Big Baby birth story's.. positive or negative welcome

[anonny55]

First time mum - baby estimated to be over 10lb

No GD
No health complications
BMI - 38

Been offered early induction due to size - I queried about having an elective section instead and was met with a consultant who basically said don't be pathetic you can birth a big baby there's just more chance of complications , he wouldn't sign me off for one he would only accept induction.

I've requested to speak to another consultant who I will meet with on Tuesday at 35+2 so hopefully they'll grant my wish!

I'm 90% sure I'm going for an elective over an induction however if I were to have an induction or go into spontaneous labour before 39 weeks, id love to hear your big baby birth story (please mention if it was your first baby too!)

I'm aware growth scans can be wrong. I've had them since 16 weeks and baby's always been above 95th centile. I don't feel safe to 'just leave him to come when he wants' as that gives time for even more growth.

Thanks!

I was induced 5 days early due to concerns my baby was so big and he was wait for it... a whopping oh... 6lb 1oz.
They don't always get it right.

The only thing that throws me off is I've had scans every 2 weeks and every single time from early on he's always been on or above 96th centile. Today at 36 weeks he's measuring 7lb8🫣

How did you find the induction?

I had my 2nd in a birthing centre in the pool no drugs, no stitches, no intervention despite being back to back & 10lb7 . Far easier birth than DC1 who was 8lb3. Both children 2 weeks overdue and measured normal size.

Hello OP, I know you’ve booked your ELCS but just wanted to add my two cents, you could always start an induction and then just opt for a c section if it’s not progressing. They won’t force you to continue with an induction. I had an elective induction at 39 weeks and found it completely fine, I contracted well but unfortunately didn’t dilate, after 2 nights of the various hormones I asked for C section and was in theatre within the hour, all very calm and I’m happy I gave vag birth a go. A friend of mine was induced same date and dilated well and had her baby by vaginal delivery on the same day as my section. She said it was very intense towards the end but no regrets!

I have always been very pro c section but recovery really is no joke! Inductions aren’t always terrible - have a look at the Arrive study and the Melbourne university articles. But crucially, starting an induction doesn’t mean you have to see it all the way through! You can start and play it by ear and tap out at any time.

@Marmiteontoastgirlie

Love your username btw!! My craving this whole pregnancy has been marmite on toast😂😂

I was thinking about that tbh as I'm really scared of the recovery of a section but also if I was to need forceps or something I could equally face a shite recovery..I guess this is the joys you just don't know🫣 one of my reasons for the planned section was not having a few nights in hospital trying for induction then it just doesn't work out and I have a section anyway. I'd be tired from days in hospital prior which wouldn't be ideal, only allowed birth partner to come into the hospital during visiting hours too so id spend early labour alone if things were to happen through the night - I've heard it can be real painful if it's induced labour so I'm worried I'll be in agony and have no support from a birth partner and in general I'm really scared to stay in hospital as it is so hoping for the shortest stay possible. I was wondering if I should ask if I could start sweeps from 37 weeks to try and get things moving and if it doesn't work then just do the section as planned..

@anonny55 haha it’s the best isn’t it!! Being tired from a few nights in hospital is definitely a factor to consider. I had two nights of contractions when I couldn’t sleep much and was definitely done after that (hence opting for c section on day three) but honestly you’re so excited to have a baby that you’re running on adrenaline and just buzzing for the first week anyway so I didn’t find that my two restless nights were an issue.

I guess it depends on your hospital but for ours the birth partners were allowed 24/7? I actually sent mine home overnight as thought no point both of us being exhausted by the time baby arrived, but some women had their partners there overnight (snoring away I might add 😑😑). We live very close to hospital though so he could get back within 30 minutes and had phone on loud overnight.

Totally your choice and probably depends very much on the hospital you’re in, but I quite enjoyed my stay - was reassuring to have all the checks and know baby and me being monitored. I treated the whole thing like a long haul flight - eye mask, ear plugs, hand cream, comfy clothes, face wipes, snacks etc.

Sweeps sounds like a good idea! If you do go for C section make sure you have amazing support at home for at least two weeks - my DH had to prop up my pillows for me, run around doing absolutely everything for me except hold and feed baby, and I think I had a pretty good recovery compared to some!

I am also now booking postnatal osteopath and scar massage to reduce overhang etc so that is something to factor in as well.

Thankyou for the advice! I already have major over hang from loosing 9 stone of weight before I got pregnant..mines worse than my mum who's had a c section and I've not even had one yet!!😂🫣I have recruited my sister to stay over for a few weeks and DH has 6 weeks off work luckily so plenty of help while I recover. I'm so done with pregnancy now I hope I go into labour asap😅

I've had a few period pains on and off for the past 2 days and having a major clear out..I wonder if it's the start of anything - wishful thinking?!

I hope it goes smoothly and all goes well.

I'm another tiny person (very short & teeny hips) that has babies over 10lb with no issues. I can totally understand why you have requested c-section.

Curious to know how big your little one is on arrival. Mine were incredibly long/tall rather than big heads/frames. The trousers on the 2 part outfit were only just below her knees, the newborn sleepsuits were too small. I was told my baby wasn't big 👀

Not me, but two friends have had big babies.

Friend 1: First over 10lb, second over 9lb. Both straightforward natural births at 40-41 weeks, no induction. She was a big baby herself apparently. She's very fit and slim.

