Big baby - induction or ELCS under GA?

[AhickeyfromKenickie]

This baby has been measuring large since 12 weeks. Not surprising really, as DC#1 was 10lb 8oz, and DC#2 (induced at 39 weeks) was 9lb. DC#3-on-his-way, however, is measuring "off the scale" (MW's exact quote ).
I have a dating scan booked for 36 weeks, and an appointment with the consultant afterwards. MW told me today they are happy to go along with an induction at 39 weeks, or ELCS if I request either, or to leave me (up until 41 weeks) if that's what I want.
I feel happy being left to try for a natural, active labour/delivery if DC#3 is 9-10lb, I feel capable with that sort of size.
Anything over 10lb, I don't feel I want to go through that again. It was pretty traumatic for me and DC#1, and it took me a long time to recover physically.
If it comes down to it, and the baby is predicted to be over 10lb, I'm not sure what would be the best option for us. I'm trying to weigh up the pros and cons of induction or ELCS (if I had to have an ELCS it would have to be under GA as I have a dimple in my spine and epis do not work on me), and no clearer to making up my mind!
The thought of having a CS and a GA scares me to death, but so does a long, drawn-out induction, or being ripped to shreds again.
Any thoughts, ideas or experiences?
Thanks
Sorry that was a bit long!

Shit - MW phoned this morning, I have GA. Got clinic appt. next week. Is it likely I'll have to have a C-section?????

I had an ELCS under GA 3 weeks ago. Tried an epidural but they don't work properly on me either. It was a great experience. Far better than the shoulder dystocia and forceps delivery I had previously. Woke up soon after the op with DH holding the baby. Can't remember anything about it which is good for me as I was traumatised for weeks after my sons birth. Have recovered very quickly from the op too. Was discharged from hospital 48 hours after my daughter was born with a box of pain killers and am now completely back on my feet feeling pretty close to normal.

do you really want a CS? or would you rather, overall, try for a VB?

my DS was measuring off the scales during pregnancy, I was terrified, but nothing was mentioned about a CS. I was induced as he was 11 days late but on the day he ended up arriving the doctor felt my tummy and said he wouldn't be that big.

he was 11lb 14oz :o

easy birth really, he was jaundiced and bruised though. I didn't tear with my DD, which apparently meant I was less likely to tear in subsequent births even with a big baby.

nothin' wrong with a CS obviously if that's what you want, but from a personal POV I am so glad they didn't do a CS, as it was a lovely birth experience.

omg mathsmadmummy. 11 14 wow thats big, how much did your 1st child weigh.
im not in the same situation with big babys but im torn between vb and cs too i had a bad hemorrhage with my 1st and been pregnany again i really dont want to go through that again but i really dont want a cs either

If you've already had a successful vaginal birth then aren't your chances of early induction working quite good? And I gather that the size of the baby isn't as important as how your pelvis stretches, the baby's head moulds etc. I mean, mine were 7 and 8 lbs and both got stuck in my pelvis!!

If you do have to have an elcs, I had an emcs under general last year as they couldn't get the giant horse needle in. Tbh I much prefer being awake (since one effect of GA is that I had a load of mucus on my chest that I needed to cough up, but coughing was horrid) but at the end of the day it is not all that bad. They took the baby directly to my DH and he did all the skin-to-skin etc until I was awake enough to hold her, an hour or two later. It's really not the end of the world; you still get a lovely baby afterwards.

I know, we were celebrities on the ward after - everyone wanted to see the monster baby

I think it depends on how your first delivery/ies went. I had a fairly traumatic birth after induction with DD (8lb 4oz), 2hrs of pushing and only narrowly escaped forceps/ventouse/CS. but I wasn't physically hurt by it, only minor grazes, only small blood loss etc, which made it a lot less likely that I would tear with DS.

