:52

Insist on a section. End of.

PreggersWithBaby2 · 04/02/2025 19:49

I had baby1 with forceps and the recovery was fine but you seem to have made your decision on that already. I think you have made the right decision, I hear very little success stories of anyone I know who has been induced. Over 90% have resulted in a section anyway! How many weeks will you be at your section date?

Original poster
anonny55 · 04/02/2025 19:46

autumngirl714 · 04/02/2025 19:37

My eldest was 9lbs 4oz, force or delivery with a epidural, V delivery.

My youngest was 9lbs 13oz, no medication V delivery.

Both were expected to be larger, but no growth scans or follow ups. I did have a scan at 36 weeks with youngest to see if he'd moved from being breach, they estimated a weight of 6lbs!!!!!

I don't know what it's like giving birth to a small baby.... 🙈

I guess you'll never really know what your baby will weigh. The measurements can be WAY off. I would say that the epidural was an absolute game changer and I would highly recommend!

Good luck OP, you got this! Baby's weight is out of your control, just remember that! ❤️

When did you go into labour with your dc?
When the sonographer said his estimated weight today at 36weeks is 7lb8 I nearly had a meltdown!! That was my birth weight and my mother had me at 41 weeks and still needed assistance to get my large head out!!

How did you find the forceps and recovery?
I will definitely be opting for an epidural if I go into labour before my section date🤞🏽

Thankyou☺️🤍

OP posts:
Rainingalldayonmyhead · 04/02/2025 19:44

Weight estimates can be very very very wrong so I wouldn’t go by that. My sister in law was told her baby was too small - came out 7.5 lbs. I can give many many examples like this.

My kid was 98 centile when born and a big baby. Not beautiful baby pudgy just really really long so big baby can mean long baby too. He is mid teens and over 6’4 😂.

Don't be out off vaginal just because of this. And consider c section (yes I had to have an emergency c so I know) is major abdominal surgery and isn’t the same as a natural birth.

There are horror stories on both sides and I am still living with the effects of the c, but overall there are more risks for surgery so don’t let the big baby be the reason to have one.

RedRobyn2021 · 04/02/2025 19:43

RandomMess · 04/02/2025 19:40

@RedRobyn2021 you do know that before "intervention" the maternal death rate and number of life changing injuries were an awful lot higher?

I'm all for not rushing into induction but after waiting 17 days, thick meconium etc there is always the "balance of probabilities".

Placentas when they stop functioning can fail very quickly.

It's not a science, we can do lots to improve our chances of an optimal labour and delivery but there are no guarantees.

I would have loved to go into spontaneous labour and been at home but not enough to risk my babies life.

Oh for gods sake

You know, more women are now induced or given a c section than give birth without intervention?

That's because there is so much unnecessary intervention, meaning lots of those women don't need intervention. Some do, most don't.

If you choose to believe that everybody needs inductions or c-sections, than that's your prerogative and I feel sorry for you.

Original poster
anonny55 · 04/02/2025 19:42

@RandomMess wow long pregnancy's and still had to be induced!! F that - I don't know how id cope until 42 weeks my hips and back are in agony 24/7😭baby will be over 11lb Apparantly if I went to 42 weeks..ouch!😖

OP posts:
RandomMess · 04/02/2025 19:40

@RedRobyn2021 you do know that before "intervention" the maternal death rate and number of life changing injuries were an awful lot higher?

I'm all for not rushing into induction but after waiting 17 days, thick meconium etc there is always the "balance of probabilities".

Placentas when they stop functioning can fail very quickly.

It's not a science, we can do lots to improve our chances of an optimal labour and delivery but there are no guarantees.

I would have loved to go into spontaneous labour and been at home but not enough to risk my babies life.

autumngirl714 · 04/02/2025 19:37

My eldest was 9lbs 4oz, force or delivery with a epidural, V delivery.

My youngest was 9lbs 13oz, no medication V delivery.

