To ask anyone who’s had a large baby…

[birthplanning]

To advise me on birth?

Bump consistently measuring above the 97th centile. DH is 6ft plus, and was nearly 10lbs when he was born at 40 weeks exactly. I am 5ft 2 and petite build. I’m mid 20s and pregnancy has been touch wood straightforward and low risk.

I’ve done some reading and I am conflicted on what to do. I definitely don’t want to be induced unless there is a strong medical indication for it, as I know it leads to intervention most of the time. In the ideal I’d like a no-interventions birth but know the odds for that as a first time mum are stacked against me anyway, certainly in the current maternity care crisis.

I am not against a caesarean at all, in fact see there are lots of positives to it and although recovery may be harder it offers an element of predictability. I would just be worried about recovery, as DH only has 2 weeks off work. That being said I do not need to drive and can walk 2 minutes to the local supermarket and a nice country park. Also concerned about the increased risks to future pregnancies although we are leaning towards just having the one baby anyway, in any event we aren’t planning for a whole brood!

I wondered if anyone who has had a bigger baby (either ELCS or vaginal birth) could share their experience and whether you’d recommend being induced/going for a planned section, or just having a go ‘naturally’

Many thanks in advance!

Oh and in addition scan estimates are rubbish. They told me my 4th was in excess of 10.5lb and therefore at risk of shoulder dystocia putting me into a panic and cancelling my home birth plans to deliver in hospital.

she was 8lb 4oz

I had a 9.5lb baby at 42. I'm 5 ft 5. I found it a much easier birth than my first who was only just over 7lbs.

I'm slim and 5 ft 6 and have had 2 9 pound babies. Both straightforward vaginal births, everything absolutely fine. Just had gas and air at the end. Pushing stage 20 mins each time and got 2nd degree tear each time so needed stitches but honestly all is fine now. 2 very positive experiences. First water birth and second induction.

I gave birth vaginally in March this year. Bump was measuring ahead the whole time, scan measurements were all over the place. I went into spontaneous labour at 40 weeks and had an 8lb 8oz DD. Labour took over 24 hours and I had a 3a tear. DD required forceps to be delivered and at 5ft3 there was no way I was going to deliver her without help. I also required a blood transfusion. If I was doing it again I would have an ELCS. I did have an epidural though so didn’t feel a thing.

I’m 5’6; baby was 8.9lbs and 51cm. I had ELCS (I would have had it either way; zero desire for vaginal birth); my husband said the shoulders got stuck and they had to shake me quite a bit to get him out (I didn’t feel a thing)

I had a baby 1.44kg - 9lb 11oz? But then I am tall - 5'9". I tore because I couldn't stop myself pushing when it came to it, but it was OK.

I'd say have a water birth if possible, and remember the little puffs when you want to push! Watch lots of Call the Midwife - they show you how 😂

It's anecdata, but:

I'm 5'2" and was high 8lbs, DH is 6'2" and was over 10lbs, so we knew we would have big babies regardless of my height.

DC1 was big throughout. I was induced at 41 weeks as she was measuring 10lbs. I didn't dilate and she was born by very relaxed EMCS at 9lb7oz and a head circumference over the 99th percentile. One midwife reckoned I didn't dilate because she couldn't descend but I don't know if there's any truth in that. They did say she was very crammed in.

Second was to be an ELCS anyway, she was 9lb10oz at 39 weeks. She was transverse and her size caused some issues with the delivery but ultimately we were both fine.

Based on my experiences, I'd go for the predictability of the ELCS every time, but that is just based on my own births.

1.44kg is just over 3lbs.

9lbs 11oz is 4.44kg.

I'm 5'4, DH 6'2. DD was 10lb 11oz. Vaginal birth, slight tear and she got a little bit stuck but it was resolved by midwife so quickly I didn't realise until later! DS was 9lb 2 and I thought he was tiny!

DD is now 5ft 10 and off to uni!

Haha! Sorry, yes, it was 4.44kg.

Baby was not identified as being “huge” (scans are very unreliable anyway especially for big babies - consultant told me they are better for tracking concerns about small babies!) but was 9lb6oz. Straightforward, born in water and no tear. Good luck! X

2 X big babies. Second was almost 10lb. Water birth and small tear. No issues! I think mine were both longer rather than anything.

Also agree measurements aren't always accurate so try not to worry

First time mum, 99th percentile throughout, I took the recommended c-section and it worked out brilliantly.

