Massive baby - what would you do?

[AnxiousMamo]

I’ve just been diagnosed with gestational diabetes after baby was measuring 6lb at 34 weeks. All of the measurements were 85th centile plus, with the stomach measurement being off the scale (!)

My first baby was 8lb 15oz, and this one looks set to be even bigger. First DC I had to be induced which was awful and I ended up with an episiotomy, ventouse and I was unable to urinate afterwards for a week (I needed a catheter). It was pretty traumatic, although I was able to look after DC and be mobile straight after birth which was good.

I have another scan next week when I will be 37 weeks, and they will compare measurements and the consultant will advise me. They have given me two options - induction at 39 weeks or an elective caesarean. Both carry risks. With induction there is the risk it won’t work, I may need intervention again, tears, episiotomy and shoulder dystocia for the baby. With a caesarean there are the usual associated risks. The consultant did they that as I have had a big baby previously, that is a good sign for a vaginal birth.

I am wondering if any others have been in this situation and how it went for you, what did you decide? How was the birth?

Thanks in advance.

I'm def no expert but I got the feeling elective sections were more common now. I asked for one with my second as I had a horrible birth with my first which ended up with an emergency section and I was told yes with no questions asked.
It was a very nice and calm experience which helped make up for last time!

Also, check your Bishops Score (google it) before agreeing to an induction. Mine was 1 (only found out afterwards). Induction was never going to work.

First was natural -9lb2 3c tear and forceps. Was induced with 2 - easiest by far 1hr 50 start to finish and she was born on the induction ward as we didn't make it to the labour ward. She was 9lb 6 - no tears. Had GD with 3 - but in COVID times. They offered CS but I chose not to. Was admitted with reduced movements - ended up with another induction and she was a relatively dinky 7lb 2. Friends who had similar traumatic 1st births opted for ELCS for 2+ was the right thing for them in the same way it wasn't the right thing for me.

I would take the known risks of an elective section, over the myriad unknown possibilities of a natural birth.

In reality, elective sections are lovely and calm and (having experienced both) the recovery is nowhere near as difficult as recovering from a perineal injury.

Tricky one OP.

My story is very similar in that my first baby was 8lb 15oz, induced at 42 weeks (though was a straightforward delivery). And then I was diagnosed with “borderline” GD at 36 weeks with DC2 with the baby estimated to be 9lbs at 40 weeks (which I think must be similar to you?).

I wasn’t offered a C section but was put under loads of pressure to agree to an induction at 39 weeks. Since my first had been 2 weeks overdue, I was really against the induction before my due date as I felt that the baby wouldn’t be ready and the induction would lead to all the interventions. I also didn’t believe the estimated weight because everyone told me the scans are unreliable.

In the end I was induced on my due date and what do you know, the baby was bang on 9lbs as the scans had estimated! The birth was a lovely quick water birth with no complications and just gas and air. And 9lbs isn’t very big really, though if she’d stayed in another 2 weeks she might have been a 10lber and more of a challenge!!

It’s all a big gamble really. Obviously a c section is more certain but there is no reason an induction wouldn’t also go well.

I had two ELCS because I hadGD and unstable lie caused by polyhydramnious,both were big babies as well . Recovery was a lot quicker than after my first child’s vaginal birth .

2 x GD babies, both induced early due to being "big babies" - the scans are very unreliable, DS was 8lb 3, DD was 6lb 6.
Wouldn't hesitate to choose induction again, both fantastic vaginal births, no stitches/tears/grazes, home the same day with DD (next day with DS) and feeling 100% fit and well straight afterwards. I'd never choose surgery if not absolutely needed.

Only you can decide.

1st - ventouse delivery that should've been a c section. Born not breathing. Episiotomy, 16 hour labour. 8lb 15oz

2nd - 10lb, 2 hours 45 minutes. 10lb, absolutely no issues at all, no stitches needed.

3rd - 9lb 2oz, 45 minute established labour, no stitches.

Laboured in the bath for 2 and 3.

What size baby is the scam showing? Not always accurate of course.

I don’t think that’s necessarily reliable.

My Bishop’s score with my first baby was 0
on the morning I was induced (at 42 weeks). I had one dose of the gel, went into labour shortly afterwards and the baby was born in less than 3 hours from first contraction.

Apparently once you’ve had one baby your cervix never fully closes so technically my bishop’s score is higher now than on the day I gave birth to DC1 🤣

I'd go section. Induction and vaginal birth seems like a huge risk to take.
When I was having my kids I didn't see that so much, I was keen to avoid intervention etc. But with 20 more years of experience of what can go wrong with vaginal birth I'd go section.

My youngest was 10lb 2 (didn't measure large at all) and I had a home birth, didn't even have time for the gas and air by the time the midwife arrived and it was absolutely fine. Born in the pool, no tears or anything like that, really quick recovery for me. Honestly you will be fine

@StrawberryLemonade2 The estimated weight of the baby at 34 weeks was 6lb. With the head and limbs all measuring big, and the stomach measurement being off the scale! That is what flagged diabetes to them, which I’ve just been diagnosed with. My previous DC was 8lb 15oz, also measured big on the scans, so I am inclined to believe that the scan is at least partially accurate.

