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Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Big baby-home birth??

46 replies

Ohcrapwhathaveidone · 17/09/2013 21:18

I am 39wks with DC2 at my last ante-natal appt my midwife said I was measuring big so sent me for a scan.

The scan showed baby is big (for me) estimated size was 8.4lb (at 38wks) my first DD weighed 7.4lb and was born at 39wks.

The measurements showed baby has average size head and legs but large tummy! The consultant advised me to re-think my plan of a home birth. Due to the risks associated with big babies-getting stuck, bigger placenta etc. I had DD1 at home and very much wanted the same this time.

After speaking to my community midwife she advised that if I really wanted I could have this baby at home but should be aware risks are slightly increased. Hospital is about a 10-20min drive depending on traffic.

I really wanted a home birth as I don't like hospitals and feel anxious whenever I'm in there. But of course I want to remain safe and do the best for my baby. I have heard so often about growth scans being inaccurate so would be gutted if I went into hospital unnecessarily.

I guess I am just asking for people thoughts on this-what would you do? Does anyone have any experience of delivering a 'bigger' baby at home?

Thank you

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Wigeon · 17/09/2013 21:22

Have you seen this site with loads of info about home birth?. If you click on "can I have a home birth if..." (on the left hand side), then "you may be expecting a big baby", then "see Big Babies and Home Births" it gives you loads of info, and several relevant birth stories.

(for some reason it won't let me link to that page - it just keeps the homepage web address in the address bar).

bundaberg · 17/09/2013 21:22

1.) those growth scans are notoriously unreliable. my friend's consultant told her she had to have a c-section as her baby was "already 10lb" at 39 weeks... she refused. he was born at 41 weeks at 8lb 60z
if you do a search on here you will find many, many, many similar stories

2.) the "risks" of birthing a big baby are really not great. generally your body won't grow a baby that's too big for you to birth unless you have GD or something else going on that's affecting growth.
I've had 3 big babies and 2 of those were homebirths. no issue at all.

bundaberg · 17/09/2013 21:23

more info here about big babies and homebirths

Thymeandthymeagain · 17/09/2013 21:25

I had my 9lb 5 baby at home. Under 2 hours, 2 pushes.
In water with G and A.

Completely unexpected size, dc1 was 7lb 4 and I am very erm, slender of frame, usually. No scans past 20 weeks, measuring slightly larger side of average but within normal limits.

lilmrschatty · 17/09/2013 21:26

I had a homebirth and my daughter was 10lb. No one realised beforehand how large she was going to be. I didn't have any more issues with her than with her sister who was 8lb.

Original poster
Ohcrapwhathaveidone · 17/09/2013 22:01

Thank you so much for your speedy replies, I have been feeling so anxious about it all it really helps to hear others positive experiences.

Thank you for the links also I will have a read of those now too.

Feeling better already Smile

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bundaberg · 17/09/2013 22:05

also, a friend of mine was on homebirth diaries delivering her 11lb 12oz baby girl! totally unexpected

Original poster
Ohcrapwhathaveidone · 17/09/2013 22:06

Those of you that had bigger babies at home-do u have any tips on birthing positions? Only I had DD1 in the birthing pool but my midwife has said she would like me to deliver 'on dry land' incase there us any issue with baby being stuck. Is it better to be on all fours for example? If you sat or laid what did you sit or lay on?

Thanks again!!

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Original poster
Ohcrapwhathaveidone · 17/09/2013 22:09

Wow bunderburg Shock that's bloody amazing my eyes are watering at the thought!! I should be able to sneeze a 9lb-er out thenWink

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bundaberg · 17/09/2013 22:11

my first was in hospital, assisted. second time (home birth) i was kneeling up leaning on the sofa. third time (home birth) i was in the pool leaning on the side- that labour was 48 mins from start to finish with a 9lb 11oz baby!

Beehatch · 17/09/2013 22:13

DS was 9lb 5 and a very easy delivery at home. I spent about 1hr in the bath until contractions got intense, then the rest of the time hanging on to the headboard. Final delivery was laying on my side with DP supporting my leg because the midwives needed to monitor baby's heartbeat.

Much easier than previous hospital birth of the 7lb variety!

huffpuff75 · 17/09/2013 22:30

DS2 9lb 4 at home, delivered him in the pool. I'm only 5ft 4 and about 8 and a half stone. Only thing that slowed things down for me was that my waters didn't break until after his head came out. Getting baby out was pretty straightforward. I'd also had a perineal refashion after DS1 and this tissue has a bit more trouble stretching. No stitches - the water helps all that along. Good luck!

OrganixAddict · 17/09/2013 22:32

My first was 7lb 4, born in MLU, kneeling over a birth ball.
Second at home was 8lb 8, born kneeling on floor, leaning on sofa.
Third back in MLU was 9lb, same position again.

