Squeezing out a big one - experiences with macrosomic babies please

[MamaLaMoo]

Hi, 34 weeks scan predicts a big baby (she had 6lb 12 oz EBW at 34 weeks) and in particular there seems to be concern about the size of her abdomen which is 97th percentile compared to head which is 80th.

I have been scared silly by doctors suddenly talking about early inductions, shoulder dystocia and have ordered weeks of blood glucose monitoring and restricted diet. I had a BMI of 19 prior to pregnancy and have normal 25lb weight gain, no diabetes .

DD1 was 8lb 2oz at 38 weeks and delivered without a tear, there is a strong family history of larger (and longer) than average, early babies so I thought I was in for another one, maybe 8 1/2 or 9lb at 38 weeks. I am actually unable to sleep I am so worried about the doctors reactions.

My DS2 was 9lb 2oz and suffered shoulder dystocia, however my friend had her DS weighing 10lb 7oz with no problems. Everyone is different and I think a lot of it depends on your pelvis, mine was too narrow for DS to fit under my pubic bone and so his shoulder jammed.

Try not to worry too much and take things as they come. Your birth may go without a hitch but if your consultant and midwife are at all concerned they will recommend an ELCS (I would imagine).

Oh forgot to add, when I was having DS3 they scanned me a lot to measure his growth. They told me he was certainly going to be over 9lbs and likely over 10lbs . I was booked for ELCS and he was born safely....weighing 7lbs 7oz! The scanned measurements can be wrong.

Do not fret. There are a number of good, solid reasons why you should not worry right now:

1. As others have said they often get the estimated weights wrong - your LO may have just had a bit of a growth spurt and be ahead of the charts now but back to average in a few weeks' time.
2. The abdomen is the squishy bit anyway and thus a large abdomen is not going to get stuck.
3. This is your second delivery and you clearly did a good job of the first one - so there is every likelihood that you will be able to birth this baby too.
4. The biggest baby I ever saw was 11lb at birth. It was a natural delivery and the Mum was fine. Big does not equal rubbish birth.

It is rotten of the doctors to worry you like this; can you talk to your MW for reassurance? They tend to have a far more sensible and less medical viewpoint. Good luck!

DS was 10lb 4oz. Needed forceps (mid cavity) but that was only because I was knackered after a long labour. He wasn't distressed and there was no shoulder dystocia or other problems. It was fine.

Oh, and my BMI was 17. No idea about GD, I wasn't tested.

My biggest was 11 lb 2 and a natural birth, it wasn't as bad as you'd think!

DC2 was 9lb and a few oz. It was a fantastic delivery, really got my fingers crossed that my next one (due in a few weeks) goes as well. It?s going to smart either way IMO.

I did tear a little, but seem to remember recovering well from it. The only thing was I?d lined up a very sweet newborn sized outfit for him and he was too big for it.

Thanks for your replies, it is reassuring to hear large babies do not automatically end in obstetric emergencies - to listen to the medical professionals I saw this week you would think it did.

I have been asked back for another sizing scan at 37 weeks, hopefully they either measured her wrong (sonographer was quite rushed) or it was a growth spurt. My bump definitely has been increasing in fits and starts, was measuring 33 1/2 weeks at 30 weeks then it didn't change much for several weeks and is now as expected.

my 2nd ds was 10lb3 i had him naturally just gas and air and took about 10 mins to push him out with just a tiny tear! his head circumfrance was 37cm which the mw said was big. It was hard but i was amazed at his weight, he looked twice as big as all the other babies!! im v proud of how big he was!
Im 36 weeks now with my 3rd but i think this one is going to be a v petite girl as im not at all as big.

Only recommendation is get some 900mg raspberry leaf tea capsules im sure theyre the reason i pushed him out all on my own it really tones your muscles appearantly!!

Try not to worry they told me with my 1st she would be 14lb she was 8lb2 they really cant say even scans are not that accurate and predicting the weight/size x

My biggest was 11lbs 10 and she came out just fine, although was an induction.
My smallest was 10lbs 5oz and she came face first, so I did need to be cut. The two others were 10lbs 7oz and 10lbs 13 oz- they came out just fine too.
Scans were no help at predicting weight. Fundal height measurements gave some indication though- My biggest had me measuring 52cm at 36 weeks!!! No one was panicking though.
They all had /have huge heads!

My DS was predicted to be 10lb8oz/11lb. He did have a massive head (99th centile) but was actually 8lb8oz. He was back to back (though turned in labour) and although I got exhausted after a long induction and needed forceps, there was no dystocia (sp?) or any other emergencies.

The scans aren't foolproof - particularly as you say they're only a snapshot at that point in time. Also if they're basing recommendations on your birth plan on them I'd be inclined to make sure they know if at the next scan the sonographer seems rushed to you.

dd1 9lbs 6oz. Forceps birth. ds1 11lbs - shoulder dystocia (but resolved with no ongoing problems.

My 11lbs baby was born at home.

Re: abdomen on 97th centile, this was the case with my ds. Head (thankfully!) only 75th centile.

