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.

He is three now. no erb's palsy

I think the secret here is good midwifery and/or doctoring. You need folk with an experience, not anxiety about failure.

I'm taking the prize so far on this thread - DD2 was 11lbs 8ozs, and DS (DC#3) was 12lbs 3ozs. No problems. Hard to 'labour' and get them out, but then when is it easy?! :o Tore with DS (2nd degree) and lost lots of blood but like somebody else said, depends on size of your pelvis I imagine.

DS1 was 8lb 9.5oz (the .5 is very important to me!) - low forceps delivery but only because the cord was caught round his neck. One stitch and all was fine.

DD1 was 9lb 7oz, came out after a 3hr 13min labour, no pain relief, no stitches, no problems. Not picked up as a large baby at 20 week scan, or at any subsequent midwife apppointment. And I was flat on my back for the last 20 minutes, when I eventually got to the hospital.

Interestingly, happy2bhomely, my craving both times was for milk, and I drank pints of skimmed milk throughout both pregnancies. Never had it mentioned as cause of big babies though. My DH is 6ft 4, so we have always just put it down to genes.

On the other side, my friend had a 10lb 4oz baby for her first, and was told that her second would be even bigger. Cue numerous scans, etc which all predicted a large baby. She refused to let them induce her, and lo and behold her daughter arrived naturally....weighing just over 6lb. As a result, I have never set much store by predicted birth sizes/weights.

Best of luck x

DD2 was 10.6, and the birth was a doddle. I was induced, but went from waters breaking to birth in about an hour. Would have been quicker but the MWs were on a shift change so no-one really listened when I kept saying I needed to push! No tears, nothing. Way easier than DD1 at 8.11.

i had a big one. 10lb 11oz. At home in the pool. I retain the frog position throughout the end of first stage and thru the 2nd stage. Then stood to deliver. She came out fine- though I got a 2nd degree tear. Wow that ring of fire stings!!

MW said to me that I'd eaten too much chocolate and that was reason for her size. I had eaten a lot so who knows if she is right.

I know I wont eat so much if there is a next time!!

Am so glad to see this thread because I am terrified my baby is going to be HUGE!

Big babies run in my family as well as DH's and my mum had a 9lb birth, an over 11lb birth (me) and an over 12lb birth.

DH's side average somewhere over 8lb's which isn't so big but still daunting.

I can tell that she is a big baby already from the feel of her inside IYSWIM, and EVERYONE has started commenting on how HUGE I am in the last few recently considering I am only 30 weeks (I have started getting the "you sure you haven't got twins in there" remarks), and even my mum thinks I am very big.

One of my friends is a month ahead of me and the same size as me.

I am hoping it is mostly fluid at this point because I can't believe how big I am myself.

I have really enjoyed reading your stories about big babies, I go for another sizing scan next Tuesday as I will be 37 weeks.

At check up this week (weekly visits to consultant led high risk unit) I was measuring 2 weeks ahead going by the fundal measurement. But the obstetrician I saw this time said no she wouldn't induce honestly WTF, how can two docs in the same unit have totally different views? I am feeling a lot more bolshy and leave-me-be-to-do-it-naturally now the shock of what they have said has worn off and I've read all about you lovely ladies having normal deliveries. I am still off the doughnuts though!

It'll be interesting to see what the sizing scan is next week, I reckon 8 1/2lb.

I had my biggest baby 12 days ago - 9lb6oz.

It was slow (but then all 4 have been) but the easiest birth to recover from. Tiny tear, v few stitches. Better by far than his 7lb brother's!

Good luck.

Another positive story (I hope!)

DD1 - 8lbs 5 oz, MW birthing unit, water and gas and air - needed stitches but nothing too hideous. 13 hour labour.

DD2 - 9lbs 10 oz - home water birth, 6 hour labour, much much easier though last hour or so more painful than with first one (but only an hour!). Had stitches to be on safe side but less of a tear and it healed SO much faster - I could sit down and everything the next day! And absolutely no problems with the birth - she sort of fell out as soon as my waters broke at the end - second stage was five minutes.

DD2's size came as a bit of a surprise (i'm 5' 4", DH is 5'7", though we both have tall dads) although I did at least get a tip off from MW on final visit the day before, who thoughtfully scared the proverbial out of me by saying 'ooh, that one's a nine pounder'. Nothing had been said before that although I felt HUGE in comparison to first time. She did at least tell me it was mainly length and so shouldn't be a problem, which was something.

