Positive big first baby stories!

[Justcallmecaptainobvious]

I'm currently 36 weeks with my first baby, and at every scan he is off the charts... current estimate is that he's already over 8lbs! (I know scans aren't 100% reliable, but even with a considerable margin of error, he's big). I don't have gestational diabetes.

Doctor is talking about inducing at 40 weeks if he's not arrived by then, and I'm thinking of pushing to go straight to a C section in that case, as I keep reading that induction of large babies has a very high rate of emergency CS. Fingers crossed he decides to make his way in to the world before due date.

I am trying very hard not to freak out that this will be a horrendous birth. I just can't imagine that size of baby doesn't impact on tears, episiotomy etc! Does anyone have positive stories of their first baby being big?

My first born was 8.9! Nurse had to tear and then stitch me up BUT by then I was so exhausted I would have gone along with anything! I've read you shouldn't tell expectant mothers horror stories but definitely didn't need a C Section. Look into hypnobirthing as I'm expecting in April so hoping that will calm my nerves

DS1 was 9lb 8. No forceps or anything needed but a long pushing stage and I did tear (lots of stitches but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as you'd expect - gas and air and I was fine!)

I did hypnobirthing and had a very active but calm and relaxed labour.

My 1st was 8lb 14oz. I had an episiotomy, but it wasn't too horrendous. I subsequently had a 9lb 3oz and 2 at 8lb 12 oz. The last 2 were at home and I didn't need pain relief. No idea why they were so big; no diabetes, I was about 8 stone and didn't put on a lot of weight. The good thing was that being big they all fed well and slept 3-4hours between feeds from day 1. All grown-up and slim now.

I was told I was having an average sized baby at my scans and was being scanned every two weeks due to a health condition.

He turned out a 10lb whopper.

No other advice other than he didn't progress and ended up an emcs.

Have no idea why, there wasn't any other problems.

I am tiny though.

Baby is still huge (long not fat) and is into 12 month clothes at 6 months

My first was 8.13. 20 minute second stage. I had an epidural. No problems at all. No stitches needed.

My 4th baby weighed just over 11lbs. Born at home with a little gas and air. No complications. A slightly longer 2nd stage and the hardest work of my life but no stitches.

I don't think the size of the baby is a big factor in how your labour will go. I would say luck plays the biggest part. Go in hoping for the best but prepared for the worst. You have very little control over how it all goes but a positive mindset can change how you cope with it. Just try not to panic. You will be fine.

Good luck.

I was told DC1 was very big. He was 8lb 14! Not exactly mammoth sized. It's an in exact science. He was so long. Longer and skinny better than short and wide!
I figure gravity helps. Stay upright as much as possible and the weight of the baby will speed things up. (May be total bollocks but it reassured me!) He was born 2 1/2 hours after we got to hospital!

My first was my smallest at 8lbs 3, no stitches and all went well.

My 2nd was 9lbs 5, easiest labour out the 3. I had slight tear.

3rd was 9lbs 2, induced early. Dread to think what size he'd be if he was late. No stitches. I was also told he was going to be small and the smallest out the 3 two days before I was induced.

Mine were 9.9 and 10.6. Both "easy" births, no pain relief (I was desperate for gas and air but not didn't suit me so no heroics involved!) First was 12 hours from first twinge to baby-a few stitches and a trouble free recovery. Second was 5 hours and a second stage so quick I hardly noticed it had happened. More stitches that time but still an easy recovery. I was very keen to avoid any sort of intervention, and with my second one who was predicted to be even bigger, I agreed to being monitored daily for the last week and until he was born (I was 42 and had high blood pressure as well). Obviously i would have gone for c section or induction if ny problems had shown up, but my labour started naturally 4 days late. So you have lots of options!

My dd1 was 9lb12oz, and back-to-back. It was a long labour (37 hours) and the delivery was ventouse with a small tear. I had a few stitches.

I had gas and air and pethidine but no epidural and though it was long, it was straightforward. There was no hint of induction from midwives and she was born 4 days early after a spontaneous labour. She was the biggest of my three, they got progressively smaller and earlier!

My baby was 9lb 2oz and I was induced because he was 12 days overdue at this time.

I'm going to be totally honest and tell you that I did end up with an emergency caesarean but I would still say that I had an extremely positive birth. The midwives discussed my options with my husband and I at every stage, I felt totally in charge and that they listened to my preferences and supported me. I actually feel quite emotional about it because I felt so well taken care of, even though it was literally the opposite of the midwife unit water birth I wanted!

The recovery was rough for the first five days but I'm 12 days postpartum now and I'm almost back to my usual self.

So just wanted to put it out there that an induction/EMCS doesn't have to be horrible - it can be an amazing experience too.

My first was 9lb 15 and my second 10lb6...my vagina never truly recovered 😩

DS was 10lb exactly, I was induced at 42 weeks. Pushed for 1hr 15mins, had a second degree year but it healed very well. I'd had growth scans at 30 and 34 weeks which had estimated his birth weight to be 8-9lb so no-one was bothered about inducing early.

