Feeling worried after Consultant appt

[MinisterforCheekyFuckery]

I am 24+5 with baby no2 and today I had a growth scan and appointment with the consultant.

I was advised at my booking appointment that I was classed as High Risk and needed to be consultant led with regular growth scans due to baby no1 having been a small baby. To put it into context she was on the 2nd centile and was so small she didn't cope well with labour so went into shock. She also had no sucking reflex developed (despite being born 5 days overdue) so she wouldn't feed, meaning she had to be tube-fed in SCBU.

So I was shocked to be told today that the baby I'm currently carrying is on the 90th centile!! I am quite small and so is DH so the consultant said it may be due to Gestational Diabetes. This was also a bit of a shock as I don't have any of the risk factors. I've got to go back for a glucose test in a few days to find out.

After all the worry about baby being small I'm now petrified that I'm going to have a massive baby. I tore with baby no1 who was tiny so fuck knows what this one is going to do to my nether regions! I'm so worried I'll end up with a fourth degree tear or he'll get stuck. The consultant was in such a rush to get me out of his office (ironic after he kept me waiting for over an hour!), he didn't explain anything, give me the opportunity to ask any questions or give me any reassurance. He just said they'll scan me again in 3 weeks and he'll see me again in clinic after.

Has anyone else had small baby followed by a really big one? If baby stays on 90th or above centile can I request a c-section?
I'm also worried about the potential GD obviously but resisting the urge to consult Dr Google as I know there's no point stressing out about it until I get the results of the test.

My DS1 was 2nd centile but 6lbs 4 & I had a third degree tear but DS2 I had a very small less than 1cm year that healed itself. He was 8lbs 2 & 91st centile.

Smaller babies are harder to birth & dS1 definitely came out faster.

Never ever request a c section unless it is medically unsafe for a vaginal delivery. They are by no means the easy or the safer option they are there to save you or your baby's life . It is not a minor surgery !! If they think the baby is that big once you reach safe zone they will induce you to stop the baby getting too big don't panic x

I had regular scans due to measuring 90th centile (I’m also very petite, husband is huge!) estimated 10lbs+
He was 8lb 1oz. Did have some bad tears and bleeding but position not size related. Scans are only an estimate and from what I remember can vary by quite an amount (25%???)

I have had a just 5lb, an almost 7lb and then a 9lb 1oz. Had 2nd degree tears with all so bigger doesn't always mean more damage. The last was the hardest labour but still only 8 hours with just gas and air.

Was aslo getting growth scans with DC3 and no one was concerned about size. They would have let me go 2 weeks over but he was only 2 days late.

DS1 had IUGR and was 4lb6 at 36 weeks, just had DS2 who was 6lb6 at 35 weeks - he would have been huge if I’d gone to term. was absolutely expecting another small baby but ds2 was 75th centile at each growth scan. I had the same problem (low Papp-a) with both.

DS1’s birth was far harder than DS2—episotomy and ventouse despite his tiny size!

Pickled I know a c section is not minor surgery and I'm under no illusions that it is risk free. It's not about wanting an "easy" option, I am genuinely worried that as I am petite I will not be able to safely deliver a large baby and will end up needing a lot of intervention and eventual EMCS anyway. I'm not saying I definitely want a planned section, was just wanting to know if it would be an option.

Minister - they will do a risk assessment on you with the growth scans and never ever leave the consultants room without being fully answered - if they make you wait then you make them answer fully before leaving.

First baby was 6.13lb and I requested an episiotimy as I felt her stuck, this time round he is transverse and a C section is likely as I'm refusing the ECV.

If you defo are concerned RE pelvic size then defo say to consultant and they will monitor it - if you feel harassed by their eagerness to get you out room then as for an advocate to come in with you from PALS and make them squirm.

I'm consultant based too and just go with the flow but I'm tall and have pretty good hips- I'm ready for him to come out now due to SPD.

I had growth scans with both my dc. Dc1 was going to be small. He was born at 36 weeks weighing 6 lb. I had growth scans with dc2 as he was going to be big. He was 5 days over due and just short of 10 lb. I had the glucose tolerance test but it was negative. He was off the centile in his red book completely as a baby and now as a 4 year old still towers above his class mates. He's tall and skinny. Everything was fine, he was actually easier to give birth to than my small baby. The only bad part was his head coming out, after that it was plain sailing. He practically flew out with all that weight behind him! Good luck. Hope all goes well.

