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Being told that I might have to forgo home birth as baby 'might' be big - opinions please

32 replies

Ragtaggle · 30/07/2005 20:06

It's early days (Am 31 weeks pg) but scans are showing that the circumference of my baby's stomach are on the 97th percentile. The hospital want to scan me again in a month and the sonographer mentioned that they might not 'let' me have a home birth if baby is big. I have only had a scan this late in the day as I have transferred hospitals because I want a home birth and for that the hospital needs to be local. I should say, though, that I never intended to actually give birth in this hospital which has a terrible reputation so the prospect of having to go there is very unappealing.

I am a bit confused because my first baby was only seven pounds twelve and in every other respect I have been identified as low risk. Every single blood test etc has been fine, my blood pressure is consistently low and I even had my first baby at home with no complications and no tearing.

I have two questions really for anyone who knows about these things- one is how accurately can they measure these things - could they have just got it 'wrong' - might baby be perfectly average size after all? (I am with the same partner less than two years later so a really big baby seems unlikely) And my second is 'how big is too big to have at home?" My friend has just given birth to a nine pound eight baby at home and nobody suggested she had to go to hospital. I haven't met my midwives yet so will discuss all these things with them but would be interested in some early opinions...

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
lydz · 31/07/2005 22:16

Why take the risks of a hospital birth based on inaccurate information?? And there's nothing that can be done for shoulder dystocia in hospital that can't be done at home - did you read the link given earlier? here

mandyc66 · 31/07/2005 22:38

take it that was to me? I just said if it were me i would do the hospital thing as I am a scardy cat!! Dont need facts to back that up!! {grin} Wasnt telling anyone what to do!

mandyc66 · 31/07/2005 22:40

you should be scanned nearer your due date and this will give you a better idea of size.

RedZuleika · 01/08/2005 11:59

Just reiterating what others have said...

Anecdotally, I've heard of lots and lots of people for whom pre-birth weight estimation was way out. In both directions. If you want a home birth, just keep repeating it over and over like a mantra - if only to drown out their whittering about what you're 'allowed' to do or not.

fqueenzebra · 01/08/2005 12:04

ds1 was measured as 98th percentile at a 34 week scan (both big head & tummy, they said). I stumbled around in shock, anticipating a 10 lber....

"You don't look that big because you're tall", proclaimed one consultant.

"You don't look that big because you're fit", proclaimed the other consultant (seeing that I cycled to all my scan appointments).

And then, DS1 was born at 39 weeks gestation at a WHOPPING.... 6 lb 8oz.

Go with your instincts, ragtaggle.

piffle · 01/08/2005 12:08

I'm another who was told that my baby would be over 10lbs at 38 weeks, my 1st was 7lbs10oz, I gave in and went to hosp where a lovely 7lbs 8oz girl was delivered half an hour after arriving with no intervention or help that I could not have had at home.
Scans do over estimate IMHO

mandyc66 · 01/08/2005 14:45

I was told my last 2 would be big and were 10lb2 born on due date and 9lb15 born 11days early!
They measured ds4 at about 36 weeks and said he was just over 9lbs. I seem to have good advice and good health visitors etc..sorry no one else seems to get this service!
Maybe thats why people think my opinions are odd!!!

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