My advice to you would be - just to be on the safe side - STEP AWAY FROM THE DOUGHNUTS. And all refined carbs actually. Eat lots of protein, fish and veg and stay away from bread, pasta, sugar and carbs. Just for a few weeks. I did this with my third and he was only 9lbs 3oz, despite being longer and with a bigger head than my second. (and he's a bigger child now).

BTW - I did have gestational diabetes diagnosed in my second and third pregnancies, but my blood sugars were only ever marginally raised and I never had sugar in my urine at all.

My dd1 was 8lb 4oz, born with vetouse and episiostomy, 10hr labour

My ds was induced (40+14), back to back labour, weighed 10lb 6oz, natural delivery, no tears/stitches, 4 hr labour.

My DD2 was 9lb, very easy birth, no tears/stitches, 4 hr labour.

Good luck :)

Spudulika I hear you lady! Extrapolating from 6lb 12 at 34 weeks assuming 8oz a week she would be approx 9lb at 38 weeks and 10lb at full term, with a bigger body than head. Hence the doctors concern (ow, flippin braxton hicks!).

OK so no white carbs, no doughnuts, no mars bars etc, wait and see what the 37 week scan shows, ask for the sonographer to check the crucial measurements and take an average or request a second opinion on scan.

I am glad to hear your DS had no long term probs, MW at homebirth must have had one cool head. Did she have to do one of the "textbook" manoeuvres to get him out?

My midwife was BRILLIANT, because I came out of that birth without needing sutures (ok - probably some of that was due to me having an enormous fanny.... sob ). She did McRoberts.

Most babies born after SD have no short or long term problems btw.

My first dd was predicted to be a big baby and as a result I was given a large episiotomy, when she did come out she weighed 5lb 13oz, lol

Just to add what others have been saying - the scans can be wrong! Big babies and emcs run in my OH's family - 13lbs+. All the way through my first pg I was measuring big (at least 3cm fundal height over the number of weeks) Given GD tests etc but all were negative. Had two scans, one NHS, one private, at 38 weeks showing baby was looking like 12-13lbs with a head circumference that was over the 98th percentile. I hysterically researched all the data on maternal weight, baby projected weight and the statistical probability of shoulder dystocia and infant mortality (didn't help to have watched a Youtube vid on a reconstruction of birth involving shoulder dystocia - don't do it) and demanded a elcs which the consultant reluctantly agreed to - he turned out to be a shade under 10lbs! His head was enormous (cannot find T-shirts that fit over it even now) and he was twice the size of all other babies I've seen so I don't regret the elcs at all. Now at 30 weeks with DS2 who seems to be a more average size so hoping to get a faster recovery time if doing a vbac.

DD was 10lb 1oz, delivered in 90 mins, no pain relief and no tears/stitches. Recovery was easier and quicker than DS who was 7lb 4oz. I would have been scared silly if anyone had told me how big she was going to be and would probably have opted for a private c-section; luckily no-one had any idea and I had a wonderful birth. I don't think a big baby is necessarily a problem.

I don't have any "technical" knowledge so to speak, but I do know a lady who gave birth a couple of weeks ago to an 11lb 6oz ds. No pain relief, just hypnobirthing. She had a home birth too!

My first son was 10lb 4oz and has erbs palsy due to shoulder dystocia.

My second son was 10lb 5 oz and came out no problem.

ime, it has a lot to do with the competence of the dr and midwife.

With my eldest son, the dr panicked and pulled on his head when he got stuck!

With my second son, they were prepared, the consultant delivered him, the hospital had reviewed their SD procedure and trained staff in mcroberts and other interventions and all was well.

Talk it through with them. Reassure yourself that they know how to deal with SD.

If you want to pm me, I will happily talk to you about it, if you think it would help you to know what to ask and what to look for.

i was told i was having small babies for my first three who were all 9lb+

then ds4 was 10lb 13oz had him in the birthing pool in less than an hour, no tears despite his 42cm head taht was off the chart in the red books!

the scans can be wrong, they were with my first three who were predicted to be 6-7lb.. then when i had no 5 she was predicted to be 9lb+ i could tell she wasnt that big as i knew what it felt like to carry big babies, iw as right she was 8lb exactly :)

big babies i found were easier to birht tbh, check out postions etc that are good for opening up your pelvis and allowing a baby to born more easily, NOT flat on your back!

good luck xx

What's the rationale behind the "no carbs" advice?

I gave birth to an 11lb baby boy at home 17 months ago. Midwife predicted an 8 pounder! It was a 6 hr labour. He did get stuck (shoulder dystocia) which was a little worrying, but he made it out fine with a change of position thankfully. His head was huge and his back and shoulders were so broad that I was prepared to be told I had suffered some serious damage, but not even a graze! No pain relief either because the gas and air valve broke!

My midwife did ask after if I drank a lot of milk. I drank almost 2 pints a day through my pregnancy. Coincidence? Who knows? I'm slim, but tall and didn't look big at all.

Good luck!

His head was 39cm by the way!

I had a big baby at home, 11lb 11oz. expected him to be 9lb 7oz

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/birth_announcements/500031-merryberry-s-big-boy-or-in-praise-of-good-midwifery