First was 10 lbs, second was 9lbs 6 and third was 10 lbs 3. Delivered all naturally but did need forceps for first due to shoulder dystocia. Could have been due to his size, could have been due to the fact I’d opted for an epidural so was on my back for the latter half of the Labour. Either way, it didn’t happen with my subsequent deliveries. No GD, just simply genetics.

You can ask for a c-section if you’re genuinely worried but they are far riskier.

My babies were big but I’m not particularly at 5’4”. Last was 9lb 13 oz with a fairlynstraightflabour and not so much as a stitch necessary. Size doesn’t necessarily mean trauma particularly for second or subsequent births. She wasn’t my biggest but it was my smallest that was the most problematic delivery.

I have just been diagnosed with GD. It's not a major worry except for the possibility of big baby, but the test is unpleasant (fasting for 12 hours then a glucose drink then two more hours fasting) and if you have GD you need to monitor your levels with a finger prick test four times a day.

Interestingly it can also result in a small baby so if you do have it it's possible you had undiagnosed GD last time 🤔

Growth scans notoriously get it wrong. Don't panic. Also, I am teeny tiny and had a 10lb baby with just a minor graze.

Thank you all for your replies.

Hearing positive stories about giving birth to larger babies has helped to make me feel less nervous, and balances out all the horror stories people love to tell you in RL!

I know it varies by trust by in my area they only consider you for a section of the baby is likely to weigh over 11lb!

I was measuring large all the way through and baby was over the 90th centile. They agreed to induce me at 39 weeks because of it but luckily I went into labour spontaneously at 38 weeks exactly. She was 8lb 5oz and had nearly a pound on my son but was far the easier birth and was really easy to recover from - got stitched up and went home!

You might have more luck asking for an induction than a section but don't underestimate the fact that you're body almost always finds it easier second time around x

Having to be induced is one of the main things I was worried about when they said baby was going to be big. I know it's only anecdotal and I shouldn't pay too much attention but every one of my friends or relatives who have been induced has had a terrible time and ended up with an EMCS. I wasn't induced with Baby no 1 but was a very long and traumatic labour so I suppose I was hoping it would all be a bit calmer and I'd feel more in control second time around.

The one thing that helps get HCPs to enable you to ask questions and listen to you is to attend appointments with someone else. So next time you have a consultant's appointment get your OH, a relation or a friend to come with you.

The glucose tolerance test isn't as bad as made out if your trust is reasonable so they allow you to fast over night and be tested first thing in the morning. You don't know your fasting because you are mostly asleep and unless you have a bad habit of eating last thing at night then it just means your cut off time for eating the previous day will be between 8-9pm. The worse part for me was about an hour after having the sugary drink when I felt faint for about 5 minutes but after that I was fine. (I don't have GD btw)

Oh and the women I know who have had elective C-sections have all healed well and aren't mentally scarred from it. Though to be fair half of them I've done various sports with so have worked to get back to their old fitness levels which they would have done anyway they gave birth. They don't have overhangs unlike my relatives who have had them, including my sister. EMCs are a different matter as I know women who have had both or just EMCs. One problem with the studies is they don't separate EMCs from elective C-sections.

I think they frighten you a bit with centiles etc but it's best not to worry about it. I did have a big baby he was on the 90th and they made me feel like i was growing a monster, but he was born at 35+4 and 7lb 1, before this they didnt seem to have concerns about me needing a section. I did develop GD which was diagnosed at 33 weeks, and its not the end of the world you just monitor what you eat and your blood sugars and they will monitor baby after. If they have concerns you'll be told later if they want you induced. My friends baby was born at 40 + 6 and nearly 11lb and they showed no signs of wanting to induce though as baby was in proportion. I found it was just best to go with it and everything they tell you seems like a concern but they'll let you know if they want to intervene.

You can request a c section if you want to. Do some research of your own on the risks of induction vs planned c sec and think about what risks you're most willing to take. If you decide a csec is best for you, then make sure the doctors know that you will not consent to an induction. You'll have to be pushy im afraid.