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Original poster

Has anyone been refused or decided against a homebirth because of a suspect ed whopper of a baby??

68 replies

LadyTophamHatt · 11/12/2006 14:30

MW appt this morning and I'm measuring 39 weeks at 35+6.

She said although I'm on the cusp (sp??) of it being risky for a HB this a baby is "a real chunk" at this stage.

TBH I;m not really bothered where it's born, but with 2 of my 3 prev labours being quick I'm not sure how it would work with a planned HB being suddenly changed to a hosp birth when I;m atually in labour.
Would I get there in time?? (althoygh thats the $64,000,000 question I suppose!!)
If he does get stuck how risky would it be being at home and trying to getto hosp?

would it be better to change to a hosp birth now and avoid the possible risky HB?

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cece · 11/12/2006 16:37

DS was over 11lbs. I had him in hospital. There were a few complictions - and ended up with 2 obs and 1 pead, plus 3 mw in the room. Partly because he got a bit stuck and partly due to cord being wrapped around his neck. A few months later in the smae hospital a 12 lber had complications and died so personally I wouldn't risk it.

Daisymoo · 11/12/2006 17:46

Even if you have a scan though, they can be wildly inaccurate. Ds3 was estimated at 7 1/2lbs. He was 10lb 13oz and was born at home with no problems. There's a good article on the homebirth website - have a look at the contents page and halfway down there is a link titled 'Big Babies'. You might also like to join the homebirth yahoo group

BTW you cannot be refused a home birth for any reason. If anyone tells you that you 'can't' or are 'not allowed' one they are either misinformed or lying.

Bear in mind that problems with babies getting stuck are more common if you are pushing on your back or half-sitting (semi-recumbent) because the pelvic outlet will be smaller in these positions. At home you are far less likely to be giving birth in this position and so may be less likely to have problems in the first place.

Good luck with your decision.

katierocket · 11/12/2006 18:04

That's interesting about babies more likely to get stuck if you're in laying down position. I had to be continuously monitored with DS (which I HATED) and so was laying down - he ended up stuck. And I ended up in bloody stirrups.

wickedwinterwitch · 11/12/2006 18:06

LTH, dd was a surprisingly large 9lb 8oz (second baby after a 7lb first one) at home and my sister had a 10lb baby (second baby too) at home. A woman I used to know had a 10bl 10oz baby at home too (her third). Go for it, you'll be fine.

Original poster
LadyTophamHatt · 11/12/2006 18:30

Maybe wishful thinking but as Ds2+3 were fast maybe my body is designed to do labour quickly so this one will come out quickly regardless of whether he's a 6lber or a 9+lber.

With ds2 labour I was told not to push again until I was told too when in actual fact I wasn't pushing at all. He was just coming out.
Ds3 was similar, the MW said "Oh...you are ready! you can push now"
2 pushes later he was born.
So maaaaaybe my fanjo is designed to get 'em out quick anyway

OP posts:
DoesntChristmasDragOn · 11/12/2006 18:32

cow.

Original poster
LadyTophamHatt · 11/12/2006 20:18

I know I can ask for growth scan....afterall I acn ask for anything but will they just fob me off or do they have to scan me if I've asked?

OP posts:
QuadropheniaonIce · 11/12/2006 20:26

LTH, I had a 10lbs 14 oz shoulder dystocia birth in hospital, it was very traumatic. I strongly believe that if i had given birth at home, the midwives would have reacted differently and it would have been a more positive outcome. Mcroberts wasn't even tried with me, they went straight to fundal pressure which was very distressing, there is no way this would ahev happened in a homebirth situation, many homebirth sd don't even know until after that it happened. Good luck with your decision, who knows your baby may just make it for you x

Galmum · 11/12/2006 20:34

HI LTH,

Just posted with similar issue - measuring 38cm at 32+6 !!!! I'm being scanned next week. Keen to go to the birth centre and I know they won't let me in if it's a giant baby!

Consultant said measurements are extremely inaccurate - just a possible indicator of a really small or big baby and highlights the need to look further. He said a scan should clear up if it's down to lots of fluid, positioning or a big baby. I think if they're talking about not allowing you to have a home birth, then you've definately got the right to ask for a scan to know more. Can you ask for a consultant to scan you??

Best of luck with your decision - let me know how you get along.

Original poster
LadyTophamHatt · 12/12/2006 12:56

Spoke to the MW this morning and she said a growth scan at this stage would be pretty pointless as the sacn couldn't show the whole baby, and especially so as I'm measuring 39 wks already. Also I'm still just about in the normal parametres(sp?) so not to worry too much.
She said at my next ante-natal they will monitor again and if I'm still measuring big they'll send me to the hosp and teh consulatant can decide what happens next.

I said I LOVE the idea of being induced and not having to wait so she was quite happy to let all that happen.
I might be mad to love the idea of being induced but if it means I can have a set date that this baby appears thats fine with me.

