How bad was birthing a large baby?

[Zest11]

Hi all,

I'm pregnant with our first baby, a boy after IVF. So happy this is happening for us. At our scans he has been measuring big (but not big enough to do anything about). He was over 7lb at 36w so I am expecting a good 9lb-er and I am worried about the birth. Could any of you share your experiences (good or bad) of birthing a large baby. I am desperate for him to arrive safely and also scared of the damage he may cause coming out!

Thank you!

11pounds 1 ounce (42 weeks)...... ended in an emergency section (something I'd never considered), read up about what to expect! Next one at 40 weeks and 9pounds 2 ounces, natural birth....well with some forceps help at end. I was told big babies can be easier than little ones, less space for them to get into awkward shapes! Saying that think both mine were back to back! Instead of worrying about size, just concentrate on any hypnobirthing ideas that work for you, look at portions to sit to help baby get in correct place for birth......and just try and relax......birth...anything could happen! My big babies slept and fed well and seemed so robust compared to many newborns! :-D Good luck! x

I had extra growth scans because the midwife felt the bump was measuring "big for dates". The scan predicted a whopper of over 10lb. I felt huge by 41 weeks, and I'm a pretty tiny 4'11". So I got myself in a right flap over the prospect of little old me delivering such a huge baby. After 3 days of active, upright labour I finally had an emergency C section for "failure to progress" and her heart rate dropping. After all that malarky... she was 6lb exactly and now a dinky teenager.

Goes to show you never can tell!

Mine was 10lb 13oz (no gestational diabetes, just massive babies in my family!) and they recommended a ELCS which I accepted very happily. And thank God because she was stuck in my pelvis and had to be hauled out with forceps even with a section.

My first baby was 9lbs 6oz. He was born at home (planned!) at 41 weeks. It was a completely normal, straightforward birth. I’m 5ft 4inches so he was big for me! But I pushed him out in 40 minutes with no pain relief. Absolutely loved giving birth. I did have a tear but it wasn’t serious and healed well. My pelvic floor isn’t what is was, mainly due to carrying a big baby and the strain that causes rather than birthing him if that makes sense. I’m pregnant with number 2 and he is also on track to be big, plotting on the 90th centile at the moment. I just seem to make big babies 😊

My second baby (DS) got his head thoroughly wedged and was in distress. So happy I chose to have an epidural as they topped it up and delivered him via emergency c-section. We were both in shock after 3 days of labour but he was healthy so that's all that counts!

Having said that my DM birthed me and my DB and we were both over 9lbs.

Dd3 was 9lbs on the button and my quickest and easiest birth at just 90 minutes start to finish, her head was 39cm diameter, so quite large, I had a few stitches then up and about, no pain relief until the stitches.

I had a 10lb baby after 40 minutes of labour. I am 5’. (I was warned the baby might be 8lb.) The labour was fine, if a bit intense.
My pelvic floor never recovered and I have since needed surgical repair.

Size estimates can be very misleading. They have been wrong with all of mine. For what it's worth they were all fairly big but the largest was 10lb 11oz (not predicted). From first contraction to birth in around 6 hours. Managed with just gas and air and no stitches or anything.

Should say, no pelvic floor issues at all.

My 9lb water birth baby was a much easier birth than the 7lb one born on a bed, no stitches with 9lb one, 2 stitches with other, pain wise no different I only used G&A both times both quick labours aswell, crowning stung the same. Given the choice I'd rather a bit bigger. You will be fine OP and congratulations on your little miracle

DD was 10lb v long labour, back to back, epidural/episiotomy/ventouse/stitches ++ & then infection. DS 9lb 7oz shorter labour -10 hours-repeat performance of the first, only 2nd time around epidural was ineffective & local anaesthetic was injected up there before forceps were used. I don’t think any of the females in my family have had easy births though.

Mine was 9.11 at 37 +5 days I had my elective a week early as they thought he was getting too big and might cause problems For him with placenta etc etc.

They measured 8.6lb a few days before he was born so the scans can of course be wrong in either direction!

I was having a non medical cesarian before that anyway though and I am sure glad I had one Planned.

I can’t even imagine what size he would have been at 41/42 weeks when the nhs would have let me induce

Make sure you are well informed, the long term effects on pelvic floor are rarely discussed and with birthing a larger baby you can have shoulder dystocia and they can and still do CUT into a woman’s pelvis to remove the baby. There is also now evidence that letting someone go past 39 weeks is unhealthy for the baby.

Anyone I know that’s had IVF has been offered a cesar.

My sister had two big babies, first was just under 10 pounds and second was over 11. No gestational diabetes and two straightforward births - the second without stitches.

My first was eight pounds six but really awkwardly positioned and got stuck. I had a far worse time than she did with a forceps delivery, tearing that required surgery (not just stitching) and a massive haemorrhage.

10lb 7oz home birth, no issues. Bit of tearing but nothing major.

Oh and the brilliant thing about big babies imo is that in general they tend to sleep through more quickly.

My MIL has had three big babies, first two between 9 and a half and 10 pounders needed either emergency section or surgical delivery. Third big baby was 10lbs 6ozs and needed zero intervention, straight forward textbook birth.

Awaiting #2 any day now; #1 was 7lbs 3 and I had the whole book of stuff thrown at me to get her out. From bump measurements I'm due a 6lber, from a growth scan something more average. But all the boys in DH's family a big, and I am small. Also had a friend who's growth scan was 5lbs out... it's all a bit of a guessing game sometimes!

Good luck whatever happens 🙂

My friend has had a 7lber and a 10lber, in her words the bigger one was a piece of piss just a couple of stitches 😂
I on the other hand had a 5lb baby and still needed an episiotomy and tons of stitches.

Hi everyone,

Thank you all for sharing your experiences with me, so many of which seem 'not that bad!' I think the anser is it's different for everyone, size is only one factor and I'll just have to wait and see! With everyone's stories, it is reassuring that (at some point!) things are okay x

My son was 9.5lb, couldn't handle the pain of contractions so had an epidural and ended up with forceps/episiotomy which were necessary to get him out because his heart rate kept dropping with contractions.

I really wanted to avoid an epidural and go natural (thanks NCT for the unrealistic expectations!)

Not sure if any of it was related to him being big but don't beat yourself up if you end up going the epidural route. I was terrified of having forceps but it was actually fine and I recovered physically very quickly.

First baby was unexpectedly 10lb 4. I had quite a speedy labour but needed an episiotomy and ventouse to get baby out. No lasting issues from this thankfully. I've only had one baby so no idea if it would have been easier if he had been lots smaller.

Thanks for your honesty there @Crimblecrumble1990 and yes, I did NCT too. Was not convinced by the phrase 'childbirth is a natural pain' as I was thinking 'my pregnancy isn't 'natural' so I am more than open for the epidural. To be honest, other than something awful happening to baby during birth, it's an episiostomy I am most worried about because of potential long term issues but that is reassuring that you recovered quickly.

I think that pushing a baby out is pushing a baby out... doesn't make a huge difference how big the baby is. Then again all of mine were big so I have nothing to compare to lol