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!

A friend of mine had all this malarkey. Concern about baby size growth scans, etc etc

They induced her a couple of weeks early as they couldn't possibly let baby get any bigger as he was so oversized. Baby was 7 pounds.

It's not an exact science.

I’m small, husband big, dd 98th centile. But it was fat not bone so squidgy. It was fine and natural birth.

Giving birth is a very scary prospect. I was so scared hearing how big my husband and his sisters were when born (think a lot of 10lb+ babies even the girls!) but it isn’t as bad as you are afraid of I promise. And mine ended up smaller than 10lb (thankfully!) even tho 98th centile, because I was small.

I wouldn’t go for medical intervention just off fear of what might be.

I'm small and dc2 was measuring (for me) big at 75th centile. Was checked for GD and sent for extra scans. I was hoping for a VBAC after a high risk first pregnancy and they mentally prepared me for ELCS due to her size vs my size... She made a fairly smooth, natural exit with just a minor tear. The only thing I would have done differently would have been to lie down at the end of labour - I insisted I wasn't going to be flat on the bed and that I had to be upright even though the pushing contractions were so intense... I lay down for an episiotomy when my hour of pushing (VBAC rules) was up, and she was out in two pushes. Midwife's first comment was SHE’S MASSIVE.

Two big babies here, the youngest and biggest was bigger than any of the babies mentioned on this thread so far but I am not sharing weights because it is outing. DH and I are both fairly average sized people.

I did give birth naturally twice with only gas and air. There were some complications with one baby, which was fairly traumatic for me, but thankfully nothing that impacted them long term. My body is wrecked though so if I had my time again I'd have planned c-sections. If I was petite as you with a larger partner I wouldn't dream of having a vaginal birth.

I feel a bit bitter about all the stuff I was fed about natural birth when I was pregnant, especially since I have found that the NHS just hasn't met my needs in terms of dealing with the physical and mental aftermath of birth.

Name changed for this because it's pretty outing if you know me. I've had 2 large babies. First was 10lbs, born at 40+1. Second was 11lb 7 Oz borj at 39+4

I was induced for both. Induction to me = more intervention. I wish I'd known it with my first. My second I chose induction and ended up with an emergency C-section.

If I knew what I know now I'd not have been induced with my first and had a planned section with my second.

I’m 5’5’, OH is 6 ft. One of mine was 10.12 and was a water birth with gas and air only. Went really well. A friend had her DD a week after mine, 7 1/2 lbs and the size difference side by side was amazing.

My others were all 8.10 plus so they run big in our family.

I had an unexpectedly large 10lb 7oz 2nd baby. If I'm totally honest, it was terrifying. He wasn't budging down after hours of good pushing, and ended up with shoulder dystocia. I had a huge episiotomy and blacked out through the pain. I couldn't walk for weeks without crying. It took months and a lot of work to mend my pelvis after the trauma. I honestly believe that my recovery would have been more straightforward after a CS.
The problem with birth is you just never know. The baby might not be as big as feared, your pelvis may be better at delivery than mine, it's all unknown until you're there.
The only solid advice that I would give is to take multiple sizes of babygrows in your bag, I only took newborn size and that did not work at all...

I'm 5ft 2 and have a 10lb 8 baby measuring on the 99th length centile! After 18 hours in labour for various reasons I had to have GA for an EMCS. I recovered really well, DH also only had two weeks off and it was manageable. FWIW DD is now 15, only 5ft 3 and very petite.

DS was an ELCS due to the first baby complications (and complications found after surgery of EMCS). He was a tiny (comparatively) 7lb and on 75th height centile. My recovery after him was much slower and harder (and due to the complications I got none of the "second C-section tummy tuck I'd been told about!), so I think it's very much birth dependent. Again FWIW 10 years later he's now very tall for his age.

I think births can be unexpected and it's tricky to plan. Both mine were difficult in different ways, but the teams looking after me were great.

Scans aren't that reliable so I wouldn't worry too much. At my 32 week scan they estimated DS to be between 9 and 10 lbs by 38 weeks.
He was born at 38 weeks exactly...weighing exactly 5lbs.

Statistically there are increased risks when having a bigger baby - shoulder dystocia, prolapse etc. I would be asking your care provider to carefully measure you and for them to make a recommendation. If you go the vaginal route would strongly recommend seeing a pelvic floor physio in pregnancy to do everything you can ahead of birth.

My 2nd DC was 10lb6oz

I'm 5' and pre pregnancy weight was 6.5 stone and I have tiny hips

Was induced, easy delivery 🤷🏽‍♀️

I am 5,2 fairly petite and first baby was 11lb 7 at 40 + 5 and second 10lb 5 at 38 + 6. Had EMCS with first and Elective with second.

Reason being incidences of shoulder dystocia for a 9lb is no greater than for a smaller baby but once you start talking about 10/11lb the risk increases. 97th percentile must be in the region of 9lb? My two were both on the 100th.