I had a homebirth with DS1, he was 9lb5oz.
Absolutely no issues and had a textbook birth.
DS2 was measuring even bigger but I opted for a homebirth again with a view to transferring if I needed. He was a smaller 7lb 13oz but he was predicted to be over 10lb.

I wouldn’t say your first was a big baby - more average ?

my 10lb 10oz baby flew out no problems ! I was tiny size 8 but did put on lot of pregnancy weight . I Must have a big vag !?!!

My other two were similar sizes and no problems . I just needed lots of stitches afterwards .

It sounds like the hospital haven’t scared you into doing what they would find easiest. But it’s your body and your choice .

I would definitely go for elective C-section.

My first DC was 8lbs 8oz.. Not huge, but I am a petite size 8; my BMI only ever got to 24 even at 41 weeks pregnant.

I had a horrendous back-to-back nearly four-day labour and when I was being examined by the consultant near the end, he accurately predicted DC would be between 8.5-9lbs and too big for me to deliver without episiotomy and/or forceps. It didn't get to that as by the time I was 6cm, DC's heart rate dropped and it was a crash section.

In my second pregnancy, despite the consultant's view then being dismissed by my midwife ("No baby is too big for the mother!" 🤨) and a huge push from many HCPs for me to attempt a VBAC, I went for an elective C-section at 39+5. DC2 was 8lbs 1oz at birth, so if they had decided to stay in as long as DC1, probably would have pushed 9lbs.

There was just no certainty for me and I couldn't deal with that (tbh not helped by the fact they had lost my notes so couldn't give me a debrief on birth number 1). I had healed well from first C-section, even though it was an emergency one, and even with having a toddler the second time, it was fine, was walking around a huge zoo a week later.

Elective section.

My first was over 11lb and I went through the induction desperately hoping for a vaginal birth but it wasn’t to be. I wish I had gone for an elective section as I could have saved myself days of failed drips, pessaries and 17 internal examinations, which by the end was extremely painful. I ended up having a section anyway.

second big baby was delivered by ‘elective’ section - absolute breeze by comparison.

I may have been lucky but I never had any pain at all after my sections (actually I had referred wind pain in my shoulder for a day but that’s it), and was up and out and about at my favourite cafe by day 4.

i’m not saying my experience is typical but it may help to balance some of the worrying thoughts about having a section. Good luck!

I had gestational diabetes. Induction with first ending in emergency c section. Baby was 8lbs 8. Second time I opted for an elective csection. This time the baby was 9lbs 9oz. Very straight forward recovery. The important thing with csection is to REALLY rest for first week after birth. If I had another baby I would have been super comfortable having another csection. Such a positive experience.

Everyone I know who had a big baby had no idea before (and hada natural birth) those that were told their babies were huge seemed to have normal sized. I mean you could just do neither !

My first birth was so bad there was no way I was ever giving birth naturally again, so when I fell pregnant with my second I knew that I didn’t want to go through potentially things going wrong again and statistically thought to myself c section was the safer route but also the least traumatic. I don’t regret it at all, it was absolutely wonderful..it has its own cons of course recovery wise but you’d be surprised how mobile you can be within a day or two. Yes it’s sore and you have to be careful but it’s for such a short amount of time and it put my mind at ease knowing I wasn’t going to be putting myself at risk of further injury down below after the first one. All the best OP! You’ll make the right choice for you, we are just here to give you all the different outcomes! What works for one won’t be right for another x

My baby measured big, and I was advised to have a section at 38 weeks (I'm a type 1 diabetic, brought on by the pregnancy). He decided to come just before 37 weeks and weighed over 10lbs! Section is the way to go. By the way he wasn't chubby, just very long.

I don't think your first was particularly big - my third was 8lb 7 which was considered pretty average.

In your circs I'd go for the section tbh. If baby is 6lb already, I would expect him to be quite a lot over the size of your first. And that doesn't sound like an easy birth at all.

See what your scan comes back with.

Also discuss methods of induction and if they have wireless monitoring so that you can move about if you need to. You really do not want to be on your back at all.

You really cannot guarantee that though, can you...?! There is absolutely nothing predictable about birth.

I was in excellent shape during pregnancy (was doing pregnancy yoga and still walking two miles a day at 41 weeks), was a completely textbook pregnancy, put on an average two stone, wanted (and was initially cleared to have) a midwife-led unit waterbirth. Didn't stop my four-day back-to-back failure to progress labour that ended in baby in distress and a crash section 🤷‍♀️

I was in your exact situation with my second baby at 33 weeks. I was really upset and freaking out but I want to reassure you that you will be ok. I also had late diagnosis of GD and large measurements. I was induced at 38 weeks. It took three days to work but it was actually fine once the drip got going on the third day.

I recovered quickly after the birth and I was glad I had took this option over section (although I didn't ask for one and it wasn't offered) but if you would rather a section then do what feels right for you.

I was really clear that I didn't want forceps and would prefer a section if it came to it. My first delivery had been forceps and recovery was long with stitches splitting and infection. Nothing like this the second time.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

My first was 11lb 2 but that was back in the day when they left you forever before inducing

I'd go for csection to be safe, me having an 11lb 2 baby at 16 as well wasn't safe