I also have a friend who's had 4 DCs, weighing 9 lbs, 10 lbs, 11 lbs and 11 lbs - all vaginal, only one epi. I was surprised she went for number 4 given the pattern.....

Really hope it goes well for you, I agree that a supportive MW/doctor makes all the difference.

DS's 1 and 2 were 9lb at term and 10lb at 38 weeks. I had them no problem no tears, no stitches.

DS3 was 6lb 14 at 37 weeks and much easier to push out than first two DS's. but then he had come third.

DD was estimated all sorts of weights at my scans. I had gestational diabetes and one minute they thought she was going to be 9-10lb at term and one minute they thought she was SGA. They did keep saying scans weren't accurate though. She was born at 37+6 weighing a tiny 6lb 15oz and the scans were a fair bit out as 5 days before a scan had estimated her to be 7lb 9oz.

Just to add, my friend's son was 12lb when he was born! They didn't realise how big he was going to be and she did need forceps, but he was/is fine.

An update from my earlier post. Just gave birth on Saturday to DD on her due date. She was 10lb2oz, 37cm head. Brilliant labour - tens pain relief until I got into transition - then some gas and air and into the birth pool for a 40 minute push. Very minor tear - no stitches required. It was hard work but not unmanageable. I have seriously felt worse after a night out on the tiles.

I didn't know how big DD was before she arrived. I had been offered a growth scan at 39 weeks but declined as DS's was so inaccurate and it wouldn't have made any difference at that stage. I'm glad I didn't know as I might have been more tense and not believed I could do it. I hope the scan goes well. BTW I found Ina May's Guide to Childbirth really helpful There's a section with good labour stories followed by a section explaining what the different interventions are and what they mean. It is a bit hippy-ish and american but if you can get past that it's really good.

Maybe this link can provide you with some extra techniques for preparation

www.birthingnaturally.net/cn/technique/perineal.html

I have never been told about this, but figured out it was probably a good idea to do in the few weeks leading up to labour, and found this link. Think all pregnant women should be adviced on doing this, it just makes sense.

best of luck

GruffaloMama - congratulations! Have you decided a name for your big () one?

I am hoping for a similarly pleasant experience and will put both fingers in my ears and sing la la la la while gloom and doom is laid before me.

Congratulations gruffalo!

Had 37 week scan today and EBW at 37+3 weeks was 8lb 9oz. Abdomen measuring >97th %tile still. At 40 weeks would be just over 10lb.

The very nice senior consultant talked me through the issue which it turns out is not shoulder dystocia but the accelerated growth rate of the LO. She was a bit perplexed why previous discussions with medics had not made this clear. This can put an extra demand on the placenta which, combined with having lupus which can cause placental problems, means I am at greater risk of stillbirth near to term as the placenta degrades.

So this big baby is being induced next Monday if I don't go into labour spontaneously before, they did a stretch and sweep today at 37 weeks (cervix soft and 1.5cm but not dilated) and I've been having contractions ever since. First DD was spontaneous labour at 38+0 weeks so I may manage it without chemical induction, fingers crossed.

DS2 was 11lb 3oz. His birth was much easier than 8lb 13oz DS1!

My labour lasted 2.5 hours total, I was 8cm when I got to hospital and he was born an hour later after I'd wallowed in the birthing pool for half and hour.

I did tear but it all healed up OK within a couple of weeks.

As with you, they wouldn't have let me go beyond 40 weeks but as it turned out he arrived on his due date.

Just thought I would update.

DD2 born on Tuesday weighing 9lb 3 1/2oz at 38 weeks, was induced in the end, had ARM but no chemicals to induce which was a relief. Big head too, 36cm, but no tears and certainly no shoulders getting stuck! Second stage was 3 minutes - whoosh out she came a bit squished and purple but fine.

So ultrasound sizing was bang on, still not sure if I really had anything to worry about regarding leaving labour to happen by itself but that is all academic now she is here.

We are calling her Elspeth Kitty.

My daughter was 9 pounds 11 - delivered naturally with gas & air and minimal tearing. No problems at all!

May I be the first to say congratulations Mama. Love the name and well done you

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