I am currently 38+3 weeks and the other day I had a growth scan. I was told baby is already estimated 8lb5 and could be around the 9lb5 mark at due date. Having a large baby hadn't occurred to me before then and I was fully prepared for VB. I know hes not as big as he could be and people have birthed bigger naturally. I'm also 5ft7 and perhaps that's why they didn't seem overly concerned too.
However, after the scan I spoke to a doctor. Male, older, quite blunt and not at all reassuring. He went through the risks of LGA babys and VB telling me about increased risk of a heavy bleed, more of a liklihood of instrumental delivery, baby getting stuck, tears that extend the all the way to the back passage etc etc. In all honesty he scared me completely. Obviously these are always the risks with VB but to be told two weeks before due date that these things are now more likely has sent me into anxiety over drive.
He has booked me in for another scan when I am 40 + 1 weeks and it just wasn't sitting right with me. I kept thinking but if I go into labour on or just before my due date and he's as big or bigger than they're estimating I've had no time to consider other options.
I spoke to my midwife yesterday and she was very understanding. She reassured me that growth scans aren't always accurate and that the margin of error could be around 20% either way. (Although in my head that could be a margin of error that he's actually 20% heavier than they estimated too!)
She asked me what I would feel more comfortable with in terms of perhaps induction or c section. I am quite against induction specially at this point as I know it can sometimes be a long drawn out and more painful process than spontaneous labour. Even taking days or upto a week to give birth, and that would ultimately take me to my due date anyway.
I asked if perhaps I could have elective csection booked 1 week before my due date. Giving baby a chance to arrive sooner by VB around his current size and the csection be there as a back up so I don't go any further. She assured me this should be fine. Though I got quite upset as I know there is some stigma around mrcs and I feel some kind of shame around asking and that I may be judged. She was lovely, told me it's my body and that it's not uncommon for ladies to elect for csection with larger babies.
I now have another consultation booked for a couple of days time to discuss this all (purposefully with a different doctor to the one who scared me). But I'm still struggling with that feeling of am I doing the right thing?
I've spoken to my partner and parents and a friend and they have all been supportive and say that if a csection allows baby to be delivered safely without getting stuck without trauma and I'm avoiding all the risks mentioned then it is fine to take this route. That if I went ahead with VB and something did happen I would kick myself for not following my gut. I just wish there wasn't this guilt feeling, even though I'm fully aware a csection is in no way an easy way out either.