Both were expected to be larger, but no growth scans or follow ups. I did have a scan at 36 weeks with youngest to see if he'd moved from being breach, they estimated a weight of 6lbs!!!!!

I don't know what it's like giving birth to a small baby.... 🙈

I guess you'll never really know what your baby will weigh. The measurements can be WAY off. I would say that the epidural was an absolute game changer and I would highly recommend!

Good luck OP, you got this! Baby's weight is out of your control, just remember that! ❤️

RandomMess · 04/02/2025 19:32

@anonny55

I had 4 inductions, I have naturally loooong pregnancies.

DC1 induced 10 days over took 30 hours to get me into labour had an epidural & ARM delivered without assistance. Had some grazes and a tiny "Nick".

DC2 17 days over, for me into labour after about 9 hours, had an epidural but it still really hurt 😂 10lb 6oz no assistance this time I had the Nick fixed with one stitch. Thick meconium in fluid and they were panicking about GD.

DC3 induced on due date (madness in hindsight) 30 hours to get me into labour, epidural & ARM 9lb 2oz no stitches

DC4 induced at 42 weeks (learned my lesson). Took 11 hours to get me into labour, then labour was 1 minute, no epidural and the whole thing was a doddle 9lb10oz. Biggest difference was I was so much more relaxed about the whole thing.

Knew I wouldn't get my home birth, knew it would be big, knew DH would be a useless birthing partner. 😂

Original poster
anonny55 · 04/02/2025 19:28

RedRobyn2021 · 04/02/2025 19:25

Honestly, I wouldn't be having a c section or induction

It's completely illogical that your body would make a baby too big for you to birth

These are completely unnecessary interventions

I see your logic, however I won't be accepting any instrumental assistance which seems highly likely when a first time mum has a big baby so this most probably would end in an emcs for me which would be rather crap if I labour all the way and don't manage to give birth vaginally anyway

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Original poster
anonny55 · 04/02/2025 19:26

@RedRobyn2021 no problem, you replied just before I did🤣

OP posts:
RedRobyn2021 · 04/02/2025 19:25

Honestly, I wouldn't be having a c section or induction

It's completely illogical that your body would make a baby too big for you to birth

These are completely unnecessary interventions

Original poster
anonny55 · 04/02/2025 19:25

@RedRobyn2021 I tried to order that as an ebook on Amazon but it wouldn't let me for some reason🫠I did read the free preview though!

I don't have GD btw☺️

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RedRobyn2021 · 04/02/2025 19:24

Sorry just saw you don't have GD

Original poster
anonny55 · 04/02/2025 19:24

@ToxicFrenemy was you induced? If not when did you go into labour with your DS? I understand the percentiles are based off of the size of the baby for your height and weight so a 96th centile baby might weigh differently depending on who's baby it is but still both 96th centile for example?

DH is a big man.. very stocky and wide build, tall and a big head so he may just be taking after his dad 🤣

I'm about to log into my growth chart and see what his new estimated 40 week weight is after todays scan😯

OP posts:
RedRobyn2021 · 04/02/2025 19:24

Dr Sara Wickham's book Inducing Labour is worth reading she's also written about GD

Original poster
anonny55 · 04/02/2025 19:21

@RandomMess I'll have to come back and update!

DH was a long baby that didn't fit in newborn but he had a huge head too, I was a small baby but with a huge head😅 the sonographer today did say he has really long legs, don't I know..he's smashing them round in my bloody ribs😂😂

Both our parents had to have instrumental deliveries with us due to the giant heads..mines quite average now DH tho still has a big head🤣

How did you find your births? X

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ToxicFrenemy · 04/02/2025 19:19

When I had my first he measured big all through the pregnancy, always 96th 97th percentile, right enough he was 9lb 8.

I did need an epidural but other than that was fine slight tear, his sister was 8lb 6! He's always been a big strapping lad!

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