Big baby and homebirth

[ziggyf]

Hi

I've had a growth scan today at 29+5 and been told that my baby weighs 4lb 5oz so is much bigger than they would expect for my dates. GTT was normal so it doesn't look like I've got GD.

I'm planning to have a homebirth but am a bit concerned that my baby will be enormous and there may be complications. Does anyone have any experience with this? If it's still safe, I want to go ahead with the hb as I really hate hospitals but obviously I don't want to put my baby at risk.

Also, if it is safe and I decide to go ahead, can the midwife refuse to let me have a hb?

I'd appreciate any advice. This is my first baby so I don't really know what to expect or what I'm 'allowed' to do!

Thanks,
ziggy xx

I can't really comment on hb or MW intervention because I don't have experience of that personally, but I do know that the scans are inaccurate by up to 20% when it comes to sizing.

They told me my DS1 was going to be a min of 9lbs, more likely 10lbs. He was 8lbs 2 oz...

I had dd2 at home, she was 10 pounds 6 ! She was born in 4 hours !

I had first at home, 7lb, second at home, 9lb 8oz. A friend had 3rd at home over 10lb.

You are allowed to do whatever you want, it;s your right to have a home birth.

hi

I didn't realise that the scan could be inaccurate so hopefully the baby weighs less rather than more!

Great to hear that others have had big babies at home although I really hope mine doesn't get over 10 lb - ouch!!

Thanks
xxxx

Are you measuring bigger than normal, and does your midwife think you have a big baby? Experienced midwives are very good at estimating babies weights (more accurately than scans I reckon).

I was at a recent study day with a childbirth expert and she reckoned that big babies are easier to birth because they haven't got room to get into trouble: they have to negotiate the various twists and turns perfectly.

I had a successful water birth at home and my son was 11lb!
Do what feels right, they will transfer you if necessary.

Spillage - yes, i'm measuring about 4 weeks ahead of dates and my midwife and dr both think the baby feels big. My mum told me yesterday that it doesn't matter how big the baby is, it'll still hurt - thanks mum!!

Rapunzelle - 11lb?!!!!??!! That's HUGE! Did you know your baby was going to be so big? Did you experience any resistance from midwives about having a big baby at home?

I'm thinking now that maybe it's not such a big deal..... The hospital is only 15 minutes away so I guess if I need to transfer it won't be a problem.

Keep the stories about big babies and homebirts coming! Details are fine, I'm not squeamish!

ziggy xxxx

i spoke to friend of minew few days ago who just had her 3rd homebirth.9 plus pound boy.with only 2 puffs of gas and air to slow it down!i know nothing on big babies-mine are all tiny and of homebirths-i had 3 csections.but wanted to say goodluck

Hi ZiggyF,
I had private independent midwives who care about choice with a deep and burning passion and were quite comfortable with delivering a larger than average baby at home (however no one had predicted quite how large he was going to be) They claimed that you don't 'bake a baby you can't deliver' ! My sister felt she was bullied into having a c section by her local NHS hospital when they predicted that her baby would be over 10lbs (in fact she was only 9lb 2)

Like you, I am a 15 min dash from hospital so felt quite confident.

If it feels right, do it!

I had 2nd and 3rd births at home. Dd was 10lb0, ds2 10lb2, both of them no stitches, no problems.