Help - huge first baby dillema!

[dandycandyjellybean]

Ever since my first scan, the hospital have been predicting a big baby (they run in my family) but had to have a scan at 34 to check for low placenta (fine) and the consultant told me that my son was already 6+lb and that he thought that I would end up with a whopping 12lb-er!!! Wants me to go back at 38 weeks with a view to either induction or c section. He wasn't very confident about the success of early induction and was obviously more keen on the c section. Much as I don't fancy attempting to bring an enormous whopper naturally (scared of huge tear, incontinence and never wanting sex again due to agony), I am a carer for my disabled husband, and don't really want to start off my life as a new mum crippled by major abdo surgery. Anyone got any pearls of wisdom?

Hi Cubby, i wouldn't worry too much, i was told with all 3 of my children they were huge etc etc had all the jokes " are you sure its not twins" from the consultant. The scans showed my son as being on the 90th centile, and the largest baby I had was 7lbs 15oz. They are not always right!

If it really is a BIG baby, nature wouldn't let it grow too big for you to give birth- woman can and do give birth vaginally to 12pounders. At the end of the day at 38 weeks if it is going to be very had to give birth a section might be the lesser evil. I was up and about the day after my section- yes a little sore, but its not that bad.
Good luck, and wishing you all the best

I've seen a tiny woman give birth to a 14lb baby. Honestly! The baby filled the perspex cot they use in hospital.She was fine but the baby looked a bit stunned.

for 3 weeks before having dd i was told she would be over 12lbs, and she was 7lb 2..I had a c-section and is wasnt that bad..i couldnt do any lifting for a few weeks, but that was more due to back trouble (i couldnt walk at one point and had to crawl to kitchen on a few occasions in middle of night to heat milk) c-section scar bit was only a problem for 6 days, and was fine by the time i was out of hospital.

DS was quite skinny compact 7lb baby - but had a head that was on the top percentile, and he got wedged and had to be ventoused out. You could have a nice plump baby with a much smaller head - I think it's head and shoulders that make a difference, rather than overall weight.

my 1st was 9lb 13 and i recovered fine. one of the nurses told me the previous week a woman had given birth to a 15lb baby naturally, 1st baby and didnt need a single stitch. i was told ds2 would be bigger than ds1 (mw wouldnt say how much bigger!) and he was a piddling 8lb7. tbh i wouldnt be easily persuaded into either of these options. ask your midwife, ime they tend to know more about the reality of childbirth than consultants

Cubby, scans are not 100% accurate but mine were quite spot on. My baby from the first scan was above average and as time went by I had more scans and by the last scan at 38 weeks he was above all the lines. He was 10 1/2 pounds and 60cm long.

I had a natural birth and could not walk properly for about two weeks but now he is 22 weeks and everything is back to normal.

Cubby
I don't know if this will be any help but my other half was 11 1/2 lbs when he was born and my mum in law had no gas and air or anything and she didn't tear at all,i'm not saying this is the rule but sometimes it's ok.
Good luck with what ever you decied

Scans can be out 10 per cent either way - and up to 20 per cent has been known. So don't let consultant panic you. Just one example, my sister had gestational diabetes (which is known to cause babies to get really big) and was repeatedly told she was having a whopper. Actually my neice came in at 8lb 7oz - only 3oz bigger than my ds! She had a vaginal delivery with no tearing (although baby had her index finger held in a funny position and scratched my sister internally. OUCH.)

I would certainly avoid induction if I were you. If large babies run in your family (and not your dh's) then you should be physically well equipped to deliver them naturally. I second the comments about inaccurate scans - I was told ds1 was going to be a whopper (estimated weight at 36 week scan was 8lb) He was born at 36+3 and was actually 6lb 9oz although he did have a very large head.

hi i was told all along that ds would be 10lb+ so whenI went 15 days over I was petrified, when he arrived he was 9lb1 but mainly due to being tall and skinny..as he still is..lol I had no stitches etc and everything was fine. Was able to go out ot party day we came home from hospital etc.

My husband was 12lb when born. MIL gave birth to him at home with no pain releif and was fine. It is possible though I'm not sure I fancy it myself (the no pain relief I mean) My children were 10lb and 9.5lb respectively and that was fine afterwards. I did have a small tear but it healed up fine, and I think that they are realitively common. No resulting incontinence and having had a second one obviously didn't go off sex forever
hope that you get some sensible info from your midwife and that all goes well

also the heavier they are - the more gravity will help them come out - not as much pushing required.

My mother gave birth to my 10lb 11oz brother at home with only gas & air and no tears.

All the way through my pregnancy I was told that the baby was on the 90th centile. When she was born, she was only 6lbs 10oz - which made her the 25th centile. However, I wasn't scanned after 20 weeks, and the measurements were all done by measuring my bump which is less accurate than scans I think.

Whatever happens - good luck, and take very deep breaths of the gas and air if you decide to try naturally.

thought I'd answered ths thread but cant see me!!!
Mine were 10lb 2 born on due date and 9lb 15 ..11 days early. Gas and air and no stitches. Saying that the scan I had at about 38 weeks was accurate in sizing them!

My ds was 10lbs 4oz and was predicted to be small - so that just show you that sometiems they don't know what they're talking about.

I gave birth naturally (with pain relief) and have had no long term problems. I did have a tear (front and back) but that's healed completely. I've also had sex again and had an orgasm (just the one) and am even thinking of having another one (baby).

I was predicted a whopper by a scanner that actually sniggered!

I think in your situation you would be as well at this stage asking what help you are entitled to in case you need it. If your husband is disabled, you must be entitled to something. I suggest phoning the people you get your carer allowance from to ask them.

Turned out my "whopper" was overdue by 2 weeks 1 day but nevertheless shot out in just over 2 hours weighing in at 9lbs. Not the heaviest ever it has to be said, but he was tall! (He was also delivered with the same hand on his cheek that was shown in all his scan piccies. Eeeek!)

Do you know how all the "whoppers" in your family were delivered? My midwife told me a story about her worrying about only having size 5 feet (the premis being that size of feet is related to pelvic width or something). The lecturer ( a consultant) apparently said "My dear, you will get a horse and cart through there"

My pearl of wisdom - don't worry - and settle your mind even further by making provision

Good advice Serah!

But I need to ask..2 hours? Did you have time for a epi?

Bless my midwife and anaethestist. Thats all I'm saying on this thread

Oh, and you just reminded me. DS came out like Superman, one arm first!

I can picture the scene....

"and I can see the baby's, er, oh my god, what is it????"

I had fortnightly scans from 32 weeks as my baby was predicted to be a big un. At 36 wks she was measuring over 9lbs. I eventually was induced 4 days early and my dd was born weighing 11lb 8oz! Because of the induction I had an epidural and ended up having stitches. She's 12 months old now and only around 22lbs!

11lbs 8oz! How was the epidural? Did it touch the sides?