Are second babies always bigger? What make a big baby?

[Waggamamma]

My ds surprised everyone by weighing 9lb 1oz at birth. After a long labour he was a ventouse delivery.

I'm now pregnant with my 2nd (15wks) and worrying about what size this baby will be. My friend
keeps going on how second babies are always bigger and I won't be able to push this one out .

What makes a baby big? Is it anything to do with how much I eat or my bmi. I've been eating much healthier since the sickness has lessened but I still have a big appetite.

Also what size of clothes should I buy for baby? I've bought some Next newborn sleepsuits for 7.5lbs but dp says they'll never fit and bought some 0-3 sleepsuits for 14lb. Is there no size in between?

If you had a big first baby was your second bigger?

I had a 9.12 then a 9.4 both at almost 2 weeks over. Everyone kept telling my number two would be bigger than number 1 so I was a bit disappointed not to break into the 10s.

I genuinely believe that baby weight isn't the main factor. Position and head circumference are more relevant and they're unrelated to weight.

Don't let anyone upset or worry you. You've already done it once so you'll be able to do it again and it's likely to be easier this time whatever the weight/size etc.

God luck and enjoy it all. Am a bit envious, loved being pregnant and the whole birth experience, even though in reality it was pretty hideous!!

Dc1 10lb 3oz at 40+3 weeks
Dc2. 7lb 14oz at 39 weeks
6.5 yr age gap between them .

First was 9lb 13 and 2nd was 8lb 3.

Both were lying back to back and were Csections. First was emergency and 2nd was planned.

My first DD was 8.6 and second Dd was 7.15. I was set for a whopper but she is 9 wks and still in newborn and up to one montu clothes. I took big baby grows to the hospital and she was swamped!

We had next new born stuff up to 10lbs
I think they have 2 sizes

You just can't tell. Ds1 was 2 weeks late and 9lbs 1 and ds2 was prem and 6lbs.

My dc have got progressively smaller! 7lb10, 7lb9oz, 7lb1oz...

One of my friends has had 3 10lb babies, all vaginal births. So don't think a big baby means csec.

Also, I think you need to tell your friend to shut up, and that she's stressing you out - she probably doesn't realise it's upsetting you.

There is definitely new born up to 7lb size, and newborn/0-1mth up to 10lb size. I used both before moving on to 0-3mths.

First was 9lb 4, second was 8lb 2. First was 8 days over, second was on time.

Well, DS2 was almost 2lb heavier than DS1.

But DS2 was born at 37+2 weeks and DS1 at 34+1 weeks. So I put DS2 being heavier down to that. Not his birth order.

Your friend is lovely by the way

Congrats and relax

My dd born 5 years ago when I was a skinny Minnie weighed 7lb 4oz

Almost 3 years later I was a lot heavier, I had my ds he was a tinchy 5lbs!

I couldn't believe he was so tiny.

Good luck and no matter the size of your second baby you'll be fine

The sizing on baby clothes varies loads from shop to shop I found.

Your diet will have some effect on the baby. High sugar diets do mean fatter babies, this is also why babies are bigger when the mother has diabetes.

FWIW, my dd was 6lb12 born at 37 weeks and I'm now carrying a monster ds who's off the scale huge at 35 weeks!

DD1 was 8lb 7.5oz
DD2 was 8lbs 3.5oz

HTH :o

My sister also had a smaller baby the second time round.

My son was 9lbs exactly, currently 33 weeks with DC2 and my growth scan yesterday said this one is already 6lbs 8oz (obviously this is subject to the usual caveat that the scans can be out by up to a lb either way) so looks like I'm having another chunky monkey.

I'm almost 29 and this is our last baby so I don't plan to find out if the 35 thing is true :-D

I don't have GD (I've been tested repeatedly) though my BMI is high, but my MIL and paternal grandmother both had 10 and 11lb babies despite being slim their whole lives so sometimes I think it's just fluke!

I gave birth last week to a much bigger baby than my first and it was 100 times quicker and easier! Big does not necessarily mean a more difficult birth. After a somewhat traumatic first labour I spent much of the pregnancy worrying about the size and delivery- I am still on a high after a surprisingly good labour and recovery. Wishing you the best of luck!

I had a big baby (10lbs 5oz) by forceps. He didn't make for an easy birth, but I'm somewhat glad he didn't end up being an EMCS. It means I know 10-5 fits through that pelvis.

I'm now expecting another and had a growth scan at 36 weeks, which shows this one will be smaller. Head measures bang on average for 36 weeks gestation, abdomen slightly above average (about a week and a half ahead) so the obstetrician reckons this one will be bigger than average, but smaller than my last.

I compared the measurements from the 12 and 20 weeks scans and these are also smaller this second time around.

At least you know you can get 9lbs through there and second babies are generally much easier.

I also had no clues that this would be a whopper. No Gest Diab, below average weight gain, SP-fundal height measurements were all average. He was born at 42 weeks though, so maybe try to avoid going overdue with your next one - I refused all sweeps until almost 42 weeks.

DO you still have the scan details from your 20 weeks scan last time around? Maybe compare the measurements to this one. And speak to your midwife. She can make sure you get a growth scan nearer to your due date.

its the head you have to push out tho isn't it? squishy baby fat, give or take a pound or two doesn't actually make any difference to the delivery I am told (have only pushed one out so could be talking shite!)

That's a point! It's the head that you're pushing out.

DD2 had a much bigger head than DD1 (she still does and there are 3 and 1/2 years between them) but it was a much easier delivery!

My two were about the same in weight, but the second birth was much easier - I think they often are. Good luck with it!

I was so worried about this too! My DD was 9.12 and I had a pretty horrific labour. So bad I couldn't even think about TTC until she was 4 and the shock wore off. After TTC for over 12 months and being told I would find it hard to even concieve due to the effects of my first labour (massive internal scarring) I am so happy to be 5 weeks pregnant and even though its so early I couldn't care less if it's a twelve pound baby xx

I've had 3 babies and each have been smaller than the last:
DS 9lbs 11
DD1 8lbs 9
DD2 8lbs 3

DS (when I was 36) 8 lbs exactly (39 weeks)
DD ( when I was 39) 7 lb 7 oz (39+6)

Lots of smaller second babies here. Thanks everyone I'm feeling much better now and hoping for an easier second labour. At least I know what to expect this time!