Has anybody risked a vaginal birth after a huge baby?

[mumoftoby]

I am currently weighing up whether I want to stop at 2 children. My first weighed 8lbs 12ozs and my second 10lbs 14ozs. I am only 5'5" and have been told I am lucky to have had an uncomplicated natural birth with a baby that size. I have been told that with any subsequent pregnancies I would be safer to have a cs, possiby at 37 weeks.

I wouldn't trust scans to ascertain the size of future babes as with my second son I had scans at 35 weeks and 37 weeks and they never picked up that he was bigger than average. Would paying for a 4D scan in late pregnancy give me a more accurate idea of weight?

Has anybody got any experiences of this? I would really appreciate any feedback.

[mumoftoby]

Thanks everyone. Lulu I only had consultant led care last time due to a retroverted uterus causing issues at 15 weeks and leading to me being rushed to hospital to have a catheter inserted - that was resolved by 18 weeks.I then had a lack of fetal movement quite a few times from 35 weeks onwards causing me to see my consultant again.

To be honest ds2's birth was easier than ds1's. I was only in hospital for an hour and a half prior to the birth of each, but needed lots of stitches after my first.

I am also usually a size 12 and have size 4 feet! But I do put on lots of weight during pregnancy, so maybe cutting back on carbs with any future pregnancy could be helpful.

[4madboys]

well ds1 was 8lb 7oz, ds2 was 9lb 3oz, ds3 wsa 9lb 5oz and ds4 was 10lb and 13oz, i am only 5 2 and a size ten, with size 3 feet. i had four natural deliveries, the last three with just gas and air and ds4 was born in a birth pool

with ds1 and ds2 they thought i was having a small baby and i had scans that estimated them as small

with ds3 they again said i was having a small baby and wanted to scan to check his size, i told them to get lost, i knew he was an ok size.#

with ds4 they said to expect a 9lb baby, but we were all shocked at how big he was, he came out VERY easily, veyr quick labour only just over an hour, no stiches or anything.

i odnt think your size has much to do with it and if you have delivered a big baby naturally then i would say your body is designed to do that and will probably do it again next time

[sabire]

My second was 10lbs 12oz, delivered vaginally.

During my third pregnancy I stayed off the carbs and gave birth to a 9lbs 3oz baby vaginally.

I'm 5ft 6 by the way, and usually a size 10.

[madmouse]

5'5 is perfectly average though, for a woman, I mean you are not small and obviously your pelvis is a good size.

When I was in hospital there was a woman on my ward who was induced early due to so called big baby and ended up with this 6lb scrap of a baby who had clearly still been in the middle of putting on some fat!

[crokky]

you could have a VB, induced at 37 weeks so hopefully baby will not reach 10 pounds. I've had 2 DCs at 37 weeks (induced) due to other complications.

[debinaustria]

HI

ds1 was 8lb 13(gasn air and stitches), ds 2 , 8lb 3 oz(no stitches or pain relief), ds3 (3 weeks old) 10lb 1 oz - no pain relief or stitches, 4 hour labour.

As for accuracy of scans , on the day that I had ds3 I was sent from labour ward for a scan - they said he was about 8lb, 6 hours later all 10 lbs of him were born.

[mummy2t]

you have proved you can birth a bigger baby, you'll be able to do it again

[misdee]

i'm 5ft 2.

dd1 was a teeny 6lb 15

dd2 at 39 weeks was 9lb

dd3 induced at 38 weeks was 7lb 15

dd3 was induced early due to gestional diabetes.

am 20 weeks pregnant with #4, no mention of c-section but induction has been mentioned already at 38 weeks.

I had tears with all 3, dd1 actually the worst and was being sticthed up for 45mins. the other two were just grazes really and left to heal on their own.

[Chocolatemousse]

Also it doesn't follow that your next one will be massive either. I have had 4 babies, weighing 8lb12oz, 8lb4oz, 10lbs and 8lb 9oz. I only had stitches with the first (following episiotomy and forceps).

