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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask about your experience of giving birth to a big baby?

101 replies

bgmama · 01/09/2020 14:23

Hello, I am in the 37th week of pregnancy and my doctor is telling me that I am carrying a very big baby. This has been confirmed by ultrasounds, although I know they are not an exact science. I already have a child, which was born a few years ago without any complications and I was hoping it would be the same with this one. Can I ask how was your labour if your baby was big? Did you have any complications and did you have to be induced or have an EMCS due to the size of the baby? So far my doctor has a ‘wait and see‘ approach, which I am happy with, but I am also worried, as I would really like to avoid a c-section. I should add I don't live in the UK, so the care I receive is a bit different here. Also, did your baby turn out to be as big as expected when it was born, because I have heard that the scan can very often get it wrong.

OP posts:
ScarMatty · 01/09/2020 14:24

Not a big baby but a scan that wasn't right

4 growth scans estimated a 4-5lb baby. Is was 8lb3oz so totally wrong.

nervousnelly8 · 01/09/2020 14:26

evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-for-induction-or-c-section-for-big-baby/

I found this a very useful (but long!) read. My first baby was nearly 11lbs and the delivery was fine. Recovery was very tough - bad tear, infection, ongoing problems with pelvic floor. I am pregnant with DC2 who is measuring even bigger and am seriously considering an ELCS.

Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov · 01/09/2020 14:26

At 37 weeks mine was measuring 3.5kg but when he was born 2 weeks later he was 3.5kg so ultrasounds defo not an exact science

nervousnelly8 · 01/09/2020 14:29

On your other questions - the scan correctly picked up the size of my first. But I know this often doesn't happen. I think if I didn't have experience of delivering a very large baby, I would be happy with the wait and see approach. But given my history, the likelihood of a second large baby is higher. The same probably isn't true for you if you had a "normal" baby last time round.

Watto1 · 01/09/2020 14:30

My first baby was measuring only slightly above average with the tape measure. She was 10lb 14! Unfortunately I was induced. Didn’t work so had to have an EMCS.

newmummy8789 · 01/09/2020 14:30

I was predicted a big baby but I don't think they expected him to be as big as he was- 10lb 6oz.
Uncomplicated labor, I was induced but was also 10 days overdue.
I managed with just gas and air towards the end- there was a moment they were considering an emergency c section but I managed to push him out and other than a stitch for a 2nd degree tear all was well.
Good luck!!

cantstopsinginglittlebabybum · 01/09/2020 14:35

I was told ds would be over 10lbs and he was 6lbs. He was tiny.

I was told dd would be 8lb 3oz and she was 11lb 4.

Growth scans are usually wrong.

HashtagMakingMemories · 01/09/2020 14:36

I had an 11lb first baby. I was induced at 40 weeks but it didn't work, and I had an EMCS which was fine. I am rather small at 5ft3 and quite small built.

I think there are many factors which contribute to whether a natural birth is successful and size is only one part of that. Position of the baby, previous births etc all matter too. Plus the scans and measurements before birth are notoriously inaccurate so the baby may not be the expected size.

If you're happy to try for a natural birth you should, but be open minded as things progress.

Good luck! Star

TheHumanRubbishBin · 01/09/2020 14:40

I was told I was having big babies both pregnancies - estimated to be over 10lbs. I was terrified! Estimates were wrong both times. First was 7lb 3oz but he had a massive head so I did push for a long time and had a big tear. Recovery was tough. Second was 9lb 1oz & I was induced at 41w but was such an easy birth! Pushed for 45 minutes, no tearing, recovery was a breeze! He had a much smaller head and I had a water birth which I think made a huge difference. Also my midwife did an amazing job coaching me while I pushed, I slowed down when she told me to, more little pushes rather than a single big one etc. whereas in my first labour the midwife didn't give me any feedback, I just pushed.

SockQueen · 01/09/2020 14:40

DS1 was not predicted to be big - can't remember what his growth scan said but it predicted him to be 8-9lbish by full term. He was born at 42 weeks and was 10lb. I had an induction because he was overdue, nothing to do with his size. Straightforward delivery, 2nd degree tear which healed fine.

DS2 I had more growth scans because of the previous one's size. He was measuring 9lb12 at 39 weeks and I had excess fluid (polyhydramnios) so they whisked me in for induction. He was born at 39+2 and his weight was spot on what the scan predicted! Again, 2nd degree tear and good healing. I think if I hadn't already had one big baby vaginally they'd have been keener for me to have an ELCS but I'm glad I didn't.

PablosHoney · 01/09/2020 14:42

Head and shoulder size also make a difference. How big is big?