ELCS was fine, got an infection both times but by 8 weeks all was fine

I'm petite and my slightly above average sized baby caused me a lot of problems resulting in pelvic organ prolapse. Obviously I'm biased by my own experience but I would opt for a c section in your shoes. Many women safely deliver big babies but not all women have the same proportioned bodies.

Baby 1 was CSection due to being breach. Natural with baby 2 and 3 who were 8lb8 and 9lb1 so on the large side but not huge. No pain relief with 9lb 1 baby.
I would choose natural every time. Some people recover quickly with CSections, I didn't. It was awful, I couldn't stand at all the first night due to anesthetic, I then got an infection in the wound and it took a couple of months to recover and it really impacted on my mental health and bonding with baby as I struggled caring for him alone.
Natural births were zero recovery time for me, straight up on my feet and caring for my own babies so I could bond with them.

Baby got stuck and paperwork said shoulder dystocia but other than a long labour all was well in the end.

Episiotomy healed well and pelvic floor all normal so overall it went as well as it could.

I trusted my Dr's and midwives and went with the flow. It wasn't how I planned it but both if us were safe and that's what matters.

First baby, born 17 days overdue 9lbs, 3oz Induction, ventouse, forceps, episiotomy, shoulder dystocia horrendous recovery with PND. Baby bruised and battered. Second baby, elective caesarean, fabulous birth, immediate bonding, quick recovery. So much less post birth pain and driving 2 weeks after birth. I so wish I hadn’t been influenced by NCT
classes, ‘listen to your body’, blah, blah. Just my experience, but interesting how many doctors chose a planned caesarean….Good luck whatever you decide xx

2nd baby 10lb 8. Wasn’t the easiest but was fine. I wasn’t worried because I had no idea. It made sense why I pushed for nearly an hour I think they were just starting to get a bit worried when she came. Third I believed that big meant big and was induced. I would be less likely to do an induction for a first baby as they tend to be less likely to proceed. I was induced a week early and number 3 was 10lb4.5. I was worried about shoulder dystocia. I’m average height but quite big framed (I’m not petite structurally). If I was in your position I’d ask a consultant opinion re caesarean. I was happy to have one if it was advised but I also knew I was done with babies after that. Good luck xx

I’ve had 2 larger babies. I’m also 5ft2.

Baby 1 was measuring above 99th centile on scan. I agreed to be induced at 38+1 and he was born at 38+5 via emergency c-section due to failure to progress weighing 8lb10oz.

Baby 2 was also measuring above 99th centile on
scan. I refused to be induced again so had an elective c-section at 39+6 and he weighed 9lb4oz.
My waters broke the evening before my planned section and they were really not keen for me to have him vaginally and advised an emergency c-section overnight if needed. They explained about shoulder dystocia and the risks associated with this.

There are so many variables. DD1 was 9lb4. Laboured for about 30 hours, had done lots of hypnobirthing / positive birth stuff which definitely helped my frame of mind, although it was tough and she was back to back. Ended up with an emergency section and difficult recovery.

DD2 I had an ELCS and it was bloody brilliant! So calm, and my recovery was great.

I would recommend an elective section every time - but everyone’s experience is different!

We’ve also died in our droves so y’know…

ds1 9.9 I didn’t do well (he was absolutely fine) and required HDU and blood transfusions. I regret not pushing for a c-section when his size became apparent during Labour.

ds2 8.4 delivered by planned c-section which was a breeze. I was up and about easily by day 5 and doing everything myself.

Those scans are really unreliable, don't make any decisions about your birth based on them.

The scan measurements are unreliable I mean

DS1 was 8lbs 5 oz, emergency caesarean.
DS2 was 9lbs 2 oz, normal VBAC 2 1/2 years later, no issues at all.
DS3 was 8lbs 12 oz, normal VBAC, again no issues.
I'm 5' 2 and at the time of births was quite petite (apart from bump).

I'm 5ft3, husband 5ft7, had a 10lb2oz baby. Was a planned c section at 40+3.weeks as they discovered baby was transverse at a scan on 40+2.

He's nearly 4 now and still massive, not overweight, 98th percentile for height, 95th for weight.

I'm glad i had a c section as turning him at his size (plus I have a bicornate uterus) would have been a nightmare.

C section recovery was fine, c section itself was lovely. So peaceful, music playing, I remember it and it was honestly magical.

I would 100% have a c section again but I'm not having any more kids!

I'm 5'2" and DD1 wad HUGE. I mean huge...11lb5.5oz... 😱😳🤣

I was overdue at 42 weeks, then induced, then after a 10 hour labour /epidural, I had an EMCS as she was in distress. Luckily, the obstetric consultant "made a good call" according to my midwife, and my DD is now an amazing 13 year old who is beautiful, incredibly clever, and an straight A student who is a total character.

I think my body was telling me she was too big when I didn't go into labour naturally. I had undiagnosed gestational diabetes, hence her enormous size, and I remember one of thd midwives holding her up in amazement lol 😆 And another coming to see me as she couldn't believe anyone my size could have such a huge baby! 🤣🤣🤣😱🤣