Lulu is a wise woman

[lulumama]

and i will just reiterate:

your body and your birth and your choice

it is really important that you know that you can make an informed choice of how you give birth. there is no medical reason to indicate a c.section.

bearing in mind you have had two straightforward pregnancies and births,there would be no need for consultant led care anyway.. unless something arose

www.aims.org.uk is a good site for informing you of your rights for your birth.

[Hecate]

my first was 10lb4oz and my second was 10lb5oz.

My second was born with no problems at all.

[lulumama]

i don;t but i can find out for you

[mumoftoby]

Thanks Lulumama. The obs is middle aged. My consultant at the womens was Siobhan Quemby - do you know what her view would be?

Thanks again.

[onepieceoflollipop]

I am only 5'2" and size 10 - I notice that some of the other posters are what I would describe as more average height 5'5" or taller.

My first baby (I was 32) was unexpectedly quite large 9lb 11oz. Not picked up during pg but I only had a dating scan.

I had a long labour but eventually had a ventouse delivery.

Throughout 2nd pg (I was 36) everyone from the GP, various midwives and hospital doctors said the same thing. Basically if you had a safe delivery first time round even if the new baby is a couple of pounds heavier all will be fine. They were all very reassuring. Dd2 was only 8lb 4oz. As I am short lots of people thought I had had a big baby, but compared with dd1 she wasn't!

[Nosnik]

BTW DS1 was 9lb 2oz and I am only 5'6"

[Nosnik]

Hey chill out!! don't be pushed into a CS. I had a 12lb 5oz baby (vaginally) at 42 weeks with only 3 stitches. I fully intend to have 2 more children and absolutely NO CS. I just won't argue next time when they suggest inducing me at 40 weeks!!! ha ha

My growth scans were spot on, they just didn't account for a very healthy placenta which kept feeding DS2 so he kept on growing after 40 weeks whereas normally growth would tail off as placenta deteriorates. I was told to expect 10-11 lb baby.

[OrmIrian]

My first was 10lb 4, I went on to have a 9lb 6 DD and another 10lb 4 boy. No problems.

But I'm tall.

[FAQ]

I have a friend who is 5ft 2.

Her first (ended up with EMCS after failure to progress and other problems) weighed in at just under 10lb

Her 2nd, VBAC was well over 10lb and was extremely quick and easy

[lulumama]

how old was the obs who told you this BTW?

[lulumama]

ooooh, that is my neck of the woods! i know who would be sympathetic to you having a normal birth, consultant wise.

also, if you are near enough, ormskirk hospital is usually supportive of 'normal' birth

my other advice would be, that it is your birth, your body , your choice , and you can make an informed choice to have a VB or a c.s, but you should only make that choice based on all the information, and not just scare tactics

[mumoftoby]

Thanks everyone - the person who told me that is a consultant obstetrician who I know socially. So if I did get pregnant again I am not sure what the opinion would be at Liverpool Womens would be.

[Guadalupe]

I know three people with 10lb+ babies and they are all around 5"5, maybe 5"6. I don't remember them being told that.

[lizziemun]

I am 5ft and have had 2 9lb plus babies. with no probelms tears or stitching, but both of mine have been small framed and small heads but very long.

[MrsMattie]

What Loula said!

[PrettyCandles]

What Loula said, word for word.

I'm 5'8", babies were 8lb10, 9lb3, and 11lb. The last was the easiest and most gentle of the births. I didn't even need stitches - after two 2nd degree tears with the others.

I was also told that I would have problems delivering no3, and maintained that, on the contrary, I have proven my ability to deliver big babies. And I was right

I'm convinced that the ability to birth a baby is heavily influenced by the mum's self-confidence and belief in herself.

Go for it. Base your decision not on what someone obsessed with complications and trying to KYA themselves, but on what you want for your family.