Elective Cesarean with large baby?

[gualsa]

I wonder if any of you wonderful ladies have ever been allowed to elect a c-section because of a large baby?
I had ds1 and ds2 around 10 years ago 16 months apart. They were 6"13 and 7"13 and both natural births.

Now I am 38 years and carrying a large baby I am told. Midwife said because of my age and small frame I could have problems. The labour could stall and he could get stuck which would mean assisted birth or em-c-sec.

I wanted a nice straight forward birth and was looking forward but now I worry about both him and me. I don't want him to get distressed and I don't want them to use ventouse or forceps because of risk of prolapse and damage to bowel/bladder etc.

NHS does not mention big babies as reason for cesarean so would they refuse me?
I read on NICE that the biggest risk in child birth is not the method but a prolonged non-progressive labour. An elective Cesarean would be very risk free.

Sorry for long post. Hope someone can give some insight. Thanks

PS- I am 38+3 weeks today

Hey

Hey

Sorry my tab

Hey, I knew I was having a large baby (they estimated 11lb) but was never offered a cs. He was 10lb 11 12 days late. X

I was advised to have elcs with large baby but only because I'd had a previous emcs.

I was induced at 39 weeks because of polyhydramnios (too much amniotic fluid - definitely had this, soaked the poor junior doctor right through when she broke my waters ) and macrosomia (big baby, although DC3 was 'only' 9lbs 2oz when she was born).

It was an entirely uncomplicated birth.

Have you had growth scans though or is it just the midwife thinking the baby might be big? Growth scans, as any consultant will tell you, are pretty unreliable especially in late pregnancy, but the trend is helpful. For example, is the growth stable or shooting up?

This bit stands out for me in your post: "I don't want them to use ventouse or forceps because of risk of prolapse and damage to bowel/bladder etc."

If you are adamant about this, then you need to discuss this with your midwife/consultant etc. In labour, you can get to a point where it is too late for a C section as the baby is too far down the birth canal, so to have a section would involve pushing the baby right back up again. This means that ventouse/forceps might have to be used to get the baby out that last little bit.

An elective C section is a lovely, calm affair, but isn't risk free. Nothing is risk free sadly! Sounds like you need to have a chat asap with your midwife about your options as you could go into labour at any point now!

Cheeseandonioncrisps- Did the birth cause any problems for you during or after delivery? Was it assisted?

I was never given an estimated weight.

Dd1 - 9lb12oz, 4 days early, back labour, was a ventouse, but no ongoing issues for me.

Ds - 9lb3oz, 10 days early, simple delivery, no problems.

Dd2 - 7lb15, induced at 36+6 (I was ill) and a 2/3 tear with theatre repair and a couple of years of physio!

My ds (second baby) was alway likely to be big as dd was nearly 9lb and I was massive! No mention of a cs at all and had him (and dd) with ventouse, neither time was it to do with their size but because of need for speed with dd and because ds was stuck in an awkward position and wasn't coming out on his own. He was 10lb 7oz and was only two days over so dread to think what size he would have been if 2 weeks late!

Didn't experience any major issues for me or either baby with ventouse other than a bit of bruising on their heads which went quickly and I had to have an episiotomy with both with no ongoing problems.

Not sure if forceps or ventouse is a given if a baby is large or whether it just depends on circumstances. If my two hadn't had other reasons for ventouse I don't know if it would have been needed. I'm 5'10' and was in my early 30s when I had them. Both my labours were relatively quick so maybe them being big dragged them down quicker!!

My babies have been big, biggest 10lb 13oz he was born in birth pool, easiest birth of my five (fourth baby).

They hadn't known he was that big.

Tbh the scans etc and estimates of babies size are notoriously unreliable, they said my 5th was big... She was 8lb exactly.

I am small btw, 5 2 and a size ten jeans etc when bot preg.

If you have had two straightforward deliveries before you are likely to again.

Obvious if you want a c section then you are entitled to one, so push for that if it's what you want.

DS was 9lb 10oz. No mention of CS, in fact after he was born the doctors kept asking "did you know he was going to be big?". I thought well you were the ones doing the scans (32, 36 and 40 weeks) don't ask me!!! They did say if I had anymore and they were on course to be big I would be offered a CS, but could opt for a VB.

I have no ongoing issues and DS was born in the pool and only had a small graze after. DD was 8lb 7oz and had stitches with her!

My ds2 was 11 lb 4, 11 days overdue. Luckily I had a wonderful midwife who fully supported my wish to go to a midwife led centre and have a natural birth, despite the fact that she knew he was big (although I don't think she thought THAT big) and I was supposed to be induced at 10 days.

Go for an elcs if what you want, but I'd have thought there is a good chance you could still have the nice uncomplicated birth that you want.

All those things you mention could happen with a small baby.

Who says you're having a big baby? They can't really tell until it's out you know

Thanks guys. I had placenta previa so that's why I have had so many scans and am able to see the estimated size which is way above what has been calculated as normal for my size, weight etc.

The placenta which was a grade 4 pp suddenly moved at week 36 so that's why I am back looking at a VB.

