Big Baby? What happens next please?

[5Minions2CallMyOwn]

I had my 36 week scan today (am 36+2) and they are estimating that baby weighs 7.2lbs! I thought she’s big before the scan anyway, she feels big. She’s my 7th baby I’ll be giving birth to for context. The biggest up to now was 8.5lbs and was a shoulder dystocia. But now I’m panicking at the thought of how big she may be when she is born.

Is anyone here a midwife or have you been through this please and can tell me what could happen next? Eg. Early sweep or induction, c section etc. I’m really worried now as don’t think I can push out a baby this big. I don’t want another shoulder dystocia or an emergency section!

If I want to be induced early will they? Or if I request a section? If so how early is the earliest they will do it? I’m not keen on either of those options but need to consider them now if she is as big as they are suggesting. And I think perhaps they are right- I’ve thought she was big for the last two months

Thanks

When I had a hospital appt a while ago I saw a poster of sorts on the wall, it was a reminder for the staff on the process of doing maternal request inductions at 39 weeks. I think if youve had a few children they would just break your waters to start with and see what happens.

I had sweep at 38 weeks , induction at 38+2 and emcs at 38+4.

At 35 weeks baby was measuring 7lb13oz 😭 birth weight was 10lb4oz 🙈 in hindsight I should have chosen an elcs .

I was under care of haematology and they didn't want me trying to deliver above 8lb hence the 38week sweep and then induction 🤣

Not that I'll have another baby but I will never go through another induction not a chance.

Did they not advise anything?
I would be asking for an induction

@whoknew23 same

Wasn't going to give my opinion at first but I would opt for ELCS over induction,from personal experience.

Thank you for your messages!

I’ve never had an induction but have had sweeps before which each time have been successful straight away

I always read how terrible inductions can be and how most women don’t want one. Can I ask why please? I don’t really understand much about the process I guess because I’ve never needed to. But I fear I may need to push for either that or an elective section this time as pretty sure my midwife won’t be that concerned re baby’s weight. I’ve mentioned at our last few appointments I feel she’s big and the midwife has just said I’m measuring fine

@whoknew23 10lb4oz?!?! Ouch!!!!! That’s what I’m scared of, although I don’t think she’ll be as big as that

Also not a first time mother when mine showed as big on growth scans. Given sweep approx 38 weeks, nothing happened. Induced at 39 weeks. Baby was not as big as they thought.

@5Minions2CallMyOwn I’ve been told my baby is big, too - estimated to be around 11lbs at birth. The NICE guidelines say that this isn’t enough by itself to warrant an early induction or section, although some hospitals will still break this and book them for 39 weeks…

But remember that fetal measurements are notoriously inaccurate, both fundal and scans. Most babies that are predicted to be big aren’t at all.

@5Minions2CallMyOwn

yeh I wasn't expecting that!

I went from 11.5 stone to 17 stone 🤣🤣

Induction was hell because I had a lot of monitoring, they were short staffed, I got no sleep, the wait between them deciding my body had had enough to emcs was horrific.

It was also a back to back baby🤦‍♀️ and I wasn't allowed an epidural. My remyfentanyl ran out and I had no pain relief for hours it was just hell.

I think the reason I’m more worried that it’s my 7th pregnancy and the first time I’ve genuinely thought the baby feels big- even before my scan yesterday. I’m supposed to be having a water birth at my birthing centre. It’s been my plan the whole time so if I need to change it I need to know now so my head can adjust

I spoke to a midwife this morning as am so anxious. She said I sound normal to her though and not that big, that scans are usually wrong and that once they look at my scan report she’s sure it’s going to be fine. But that would mean waiting to see and if she’s wrong another possible shoulder dystocia. I don’t think I can emotionally deal with the stress of worrying about that for the next 4/5 weeks. My babies are usually a week late also so she will be that 1/2lb bigger

If I decide I want an induction or ELCS do they have to respect my decision and make the necessary referrals for my reasonings? Or do they need to agree with me before doing it? As I don’t think they are going to be particularly concerned but now I really am! It’s not something I want to do lightly, recovery with a toddler and newborn if I have a section will be horrible compared to a natural birth where I’m up and about the same day. But I need them to do what’s best for me. Will they support me in this do you all think?

@Leftphalange How bug did they think your baby would be if you don’t mind my asking please? And how big was s/he in the end?

Have many of you been told an estimated weight where it was wrong?

*big

Mine was 7+lb estimated at 34 weeks. He was 8lb8. Relatively easy and quick birth. So not all doom and gloom, and he either didn’t grow much in the last 6 weeks, or their estimate was way off

@5Minions2CallMyOwn I believe you’re entitled to request the type of birth that you want - and if the consultant you ask won’t agree to a C section, they have to refer you to one who will.