If your first 2 births didn't cause tears etc then you'll probably be fine this time too, but if you had tears etc then it may be worth considering CS.

obviously I'm no expert whatsoever, and as Haliborange said it really doesn't matter as you get a baby, that's what matters, not how it arrives!

ive had 1 birth and i had too tears 1 straight at side of were he came out and the other was on the labia, he came quite quick though was only pushing 5 mins. but then i lost 2000+ml of blood, which has traumatised me but ive read that cs has an even higher risk of hemorhaging than vb.
that is massive lol, dont know how you did it

I kind of think it does matter how LO arrives. I want to avoid a repeat of my first birth, where I couldn't walk for 6 weeks afterwards and was left with all sorts of complications I don't really want to go into . I am leaning towards the ELCS now, after thinking/reading/talking about it all week. Still scared to death though

Well, after my 2 sections I was probably pain free and up to walking a couple of miles within about 3 weeks. But of course, others will have horror stories and recovery times are individual. And my friend who tore like mad delivering her first (6lb!) baby and ended up with some complicated embroidery which meant sex made her cry for a year had a tiny graze the second time with her 8 pounder and was bouncing around when I saw her 48 hours later. Noone can predict what might happen the second time around.

I guess you have to weigh up the risks of each option and identify which set of risks you can most easily live with.
For example, I went for a VBAC last time because I felt that it was safest for the baby and because I was concerned that more abdominal adhesions might mean no more babies for me. But other people will have not wanted to risk the unknown and so would have gone for an elcs.
One thing I don't think an elcs generally is is traumatic (and if anything does go pear shaped the doctors are all there and you are already in theatre), but it is not necessarily problem-free. Having said that, I do kind of think I would rather look after an abdominal wound than one to my hoo-har, but then I have only ever had one kind.

Hum I would always opted for a natural delivery if possible. You've had to big babies VB and by the sounds of it your seconed was not a problem. So you go for a VB where you may have complications or a CS which is major surggary and does carry a higher risk of complications.

beckie90 there is a great risk of hemoraging with a CS so I'm supprised you'd be even offered this option if that's the only problem you had the first time.

I had shoulder dystocia and forceps delivery with DD and a thired degree tear (which admitatdly healed without any problems) my consultant was more then happy that I try a VB again this time round, in fact I got the impresion he would have been a little disappointed if I'd asked for a CS. Looking at all the recomendations I think this is the best option to.

hickey I think you just have to go with what you feel. if it's any consolation I've heard that big babies are actually easier to deliver than small ones as the extra weight helps push them out! (imagine my annoyance hearing this after feeling soooo smug for pushing a giant baby out of me )

also as you've had 2 VBs before an induction is likely to be very successful (both mine were induced and the first took 3 days the second only a few hours!)

but that doesn't really matter if you are so scared of a VB, it'd be better to have an ELCS that was calm and scheduled etc than a spontaneous VB where you were terrified and may end up with an emergency CS anyway?

Thanks MMM, like I said I feel quite happy having a VB is LO was under 10lb, but anything over, no way. There was a massive difference between delivering/recovering from a 10.8lb-er and then a 9lb-er, so I know what my body is capable of and what is too much for it to take. Since I first posted I've been told I have Gestational Diabetes, so I'll almost certainly have an induction at 38 weeks or ELCS, there's little chance of me labouring spontaneously now.
Thanks for all replies

ah ok I wondered if you meant GD (you put GA in your second post)

it's possible/probable? that your first baby was so much harder just because it was your first. my 8lber was much harder than my 11lber!

but really - it's how you feel that counts. best of luck whatever happens! :)

Yeah, sorry for the typo! I did mean GD

Hi,

I can share my experiences on a couple of points.

DD1 was a waterbirth in hossy she was 9lbs 1oz, I had a 2nd degree tear - she took just under 4 hours. Calm beautiful birth.

DS1 was next, had a home water birth, he was 10lbs 2oz. No tear. He took just under 2 hours. Calm beautiful birth.

ELCS for DC3. Was also a calm, beautiful (we played our music, and filmed her birth/her being taken out). Reason was a v stubborn breech baby. 9lbs 12oz

Last one was 5 weeks ago. DS born at home in water (so a VBAC) weighed 10lbs 13oz. No tear. Took under 2 hours also.

So yes ELCS can be wonderful, my recovery was not too bad to be honest.

But also, my subsequent babies were quicker and caused less damage being born than my first.

I think your first is 99% of the time longer and more damaging as they are "paving" the way?

My tip would be try the pool to avoid tearing? It softens the skin and is a very relaxing (well as it can be) birth experience.

Good luck