Can you talk to me about your big giant babies please

[DigOlBick]

I’m having a giant baby and I’m actually quite terrified about it! I’m 34+4 and measuring 40 weeks. He was nearly 7 pounds at my last growth scan 2 weeks ago.

I’m exhausted, I can’t breath and I’m in a lot of pain. I’m hoping for an early induction but wondering if maybe a csection is the way to go.

Not sure what to do! Would just like to hear from some mums who birthday big whoppers and what it was like.

In my experience - and I've had three babies - those growth scans are notoriously inaccurate. I know so many people who have been told they are having whopping massive 10lb babies, and end up with a very average 7 and a half pounder.

He is definitely massive. Even the midwives and doctors when they’re feeling him through my belly are like “Jesus he’s huge!”

My second boy was 10lb2oz. He still looked tiny but clearly was a whopper! Vaginal delivery, some stitches.

My “worst” delivery was my smallest child so don’t assume big means harder! Get up on all fours or on a birthing stool and let the extra weight help you!

I had an 11lb 1oz boy and a 9lb 12oz girl and neither went very well, so I would personally advise a csection from my experience.

Is it your first? Or do you already have children?

My second was a big one! I knew he was big as I was so uncomfortable.. completely different discomfort from my first who was average size!

He was predicted to be 11lbs going by growth scans, he was 9lb 8oz born 2 weeks early.

I had a c section but only because I had a horrific birth with my first and I just couldn't face it again. My mum has 4 children, my sister was 11.6oz born naturally and she said she was far easier than the rest of us average size babies! Big doesn't always mean a difficult birth.

This is my second, but my first was 8 years ago so I feel like my body has reset itself!

I’m so worried about him getting stuck and it becoming an emergency situation.

My second was BIG. Measured term at 34 weeks, head and length off the scale at 39 weeks when she was born. My obstetrician said to me "I'm glad you're not going to try to push this one out, you'd have no pelvic floor left"--she had 20 years experience, and I had a csection booked for other medical reasons. I loved my planned section, and would recommend it. She is still big now, in 7-8 yo clothes at 5.

#2 son weighed 10 lb. I had him vaginally, no pain relief, had a few stitches, but it was not any more difficult than my other two deliveries.

My girl was 9lb 6oz and, not trying to scare you, but she got stuck and had a shoulder dystocia. It became very scary, very quickly. The doctors and midwives dealt with it the best they could, but I just knew something was wrong and was begging for help from them. Baby is fine, no broken bones or anything, but I did have a haemorrhage, tear and stitches.

DC1 was almost 9lbs at 38+4. Had a section because his body was big but his head was almost off the scale huge, which I think is why he remained stubbornly breech. SiL was pregnant at the same time and had a massive bump, DN predicted to be massive. 7lbs something at 39 weeks. DC2 was almost 8lbs at 37+2 by my dates. Again, huge head and he was transverse, so another section. I had GDM with him.

Please tell me you've been screened for gestational diabetes!!! With my second, I developed it quite late on (bloods confirmed I didn't have it at 28 weeks) and it was only really discovered by chance. It might be worth asking if you can be tested again. It's a simple blood test so no big deal.

@DigOlBick

This is my second, but my first was 8 years ago so I feel like my body has reset itself!

I’m so worried about him getting stuck and it becoming an emergency situation.

That alone is a perfectly valid reason for requesting a section. I loved mine

My babies have been 9lb, 9lb 5, 8lb 11 and 8lb 7.

The first two were great births (and both 41 weeks +). The next was difficult due to a knot in the cord and the last was the smallest (38 weeks) but I tore the most!

Good luck

Yes I have GD, was diagnosed at 29 weeks.

Trust your body. Half the battle is being positive. If you think the north will be difficult then it's likely will be. Was your first natural? No serious complications? Likely this one will do same. Trust yourself to do this.

If you are birthing in hospital then you are literally in the best place to deal with any issues. You could even home birth even in the circumstances. My first birth was horrendous and Dd was tiny.

Birth not north!!

I'd look into the risks around larger babies and shoulder dystocia. If I'd known, I would have demanded a section, rather than being bullied into am induction at 42 weeks.

Watching your baby be resuscitated and taken off to NICU whilst you stay in theatre to have your 3rd degree tear repaired is not the optimal start to motherhood.

Not trying to scare anyone unnecessarily. But I truly believe that pregnant women are not given enough information about induction and possible complications early enough time n pregnancy to make informed decisions.

Both of mine were 9lb7oz.

TLDR - both eventful labours, successful recoveries, no issues with the babies.

DC1 I went to 41+3 before having a sweep and going into labour naturally. Fifteen odd hour labour. The second stage was long, and I couldn't quite get out his head (and my blood pressure had got to 160/110), so they gave me an episiotomy and he was out in the next push. Healed up with no problems.

DC2 was induced at 39+4 after a chat with the consultant as she was measuring 9lb12oz and I was worried that if I went over again like with my son I was going to have to birth an 11lb-er. After an afternoon twiddling my thumbs with period style pains, my waters went, contractions went into overdrive and she was out in an hour and a half - barely made it to the delivery suite. 3rd degree tear (though it was only just, apparently - so I got a trip to theatre and an obstetrician do the repair) Healed up with no issues again.

I'd do it the same way if I had my time again.

Mine was 11lb. I had a CS owing to a failed 5 day induction.

I would look up bishop’s score before trying induction. Mine was 1 and induction was never going to work. I was a state by the EMCS.

The ELCS for second was extremely straightforward.

I have GD and have been told I'm having a whopper. I am definitely opting for a c section, but then my first was not particularly big (8lbs) and it was horrendous. No amount of thinking positively was getting me through that shit show, and the aftermath/recovery was horrendous. I had a c section with my second and it was much easier so I'm doing it again for this one. I wouldn't go through a "natural" delivery again for all the money in the world!

I had an induction due to late diagnosed GD at 39 weeks, had an induction scheduled the following week. He was 9lb, vaginal birth and no pain relief. I did have an episiotomy but it didn’t hurt and he arrived quickly!

DS1 was 10lb 3oz, born on his due date (I went into labour spontaneously) I had a lovely, calm waterbirth and had only a small graze afterwards.

DS2 was much smaller at 8lb 8oz and was also born vaginally. It was a much harder labour and I needed a lot of stitches after.

DD1 was also 8lbs 8oz. Also born vaginally. A really quick labour and just a small tear.

I guess the point I’m trying to make is, in my experience, the weight/size of the baby doesn’t have to mean anything, I think there are so many other factors at play. With that said, it’s totally your right to chose the method of delivery that you want!

Congratulations and good luck!

A csection absolutely terrifies me! What is the recovery like? I was really hoping to be up and about and able to do stuff fairly soon after the birth. But it’s looking more likely that a csection is the sensible way to go which I’m gutted about.

I am apparently having a giant baby. Read up on the risks of induction and waiting with a big baby and didn't fancy them at all. Had an appointment with the obstetrician at 38 weeks to discuss and he initially suggested an induction. I said I would rather be talking about an elective c section and he agreed immediately and signed it straight off. The baby may well not be a giant because they are quite inaccurate but I would rather not take the risk!

I don't think these estimates are at all accurate. I was told tgat my first chid was going to be very big, which kind of worried me. Wen e was born a few days after erm e was 6lb 9, which whilst a healthy weight isnt exactly bill. On te other hand number 3 was repeatedly rerted as being small for dates and weighed in at 6lb 13 at 39+2. I have heard many many similar anecdotes

Absolutely loads of my friends have had c sections and they generally get good reviews. Yes recovery is hard but you could have a hideous birth and have to recover from that