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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Terrified of having a big baby...

59 replies

SK166 · 20/04/2018 20:15

Currently 30 weeks with my first baby and I know everyone must feel this at some point, but I'm becoming seriously concerned that I might have a very large baby.

It's not that I'm a particularly big person - 5'9 and a size 10/12 before pregnancy - but I was talking to my mum last night about her 5 births and I hadn't realised that, although none of her pregnancies went beyond 38 weeks (for various reasons that don't apply to me...inductions for rhesus disease/twin pregnancy/preeclampsia etc etc), all 5 babies were on track to be 10lb or over Confused

I was apparently 8lb12 at 37 weeks....

My mum is a similar build to me, didn't have GD or anything (and my dad is smaller than my husband)...she just had monster babies! And that was even with suffering bad sickness throughout her pregnancies, which hasn't been my experience at all so I'm probably better nourished than she was as well!

I mentioned to the midwife at my last appointment that I was worried about the size of the baby and she told me that I'm measuring completely normal but that hasn't really reassured me at all. This was before I knew about my mum's experiences and I'm genuinely losing sleep over it now....do you think it's worth mentioning again to the midwife? Are they likely to offer me a growth scan on that basis?

Or am I being silly? I don't know...I've never done this before and I'm very anxious. All wisdom/reassurance/advice gratefully received!

OP posts:
vgiraffe · 21/04/2018 20:29

As others have said, I am also quite small and DD was 9lb8. I can honestly say that although I had quite a long labour (esp 2nd stage) I didn't really find it painful and didn't need any gas and air or other pain relief. I also had to lie on my back so not the best position either!

I do think that if isn't known she was going to be big it might have been worse. What I'm saying is that a lot of it is in our heads. Have you looked into hypnobirthing at all? I only read a book but think it helped a lot with keeping relaxed during labour.

vgiraffe · 21/04/2018 20:30

*if I'd known

Rogue1234 · 21/04/2018 20:33

DS was on the large side (9lb9oz) and while I did tear badly it's as likely it was the speed of the birth rather as it was his size.

BUT once you get past the labour, having a sturdy newborn is much less daunting. He obviously still needed his head supporting, but being a FTM I was relieved that he didn't feel as fragile when I was dressing him etc as some of my friends' much smaller babies did. An unexpected silver lining!

yikesanotherbooboo · 21/04/2018 20:33

OP , this is meant to be reassuring, you are quite big! I mean by that of course that you are taller than average!
All of us know tiny women who have pushed out huge babies no problem and tall women who have struggled with 6 pounders there are loads of relevant factors almost none( apart from the fact that you are bigger than average) are known yet. Try not to worry now and when the day comes go along with what nature brings. Best of luck, after that one day you will have your gorgeous and much wanted DC

Rogue1234 · 21/04/2018 20:35

Sorry, I think I'm over tired - I was sure that made sense when I proof read it! Hopefully you can get the gist of what I was trying to say!

HabbyHadno · 21/04/2018 20:39

I had two big babies 10lb 1oz and 9lb and had amazing births with both of them. I like to think the extra weight helped them on their way downGrin

Inkspellme · 21/04/2018 20:42

I'm five foot nothing and my babies were 10lb 8oz and 9lb 11 oz. I had sections for other resons than they were big but I came on to say that my 4'10" tall mom had 10 lb babies too with no problems. My sister who is 5 foot 1" (she's the tall one in our family!!) had 10 lb 4oz baby who she said was easier to give birth to than her 7 and 8 lb children.

Don't panic - as others have said the weight doesn't mean a hard birth.

Slat3 · 21/04/2018 20:45

Try not to worry too much. Like others have said, head size & position tend to be more important. Big babies run in my family so I wasn’t expecting a dainty 6lber.

My DS1 was 8lb 11oz but had a huge head (luckily I had an epidural Grin) and my DS2 was 9lb with no pain relief (no time) but his head was much smaller.

I had an episiotomy with DS1 and tore with DS2 but honestly it wasn’t too bad afterwards. I was up having a shower as soon as I was stitched up with DS2 and physically fine although he was back to back so it wasn’t easy. I felt like an absolute superhero when I delivered him though!
Try not to worry, I’m sure it’ll be absolutely fine!

Flisspaps · 21/04/2018 20:47

I had a 3a (bad!) tear with my 8lb 2oz skinny baby with a 35cm head when my episiotomy cut extended. I felt I lost some sensation afterwards.

I had no tearing with my 11lb 7oz baby with a 40cm head and the sensation I lost appeared to return when I recovered from his birth.

