Big baby - wait, induction, or elective?

[Bobbie098]

I'm 33+2 with my first and have been told baby is measuring 3 weeks ahead (based on fundal height and same again on ultrasound). I know these measurements aren't always accurate, and I do have another scan in a couple of weeks to see if baby is still on the same trajectory, but I'm getting so stressed and anxious about labour.

Doctor has been lovely and said it's entirely up to me what I want to do - watch and wait for labour to begin, induction, or elective c-section. If anything she was TOO supportive of me deciding for myself (I know I sound crazy) and I kind of wish someone would just give me their professional opinion. I feel so much pressure to make the right decision and if anything goes wrong I'll only have myself to blame.

My main worries are shoulder dystocia and severe tearing. I've read every article, forum, and thread I can possibly find but I'd love to hear if anyone has any advice or wants to share their labour experience or how they made their choice. I keep reading that shoulder dystocia is rare but then there are so many people sharing their experience of it, if definitely feels like it's more common than the stats suggest?

I don't know if any of these factors make a difference but I've pointed out some other things about my situation below:

• I had a high BMI of just under 35 at my booking appointment. I'm about 5'3 in height
• no gestational diabetes when originally tested but I am waiting for the result of a retest that doctor requested
• I was 7lbs when born but partner and his sister were both almost 10lbs
• parter isn't overweight or particularly tall but is broad, like rugby player stature, and everyone jokes about the size of his big head too!
• maybe TMI but I've always been pretty sensitive down below and regularly have small cuts quite easily from sex or even sometimes from bowel movements (have seen GP about this before and nothing sinister at play). I don't know if this means I'm destined for awful tearing or if it's not really relevant?
• I experienced sexual abuse as a child, I originally didn't think it was going to impact my birth plan but now the thought of a huge baby and all the possible interventions is making me worry I could end up traumatised.

Apologies for the lengthy post. This is my first time posting on mumsnet and I thank you in advance for any responses x

I waited, he started off naturally but then wouldnt come out of his own accord so after a v long labour of nothing happening, had an emergency C sec. The procedure was absolutely great. The recovery was fine. I’m grateful my parts were all unscathed! If I was in your position with the various points you’ve mentioned, I would go for an elec C sec. Mine lasted 23 minutes. Start to finish! Would highly recommend. Good luck to you xxxx

I was in the same position and asked the doctor what she would do... she said to try induction. So I went with this. Baby got stuck, I needed forceps and episiotomy, I then haemorrhaged and forceps did damage to baby's face and he now needs plastic surgery.

I'm pregnant again and if I'm told it's a big baby this time I'm opting right for the elective section! I was told he would be 9lb and he was born 8lb 13oz.

Sometimes I feel too much emphasis is put on natural birth when it's not always the best way. As long as your baby is delivered and healthy and you are too, that's all that matters.

I was predicted to have big babies my first was 8lb 14 and 2nd 8lb 10, both very straight forward vaginal births and didn't need a stitch. I was very lucky and after having awful pregnancies was very happy to have the birth without complications. However this isn't guaranteed and if you would feel better having a planned section go for it.

I just recently had my 6th baby by emergency c-section. They had advised me from 28w up until 37w that I would need possible induction due to him measuring 2-3 weeks ahead. By 37 he was where he should be and i wound up having him at 39weeks. After my waters went at home and a 27 hour labour, I wound up having an emergency csecti

Sorry, it sent before i even finished.

I wound up having an emergency c section, which I think was a blessing in the end, because he did come out big. he was very stressed and his heartbeat was through the roof and they wanted to get him out fast. It was awful. And the recovery is awful too. Feel like you have been hit by a bus. And walloped in the stomach and back with bowling balls. But elective c-section is easier and would.opt for that. I am hoping number 7 will be a vbac though. Regardless of size. I would highly recommend water birth too. Definitely wqs amazing with number 3!

I wouldn't want to have another csection again
Normal all the way. I wish you the absolute best!

I was induced at 38 weeks for my big baby. When he arrived finally via EMCS he was bigger than they predicted, by a whole pound!

Meant to add - I ended up with an EMCS after 5 days of induction, full labour to 10cms, a good hour of pushing but he just couldn't move down due to his giant head. Wish I'd just gone for an elective to be honest!

Update

I had my 2nd growth scan today. I was all geared up to go in telling them why I want an elective c section and it turns out he's now measuring average size and weight.

The sonographer seemed annoyed that I was scanned by a midwife last time instead of a sonographer, and she's convinced the midwife did the measurements wrong - she said baby's growth could have slowed down a little but the difference from then to now is too drastic for it to have been accurate when everything else looks healthy.

Even though he's average size/healthy and they're not concerned, because my graph now shows a big drop in size, I have to be put on weekly scans for the rest of the pregnancy.

So frustrating how they put the fear in you, but then I think what if this person is wrong and the last one was right? Guess I'll just have to see what a third person says next week! 🤷🏻

Thanks again for sharing your stories and advice x

Oh wow you must have been surprised at the difference in scans then. Glad it was reassuring & that you got an explanation.

How did you feel afterwards, happy that you can now more easily go for a natural birth or did getting your head around a c-section mean that you now feel disappointed not to be going for that option?

Do come back & give us an update how it all goes, best of luck for your new baby!

Yes, I'd be a little uncertain after having too wildly different once's which is why it's good that you'll continue to get follow up scans.

