The whopper

[FredKiller]

So, following on from my thread last week about bump measuring accuracy, the MW (a different one) has now told me I'm definitely going to have to give birth in the elephant house at London Zoo (or words to that effect). My "chunky" baby is now measuring full term and mw is arranging a growth scan at some point in the next couple of weeks. I probably won't be able to give birth in the MW led unit and will need to go to the labour ward, of which I have horrible, traumatic memories from DS's birth (wasn't big, my body just didn't work that time around).

Lots of talk of risks of shoulder dystocia (sp?) and how risky it can be. I am now suitably terrified and just want to ask for a c-section now.

I feel like I've been a terrible mum to my 2yo today, as I keep panicking and crying.

Reassuring stories about big healthy babies being delivered in relative calm would be much appreciated.

I'm only 36 weeks, btw - hence their concern.

Hey Fred - I'm still waiting for my first, but I was ELEVEN pounds (about two weeks late!) and the birth was very easy for my mum: 2 hours.

My mum was five feet tall and very slim (7 stone) before I came along I might add so it's not like we're all giants.

Fred I've had two friends recently who ended up having c sections for 'big' babies that turned out to be far smaller than estimated. One friend is very upset about it. Conversely I have a friend who has just a very easy birth with a 10lb 15oz baby. I have her birth story if you'd like me to pm you?
There seems to be a real fear of big babies at the moment, but shoulder dystocia is still very rare. It is also very rare for people to have babies that are too big to birth vaginally. Do do some reading before agreeing to anything won't you? There's an interesting post on shoulder dystocia on the midwife thinking blog, but it's just one perspective of course, albeit an educated one.

please dont panic, dont cry, they are often so very wrong about their guesses of baby weights. i had a lovely home birth of an 11lber, and another of a 9.5lber, and i am only 5 foot 2. gravity helps with big babies, its often the smaller babies that get stuck. and if there are any signs of baby being stuck whatsoever, make sure you flip over to all fours, or squatting. out of curiosity, is this the fundal measurement that they are declaring is big? because that has a flexibility of +3cm.

Yes, the measurement they do over your bump with a tape measure. I've been 2cm over since my 16 week appt. Curiously though, at my 23 week scan baby was bang on average size.

Thank you, yes all big baby birth stories gratefully received.

I just don't know what to think. DS's birth upset me so much, and now it sounds like this one will be even worse.

Useful to know shoulder dystocia is rare - MW made it sound almost unavoidable with big babies. I think maybe she was trying to persuade me of why I'd be so much safer in the regular labour ward, so thought a few horror stories might help with that.

I was 2cm over for most of my pregnancy with dd2 and was told she was going to be a "monster", she was 6lb 4

I think the important thing is that you stay as calm as possible and don't lose faith that you can do this. I measured slightly small with DS1 throughout, and growth scans put him at 6lb at a week overdue. No problem, I thought, got on with labour. He was 9lb 2! Which is not huge huge, but pretty big.

This time, with him being that size, my MW started making noises about big babies and SD etc. I haven't listened to a word as I know I can birth a big baby with no trouble. I really do think if they'd been going on about how big he would be in my first I would have been frightened and that would have made labour difficult. Just stay on your feet, active labour, and let gravity do a lot of the work for you - I've heard it said a few times that big babies birth easily because of gravity/ more to push on etc. Dont let them scare you into thinking that can't do it. Fundal height and scans are notoriously inaccurate - any browse through here will bring up loads of stories of wrong predictions.

Deep breath - trust your body and yourself. Maybe try some of the hypnobirth affirmations to help bolster your confidence?

My mum was told I was going to be huge....
Turns out she just had alot of water... I was only 6lb 12oz..
Apparently big babies are easier to push out because there is more to push on.
Please don't panic or get upset.
More than likely is that they've got the measurements wrong or your have a lot of water which makes you look bigger..
Try to stay positive xx

Re: incidence of shoulder dystocia, the RCOG guidelines here quote incidence of 0.58 - 0.70 %. So very rare indeed (although bad when it happens). Higher incidence in diabetic mums or those with a BMI greater than 30.

Fundal height isn't a great metric, and ultrasounds aren't perfect either. If they refuse you the MLU might you consider a home birth? When you do see the MW/consultant keep in mind questions like,'what happens if we don't do that?' And 'what are the risks of doing x?' (ie rather than just the possible'benefits')

Aww don't panic. I had two big babies - 9.1 and 10.4. Was fine. I'm 5.6 and a size 12 with size 8 hips but all worked out alright. I did have a third degree tear with the second but that was because I pushed him out too quick, nothing to do with size.

Just don't bother with the newborn clothes and be prepared for everyone saying 'what a big baby'. Good luck!

Thanks everyone. Still feel pretty worried about it after a restless night of horrid birth/baby getting stuck dreams .

But a lot of good advice here on what to ask when I eventually get my scan. Just wish I knew when it would be.

In my last pregnancy I measured 6 weeks over at 28 weeks, got sent for a growth scan and they said everything looked fine. So try not to fret untill you have had the scan. Then if the baby is big I'm sure you will be looked after by the hospital consultants. It will do you no good stressing over something that they are not certain of, think though how inacurate a tape measure on your stomach to measure the weight of the baby inside sounds. Does it sound scientific?

You're so right fanjo, it sounds ridiculous when you put it like that. Scan is on Tuesday so hopefully will know then.

I am a small framed person i weighed 7st before pg and am 5ft 7 and my ds was 9lbs they scared the life out of me with dd and said she was going to be HUGE even bigger than ds talked about c sections assisted deliveries etc and she was born in 2 hours and weighed 7lbs 5ozs I am now 33 weeks with dc3 and having growth scan at 36 weeks and may be induced then as they think this one is big too I am also under a consultant due to low bmi but trying not to panic like I did with dd just so glad I didn't opt for the elective c section I would have been gutted to miss my dd wonderful labour :) x

Oh and forgot to mention they sent me for a growth scan with ds as he was going to be small lol x

I had shoulder dystocia with my dd and was just shy of 9lb- so not in thw huge scale at all. Others have given birth to 10lb babies with no difficulties. I think other factors come in to play like shape of pelvis etc.

Try not to panic- listen to advice from everyone and try and keep an open mind with regards to birth plan rtc (easier said than done, I know )

I was two weeks late with DS2 and had a scan at 10 days past DD to check all ok, no mention of size at all. At 14 days had a section as couldn't be induced due to previous haemorrhage and emergency section with DS1 - on delivery he was 10lb. They didn't even register that on a scan so I'm sure fondal measurement is even less revealing.

My 'giant baby' was 24 inches long... and 6lb5oz!!!

My 'small enough to need SCBU' baby was 5lb13oz and came home. Both fundal height and ultrasound are approximate and can be way out!!!

So the whopper's estimated birth weight on delivery is 8lb5. I think I can cancel Norris McWhirter.

Feel very relieved. Sonographer was very reassuring.