They have suggested inducing at 40 weeks to prevent further growth as they suspect gestational diabetes but never got me booked in in time.

To be honest it's been a crap NHS experience. They forgot to check my blood results at 16 weeks, I have been struggling to get appointments and only seen the same midwife twice.

I feel like a number:-(

I don't trust them or the hospital. They must think there is a risk as they declined home birth and even the midwife led birthing unit..

I have read so many stories of mothers with much higher risk than me and previous horror births being turned down by consultants so thats why I think they will say no. I think it's partly a financial issue.

I had two 'normal' size babies -7 lb 4 and 7 lb 10 - and my third was 9lb 6. No idea why! (I was 37) But it was the easiest of my births. If you are upright, big babies have more for gravity to act on so can be easier to deliver than tiddlers. Plus it's the head that's the tricky bit and the difference in head diameter between a small and a big baby is not as big as you'd think.
Sorry you are having a crap experience but I wouldn't assume that's why you haven't been offered a CS, I think it's not offered because there's generally no need.

On the other side though, your body has done this before. I had more than a decade between births and had a relatively easy nearly 10lber!

Re: your suspected GD, watch out for baby's blood sugars after birth and prepare to be put on a structured feeding schedule. You'll have to remind the mw that you had suspected GD or they may not understand the blood sugar results. Nothing to be scared of, but I wish someone had told me that a big baby and possible GD could lead to additional monitoring after birth.

Best of luck!

Thank you for all your reassurance! I saw midwife today and I have decided to go for that natural birth and take your advice to be more upright etc. I may even have a bounce on that ball!

I feel a lot more positive just hearing good birth stories. Got myself some raspberry leaf tea today. I am ready!!:-D

The delivery was fairly easy, only pushed for about 10 mins and he was here! Think it may have had something to do with the raspberry leaf tea I drank by the truck load lol. I had a 3rd degree tear, torn cervix, vaginal walls and labia. It was not an assisted delivery. Healing took about 6 months but everything is back to normal now :D like someone else said, these things can happen what ever size baby is. You'll be fine x

Daughter was Big - first born, but natural (10lb) - phew, however it wasn't until due with second child that consultant asked me to see him and offered me a caesarean. Turned out daughter got stuck due to her shoulder and that boy was going to be big. I asked how large they thought son (baby) could potentially be and they said 9lb. To cut the story short, I opted to be induced, was in so much pain, had epidural, for some reason I said that I couldn't go on and asked for the caesarean they offered me. Was whipped into surgery, 15 mins late he was born, heard a few gasps about how gorgeous he was, turns out he was 12lb - big Bonny boy, god job I didn't go natural and I should have taken their advice and gone for the caesarean in the first place.

They seems to know what they are talking about, so go for it.

dd1 was 12lb 11oz and would not even enter the birth canal. Was told later that her shoulders wd have got stuck. Had em cs. Then 2 el cs with dd2 at 10lb8 and dd3 at 10lb 12. Got over the cs's ok. I had gestational diabetes with dd1.
All normal now but dd2 is 5 ft 10 age 13. I blame her father.
Good luck with your decision. Enjoy your baby!

Dd1 7lb6

Dd2 7lb13 (gd baby)

Ds1 10lb 8 (no gd)

I had an induction on my due date with ds 1 because I had really bad spd. No one picked up how big he was and I've no idea why he was so big! I had a vb and it was fine, I had an epidural pushing was hard work but no more so than they other two. I didn't have any stitches and everything felt back to normal after a week or so.
I totally understand your concerns though and if you feel that a c section is they way you want to go I would speak to your consultant. It's really unfortunate that we have to fight to have our babies the way we want, I would state your case quite firmly and stick to your guns hopefully you will get the outcome you want. :)

Not read all the replies but I was allowed an ELCS for a suspected big baby. It was a good job as it happened as he was 10lb 12.

The whole guesstimate is a very grey area and they get it wrong frequently. Birthing an on the larger side baby can cause less problems than a tiny one who is able to get a hand up by it's head as travels down the birth canal.

I wouldn't worry too much at the moment xx

Hello! DD1 was 10lb 5oz and shoulder dystocia, PPH, retained placenta etc, so I was given ELCS option for number 2.
I opted for vaginal delivery as I was concerned about a slow recovery. She arrived 4 days ago, 8 days late (induced) in 38 mins weighing 9lb 12oz. I always joked about a 'sneeze' birth lol.
Her head came out a breeze. Small (2nd degree) tear due to her hand being up around her face. They helped with her body but not nearly as stuck as DD1 which I put down to first baby.
All the best.
I think you will be fine as you have given birth before.

Oh yes I just want to re confirm the upright position. Once I knelt up and sort of draped over back of the bed her head just slid down (was the weirdest sensation! Just felt it go...'gulumph') and I 'breathed' her head out. Not saying it didn't hurt like a mofo but it was incredibly empowering. Sorry I know that sounds like a load of crap and I would be if I heard someone talk like that about childbirth but it's true! I am amazed. It was surreal.