If you had a big baby , did you accept induction

[anonny55]

32 weeks and baby's on 91st centile weighing 5lb5oz

He's following the same line on growth chart as my 20 and 27w scan so have no faith that he's magically going to drop dramatically in his growth speed.

Ive been asked to think about my birth options as it'll be discussed with my consultant in 4 weeks time. Today she's let me know that if his growth follows in line with what he was today then induction would likely be recommended at 39 weeks. She said I can request an earlier induction than 39 weeks if that's my choice too. Otherwise an elective c section will be between 39-40 depending on when they have space. Obviously she said it's my choice and if id rather be left alone that's upto me.

I'm curious to know if you accepted an induction due to size, did everything work out? Do you regret it or happy with your choice?

I'm aware the weight is only an estimation and he could be smaller/bigger than his measurements on a scan.

i told them not until 40wks, i had DD via spontaneous labour at 39+4 and she was 9.3lb.. i was told that due to my health (severe SPD) that they wouldn't 'let' me go past 40wks without some serious discussion.

I can't say i liked the idea, and i would have argued it to a point, but i'm a wimp and terrified of the epidural needle.

i'd rather have another 9lb baby wiithout any pain relief than that.

I also pushed them back to 40 weeks had dc1 spontaneous labour at 39+5 (9lb4oz). So was glad I'd pushed back.

DC1 was 10lb 2oz so I was induced at 37 weeks with DC2 and DC3. Both deliveries were great. In fact DC3 was born unbelievably quickly. They put me on the drip and about an hour later I told the midwife I had an urge to push. She laughed and told me that I wasn’t even in established labour yet. I replied that it was my third time of doing this and I know what it feels like. I pulled the sheet off and DD’s head had already been born.

I really don’t understand why people are so reluctant to be induced. If it’s pre-arranged you know when it’s going to happen, so it’s easier to sort childcare for any other DCs. You won’t be told that it’s too late for an epidural if you want one. I would much rather do it like that and give birth to a baby that’s a manageable size than struggle through another 48 hour labour like with DC1. (DC2 was 9lb, but DC3 was only 7lb).

ETA I also had SPD with both.

Thanks all! Seems positive. Baby is estimated 9lb2 at 39 weeks. Would you be keen for induction at 39 or push to have one at 38? This is my first baby!

I was induced at 42 weeks with dc3. He was 9 lb 13. Previous were 7 lbs and 9 lbs. The induction was ok - took a while to get going and once it did was a bit more intense than previous labours. It went a bit quicker than previous and I went from no contractions to giving birth in around 4 hours. Even so still had a water birth which helped me manage the labour pains.

I went to 41 weeks with dc2 who was then 9 lbs when born. Unless you are really small then I'd say wait and see if labour starts naturally. Spend the time prepping - getting sleep, and exercises to open your pelvis or to ensure baby in optimal position. See spinning babies for tips on fetal positioning.

DC2 measured big my whole pregnancy and I ultimately decided to have an ELCS. They were pretty much 10lb when they were born at 39+4 and I’ve never regretted my decision. In very simplified terms, after discussing with doctors, I came to the conclusion that an induction for DC2 (a big baby) carried more risks for the baby should something go wrong, especially shoulder dystocia which I was warned was a possibility.

My doctor had recommended an epidural on arrival if I went into natural labour and a specialist midwife who could deal with shoulder dystocia and I just felt that it was all quite “unnatural” anyway and I’d prefer it to be properly managed from the beginning via a section.

All that being said, I think as mothers (even first time mothers) we have a strong innate sense of how we want to birth our children and it’s important we listen to what our heart and intuition is telling us. If induction feels the right choice for you then there is nothing wrong with that.

Thanks for that! How did you find the recovery? It's the only thing putting me off. However I understand how traumatic a shoulder dystocia and/or forceps or emcs as he's stuck may also be!

First baby, accepted induction at 41 weeks and he was 9lbs 8oz. Second baby, declined it until at least 41 weeks, and he was 10lbs 6oz. Both vaginal deliveries, and I found spontaneous labour and delivery much easier. A large baby doesn't necessarily mean a difficult birth, though it's important to be careful of course. ❤️

If you do decide on induction, I would recommend asking for your bishop score. The higher this is, apparently the more chance your induction will be straight forward.

I was too late for an epidural. They put me on the drip and I went to fully dilated very quickly and they wouldn’t give me anything. It was horrific. I would never let anyone put me on one of those drips had I known. Lots of inductions before 40 weeks fail and end in c sections

OP I have had 4 children, all of whom have been big, the largest just shy of 10lb. I am of slight build.

I didn’t (and wouldn’t) accept an induction. I was adamant my babies would come when they were ready and in the most advantageous position for birth. I did as much as I could to ensure positioning was optimal (although still had at least 1 back to back delivery).

