terrified of giving birth to a big baby

[s1llyrabb1t]

Hi, I'm soon to become a mum but I've been told that my baby is very large.the doctors have known he was very large for a long time and I was originally told that I wouldn't go beyond 39 weeks, however I now find myself at 41 weeksand expecting a baby that had an estimated weight of 11 lb 2 weeks ago! I've been told different things by every doctor I've seen, and I've seen a lot! Some saying I should expect a c-section, others saying there was no reason for a c-section to be performed, some saying I couldn't be induced due to there being a large amount of fluid on the baby and another saying that an induction would be fine! I was finally told last week that the consultant, who I've never seen, had made the decision that I should be induced at the end of week 41, as they would do with any other pregnancy.I'm now absolutely terrified and find myself having nightmares about my labour and delivery!I never thought I would say this but I really just want a c-section and to see my little boy here and healthy! Can anybody tell me, because so far I've found most of the doctors I've seen to be unhelpful and obtrusive, do I have a good case to say that I want the c-section? I'm an intelligent woman and well aware of the risks, but I really believe in my case that it would be the safer option.and if I do have a case to request a c-section, it's there anything I should say that would give my argument more credence?I tend to get very nervous around doctors!
Thank you

I had a growth scan at 37 weeks and was told then the weight was extimated to be 9lb. I was then told that baby will put on a lb a week on average. I had poly (too much fluid) and was induced at 41 weeks. baby was 9lb 3oz. Has your baby droped into pelvis or is it still unstable. My baby was unstable which is why they didn't want to induce me as the risk the cord would prolaps was to high. In the end they had to induce me. I dont think you can request a c section at this late stage but I could be wrong.

My baby was predicted to be large...and he was 10lb 6oz BUT he had a small head and was long and skinny. So technically a bit easier than an 8lber with a huge head.
There is a website called bigbabies (have a google) which gives lots of information.
I attempted two natural births and ended up with C sections but this was to do with their positioning rather than size.
Loads of people give birth to big babies with minimal problems and some people have 6lbers with bad tears.
If you really want a c section you need to really fight for it. But would you feel disappointed if the baby is not as large as the Dr's predict?

A lot of the late scans are miles out on the weight, by 2lb is not uncommon. Plus, the position of the baby is the main thing for getting them out - my friend gave birth to an 11pounder no problem, my 6lb4 baby was wedged stuck.

Weight isn't everything, if the baby seems to be having problems they will get him/her out, don't worry. A 'possibly' big baby is not a good reason to induce, if you are not ready to labour it is more likely to end up with emergency CS so it sounds like they are being sensible.

My best friends DS was 10lbs 14oz and she's very slim and the birth was quite traumatic.
For her second, they monitored her carefully and said that her DD was going to be 11lbs but would be ok to go naturally...she was 9lbs. I don't know of anyone who has had their birth weight correctly predicted by scans or doctors.

NICE guidelines changed in nov 2011 to the effect that women requesting a section and who discuss it at length sonthat they are making an informed decision, get a section. End of.
It's all on the NICE website. Read, ingest, print off, take to consultant, stand your ground.

bagofholly that is just not true, I am afraid. NICE has written guidelines, not changed the law. I speak from experience in the last few weeks of battling with my hospital (central London teaching hospital) who had no interest in my requests for a c-section (and I thought I had pretty valid reasons - 3rd pregnancy, spd, measuring large for dates, previous large births with difficult deliveries...).

Unfortunately, consultants have targets to meet to reduce c-section rates. NICE or not and they are not giving them away!

I have compromised on an induction at 39 weeks.

OP - I understand your fear. I think babies put on 0.5 lb per week, not 1 lb, which may bring the estimated weight down!? Also, contact the head of midwifery at your hospital - I found mine very sympathetic and a good advocate. Good luck.

I have a friend who gave birth to a 4.1kg (DC1). She was tiny herself (45kg before pregnancy), put on 22kg, but it was nearly all fluid. She was told that she would almost certainly have a CS as she wasn't big enough to let the baby out.

She gave birth a few days after term, without being induced, within about 2 hours of when her waters broke suddenly at home. She just had time to get to the hospital, be told the baby wouldn't be born for at least another 6 hours, before she realised that the baby was truly on its way and give birth utterly easily before the obstetrician could arrive in the delivery room.

