To be feeling a little disappointed that I may not need a C-Section?

[ToffeeAddict]

I'm 37 weeks pregnant and have been told for the least few weeks that my baby is breech. Initially I was disappointed as I knew this would probably result in a CS if baby remained breech until nearer term. However, I gradually came round to the idea of a CS after speaking to others and listening to their experiences.

This week I have been told the baby is probably no longer breech and am being sent for a scan to confirm the presentation in a couple of days. The midwife also commented that the baby was fairly large 'for me'.

My main concern is that I am only 5 foot tall and my husband is 6 foot 4. My mum is the same height as me and could not give birth to me vaginally and ended up with an ECS at 36 weeks - I was only 6 lbs! I am really worried at the prospect of giving birth to a baby that is too big for me and the complications (instruments, extensive tearing, ECS, etc) that this could result in.

So, AIBU for considering asking for an elective CS if the scan shows the baby is large, and is the hospital likely to give any considertaion to this request?

Would be good to hear of experiences from other petite mothers with tall husbands and/or big babies.

so was mine goldenSnitch! truely magical
wouldn't of had it any other way!

IME sizing scans are not accurate, c sections are not fun and I would always advise to have a vaginal birth where possible.

A section is no way an easy option and the consequences of it can last way past the first few weeks of baby's life.

My DH is a foot taller than me and Im only 4ft 10! I actually had an appointment to go and see the consultant about having a CS because all my scans etc showed DS to be on the large size (they were estimating between 8-9lb) however DS decided to arrive at 36 weeks the day before my appointment so didn't get to go!

He was just under 5lb and although I actually looked huge (bit like a Weeble if anyone can remember those!) there is no way he'd have been that big even if he'd cooked for another 4 weeks so I was given all that worry unecessarily.

If I were you Id try to go for a natural birth with a view to progressing to a CS if need be. I actually had quite a hard time with DS and ended up with a ventouse delivery but he was quite tiny and very tired and my MW actually said that the bigger the baby its sometimes easier cause they sort of propel themselves out (for want of a better description lol!) whereas a smaller one hasn't got enough oomph to do that! No idea if its true or not but makes sense I suppose!

My mum was small (bout 5'1) and my dad was over 6 ft. She gave birth vaginally

On a birth level, having had 2 normal deliveries and one EMCS, i would rather give birth vaginally a hundred times than have one c-section.
It is deffo not the easier option

All of my MWs have said bigger babies are often easier to birth because of the effect of gravity. Position of the baby is a much bigger factor in a difficult birth. Also petite women can have... ahem... roomy pelvises and larger/taller women can have narrow pelvises. A friend of mine is Japanese with a typical Japanese build, her DH is English and well built. Her second baby was delivered by her DH on the bathroom floor because it all happened so quickly She didn't tear and looked disgustingly fresh when I saw her a couple of days later

FWIW the midwives all said my baby was going to be small (as my bump was not too big)- I delivered an 8lb 4oz- with minimal tears.

OP- sizing scans are very innacurate, i had gestational diabetes, and the last scan at 38 weeks he was predicted to be over 10lbs!
he wasn't lol, he weighed 7lbs10oz but i wouldn't of been able to birth him safely anyway as his head circum was 38.6 cms!
big heads run in his dads side, both him and his dad were only children as their heads damaged the mothers too badly they couldn't carry anymore.
but like i said he wasn't a big baby, just his noggin!
so unless his head is massive i would say
if you want a vaginal birth go for it, every mum should have the birth they want, it really makes a difference, mine was exactly what i wanted and im very greatful for it

I was told (by consultant at the C&W staring at my 5ft 3 frame, this was 11 yrs ago) that they had done research in this area and 'it's how much YOU weighed at birth and not the size of your husband dear'. When I told him that I weighed well over 8 IIbs at birth despite the fact that my mother had been on a strict 'only put on 12-15 IIbs' diet (they thought excess weight gain led to preclampsia then) he started to take me more seriously, and indeed ultimately I had a 9 pounder by ELCS - although there were additional reasons for the section.

So I offer you that as a medical opinion, with all the caveats that more recent research might have shown something different (or that he could just have been talking rubbish - although he seemed very sure of their 'research'!). On scans/measurements I have to say that both a late scan and a MW 'bump feel' did indicate, correctly, that I was having a fairly big baby - they can be wrong but they can be dead right. Personally I had no particular problems with the section, and went on to choose another the second time. But opinions vary as you will see on here, and there were additional reasons. Do the reading others have recommended. If you decide you are certain you want a section then speak to the hospital and make it clear. Lots of luck whatever you decide.

Bella, my 5ft2 friend who probably weighs about 7 stone in soaking wet clothing had her 9lber nearly down the loo. As someone said earlier, it's not how big you are on the outside that counts.

ToffeeAddict, it's not unreasonable to feel unsettled anyway if a plan you had in your head and were happy with changed - lots of people here have given you great advice, and I think you should not feel you are being unreasonable whatever choice you make about the birth of your baby.
I had to have an emaegency CS and felt guilty about it for a long while. Now I've talked myself out of thinking such crap, and am just very grateful for my DD . Not sure what I'll do if we go for another though?!
Good luck!