To think a bigger baby won't necessarily be a lot harder to birth

[Oysterbabe]

DD was born at 35 weeks and was only 4lbs 13. The labour was quick and the birth was fine, much less painful than I'd anticipated. 2nd baby due in December and growth scan suggests that if I make it to term this time he should be a much more average size baby rather than the teeny one I had last time. My DH and sister keep banging on about how much harder it's going to be and how it'll be a different kettle of fish than last time. I know all births are different and you never know what will happen but I see no reason why this one can't be easy too. What difference can a couple of extra lbs really make?

There's more to it than size my little 6lb DD refused to come out and I never got beyond 1 cm dilated and ended up with an emcs.

DS1 9lb 2oz and 60 CMS long. 36 hour induced labour and emergency CS.

DS2 7lb 6oz 55 CMS long. 12 hour controlled induced labour and emergency CS.

Both painful, when waters were broken with DS2 it was far more painful than when they were broken with DS1.

My 9lb 7 baby was a much easier birth than my 6lb 11 baby.

Thanks all.
I think my sister feels like I got away with an easy birth first time and wants me to suffer like she did. My DH is just convinced bigger must logically be harder. I'll tell them both to shut up. I'll tell my sister that I sneezed and he flew out irrespective of what actually happens.

I was born at 36 weeks weighing 6Ib 6.
Sibling born at 37 weeks, weighing 8Ib 4.

My parents have always said, without a doubt, I was the hardest birth. Mums waters broke, I refused to come out, had to be induced, 2nd degree tear, 6 day labour.. you get the point.
My sister, however, waters broke, she was born hours later, no tears, no pain relief.

A bit odd, but I've always remembered your username! - I remember last year (I think) seeing a photo of your daughter on here and I've always remembered her lovely hair - she's so beautiful!
Good luck with baby number 2

Thanks Miracle :) She's pretty darn cute even if I do say so myself!

My 2 births were horrific, first stillborn via induction only (mentally not great either which probably didn't help) second one 32 weeker 3lb14oz again very fast labour but incredibly painful and I ended up with a second degree tear which I didn't expect either!

Sorry should have read only 1.4lb*

Your 'd'sis sounds like a cow. Wouldn't wish a hard/painful labour on anyone. Had 2 8lb+ babies. Minimal tearing and good births (second was 4hours from first contraction to baby in my arms). I reckon a bit of weight helps them out, especially if you don't labour on your back!

I can't answer your question re the different sizes. I would be inclined to tell your DH and sister to zip it though! You don't need to listen to that!

I had two enormous babies and 2 easy births.

My 9lb 8oz second baby was much easier than my 8lb 2oz first born.

DS1 born 34 weeks 6 lb 2 Oz ended up with forceps delivery.
DS2 born 40 + 5 just short of 10 lb, no intervention needed. Much preferred 2 nd labour. It will be fine, try not to worry.

Tell your "D"Sis and "D"H to STFU, what do they hope to achieve from trying to scare you??

My first was 9lbs 5oz and I'm so glad I didn't know in advance as I'd have worried and actually it was fine. For context, I'm 5'2" and a size 8-10 . He had a bloody big head, which meant I had pain in my symphisis pubis during pushing his head out which was fucking painful, but I think he wasn't in the best position, and the actual labour was fine. I had a home water birth with g&a, some tearing (but I didn't feel it happen, didn't care while being stitched as was on such a high, and it healed fine). Wouldn't have torn if he hadn't decided to do a little dance when his shoulders were just out and I was waiting for the next contraction to help with the rest of him. He's still impatient now. :)

My second was a little early, and still 7lbs 12oz. Similar labour (quicker, though), didn't bother with g&a but that was more knowing what I was doing I think, and still tore me (I rushed things, silly me).

Stay upright, stay calm, don't bother pushing consciously until crowning, and you've got the best chance of these things working out as easy as possible.

All mine were 9.5lb + and they were all relatively simple, straight forward births. They hurt like buggery but I'm pretty sure it would have hurt just as much, regardless of their weights!

I think once your cervix has dilated once to let a head (and the rest of a baby) through it kind of sets the channel for future births. So in my experience, unless there is a problem, the average second birth does seem to be easier than the first.

My easiest of 5 was also my largest baby, a full two pounds bigger than his teeny sibling who had a few problems with growth. First one was definitely the hardest (and second smallest).

Much depends on the labour itself tbh. A slow labour that progresses steadily etc and allows for appropriate dilation makes a big baby less of an issue.

A mega speedy eruption of a labour, as I had with #2 (9lb11oz) is more of an issue. 😂

Another easy peasy 9.5 second birth

That said When you have stretched it all out a bit it's always easier .....

My 7lb daughter was a much harder labour due to brow presentation, being back to back and failure to progress. Did less damage though.

Ask them when they did their midwifery training next time they try to be 'helpful'.

My first was the smallest and most difficult. Firstborn are often complicated compared to subsequent births.
My easiest was the last 9lb 13oz and a 3 hour labour with not so much as a graze.

My first was well over 10lb with a head circumference in excess of 40cm. He wouldn't have come out naturally according to the doctor who delivered him by emcs. Square peg round hole and all that

My DD was 7lb 14oz and my DS was 9lb. DS was easier. Could also have been because he was the second baby but he was definitely quicker and easier. Well active labour to birth was anyway, from start of contractions to active labour he definitely wasn't!!!)