, I REALLY need some "I had a big baby and the birth was OK and I didn't tear to shreds" stories

[katierocket]

DS was 9lb 13oz, got stuck, was ventouse with episiotomy. I am now 4 days overdue - they think this one will be over 10lbs and I'm very scared about the pushing out part. I'm worried about a) it getting stuck again b) tearing into pieces.

Have heard so many horror stories over last few weeks about big babies, I really need some "oh it was a breeze" ones!

Gosh I even feel sort of excited having read these. That's taking it a bit too far probably

DS was over 11 lbs and although I did tear I didn't need stitches.

There were a lot of docs in room at birth but that was because of cord around his neck nto becasue of his size.

I also had to lie down on bed for whole of labour as I had PROM and needed continuous monitoring and AB on a drip. Again this was not to do with his size.

For the final push they lay me down flat as apparently it is easier to push like that as I had a bit of trouble with that last push...

katie - DS1 was 10lbs, and came out with a foreceps and a huuuuuge episitomy. I was TERRIFIED that DS2 was going to be as big - even the consultant said at 34 weeks it was going to be a big one (nice!). DS2 was born after a realtively easy labour - got to the hospital at 2pm, was 6cm......at 6pm I was 8cm and they broke my waters, and a couple of hours later out he came - weighing 8lbs 8oz!!! So it proves they know bugger all (and to be honest, I was a bit disappointed he wasn't a big big one - I love the look on people's facesx when I tell them DS1 was 10lbs!!!)

It'll be fine - good luck!

Have met a few women who've given birth normally with BIG baby's. The biggest one was 11lb.
This reminds me did any one hear about that Polish woman who gave birth to a 7kg (about 15lb I think) this week. That was by C/S though. Still imagine lugging that weight around. On the picture it looked more like a 3m old!

Oh I would have put it on as a link, but I saw it on the Dutch news and I didn't think that would be of much use to many of you!

DS2 wasn't particularly heavy (8lbs5) but he had a HUGE head. 38.5cms - I managed to deliver him with G&A and had no stitches. Kept active throughout the labour and I swear by perineal massage - might be a little late for that though .

Good luck!!!

I'm liking this thread too. I'm quite wee at 5ft 2 and DP is 6ft 3 and broad. My MIL told me he was nearly 10lbs when born, and both he and his brother have such large heads they can't get hats to fit. I'm 36wks just now and my bump is measuring a bit big for dates already. I'm feeling a bit apprehensive to say the least, but all these encouraging stories are helping boost my confidence.

I had 2nd degree tears and load sof stitches with both my first two (just under and just over 9lb), but just a little surface tear - they call it a 'graze' - and no stitches with my third at 11lb. In fact, the 11lber was the easiest birth of the three. I had no pr, except for TENS and then beign in the birrthing pool for the last 15mins and giving birth to him in the pool. Have a look at this thread , particularly my post of Wed 18-Oct-06 14:23.

Whoops, sorry, forgot to paste the url!
This thread

Another point - I don't know whether your stitches/scar bother you, but mine did after no1. I had to have surgery to repair them, which improved matters but didn't resolve the problems completely. However birth no2 rearranged me and I had virtually no probelms afterwards.

My first was 9lbs9 - 12 hour labour but only 20 minutes or so of pushing. No pain relief (apart from a bit of gas and air, but not much because I didn't like it. I did tear and had a few stitches, but they really weren't that bad. My second was 10lb6, and I was at home in the bath at 6.30am, and he was born at 9.45am. We made the hospital with 27 minutes to spare! Once again I tore a bit, and had stitches, but I was home by 3 in the afternoon, and at a children's party the next day! I don't think the size of the baby makes a lot of difference,really, I've heard lots of horror stories about 7 pounders and "like shelling peas" about 10 pounders. it sounds obvious, but keep as upright as possible, and it's even more important that the head is delivered in a controlled way if it's big. Make sure the midwife is aware of your history, particularly if there's a shift change - don't assume they know. Good luck, you'll be fine. And it's wonderful having had a huge baby - my ds is nearly 6 and I can still nearly always win the "ubermum" "who's had the biggest baby competition" People's faces are a picture! The only downside - within an hour of giving birth I had a photographer from our local paper in the ward wanting our picture because he was the biggest baby born so far that year! I don't think so!

All my three babies ranged from 9lb 4 oz to 10lb and all were born naturally (last two at home) without the needs for stitches afterwards. Don't think I ever had more than a graze.
Ha an epidural for baby no. 1, nothing for baby no. 2 and g & a for no. 3.