@WestOfWestminster I feel really confused to be honest. I'd accepted that I was going to have a c section and now I'm scared for the uncertainty of going into labour naturally even though it was my original preference. Crazy how your mind works sometimes.

I'm also worried that the first person may have been right and he could be massive still. I think I need to properly discuss my worries with them after my scan next week, it was a bit rushed this time. I didn't even see the doctor this time the midwife was just like oh his size is fine now so no need to discuss labour options we'll just keep an eye on you bye. I don't even see my community midwife to do my birthing plan until the 23rd May which feels late to me, what if I still wanted a c section because of my history of sexual abuse, I don't know whether I'm supposed to bring that up with the hospital or with my regular community midwife. I do appreciate that they are being cautious with extra checks but it also feels like a lot of being pushed between different people. It's probably just because it's my first though and I never really knew anything about how the NHS runs things x

I had an unexpected 11lb baby at the end of an induction (by emergency section)
This baby measured medium sized, but I felt he was just as heavy as my first baby, so I opted for elective section. It was amazing - and he weighed almost 11lbs.

@Bobbie098 you can ask for a section anytime. Even after you have gone into labour and they cannot deny you it. The only time they can is if baby is already down the birth canal in which case it wouldn't be safe and babies coming anyway but don't worry about changing your mind. You can decide either way right up until babies nearly out. Good luck

Please bare in mind that a c-section is major abdominal surgery which comes with its own risks and recovery period. It doesn't mean it isn't still the right choice for you, but it can have implications for future pregnancies too so worth doing your research. It certainly isn't an "easy option" by any means.

I was induced with both, first was long and painful with a tear but ultimately fine, we were both healthy and no excessive bleeding and I was up and about quickly.

I would be wary of inducing just based on size, as they are notoriously unreliable! Also worth remembering that whether 7lbs or 10lbs, their heads are pretty much the same size regardless and its the head that hurts! I think in your position I would be tempted to wait and let nature do its thing.

But whatever you decide will be right for you, I'm sure.

If you think you might want a section - for any reason - personally I’d try to bring this up now so they can get an appointment with the consultant booked in at the appropriate point if you don’t already have a consultant appointment booked. If you then decide you’re happy to labour naturally and your doctor is happy with that - great. But it’s always easier to try to get these things lined up earlier rather than later and a c section (elective) would need to be signed off by a consultant.

It is true that you can ask for a section at any time and for any reason but the NICE guidelines are guidelines rather than rules, as I understand it. I’m fairly sure that if you asked for one in labour and things were going well, they would do their best to dissuade you and it would be dependent on doctor and theatre availability - so if you think you might want one, I would get it booked in. You can always decide to continue with labour if you start naturally before the section date - or they will do their best to fit you in as an emergency in that scenario.

I should admit to being biased as I had an emergency section after a failed induction, and an elective section. The failure rate for induction is quite high; depends on hospitals and circumstances but it can be more like 30-50%. It is also worth asking for your Bishops score if you’re induced as that can be an indicator of how likely induction is to work. Mine was very low and funnily enough induction (even at 40 + 12) didn’t work for me. I also found the process traumatic (triggering but not in relation to sexual abuse). The elective section was much better.

Hi OP.

Sorry I haven't had a chance to read the whole thread but I have looked at your updates.

I thought I would share my experience and that of my two close friends. All three of us have DHs with larger heads. Two of whom were rugby players too.

One was offered an elective c section and thinks it was the best decision ever.

Another went with natural delivery and had some major tearing and forceps. She now has a prolapse and will have to be operated on in years to come

Mine was measured at the scan and head size was showing extremely large but everything else normal. When I went into labour and fully dilated I pushed for over an hour and they couldn't even see the top of his head. My waters hadn't broken and when they broke them they discovered they were full of meconium so he was stressed. They went for the mega forceps (turns out there are two types, one when they can see the head and one where they are basically going blind). Baby was actually only 9 lbs in the end but skinny and just a large head (91st percentile). But the whole experience was utterly horrific and I basically have ptsd from it. Which wasn't triggered until I went into labour for dc2 (who although was 10lbs3 actually was v chubby but has a tiny head and was actually an easy birth apart from the fact I was traumatised from the first time round).

So my advice would be go elective for this one even if showing normal now!

Also worth remembering that whether 7lbs or 10lbs, their heads are pretty much the same size

Definitely not true in the case of my two dc. One takes after DH and one after me. And my pelvis is clearly designed to cope with DC with heads like mine.

No joke- measure your DH's head and see what hat size that is considered to be. Then do your own too

Same

Probably repeating what others have said.
1st baby predicted big. Agreed to induction at 40 weeks. Took 3 days to get to a point where they could break my water. Ended 24 hours after that with forceps, massive blood loss, prolapse needing surgery. I was destroyed before I even attempted to give birth.

My gynaecologist (treating the prolapse) is also a consultant obstetrician (at a major London hospital) and he told me (before I was pregnant a second time) to avoid induction at all costs. But be prepared to deliver naturally if you go into labour before a planned c section date.

Currently due any day and awaiting my elective caesarean! I wouldn't touch an induction again with a barge pole and everyone I know who has had one early agrees. People who are induced because they are well overdue (41-42 weeks) seem to fair better as there body and baby are ready to go, they just need a helping hand to get them started.