Big baby-home birth??

[Ohcrapwhathaveidone]

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

I had a horrendous time when pg with my second child, I was told he was way too big to be delivered at home and I'd be putting him at risk from shoulders getting stuck etc. I questioned consultant he couldn't give me any answers, my midwife was supportive of me and I decided to go for home birth anyway.
I had 8lb 6oz at home with gas and air and he was the easiest baby I had. No problems at all

Ah that's interesting cantfinda can I ask you how much your first DC weighed?

First one was 5lb born in hospital
Second one 8lb 9 born at home gas and air
Third 7lb 13 born at home gas and air and gestational diabetes apparently! I had an even bigger fight that time !

And I have loads scans with both of the ones born at home and they told me particularly with the last one that he would be absolutely massive, bearing in mind there was only 18months between them and I was smaller than with the second one I took the opinion that they didn't actually know what they were talking about!

Thank you, that makes me feel
better, it seems like they are very hung up on how big my first was 7.4lb and how this one is possibility 8.5-9lb. I always assumed this baby would be bigger. The consultant has basically scared the crap out of me making me doubt my own mind/choices...after telling me the baby was 'big' and the possible complications in an attempt to get me to go into hospital, she then had a quick look at baby's heartbeat on a scan and said 'oh the baby is back to back too, that makes it feel like your delivering a baby 2lbs heavier' I was.

Think I'll push ahead with the homebirth with the view that if midwife recommends it I will transfer in

I home birthed my second baby who was 10lb 1oz on all fours, no gas and air in 90 mins - easier birth and quicker recovery than my 7lb 4oz first child.

There was no indication DC2 was going to be so big, but afterwards the MW and a Paediatrician said that if it had been discovered then I would have been urged to have a c-section as it would be considered too big a baby for someone of my size to birth naturally (I'm 5'7" size 8-10).

Oh and she was back to back :)

my middle one was back to back.
had a fairly long pushing stage, but the whole labour was only 6 hours start to finish.
was actually my nicest birth. he was 9lb 5

First baby 8lbs 3 oz. MLU, water birth. Had an additional scan at 34 weeks for a research project where they became utterly fixated on my ENORMOUS BABY. They predicted 10lbs and scheduled me in for no end of additional scans and GD tests which I refused. Mutterings about my home birth although my hospital supports them with specialist teams of home birth midwives that I was under.
TBH, my midwives were very professional but basically were unworried by a potentially ENORMOUS baby. I think they said I should mention it to whoever was on call in case of failure to progress but basically thought scans very unreliable, I'm six foot, my DH 6ft 3 inches...so a big baby wouldn't be too much of a shock.
DC2 born in dining room birth pool surrounded by roses and candles and while listening to radio 4 ....a relatively small 8lbs 8oz. One push, no stitches. It was magical.

DS1 was a homebirth. He was 7lb8, so very average. When I was pg with DS2, my mw predicted the baby would be a very similar size, but I didn't have any scans after the 20 week one. I planned another homebirth, but ended up going into hospital to be induced as he was rather overdue. In fact, he was 9lb2 and his head was Very Big. It was all fine, if anything a little easier than my first and having experienced both, if we ever have a third I would certainly plan to have him/her at home .

Also, consultants can be a little risk averse. With DS1 I saw a consultant because of a condition I have; the MWs wanted to know whether it should affect my decision to have a homebirth. The consultant was reassuring about that, but said it was very worrying that the baby's head had not engaged yet (I was around 36 weeks). She said if the head hadn't engaged by 40 weeks, she would advise having a ELCS. I ended up in a bit of a state, but spoke to my MW who was very reassuring. His head hadn't engaged by the time he reached term, it probably didn't until I went into labour, but it was all fine.

Just a quick update I successfully delivered my 9.3lb son this morning at home all things considered it was pretty easy around 6hrs start to finish and 4 pushes!!

Thanks again for all your reassuring stories I'm sure it helped me to relax about it all

Massive congratulations - I was about to chuck my 'big baby, big tummy' happy birth at home story in to the mix - but no need now! How very lovely. Hope you have a wonderful first day together.

Wow - congratulations on your DS! Does he have a name yet? Hope you are having lovely cuddles with him.

Congratulations

Congratulations!!!!

I was coming on here to say I am tiny and delivered a 10lb6oz dc2 with average head she was just very tall and therefore heavy

oh wow! congratulations :-D

Thanks everyone we have settled on Henry Jamesand he is just scrummyx

And I still can't believe how big he was also midwife said he had his hand up by his face as I delivered him so he may as well have been a 10-11lb baby!!

If anyone else reads this I totally think being at home helped me as I was so much more relaxed!! Home births all the way

Yay! Congratulations

Well done x

Another one adding to the not relying on sizing scans.

A friend had a c-section because she was told baby was over 10lb. Baby was 6lb 4oz.