Londonmummy66 · 01/09/2020 14:42

I was told mine would be 11 lb according to the scan. She was 8lb but very very long (off the scale for length). Apparently the scan will often overestimate the weight of a taller baby.

JoJoSM2 · 01/09/2020 14:43

DS measured very big throughout pregnancy (large head, very long bones etc rather than fat and I was very healthy and had no complications). I was induced at 39 weeks due to size but it ended in an emergency section. He was 10lb10.

mylittlesandwich · 01/09/2020 14:43

Estimated big baby, also reduced movements. Could have either been induced at about 37 weeks or ELCS at 39 weeks. I took the ELCS. DS was 10lbs 10oz.

orangejuicer · 01/09/2020 14:43

My DS was measuring big at 36w so with that and other factors I was offered an ELCS. I'm glad I took it, he came out at 10lb 3 with a massive head!

turnthebiglightoff · 01/09/2020 14:44

Mine was due to be 10lb, through extra scans and bump measurements. I had a horrific induction and gave birth to a 8lb12oz baby. Don't panic too much.

nevermorelenore · 01/09/2020 14:44

Mine were both nearly 9lb and neither needed any intervention. Yeah recovery was a bit rough but no worse than a lot of my friends who had smaller ones.

I knew someone who had gestational diabetes and was told all sorts of horror stories about how she was having a massive baby and how she would need to consider forceps etc. He ended up being 6lbs. The estimates are always rubbish. Try not to worry yourself about it too much.

PablosHoney · 01/09/2020 14:45

My first was only 8 pounds 14oz but her head was very large, my largest was 9-11

steff13 · 01/09/2020 14:45

#2 son was 10 lbs. I went into labor about 11pm, I went to bed because the contractions were irregular. I woke up about 630am, and they were 3 minutes apart. I got to the hospital at 8cm, the only "complication" was that my epidural didn't work, so I had to go natural. He was born vaginally, no issue.

With my daughter, they were predicting she would be 11 lbs (!), she was 8lbs 6oz.

petrocellihouse · 01/09/2020 14:50

My daughter gave birth twice to massive babies, both over 10lbs. She’s the worlds biggest wuss - but she did it both times by having a hypnobirth water experience. She had no pain relief, tears Or stitches and her recovery was wonderful to
behold. A very different story to my own butchering experience of nearly 40 years ago, so I’d recommend thinking about hypnobirthing if you can. Good luck and update us all !

OiYouGetOffMyCloud · 01/09/2020 14:50

I had two tall babies. First was 6lb10 at 36 weeks (induction due to early water break), second elcs, 8lb exactly - she was measuring 10lb at 38weeks.

Tall babies, specifically those with long legs, are often over estimated weight wise.

LaTomatina · 01/09/2020 14:51

The size of the baby doesn't always make as much difference as you'd think. Chances are, if was uncomplicated the 1st time you're in with a good chance of uncomplicated the 2nd time.

My friend gave birth to a 10lb baby and then 2 years later a 12lb baby!! She isn't especially big herself but it went fine and she didn't need a c section either time. She maintains that in some cases bigger babies are easier because "gravity is your friend!"

My babies weren't as big as hers but had bigger heads (youngest's head was 38 and a half cm!!) Still managed.

MrsPatrickDempsey · 01/09/2020 14:52

It's not size it's the position that is more important.

spinningbabies.com/learn-more/baby-positions/posterior/

My 8lb asynclitic baby was a nightmare while my 9 1/2 lb anterior positioned one flew out in a v quick easy labour.

CCSS15 · 01/09/2020 14:53

First baby was estimated big and was dragged out weighing 9lb 6 - induced, long labour ended in forceps delivery with episiotomy and 3rd degree tear with large blood loss. Took ages to recover from - to be fair if he hadn't been induced it may not been as bad as he just wasn't ready to come but it was insinuated that I couldn't proceed any further with the pregnancy (innocent ftm believed this)

Second one was 9 6 again. Growth scans throughout due to large measuresurements - head was 99th centile when born. Lovely planned c section as I wasn't willing to rip my bits again! C section definitely easier as you know whats going to happen and when

Lemonysherbet · 01/09/2020 14:54

At 34 weeks I had a scan and was told my baby weight 6lb4. During my midwife appointments I was always measuring weeks ahead and I had numerous gd tests due to the size.

I birthed a 10lb baby 3 months ago. He wasnt a chunk, just very long. He didn't look like a newborn, he was very sturdy and could pretty much support his neck from 1 week old!

He was a trickier labour, he got a little stuck and ended up being helped out with forceps and an episotomy but it was all manageable for a first baby. I've heard they only get bigger the more you have but I'm actually not too worried. He got here safe and sound, even if he's 3 months old and in 6-9 months clothing 😁