Hi Katie - looks like we're in the same boat - with 9 weeks still to go they're already making noises about not letting me go overdue beacuse if current growth carries on this ones going to be "well over" 10lbs by 40 weeks. Another big baby isn't a surprise really as ds was 9lbs 2 with a big head, but I'd hoped to do it properly this time rather than having to do the whole thing in hospital with an induction (not least because last time that meant I want from nothing to contractions of 45 seconds with only 15 seconds in between almost straight aay, so they insisted I had to be hooked up to a monitor the whole time).

9 12 ds2 - no tearing, quick birth - get in thewater!!!

A friend of mine has 2 children. Her 1st was 9lb 4oz and her 2nd was 11lb 4oz. She said the delivery with her 1st was harder then her 2nd, and it couldn't have been that bad because she is now pregnant with her 3rd.

Good luck.

Oh thank you so much everyone, I feel so much better. I told midwife that I was scared of the pushing bit today and she said that the most important thing was to make sure I wasn't laying down so either on all fours or somehow upright.

Lunarsea, surprised they are saying that to you really, it's mad how different each hospital's policy is.

lunarsea, you are lucky that your hosoital seems to be interested in your unborn baby's size.

DD was 9lb 4 and although I constantly questioned it they would only reply that she would be avereage . Aftre her birth the comments rolled that they knew she would be on the big side.
BTW I had a 2nd degree tear.

Im pregnant again and due in 2 weeks time. Again I have commented and pushed for advice re ds2b's size and again noone will committ. BUT I did get a reply saying: oh you coped well with a 9lb 4 delivery so you will be fine ...What if baby is 11lb..????? To me it seems like they don't care..all along they mentioned growth scans at around 38 weeks but now im here there is no sign and its a no go. And one mw is saying I can be referred to be induced at 40 weeks YET my usual mw won't refer me..simply saying she will offer a sweep at 39+6 and then refer me to the mat unit who then refers for an induction........so may take me to 41 weeks.........worries me slightly that they don't seem as concerned...... Oh on top of it I have sciatica and spd and im made to feel like a moaning cow..........I just want to get my body back and hopefully be free from pain and discomfort.

BTW katierocket hope all goes well....and sorry for hijacking .

DS was 9lbs 8ozs - no pain relief and had a bit of grazing but nothing too bad.

Agree with what your midwife says. I spent most of labour on my knees leaning over the settee and gave birth propped up on my side with MW holding one leg and DH holding the other. Position really helped - no way I could have been on my back...too f-ing painful!

Good luck!

SHHH - I was told that they don't consider it a large baby unless it's over 9lb 15oz. My first was 9lb 13oz so just missed that. In any case they wouldn't really do anything different even if they thought it was big. Having said that my SIL, who had a 10lb 10oz baby and a 3rd degree tear was given the choice for an elective C/S.

If you're really worried about it you shoudl press to speak to a consultant or a different midwife. A lot of the stories on here are very positive so hopefully everything will be fine for both of us!

SHHH - I was told that they don't consider it a large baby unless it's over 9lb 15oz. My first was 9lb 13oz so just missed that. In any case they wouldn't really do anything different even if they thought it was big. Having said that my SIL, who had a 10lb 10oz baby and a 3rd degree tear was given the choice for an elective C/S second time round.

If you're really worried about it you shoudl press to speak to a consultant or a different midwife. A lot of the stories on here are very positive so hopefully everything will be fine for both of us!

SHHH - I was told that they don't consider it a large baby unless it's over 9lb 15oz. My first was 9lb 13oz so just missed that. In any case they wouldn't really do anything different even if they thought it was big. Having said that my SIL, who had a 10lb 10oz baby and a 3rd degree tear was given the choice for an elective C/S second time round.

If you're really worried about it you shoudl press to speak to a consultant or a different midwife. A lot of the stories on here are very positive so hopefully everything will be fine for both of us!

DD1 was 9lb 14, had a tiny little tear, no problem at all

One of my clients, tiny woman, had a huge baby. One hour labour no tears or stitches. All well

hth

my cousin, 5 foot nothing, had a 10lb 5oz baby girl last week.
no stitches
no epidural
and she certainly isn't superwoman! Just had an easy labour. and it was her first?!

suis - don't worry. the baby will fit you, not dp.
my dh is 6'3 and very very broad. i am 5'2 and was terrified. had 2 6 pounders but they got big very quickly after birth.