Sooo....roll on 27th dec and hopefully a date for unduction.

OP posts:
katierocket · 12/12/2006 15:52

LTH, being induced doesn't mean you'll have a set date when it appears. It can take a lot longer than you think and IME it can lead to all sorts of horrid interventions.

katierocket · 12/12/2006 15:53

having said that, with it being your 4th induction may be more straightforward for you - although don't know if that's actually true.

Original poster
LadyTophamHatt · 12/12/2006 15:54

shhhh, Kr ...don't say that

I know it does really, it's just my fed up PG head speaking rather than my sensible human head.

OP posts:
katierocket · 12/12/2006 16:06

I just had such a bad experience with being induced that it's clouded my judgement! You'll be fine - it'll just fall out

lulumama · 12/12/2006 16:09

obviously, if you are induced, you have to have a hospital birth....

do you think ultimately you want a hospital birth? or is it the size of baby is worrying you and you would rather be induced and not have the worry of getting to hospital in labour ?

Original poster
LadyTophamHatt · 12/12/2006 16:42

well, it would make things a whole lot easier if I was induced because I could arrange childcare for the Dsses before it all kicked off.

I think I'd like to be induced simply because it means I know when it's going to happen...roughly at least. All 3 dss'es have been late so to be induced early would be great....none of that waiting around with your mind going mad at every twinge.

I haven't got my heart set on a HB and really only have one arranged because of previous fast labours and the childcare issue.
If I knew I was going to be in labour for a fair few hours (say 5 or more) I'd probably go for hosp bith as I'd have enough time to get someone here to look after the Dsses before i went in.

OP posts:
bundle · 12/12/2006 16:43

do you have a midwife-led unit near you lth?

lulumama · 12/12/2006 16:46

if your heart isn;t in it, might not be the best plan, you need to be where you feel safe & secure...and if that is in the hospital , then that;s where you need to be....

katierocket · 12/12/2006 17:37

LTH, i would really recommend you don't go for induction on the basis of it being easier (although I can imagine it's very appealing when trying to organise care for teh dsses)/ I had a really shite time with induction and I know lots and lots of others who have similar experience. Like I say, could be very different for youb ecause of it being your 4th but it does generally lead to more medical intervention.

lulumama · 12/12/2006 18:46

i do agree with Katie to a certain extent..if your other babies have all been late..then you are a slow cooker ! and your babies are supposed to be born later !!

however, if your stress levels are going to be through the roof as you approach your due date ,it might be worht it BUT

if you tend to labour after 40 weeks. your cervix might not be ready or ripe for induction before then...early for you might be 41 weeks, if you go later with your babies, IFYSWIM!

Original poster
LadyTophamHatt · 12/12/2006 18:51

Hmmmm, I hadn't thought of it like that lulu....

Ds1+2 were 6 days late, ds3 was 2days so not massivley late but I don't fancy the idea of being induced if it is going to take hours and hours.

I'm just assuming that because they were fast labours the whole induction this time would work quickly too.....I'm wrong though, aren't I??

Ohhhhh, you're both changing my mind again

Bundle, as far as I know the nearest birthing centre is further away than the hosp.

OP posts:
earthtomummy · 12/12/2006 19:18

Yep - copnsusltant said he'd advise against it with my 2nd. Once he'd said it I backed down. !st was 9lbs11 on due date, 2nd was 9lbs10 - all fine deliveries. Well, 1st was induced and grim but 2nd was pretty fine.

lulumama · 12/12/2006 19:20

don;t mean to confuse you

you weren;t hugely over your EDD.....

however, unless your Bishops score is favourable, you shouldn;t be induced as you will proabnly be in for a long haul......esp if you need lots of gel to ripen the cervix first

but if you have a favourable bishops score, it might be a question of breaking your waters and giving you a drip to induce contractions

BE AWARE an induction is a medicalised labour

if you want to be free to move and be active. you will need to speak to the midwife and ensure that they will allow this as often induction leads to constant monitoring and drips

but you can ask for intermittent monitoring etx. depends on your hospital and how receptive they are x

Original poster
LadyTophamHatt · 12/12/2006 20:15

errr....what is my bishops scrore??

OP posts:
snugglebumnappies · 12/12/2006 20:15

LTH, a shoulder dystocia is a bony dystocia, so can often happen with small as well as big babies, obs seem to forget this. I deff wouldn't go down the induction route, if baby isn't ready it isn't ready, you could end up with a cs for a failed induction or even a baby with respiratory distress syndrome because their lungs have not matured yet.....sorry to be so negative. As for a growth scan, yes they are wildly inaccurate at this point but really your m/w is talking a load of £@!&^% when she says it is because they won't get all of the baby on the scan due to it's size...what planet is she from??? They take measurements from the abdominal and head (BPD) circumference, and sometimes limb length and plot them on the graph!!!