My big baby was far easier to recover from, and far less traumatic

BakedBeans47 · 21/04/2018 20:51

It still smarts a bit even if they’re not that big :)

My eldest was only 6lb 10 at a week late but he came out with his hand over his face so I still ended up quite mangled Confused

misskatamari · 21/04/2018 20:51

My little girl was 7lb2 - she was back to back so labour was quite difficult and painful, ending up in an episiotomy. Little boy was 10lb3 - had a lovely home birth with just gas and air and some slight tearing which didn't need stitches or anything. I honestly think it's mostly down to position as opposed to size when it comes to how a labour goes. Try not to worry yourself

OneForTheRoadThen · 21/04/2018 20:54

I was on track to have 2 large babies - both were predicted to be 10lbers. I went into labour early spontaneously both times - DS was 7lb 9oz at 37 weeks and DD was 8lb 5oz at 38 weeks. The midwife told me that it's possible that my body knew what I could birth and acted accordingly so fingers crossed for you.

Chortlesauraus · 21/04/2018 20:57

OP just to reassure you, an episiotomy is not the worst thing in the world! I've had two and I'm so so glad I did as I believe it meant I avoided a bad tear each time. I had one baby who was 5lbs and my second was 9lbs!! Same gender and both born at term although prior to 40 weeks

GreenStars · 21/04/2018 21:06

I don't think there's a link at all? I was fairly small at 6lb7 full term. My first was born at 6lb5 at 35 weeks so would have been a bloody monster if she made it to full term or even 40 weeks!

Mybabystolemysanity · 21/04/2018 21:40

SK

I'm not going to lie.. it took me a good six months to get properly back to normal in terms of being fully continent and I still get a bit of discomfort if I squat the wrong way. Sex is not quite the same either, but it does all improve as time goes by (I know I'm lucky and not everyone has such a positive experience). My worry about it was disproportionate to the reality, though. The midwife isn't kidding when she says pelvic floor exercise before and after the birth. I really believe it makes a difference.

WineAndTiramisu · 24/04/2018 22:22

I went into labour just before 40 weeks, she was 9 1/2lb, however I'd been measuring huge the whole time - above 99th percentile on bump measurement, so if you're measuring normally I wouldn't worry!

Creeperslayer69 · 01/05/2018 14:28

My child was 11 pounds 10 ounces, and i myself was 10 pounds 8 ounces, I got stuck and had be pulled out using a plunger sort of equipment (name has slipped my mind) whereas I had a c section. I had a tummy tuck as it was DEFINITELY necessary.

StubbleTurnips · 01/05/2018 14:45

DD was 8lb 10, it was her position that killed me in labour - back to back throughout so ended up epidural, forceps and theatre and it was still a good birth despite her stubbornness. Physical recovery from her was a breeze.
DS was 9lb 13 - no intervention or drugs needed and was by far the easier birth - physical recovery for him worse though.

Original poster
SK166 · 22/07/2018 13:51

Hello all -

Thought I’d offer an update now in case it reassures anyone else in my position!

Despite being told right up to 2 days before her birth that I was ‘measuring small’, my little chunk arrived 2 weeks late at a respectable 9lb2oz!

And whilst I wasn’t wrong about having a big baby, you were all right in that I needn’t have been so scared. The birth didn’t exactly go according to ‘plan’ BUT I pushed her out myself, without episiotomy or significant tearing (small 2nd degree internal and a few lacerations) and since they turned the epidural off I haven’t even needed a paracetamol.

She’s a lovely, squishy little thing with gorgeous cheeks and has settled really well into feeding/sleeping.

So thank you to everyone for the reassurance - you were all right!

OP posts:
mustbemad17 · 22/07/2018 13:59

I had two 7lbs 14oz babies & a 9lbs 6oz baby. Honest to god, DS was the easiest to push out. I had completely uncomplicated labours with all three, 4 hours then 2 hours each for the 2nd & 3rd...for some reason my body found it easier to push against DS, probably because with every push there was more to push against. My recovery time has been much better & i didn't require stitches with him, where i did with both girls.

My mum had a mix of sizes with us three, i honestly don't think you should worry based on what she had

mustbemad17 · 22/07/2018 13:59

Ah for some reason your update didn't load, congratulations 😊😊😊

MapMyMum · 22/07/2018 14:04

Aww congratulations!! I had a 12lb baby with just gas and air in a few hours and seriously think his weight helped him come out quicker, his shoulders did get stuck a little but nothing terrible. Enjoy your little bundle of joy!

brodiee · 22/07/2018 14:37

My son was over 9lbs. I didn't know prior to having him he was going to be big and I had him with only gas and air.

I'm 5'6 and my husband is only 5'8 so weren't expecting a big baby. Don't worry, it doesn't necessarily mean it will be more difficult / painful if baby is on the large side. X

brodiee · 22/07/2018 14:37

Oh sorry just seen you've had your baby! Congrats I'm glad all went well xx

MayFayner · 22/07/2018 14:40

Congratulations 😊😊😊