Consultant was very honest, the evidence is not completely conclusive either way about whether to induce, c section or leave for natural labour to take over.
This. We had a great consultant who said ‘I don’t automatically advise induction for a suspected big baby as the evidence doesn’t clearly support it. What would you like to do?’
We waited to go into labour until 42 weeks, then chose to induce due to the stillbirth statistics. Induction was fine for me, managed pain using warm bath and hypnobirthing techniques initially, had a shot of pethidine around 5cm which was great and allowed me to keep going; loads of support from midwives to move around and choose active positions (not the strapped-to-a-bed horror stories I’d read at all).
Unfortunately baby was brow presentation and back-to-back and after 2 hours of pushing (very intense, but fine, didn’t need extra peth, gas and air surprisingly good!) we were taken to theatre so the doctor could try a manual rotation to unstick him. This was done under epidural and was all explained clearly in advance, but baby was too tightly wedged so was delivered back-to-back with forceps as his heart rate began to drop.
I did need an episiotomy and have been left with a bladder prolapse (common with forceps; may not have been just baby’s size), but my boy was 10lb9oz and I’m normally a size 6, so it is possible for big babies to come through little pelvises!!
Saying all that, if I have similar growth scans next time and am offered the option of a vaginal birth I might consider inducing a bit sooner. Apart from anything else, those last 2 weeks of waiting we’re absolutely maddening!!
And good luck. 