I honestly could not tell that the subsequent ones were bigger than my first.

upsydaisy33 · 18/09/2013 09:26

Just to say I'm down for a homebirth with no worries from my mw and my first dc was 8lb5oz so expecting the second to be bigger. I am officially measuring standard but bump looks very big to other people (I stick out a mile) and first dc had a large head. (not born at home, forceps, transfered...got stuck - but good experience though, loved being at home and having the 1-1 care).
I have no medical knowledge but was struck that it doesn't sound like they are saying you are going to have a truly enormous baby! I talked through my previous birth with mw and we talked about how there were signs when labouring at home that all wasn't moving quite as normal, and that's when I transfered, and that worked well given that she did get stuck. Maybe you could have that conversation with your mw and talk through the various scenarios she is thinking of - both good and bad, and including transfer. Sometimes I suspect it's just about calming down the mw about how prepared you are to move if needed....

upsydaisy33 · 18/09/2013 09:28

ps. presumably 10-20 minute drive depending on traffic is more like an 8-10 minute drive in an ambulance with blue lights, if needed? That's what really matters, and the mw rings in and the hospital prepare for your arrival if there is an emergency. It doesn't sound like a long distance to me - not the 30 minutes or so some people are from a hospital. (I'm 5 minutes away on blue lights, 10-15 in a normal car). Worth factoring in to your worse case scenarios.

Original poster
Ohcrapwhathaveidone · 18/09/2013 10:50

Yes upsydasiy I would imagine with blue lights I could be there in 10mins. Which is not so bad really.

That's exactly what I thought that the baby is surely not enormous, I'm 5.4" and usually weigh around 8.5stone they seem very hung up on comparing the 'estimated' weight of DC 2 with the birth weight of DD1.

I've had a chat with my midwife and she has said exactly what you have that if they feel that anything is 'amiss' or not progressing as it should then she would recommend transfer in. I am happy with that but can't help but worry that I might be being 'careless' going against the advice of the consultant.

Thanks so much again for the replies it really helps to talk to people with experience.

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chocolatemartini · 18/09/2013 11:11

My DS was 9lb born at home, and my sister's two were also born at home- 9lb something and 10lb 12oz. If you feel strongly that's where you want to be you can still have a home birth. The growth scans are terribly inaccurate sometimes- a friend was induced two weeks early (4 day nightmare ending in forceps) as they thought the baby was big, but it was less than 5lb. Poor little mite, wasn't ready to come out at all.

chocolatemartini · 18/09/2013 11:16

Should add that I'm 5'6 with generous hips (if that makes any difference, have a feeling I read somewhere it doesn't) and my sister is nearer 6ft, her DP over 6ft I guess her babies were always going to be huge.

StarlightMcKenzie · 18/09/2013 12:45

If I knew I was going to have a big baby, I would be even more determined to have him/her at home.

That is because the artificial forces plus substandard environment that a hospital presents would increase the chances of complications even more so through the reducing my ability to listen to my body and ensure optimal positioning as labour progressed, which is all the more important if there is less space.

There were concerns over the size of my baby. He was 8pounds 13 and I'm 5 foot 2, so fairly big. However despite that I didn't even tear, and he was out in 3 pushes and about 7 mins after transition.

StarlightMcKenzie · 18/09/2013 12:46

I refused a sizing scan because I didn't want any evidence against my homebirth which I knew would be the safest option for my baby and me, regardless of size.

StarlightMcKenzie · 18/09/2013 12:47

Ask the Consultant how many homebirths he has attended where the 'big baby' got stuck!

chocolatemartini · 18/09/2013 14:50

Good point starlight I might refuse mine too. Didn't get offered one last time round, but at the hospital I'm with now it's offered as routine. I think two scans is normally enough if no other concerns.

StarlightMcKenzie · 18/09/2013 15:00

I said the stress of having to attend a scan appointment and then defend my stance put me more at risk of not labouring optimally at home, which I will be doing.

I refused GD test on that basis too though I told them I would prick my own finger and submit a weeks worth of readings. Midwife said that's no good as I could make the readings up Hmm - and referred me to diabetic midwife who didn't treat me child and accepted both my readings and that if I wanted to make them up it was MY FECKING RIGHT TO anyway.

midori1999 · 18/09/2013 17:54

I sadly have never had a home birth, but have delivered big babies, including 10lb DS2 born at 38 weeks and where I probably had GD (I have since been diagnosed in subsequent pregnancies) with no problems, no tears, no stitches.

From what I understand, shoulder dystocia is just as common in smaller babies as 'large' ones, although babies where the abdominal circumference is larger in relation to other measurements do have a slightly higher risk of getting stuck, which can be the case if there is GD.

Original poster
Ohcrapwhathaveidone · 18/09/2013 19:55

Thanks again for the replies, they asked me to monitor my blood sugar levels for a week to rule out diabetes and they were fine so it's definitely not GD.

Ah the larger abdominal measurement could be a problem then midori? I assumed that as the head was average sized I'd be ok as that comes first and the tummy is more squidgy! Although one thing I do worry about is the fact that when I had the scan the sonographer said the baby was very busy practicing breathing and the tummy was going in and out at a rapid rate. She said that would make it difficult for her to tell the size apparently she took a few stills and then worked out an average measurement so that leads me to think it might not be so accurate?

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