Baby size V Mum size

[mandspice]

I'm 32 weeks pregnant with our first (baby boy)and petite (5 feet 1, weighed 7 stone pre-pregnancy) Every time I see my midwife she says "We don't want baby to be more than 6 and a half pounds or you may have trouble" and comments on my OH's size! (He's 6 feet 1 but slim).

I'm taking what she says with a pinch of salt but does anyone know if there's any truth in it?? Are they likely to do a C-section if baby is measuring big? (for the record I'm not against either a C-section or a 'natural' birth - whatever gets baby out with the least amount of stress for him).

Thanks

My friend is 5' 0" and gave birth easily and naturally to a 9 and a half pounder.
I am 5' 7" and had to have c-sections with both of mine who were over 10lbs but with Mahooosive heads and were lying back to back ..
I think it is all to do with head size and how they are lying - nothing to do with size of baby or size of mum ...
Same as the myth of "You can't possibly breastfeed a big baby on your own, you will need to top up" which is what I had when DD was born ... (That was also a load of bollards I have to say - I breastfed her until she was 12 months)

nothing to do with it. I'm huge with very wide "child bearing hips" and ended up having a caesarian with ds being 8lb 7oz.

I've got a friend who is teeny tiny - about a size 6/8 and she's had 3 bouncing babies, at least one of which weighed nearly 10lb. She had 2 by c section but because of other reasons and one naturally without any problems at all.

I was worried about this with my first as I'm quite petite but my midwife said it's very rare for your body to make a baby that you can't push out, if that makes any sense. I think ghosty is right and it's more to do with head size and position.

He also said that DD would be above 7.5 lbs, she was a teeny 6lbs 2oz, I don't think they can really tell.

Before I was pregnant with DS1 I weighed 7.5 stone and am 5 ft 2. DS1 was 8.5 lbs! Natural birth, although a fair few stitches but all was well. Agree that it has more to do with your pelvis size than anything else.

my MW helped birth a 10lber from a truly titchy phillipina lady. very easy birth apparently. so who knows?!

This issue was something i was very worried about too as i am 5 ft 1 and measuring two weeks ahead im 38 + 4 ooh and my husband has a large head.
But after reading this conversation i am not what will be will be. Best of luck mandspice.

I'm 5ft 9in but size 6-8 and 8.5stone. Just had a 10lb 4oz baby emerge from my little bump, which surprised everybody, including the midwives who had predicted 8lb!!

My midwife said there is usually only a problem with baby/pelvis size if the parents families are very different sizes, which usually only happens with mixed ethnicity couples, eg petite asian women with strapping scandinavian husbands.

Congrats Janice, what a great size!

Interesting what you say about mixed couples as OH is black Caribbean and all of his family are tall and broad (he's the shortest male at 6 feet 1) whereas I'm petite Caucasian with all shorties - mum 5'3, dad 5'5, uncle 5'2 etc....

Hi there. I am 4ft 11, size 3 feet size 8-10. DP is 6 ft 1 (and comes from a family with overly large heads I now realise!!). I had natural births with my 2 boys 9lb 3 and 8lb 13. And no stitches. To be fair, I did have shoulder dystocia with the first one but we got through it. I think your body is capable of a lot more than you would think! Both boys measured average or below on all scans all the way through except head circ which was always bigger!!! (knew I should have ignored him when he asked me out all those years ago ...). As I say though, still had 2 quick and relatively easy births, apart from last minute getting stuck bit with ds1 but hopefully your family do not have the big head syndrome .... Good luck, I'm sure it will be fine.

Like most people have said do not worry. My DH is 6ft 3" and wears size 13 shoes - me i'm 5Ft 4 and size 5 shoes (dress size 10/12). My children were all 9lb +, DS1 9lb 10oz, DS2 9lb 4oz and DS3 9lb 4oz - I delivered them all with just gas and air only 2 stitches in total.

I personally think alot is to do with mind over matter and belief in yourself - you can do it! Good Luck and remember it's only 1 day in your life and you get a lovely baby at the end of it all