Expected to have a "big" baby

[m4rdybum]

Had to go for a growth scan this week as my bump measurement was small. Fast forward to the scan and actually, DD is massive - or at least about the 90th centile. (Hate the bump measurements - never right )

I have to go for a glucose test later on in the week, then onto the midwife assessment unit to discuss a care plan going forward with the consultant, dependent on what my blood test results say. I haven't had any previous signs of gestational diabetes.

It's all a bit up in the air until that assessment happens but just wanted to hear some stories of those who were expected to have/did have a "big" baby.

I'm a FTM so all new to me.

I'm relatively blase about the whole labour thing (In the fact I know it's gonna hurt/birth plans often go out of the window/I need to see how I get on) but one thing I'm wary of is forceps.

I know that if they have to be used and I'm already in labour, it's for the good of me and the baby, but I also wonder if there's any grounding for requesting an ELCS if they think there's a high risk of forceps being used? Is there any assessment of this beforehand? And yes, I know a c-section comes with it's own set of risks and recuperation - but I really can't get past my feelings on forceps.

I'm 36+5.

[MysteryNameChange]

Growth scans are a crock of shit normally.
Forceps usually end up being used when the baby's in a rubbish position. My friend had to have forceps for her 2lb prem baby. know another women who is tiny, very petite size 6, who had a 10lb first baby with no assistance.

[saltymofo]

I was told my DD would be a big baby and was referred to the consultant to discuss it towards my due date. DD was born the day after due date at 7lb 6. There was just a lot of amniotic fluid!

[Verbena87]

I agree with mystery regarding forceps and positioning, rather than size.

My baby was 10lb9oz and back to back/brow presentation. I’m a size 6. Needed forceps but he did still fit through my pelvis and I’m pretty sure if he’d been the right way round with the right bit of his skull pressing on my cervix we’d have managed without the scissors-and-salad-tongs mode of exit. I did need an extended episiotomy which hurt like fuck while it healed (infection, burst stitches) but despite complications is barely even visible now (15 months post partum). I also have pelvic organ prolapse but this is likely to be from a long second stage pushing against a wedged baby, and then him needing forceps in a real hurry due to his heart rate dropping when they tried to turn him, rather than his size - and with physio it has improved a lot too.

I think I’d still go for a vaginal birth if I was to go back knowing what I know, but I’d also probably have gone for induction a bit sooner (I waited til I was 42+1 because I was worried about induction and convinced he’d come when he was ready - in reality induction was absolutely fine and I don’t think he’d have ever made it out alive without help.)

[ICJump]

My eldest was big 10 pound 2. It was a straightforward birth with some gas and air.
There is a fantastic website called evidence based birth that has some really useful pages in big babies.

[Dragon3]

I had a ELCS in a similar situation OP. The ELCS was great and I don't regret it. It was probably unnecessary in the end though, as the baby was much smaller than predicted.

[onemorego2019]

Growth scan said my baby would be 10+ lbs he was induced and born weighing 8.11 not small but hardly huge at full term! He was long though. Reckon that is what skewed the calcs!

[Angelmiracle]

I'm getting first growth scan tomorrow- all this will cause more anxiety if they say DC2 is bigger than DS at 9lb9 who was delivered by forceps. I'm terrified of this one getting stuck too.

And I agree that 'incomplete rotation' resulted in the intervention as opposed to his weight

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

Second the previous poster talking about head size rather than overall size. Dc1 was six pounds nine ounces but he had an absolutely massive head and managed to wedge himself mid pelvis. He ended up as an emcs after failed forceps.

Dc2 was slightly bigger (just shy of 8 pounds) but also had a massive head. Annoyingly she'd had a lovely small head until about 34 weeks when it suddenly shot up the percentiles. Went for a 36 week growth scan before seeing the consultant thinking I'd go for vbac if her size/position hadn't changed to discover her head had gone from the 30th percentile to the 95th and she'd flipped back to back.

[onemorego2019]

Can't help but wonder how you're doing @m4rdybum and if your baby was really as big as they said!

[Baby1onboard11]

I was told I was having a big baby and he was 9lb 6oz but my baby is very long, on the 99th centile and 2 weeks overdue. he ended up being an emergency c section as labour didn’t progress after a failed induction (too happy inside)! But I had forceps IN my c section. I didn’t even know that was a thing!
I felt the same with forceps but as long as your baby gets here safely, you really won’t care during! I didn’t know forceps were used in the c section until after I had him in my arms and a massive bruise he had. He’s happily fine now

[Baby1onboard11]

Just seen the dates - oops my bad.

Hope things went well op!

[rebeccalavelle12]

I'd be very wary of what they say with growth scans. My first was set to be huge 99th percentile estimated 11.6lbs. She was 7 lb 2. Second not a mention of weight measured normal no need for growth scan got stuck in delivery needed ventose 9lb 5. Third estimated 10lb by growth scan 8lb8. Managed vaginal deliveries with all the with a little help with my second !! I know how worrying it can be when they send for tests and say things like this but tbh I think they are just making educated guesses at best. X hugs x

[m4rdybum]

Thanks @onemorego2019

Still pregnant! Due date tomorrow. I haven't got GD thankfully so they were quite casual about what steps to take, seen as though it's just a matter she's a massive baby Estimated to be 9.9lbs.

They initially suggested I be induced at 40+12 but I asked instead for 41 weeks max.

Fingers crossed she makes an appearance soon.

[baubled]

Hi Op,

I was really calm about birth too, didn't have a birth plan apart from that I really really wanted to avoid an episiotomy and forceps, what did I end up with? Obviously both!

I've got mixed feelings about them really, I didn't have the option for a csect because baby was too far down by the time the forceps were needed, I'm not an expert at all but I'm assuming this is pretty standard.

They didn't hurt as they numbed me first but I did get a 3rd degree tear which needed to be fixed in theatre, I think you're more likely to tear with an episiotomy + forceps but that's not really surprising I suppose!

Baby had a bruised face but it went down massively within a couple of days, much quicker than I expected.

In the moment I knew I was scared of them but I would have done and agreed to absolutely anything for them to get my baby out safely, at that point you won't care about anything else!

I wish you all the luck and hope you don't have to be faced with them but looking back they got my wonky, in distress baby out quickly so I wouldn't change it!

[Zoe2411]

Our little boy was 10lbs and apart from getting a little stuck , had him vaginally , within 6 hours and no tears or any lasting damage ! ( apart from some pelvic floor strengthening ;) lol )

You will be absolutely fine ! x

[SpagBol29]

I had 10lb 3oz baby with head on 96th centile using just gas and air after a 3 hour labour. I did have an episiotomy but had for my first too, who was almost 3lb lighter. Hypnobirthing was a dream, I was so relaxed I wasn’t convinced I was in full labour until I started pushing. Big baby’s don’t necessarily mean complications at all. Best of luck with your labour, hope all is smooth. Keep us posted!

[onemorego2019]

@m4rdybum thanks for the update. I think if they thought baby was going to be massive they'd have induced you at term.

Just for fun I'm going to guess the weight at 8lb 4oz.....let us know!

Good luck xx

[m4rdybum]

@onemorego2019 Baby arrived safely this morning weighing 7.5lbs

[ForgotTheBastardElfAgain]

Congratulations

[SimplySteve]

Was coming to post DD was 9lb 11.5 and ELCS was advised.

Then I see OP has a new bubba. Many, many congratulations!!

[onemorego2019]

Ah @m4rdybum that's wonderful news and has made me chuckle that my weight estimate was closer to being right than the hospital!!