We had a very healthy 11.2oz baby girl and the recovery was very manageable.

Two 9. 8 babies here. Ended up with episiotomy on first which wasn't ideal but not the end of the world either . Stitches cleared in about two weeks .
Second was way easier!

I'm 5'4 and DS was born 10lb at 39 weeks

All along I was told I measured towards the high side of normal. Not enough of a concern to warrant a growth scan etc. Changed midwives at 36 weeks measured again and told all was fine he'd be about 8lb (first was 7lb9). Id been saying from about 25 weeks ish that I felt too big and something wasn't right. Went for a home birth as straight forward first birth, lo and behold he got stuck at his shoulders. Paramedics called, he finally came out nearly tearing me in half. The midwife delivering him had never had a 10lb home birth baby before and she'd delivered loads apparently.

I wish I'd been more forceful in asking for a growth scan and getting an elective c section. I'm still a little cross now 3 years on about it all. I spent months reliving it all and holding massive guilt that I could have lost him. I don't seem to have the same relationship with him as I do with my first and I put it down to his birth.

It varies so much. You’ll have someone who swears that their body obviously just wasn’t built to birth a baby weighing more than 8lbs, and then you’ll have someone else who’s 5’ tall and a size 6 who says they had their 11lb baby with just a paracetamol.

Personally I did have quite big babies (with huge heads!) and I knew in advance that they would probably be large, but I wanted to try for a vaginal birth and thankfully the births were fine both times. Other women might feel more comfortable with the idea of an elective c section though and I can see that perspective too. I think you have to weigh up the pros and cons of each and work out which approach feels right for you as it isn’t an exact science.

I was induced and he was 10lb 2oz. No epidural, no tears. Quite a bit of swearing.

Two of my dds were over 10lb. One was born at home with no issues. The other I did have a PPH but it wasn’t related to her size, the actual birth was straightforward.

Like you, i didn’t want induction. I would have opted for c section rather than that.

I am 5ft 4, small frame. My son was born at 37 weeks weighing 10lb 3. He was a vaginal delivery with epidural. It was a straightforward birth with a few stitches and I was out of hospital the day after and a day trip to York 4 days later!

1st baby was 10lb 4 ELCS because he was found to be breech 2 days before due date. 2nd baby was 9lb 2 and VBAC. Totally regret the VBAC. Had to have forceps and stitches and recovery was awful. Pain lasted weeks. Still not quite right down there 5 years on. Section recovery was very sore for a few days but after that I was going for short walks and managing fine.

Baby #1 measured on the 90th centile throughout pregnancy in all measurements and scans. When I had a scan at 32w, the consultant told me my baby was going to be a big one. I was terrified. I have birth at 38+2 and baby was 6lbs 7oz (9th centile) and was in newborn clothes until she was 8w. Ended up with forceps, tear and episotomy. Took months to fully recover and not be in pain.

Baby #2 measured 50th centile on all scans and measurement. I gave birth at 41+1. I did have a small tear and require some stitches. Baby was 9lb 1/2oz with a massive head (on 90th centile). The midwife exclaimed ‘woah he’s a big one’ when he was born and she thought he was going to be 10lbs +. Baby did not fit into newborn or up to 1 month clothes and went straight into 0-3month (and the went into 3-6 months at 6 weeks old!). I felt back to normal the day after giving birth.

When you say your bump is measuring big, did a midwife tell you that or was it at an ultrasound? I only ask because midwife said mine was small and sonographer said baby was huge and sent me for a gestational diabetes test...she turned out 8lbs 6oz

I had a planned c section anyway for other reasons, dp went back to work after two weeks and I had a two year old to care for. It was hard but honestly fine, do you have any other family / friends who can drop in?

Btw I’m 5 foot 2 and was a size 10 pre pregnancy.

My 3 were all over 8 lbs, my first was 9lb 7 and my last was 10lb. My first labour wasn't brilliant I was induced due to pre enclampsia and was in active labour for about 6 hours. My second was a painless labour, lucky me. My last was also induced, felt my first contraction at 1pm she was born about 2 hours later.

To be honest I felt great a few days after the second and third deliveries but I had complications after the labour, family thing rather than because of big baby, and it took over a month to recover. Compare that with the down time after a C-section.

@KitsyWitsy Same with DS. I so wanted to punch DH when he made sympathetic faces at me. 🤣