I had straightforward deliveries, no pain relief, no tearing, nothing.

In my experience there is nothing to fear from a bigger than average baby.

Good luck!

My second DC was 9lb14 and 15 days late (this was a long time ago! You can't go that long now)
Induced. She would not come out, too comfy in there, and even now she sleeps for Britain, laid back!
She had the biggest head recorded at the hospital in ten years ! (No baby hats for her!)
It was such an easy birth compared to my previous one.

I had a meeting with the midwife as ds was 7 days late. Agreed I would be induced the next day. All along I'd wanted a c section as I come from a line of big babies (and my mother scared the crap out of me with horror stories, so I'd already gone into pregnancy convinced I couldn't cope with labour - I will not be doing that to my daughter). Son's guesstimate was 9 lb 5. As I was leaving the midwife meeting I had a total meltdown, insisting I wanted a c section. I had asked several times as measured big all along, but it wasn't even considered by the midwife's until this point.

Within a few minutes of my meltdown I was in an office with a consultant who signed off on everything. As she said, you can have a pounds difference and it can go either way. My son was delivered by her 2 days later by c section and weighted 10 lb 5. All went smoothly and a good experience in the end.

DS was induced at 37 weeks due to gestational diabetes and an assumption that he would be big. He was born 37+1 weighing 7lb11oz so not exceptionally bit by any stretch of the imagination.
I only went for the induction so early as my placenta was possibly failing and I agreed that it would be better to have him out sooner rather than later. I’d been induced 4 years prior with DD due to preeclampsia and she was only 5lb12oz so really he felt pretty big compared to her!

My first baby was 10lbs, the midwife panicked at my 38 week appointment when I was off the size chart and I booked in for an induction at 40 weeks. It wasn't the best birth, lots of intervention (forceps), early COVID, left alone to labour until I begged to be examined and they told me I was 9cm and had to phone my husband to come in (he wasn't allowed until I was in active labour)

My second was measuring large so I was induced at 39+2 and he was 11lb7oz. Got very very stuck and I declined forceps so ended up with a c section.

One thing I would say is take their guestimates with a pinch of salt, although it was true for me and they were big babies, it's not for everyone.

Also I think my one bit of advice is just be aware of all the types of pain relief/ interventions and go in with an open mind. I felt like I'd failed because my hynobirthing course basically told me I had. I didn't fail, I did what I needed to do to get my baby here safely.

P.s. big babies make great newborns

I was induced on my due date a couple of months ago as baby was measuring big. She was born via forceps at 9lbs 7oz and I've healed really well so no regrets! It's my second induction and both went well. A positive story to balance out the horror stories you hear 😉

That’s awful! At my local hospital they give you the epidural before they put you on the drip for exactly that reason - because labour can progress very quickly and they won’t be able to find an anaesthetist at short notice. My dd was born 30 minutes after I started on the drip!

Yes the worst of it was they told me later that it was probably because I’d had precipitous labour with my first. Women with that sort of history are more likely to become hyperstimulated on the drip so they knew I’d probably go off like a rocket. I didn’t even know you could be in that much pain and remain conscious. It really affected me afterwards as well. I couldn’t even hold the baby because I was shaking and crying so much. I’m no stranger to pain. My first I’d had with no pain relief but natural labour was manageable. Drip contractions are another beast entirely. I’d really advise on insisting on epidural in first before they put a drip up.

Nearly 12 years ago I had an induction and forceps for a big baby 2 weeks late. I would have rather had a totally natural birth, but an earlier induction would have meant not having to be pregnant those last two weeks, plus maybe a slightly smaller baby and maybe no forceps - sounds good!

I was induced on my due date- she was 9lb 13oz - I don’t regret my decision to be induced as she could have been 11lbs!

First baby? Or have you already given birth vaginally before?

First baby. 98th centile head , 96th centile stomach. Me and DP both had a huge head and needed to be ventoused but belly and shoulders relatively small so we were fine coming out once the head was out. Consultant said as baby has a big belly it's not just the head they worry about, the belly can also get stuck!

Did you need any instruments to help her come out? First baby?

It seems a lot more inductions fail if done before 40 weeks..as mine would be at 38w (when he should be around 9lb) I worry it'll fail just as it's a little early. Let alone this being my first baby and him being big😅

I had two big babies. I didn't want induction or C section, so I agreed with my consultant that I would have daily monitoring past 39 weeks to check the placenta. It helped that I lived 5 minutes walk from the FMU! They were both born a couple of days late.

What did they weigh? Any intervention? Down stairs heal fine and go back to normal? Weakened pelvic floor? Thanks for your experience x