That said, they likely won’t do it early for a big baby unless you’re really lucky. It’s 39 weeks earliest at my hospital and only if you have another risk factor, like GD.

I’m nervous too, but keep getting the same answers as you - with the caveat that if baby is anywhere near 11lbs, they’d recommend a c section, but it would be booked for as close to 40 weeks as possible.

I’ve got a scan booked for Thursday but they’ve said they are so inaccurate that it’s a bit of a pointless exercise.

I'm sorry I can't remember the exact weights they estimated at birth. But they estimated about 9lbs around 35 weeks I think it was. But he was born at 39 weighing that.

My DS was expected to be big. I was induced at 41 weeks as it is standard to offer this to all women who are 1 week over (apparently statistically no difference to maternal outcomes such as assisted delivery/emcs but slightly better infant outcomes). They also mentioned elcs if I was concerned about the weight but that they were not worried. They did suggest the delivery suite at the hospital though instead of the MLU.

I went for induction at 41 weeks. Thought he would be about 7.5lb or 8lb max since growth scans are always wrong. He was 10lb 1oz and bang on what the scan had said for the gestation.

I have no issues with the labour, I would do it again in a heartbeat, so I don't think his weight caused much of a problem. I did have a third degree tear but I wouldn't lay the blame on his weight entirely, I think it was more a result of a very fast late stage labour.

Personally I would go for a vaginal birth in your shoes but in a centre with consultants to hand if needed. But then I haven't had a csection and I haven't dealt with shoulder dystocia which must have been very scary at the time.

I haven’t listened to this but it might be helpful
evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-for-induction-or-c-section-for-big-baby/

Ds was 9lb 5 and I am a very narrow size 10 and managed without help but worried too in case our next is bigger .

I was induced on my due date

My dd was 10lbs

I couldn’t push her out - but got her out via forceps

My advice if you get offered a csection - grab it with both hands!

Thank you for your messages! Lots to dwell on…

@TakeYourFinalPosition I hope your scan goes/went well today?

DH and I have been talking a lot over the last few days. I’ve been so anxious and upset, it’s been horrible. My whole plan has always been a birthing centre water birth. Truly amazing as I hate the labour ward with a passion!!! So to let go of that imagine I’ve had in my head has been really difficult.

But realistically I know that I always go a week overdue so it’s not worth the risk to try and labour naturally as even if the scan is a bit off it definitely isn’t that off- as I know she is bigger than my others were. Which means that by the time I’m 41 weeks she will be 9lbs or more. I had a shoulder dystocia with a 8.5lbs baby and struggled to get an 8lb baby out with my last labour. So I honestly don’t believe I can push out a bigger baby without interventions which I will not agree too. And I really don’t want an emergency section. I also hate the idea of being induced which may not work and then having an emergency section anyway.

So after much thought I’ve asked my midwife to refer me to a consultant so that I can make a Maternal Request for an elective section. She did do that today but couldn't get me an appointment until I’m 38+3 weeks. It means I have to be in limbo for the next week and a half waiting for that appointment and to know what the plan is. If they will have space to do a section at 39 weeks or if it will be closer to 40. But I don’t mind when it is as it won’t matter how big she is if I don’t have to worry about pushing her out. I just hope the consultant is helpful and understanding.

It’s worth mentioning I spoke to a consultant earlier in my pregnancy as after so many pregnancies I’m high risk. She did offer me a section at the time which I refused. So I’m hopeful they will be on board at my appointment and give me what I need. It’s not what I want but I feel it’s the safest option for baby’s delivery and that’s my priority

Does anyone have any advice for me re my appointment and what to say or or section recovery please? After 6 natural births I’m clueless with all of this 🙈

@5Minions2CallMyOwn with it being your 7th I would ask for a sweep at 38 weeks

I didn’t think to ask that. As I thought they only work if the body is ready to go into labour? I’ve had 2 sweeps at 41 weeks previously and they both worked within hours. But the midwives said my body was ready.

If they agreed to sweep me at 38 weeks that would be better but I don’t think they will. They aren’t concerned about a big baby, they don’t class 9lbs as that big. I do for me though ! So the earliest they would probably do a sweep is 40 weeks and by then baby will be too big I think for me to push naturally with no interventions. I’ll ask though as if they will try at 38 week I’d prefer that to a section

Thank you

Hi op

I was induced with baby 6 at 39 weeks this year due to size of baby

Sweep and waters broken, baby in arms 10 hours later. It was fine.

@5Minions2CallMyOwn just tell the lts early sweeps or you want a section your body your baby your choice x

Thank you @mrssunshinexxx
I’m seeing my midwife on Monday so I’ll ask her what she thinks. If possible I’d much rather a sweep and natural birth at the birthing centre. But not if they won’t do the sweep until 40 weeks as then baby will be too big for me to comfortably try and deliver