My first baby was the smallest at just over 8lb and the most troublesome delivery - nothing to do with size, everything to do with the management. Largest was nearly 11lb back to back, at home and the easiest delivery.

Size isn't everything

Do they have any other reason for suggesting induction?

My first baby was 9.15lb! I was induced on my due date due to being in absolute agony and kicking up a fuss (I'm very small and was stuck at 2cm for a good couple of weeks) they had no idea LO was going to be so big, they knew from a scan baby was a good size but they didn't realise/take seriously how big.

My birth went really well! Only gas and air and one stitch! I was pushing for a good 2hours (labour was 8 hours in total) but LO finally came with them only threatening to intervene which I think made me find a second wind to push super hard. All I can say is I think my continuous pelvic floor excersizes and perineum massages in the weeks before probably helped me A LOT and I so recommend, although the massages can be a bit awkward! Hope all goes well x

A consultant told me that weight isn’t as important as people think when it comes to tearing. She said head circumference is key and most babies have similar sized heads even if their weights differ. Don’t know if she was just saying that to reassure me. What she didn’t mention was that shoulder width can also be an issue; my son was/is broad shouldered and had shoulder dystocia (although I believe the fact that I was pushing on my back might have been a factor in that too).

My son was 9lb4. I had an episiotomy - which I had requested if it looked like I was going to tear - but i think it’s as much to do with your own anatomy as anything else (I have a small, tight perineum apparently ). There was the shoulder dystocia as I mentioned. And I lost a lot of blood. And was so swollen and sore that I couldn’t sit down for a long time afterwards. But no lasting injuries (other than the episiotomy scar which has healed fine).

Oh and I went into labour naturally at 41+4. Like you I wanted to avoid induction.

I’ve heard that growth scans can be very inaccurate so I’d be wary of consenting to an induction or c-section on those grounds alone (obviously if there are other factors that’s different).

My first was 9lb 9oz. You forget the birth anyway when you’re holding them - and he was such an easy baby. Eat, sleep, repeat. So content!

Thanks all! I've had one doctor say it'll definitely be a forceps birth... On the one hand I want a realistic estimation from them but on the other, if that's their attitude then it'll be a self-fulfilling prophecy!

Yes, C8, some other complications too add up to the induction recommendation, and I agree with the assessment of not going past 40 weeks.

Ds was born at 41 and 3 weighing a dainty 11lb 0.5oz . I went into labour naturally, got to 7cm before i needed pain relief so had gas and air and eventually diamorphine. Got my waters broken at 10:45am and he was born at 12:55pm. I had one tiny tear that didnt need stitching and labial grazing. MW was amazed i hadnt needed front to back stitches for the size ds was. I even walked not too bad to the toilet after he was born 😂

Hmm. Could you get a second opinion? If more than one doctor thinks forceps are likely I’d understand going for a ELCS.

Both of mine were off the chart on head and stomach! My DD was 9 10 and my DS was 10 7. They were both text book labours. DD was 4 hours with gas and air and one stitch. DS was 15 minutes no pain relief and no stitches. I felt with DS as soon as contractions started his weight pushed him out!! So baby may be big but it's not A bad thing all the time x

My story isn't entirely positive but I ended up needing an emergency c -section 6 weeks ago with my not so little one, I can honestly say it was absolutely fine, still healing but I would try not to worry to much about it, what will be will be. I may be flamed for this but I also thought the epidural was fab too! I know a lady who delivered an 11.10oz first baby naturally with just gas and air and only a graze though! Good luck OP!

DS measured off the charts for estimated weight, head circumference, abdomen and leg length.
Tested twice for GD and negative both times.
Saw consultant about it at 36 weeks, started induction with balloon at dead on 37 weeks, didn’t work so admitted for pessary. Had three of those over four days but my cervix didn’t dilate a millimetre so they were unable to break my waters. Consultant recommended having a CS due to DS head circumference and he was born at 37+5 weighing 9lb6oz with a fucking massive head. He’s now 5 months and I’ve just bought him a 18mth+ winter hat
My CS was lovely, calm, no pain. The recovery was hard work but felt much better after around 10 days.

Not a first baby but my second DC was 10lb 7oz and I didn't have any tear, cuts or stitches. Natural delivery so it is possible. Highly recommend looking into and trying out some perineal massage techniques in the run up to your due date! Good luck OP. You've got this!

It’s a fact that you can give birth to large babies without any issues but, if I knew with a great deal of certainty that I was going to have a very large baby, I think I might be asking them to induce before 40 weeks (38 say), get them to check the size of your pelvis, think about shoulder dystocia and also think about birthing a large baby and the effects if could have on your back if it’s a back to back labour.

Saying that, you could have a small baby which presents abnormally and can’t be born naturally so it’s not always the smaller the baby the fewer the issues you’ll have. Just good to look at all possibiiiltes before you next talk to hospital.