So don't be too worried about all the terrible things which might happen, it doesn't always happen that way!

It's not about size, it's about the position of the baby. If you try and remain active during the labour the baby has the best chance of getting into a good birthing position. I would suggest that being in the stranded beetle position when pushing wouldn't be great. Let gravity do the work and be on all fours or leaning over the bed.

My ds3 was 11lb 2oz and after I got him into a good position (he originally descended into the pelvis at an angle) the labour progressed quickly. I had stitches but just for a couple of grazes.

Shoulder dystocia is just as likely with an averaged sized baby, because again it is about positioning of the baby.

I know being told you are having a big baby is scary but Ime (all 3 were over 9lb, and the smallest was an emcs) it is not a negative.

What scares you most about having a big baby?

I'd agree with Iliketo. Knowing what you are most concerned about might make you better able to negotiate the birth you want with your HCPs.

DC1 was induced and a long back to back labour - moved during the labour but v painful and resulted in forceps delivery. He was 8lb8oz and had a 37cm head. Growth scans had him at 10lb plus.

DC2 was a natural, spontaneous labour with no tears/stitches. Delivered in a birth pool. She was 10lb2oz and also had a 37cm head. I declined growth scans at 39 weeks as I didn't think they were reliable enough to make it worthwhile. Given my problems with DC1 I did spend a lot of time trying to get her into a good position pre-labour and stayed active during it.

For me, it was important with DC2 that I wasn't induced as I was concerned that it would result in a cascade of interventions which would end up with me trying to push out a baby in the 'beetle position' - in turn aggravating other health problems I had. So my GP and consultant had agreed that if I went into labour naturally we would try for a natural birth, but that if they wanted the baby to arrive early, I'd have a CS.

The hospital I gave birth to DS in give scans at 36 weeks and hope to predict birthweight from them.

With DS they predicted he'd be 8lb 7lb and he was born at 39 weeks weighing 8lb 6oz. So that was spot in the predictions.

I do agree with some other posters that the position of the baby is a lot to do with it, rather than just baby's weight.

big does not mean bad, DS2 was 9.5lbs and was a great birth, really!

Growth scans can be very inaccurate, if that's what they're estimating your baby's weight from. DD at 36 weeks was predicted to be 2nd centile, so that's maybe 6lb or so at full term? She was actually 10lb 5oz! I guess the reverse can be true, so maybe your baby will be a tiddler!

A big birth weight doesn't mean baby will have a big head and from what I've heard the head is still the biggest part to pass. My sister had growth scans that showed the baby's head was too big to pass through her pelvis so she was booked in for an ELCS (she lives abroad though). Someone in a home birth group I went to told me that a heavy baby will pass just as easy as a lighter one because in theory fat isn't solid, it's the head that can be too big.

If you don't want to be induced, stand your ground. If you want a CS then kick up a fuss until someone will see you and discuss your fears with you.

I'm very petite and I was terrified of being induced, I figured the baby may have become too big for me to pass. I went to 42 weeks before accepting an induction, it didn't work and I had an EMCS BUT it wasn't because he was too big, his head was in a very bad position and he got stuck.

my biggest baby was 9lb 2 and a bit and he was the easy one and quickest out of my 4.they told me all through that no3 was defently a 10lb or more,i bought all 0-3 months clothes and no newborn,and she was 8lb 5oz,so all the babygros swam on her..

my mil gave birth to my husband,alone on her couch,and he was over 11lb and she said it was the easiest birth out of her 6.. good luck .

Growth scans told me that I would have a 6lb baby, she came out 8lb 9! couldnt believe it, i'm only tiny! but i found it easier than i thought, and she had a smaller head but stocky body if that makes sense.

I am a bit anxious that this one will be BIG big.... i'm 25+3.

DD2's head was 37.5 cm ouchy...

My DS was 9lb 1oz and although he was big I had a really good labour which was 5.5hours with with gas and air. I got to hospital 9cm dilated and got.straight in the birthing pool and he was born 2 hours later. From what I can gather the main thing seems to be the baby's position, not their size so try to keep mobile and that will help baby into a good position.