Friend 2: Baby measuring big at a 38wk scan and movements were reduced so she was induced. Ended up as straightforward C-section. Baby was 'only' around 8.5lb. No GD.

All now healthy children. And both mums doing well.

When I had my first he measured big all through the pregnancy, always 96th 97th percentile, right enough he was 9lb 8.

I did need an epidural but other than that was fine slight tear, his sister was 8lb 6! He's always been a big strapping lad!

@RandomMess I'll have to come back and update!

DH was a long baby that didn't fit in newborn but he had a huge head too, I was a small baby but with a huge head😅 the sonographer today did say he has really long legs, don't I know..he's smashing them round in my bloody ribs😂😂

Both our parents had to have instrumental deliveries with us due to the giant heads..mines quite average now DH tho still has a big head🤣

How did you find your births? X

Dr Sara Wickham's book Inducing Labour is worth reading she's also written about GD

@ToxicFrenemy was you induced? If not when did you go into labour with your DS? I understand the percentiles are based off of the size of the baby for your height and weight so a 96th centile baby might weigh differently depending on who's baby it is but still both 96th centile for example?

DH is a big man.. very stocky and wide build, tall and a big head so he may just be taking after his dad 🤣

I'm about to log into my growth chart and see what his new estimated 40 week weight is after todays scan😯

Sorry just saw you don't have GD

@RedRobyn2021 I tried to order that as an ebook on Amazon but it wouldn't let me for some reason🫠I did read the free preview though!

I don't have GD btw☺️

Honestly, I wouldn't be having a c section or induction

It's completely illogical that your body would make a baby too big for you to birth

These are completely unnecessary interventions

@RedRobyn2021 no problem, you replied just before I did🤣

I see your logic, however I won't be accepting any instrumental assistance which seems highly likely when a first time mum has a big baby so this most probably would end in an emcs for me which would be rather crap if I labour all the way and don't manage to give birth vaginally anyway

@anonny55

I had 4 inductions, I have naturally loooong pregnancies.

DC1 induced 10 days over took 30 hours to get me into labour had an epidural & ARM delivered without assistance. Had some grazes and a tiny "Nick".

DC2 17 days over, for me into labour after about 9 hours, had an epidural but it still really hurt 😂 10lb 6oz no assistance this time I had the Nick fixed with one stitch. Thick meconium in fluid and they were panicking about GD.

DC3 induced on due date (madness in hindsight) 30 hours to get me into labour, epidural & ARM 9lb 2oz no stitches

DC4 induced at 42 weeks (learned my lesson). Took 11 hours to get me into labour, then labour was 1 minute, no epidural and the whole thing was a doddle 9lb10oz. Biggest difference was I was so much more relaxed about the whole thing.

Knew I wouldn't get my home birth, knew it would be big, knew DH would be a useless birthing partner. 😂

My eldest was 9lbs 4oz, force or delivery with a epidural, V delivery.

My youngest was 9lbs 13oz, no medication V delivery.

Both were expected to be larger, but no growth scans or follow ups. I did have a scan at 36 weeks with youngest to see if he'd moved from being breach, they estimated a weight of 6lbs!!!!!

I don't know what it's like giving birth to a small baby.... 🙈

I guess you'll never really know what your baby will weigh. The measurements can be WAY off. I would say that the epidural was an absolute game changer and I would highly recommend!

Good luck OP, you got this! Baby's weight is out of your control, just remember that! ❤️

@RedRobyn2021 you do know that before "intervention" the maternal death rate and number of life changing injuries were an awful lot higher?

I'm all for not rushing into induction but after waiting 17 days, thick meconium etc there is always the "balance of probabilities".

Placentas when they stop functioning can fail very quickly.

It's not a science, we can do lots to improve our chances of an optimal labour and delivery but there are no guarantees.

I would have loved to go into spontaneous labour and been at home but not enough to risk my babies life.

@RandomMess wow long pregnancy's and still had to be induced!! F that - I don't know how id cope until 42 weeks my hips and back are in agony 24/7😭baby will be over 11lb Apparantly if I went to 42 weeks..ouch!😖

Oh for gods sake

You know, more women are now induced or given a c section than give birth without intervention?

That's because there is so much unnecessary intervention, meaning lots of those women don't need intervention. Some do, most don't.

If you choose to believe that everybody needs inductions or c-sections, than that's your prerogative and I feel sorry for you.

Weight estimates can be very very very wrong so I wouldn’t go by that. My sister in law was told her baby was too small - came out 7.5 lbs. I can give many many examples like this.

My kid was 98 centile when born and a big baby. Not beautiful baby pudgy just really really long so big baby can mean long baby too. He is mid teens and over 6’4 😂.

Don't be out off vaginal just because of this. And consider c section (yes I had to have an emergency c so I know) is major abdominal surgery and isn’t the same as a natural birth.

There are horror stories on both sides and I am still living with the effects of the c, but overall there are more risks for surgery so don’t let the big baby be the reason to have one.

When did you go into labour with your dc?
When the sonographer said his estimated weight today at 36weeks is 7lb8 I nearly had a meltdown!! That was my birth weight and my mother had me at 41 weeks and still needed assistance to get my large head out!!

How did you find the forceps and recovery?
I will definitely be opting for an epidural if I go into labour before my section date🤞🏽

Thankyou☺️🤍