Second baby measuring large for dates - could I still have an easier labour than first time round?

[digitalgirl]

Am 35 weeks and have been having growth scans and tests for GD and baby is officially big and currently estimated at 3.285kg/7.2lbs which is more than DS weighed at birth. Bit worried about shoulder dystocia and tearing etc, but it's not inevitable is it? I had a spontaneous intervention free labour last time, although pushing took 2 hours...might it still be easier this time?

My first labour was 13 long hours - with a water birth at the end and a healthy 8lb 6oz baby. I was huge with my second and gave birth at 38 weeks (in the water again) after less than 2 hours of labour and no real pushing stage (one push and there he was). He was 9lb 8oz... the midwife said that the time that big babies are often quicker and easier to deliver (assuming that you are physically big enough internally) than little ones as gravity helps. I am 5'1" and a size 8.

Yes. I think the position of the baby is more important than size.

Plenty of stories ofsmall babies causing big tears and vice verse

Yes. I think the position of the baby is more important than size.

Plenty of stories ofsmall babies causing big tears and vice verse

I gave birth to a 9lb 9oz 2nd child and had a really good labour and v short second stage where he practically made his own way out. No stitching even.

I think I did all the haaaard work with first who was a little lighter. Bad position though. Think that was defining difference between the two labours.

Hi Digi

It's all about position ( the baby's and your labouring and birth position)

Ds1 was an emerg section after labouring for a while - 9lbs 2oz
Ds2 was a home water birth. Very fast labour and 20 minute 2nd stage - 9lbs 11oz
Ds3 was a home birth. Not such a fast labour, but still only 10 hours from first twinge to birth (he turned slightly posterior and descended into the pelvis at an angle, so I had to labour in certain positions to turn him), another quick 2nd stage of 12 minutes - 11lbs 2oz.

I don't see why a bigger baby than before should present you with a problem, also a 2 hour second stage for a first birth isn't out of the norm is it?

Wrt shoulder dystocia, it occurs because of positioning, not size. Cases of SD are 50/50 with 'normal' and 'big' babies.

There is lots of sucking of teeth and worried looks when talking about big babies, but I'm not really sure why

ILikeToMoveIt the 50/50 split between 'normal' and big babies and SD was something I didn't know - handy to know though as I too am apparently growing a large baby (expected to be about 9 1/2 - 10lb, currently about 8lb if chart is to be believed)

digitalgirl I've not been told about any additional tearing risk from. Big baby - I had a 3a tear last time but have been told I'm as likely to tear as anyone else.

What strikes me is on our other thread and from the other pg women on my PN thread from DD there seem to be a lot of suspected big babies. That to me suggests that perhaps the idea of 'big' needs to be reconsidered. In any case, some women have difficulty in birthing smaller babies - like others have said, it's more to do with position

Thanks for the reassurance .

The sonographer today said 'It IS a big baby' but didn't really say 'Not to worry, it'll probably be fine' afterwards - to the point where I wondered if they'd schedule a CS. Oh well, will find out what consultant thinks on Tuesday. I think I could handle delivering a bigger baby if it comes early.

Ok, so my plan is to remain as upright and mobile as possible to encourage a good position. I just never had that urge to push at all first time round, really hoping it comes this time.

out of my 5, the hardest labour was dd's and she was my last and smallest baby! she was back to back tho, little minx and she didnt turn she came out that way, however it was still only 3hrs and a few mins of pushing, had she been the right way round the midwife said she would have shot out!

ds4 was my biggest 10lb 13oz and that was fine, in the birth pool, 1hr labour and no pushing as he delivered himself.

btw i had a 3hr pushing stage for ds1, then 1hr and a half for ds2, but ds3 was 3 pushes, ds4 delivered himself and dd only a few mins, so yes i would say your body gets better at the pushing stage and size made no difference ime.

x-posted fliss - yes, I know at least 5 or 6 close friends who's first babies were over 9lbs, the mums and/or dads were both tall but not overweight, so I'm wondering if the scale needs to be altered.

good luck! Dd (second child, she was big apparently according to scans but actually was a pound lighter just a big noggin. I pushed for two hours with my first but dd was a breeze at 25 mins. I did it on my knees hanging over the back of a sofa and the urges were intense (with ds they were not very strong because he had his arm up so not a great position).

I didn't realise you'd asked about tearing. With both vaginal deliveries I had grazes which were stitched because of where they were, but no tearing.

Have you considered a water birth? The water is thought to soften and support the perineum, plus it is a lot easier to be mobile in the water, so it is easier to adopt a good labouring and birthing position. For both vb's I was on my knees in the birth pool with my head resting on the side and my arms and shoulders over the side of the pool. It was a very comfortable and natural feeling position,plus it meant gravity was on my side and it was easy to spread your legs and get the pelvis nice and open.

Have you spoken to anyone about not feeling the urge to push? Not everyone does and the valsalva (chin on chest, hold your breath style of pushing) is not actually supposed to be an effective way to push, plus the mother holding their breath is not great for the baby's oxygen supply either.

If you talk through your past 2nd stage with a MW it may help your concerns.

iltmimi I'd love to have the option of a water birth if I make it into the birthing centre. I was told I couldn't last time because of my SPD they didn't think I'd be able to get in and out of the pool without hurting myself. But this time I was told there's no reason why I couldn't use one if it was available. I only had a couple of grazes last time, so hoping it'll be the same again. I laboured upright on my knees hanging onto the back of the bed, so can't remember if I did the chin to chest thing - I don't think I did. I do know that they took the G&A away from me when it came to pushing because I was 'breathing all the pain out' and they wanted me to put that effort into pushing rather than breathing.
I do want to speak to a MW about not having the urge to push - but keep having consultant appointments about the bloody size issue. If I test positive for GD then I won't be able to use the birthing centre, so won't see a MW till 37+2, which is cutting it fine as I had DS at 36+5.

My DS was supposed to be massive - every measurement, esp head and stomach off the scale at several scans. Additional scans, consultants appointments, gestational diabetes tested etc. born 3 days late weighing .... 7lb 13....
I wouldn't nec believe the scans

Yup. DD2 was 10lbs (DD1 8lb 10oz) and although the labour was the same length, 4 hours, for both DDs, hers was infinitely easier.

77% of those scans over-estimate size.

they are not reliable.

re tearing i am pretty sure i didnt tear or graze even when i had ds4, who was 10lb 13oz, because i had him in water, it tore for ds2 and ds3, my on land deliveries and they were smaller, 9lb 3oz and 9lb 5oz.

i had scans as they were worried my babies would be small as my bump was always small for dates, the scans were not remotely accurate!