Big babies can run in the family.
I was a big at birth too and my own children were not small at birth either.
Are you going to have a 20 weeks scan? Then they'll also have a look at the babies size.
They done that with me and yes, again I'm going to have a large baby.
I'll get another scan when I'm 36 weeks pregnant.
Then together with the doctor we will decide what we shall do.
natural delivery
getting induced
or have a c-section
Because if the baby is 4+kilo then there is more change on shoulder dystocia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoulder_dystocia
This is what happened with my second child. It can be very serious because when the head is out and the shoulders are stuck. The baby doesn't get enough oxygen at that moment.
My second child they had to brake his arm for to get him out.
Shoulder dystocia is rare, but when it happens it's very dangerous for the baby.
My advice:
If you know the 'little one' is going to be a large baby.
- have grow scans
- don't let him/her become 4+ kilo. Also after birth that isn't pleasant for the baby. Because 4+ kilo babies can't always keep up their sugar levels in their blood. So they'll get regular blood tests to check their sugar levels.
- when you give birth naturally don't do it lying down. It's the worse position to give birth in. It's more painful and there's less room for the baby to get threw the 'exit'.
Best position is to do it on all fours. It's less painful and there'll be more room for the baby.
- Birth is painful, but try not to go for an epidural. Because then you'll give birth lying down. So there will be more change of shoulder dystocia.
- If you know the baby is going to be big. Absolutely have your baby in the hospital! Don't go for a home delivery. If due to his/her size the baby does get stuck with the shoulders behind your pelvic bones. You'll have about 5 minutes for to get the baby out.
After those 5 minutes the baby might suffer permanent brain damage and worse.
If you'd be at home the midwife or who's with you at that moment will be limited in what she can do for you and your baby.
An ambulance will have to be called. You got to wait for the ambulance, then go to the hospital. That'll take to much time.
If it goes wrong in the hospital then help is just a shout or a click on a button away from you.
Also when the baby is out there's immediately the right medical care for the baby.
With my second son I was allowed to have a home delivery. This was in Holland where most women do have their baby's at home.
Thankgoodness I decided to have him in the hospital.
Everything went well, but then when his head came out he got stuck. They tried to get him out, but nothing. Then broke his arm and he was out.
His was unconscious and they rushed him to a special room. He became conscious and they gave him oxygen and also a specialist came to have a look at him.
This all happened directly after he was born. At home all they would have been able to do was give him oxygen. With an ambulance being taken to the hospital before the baby would have got extra special care.
I stayed in the hospital for a couple of days. He got extra care and pain relief for his broken arm.
I don't tell you this to even make you more scared then you already are. But to let you know what to look out for.
If you're worried about the babies size. Have the 20 week scan and make sure they'll check his size.
If it's ok, but later in your pregnancy you're still worried about the babies size. Then ask for another scan for around 36 weeks to check the size of the baby.
With me, we didn't know the baby was going to be 4.5 kilo.
My first was 3.7 kilo. We know he was going to be bigger, but almost an extra kilo. That was a surprise for us.
Unfortunately I didn't know about the dangers of delivering large babies. If I had known this up front I would have demanded to have grow scans. Being induced around 38 - 39 weeks.
Not giving birth laying on my back, but on all fours.
Thankfully he's doing well now.
Don't be scared and don't let my story scare you. But take the advice. Learn from what happened to me that it's important to keep an eye on the babies size if you're worried about it.
Sylvia