Shoulder dystocia - large baby

[Jummynbean]

Just been told today at 36 weeks that my baby weighs 7lbs and is now classed as a large baby.

Is there anyone out there that was told they were having a large baby, but was actually born a reasonable size/weight?

Also is there anyone else out there that did birth a big baby and everything was fine

Finally those that birthed big babies and had complications....were the effects temporary or permanent for both you and the baby.

Thank you, I'm freaking out and need to decide whether it's safer to opt for c section, be induced early or try carrying to full term.

Thank you

Those growth scans are notoriously inaccurate.
I had a vaginal birth and my son had shoulder dystocia but he was only 9lb4. In our case I think it was caused by my position in labour, the bitch midwife forced me to lie on my back on the bed, which was absolutely not what I wanted.
Obviously there are various causes and risk factors so I suggest you do some research, look up the nice/rcog guidelines, see if there is a local "birth choices" group you can attend to discuss it (there is one near me run by midwives and doulas).
Personally I would aim for a vaginal birth with low threshold for c-section if there are any complications when in labour. I would also get a second opinion if they are pushing for induction. But that's just me, I advise you to do your research so you can make an informed choice.

Mine were 9lb4 and 10lb7.

The first was a tricky birth because he had a true knot in his cord but otherwise fine - no instruments and fairly minor tearing. Longish labour but manageable on gas and air despite his 99.9 centile head.

Second was a much easier, much faster birth. Worse tearing but still only second degree, and he came out pretty easily.

Dc3 was 10lb 8.
My previous two were 7 pounders so it was completely unexpected. I delivered him fine he was back to back as well no stitches or intervention.
I was told to expect another 10 and half pound dc4 but when he was born he was 8lb10.
I must say though I'm very lucky when giving birth I do just tend to pop them out I was back on the school run the day after having dc4.
I'm a rubbish pregnant person though!

My son was a SD birth. 9lb 5oz, full term.

I had had a growth scan at about 38 weeks saying 8lb. He was on 97th centile for length.

Traumatic birth, stuck for 3 minutes, all the manoeuvres done. It was handled so well that it was only immediately afterwards when they were resuscitating him that it all hit me and I truly thought he was dead. All the doctors crowding round him, in my fuddled state I actually thought they were doing that so I couldn't see that he was dead. It seemed an absolute age before he made a noise and it wasn't a newborn cry, it was almost animal-like wimper.

His arm was paralysed from all the pulling but that wore off after about a day.

I was offered counselling before I left hospital but stupidly turned it down. I just got on with things afterwards, as you do with a newborn and an older DC. Its usually roundabout his birthdays I think about what could have happened. He's 12 now and tall for his age.

Next pregnancy i asked for CS, they said no 😱 Ended up with an ECS as I had polydramnious - DS was delivered 7lb 4oz at 37 weeks, so in a way I'm thankful I did have polyhydramnious - as who knows how much she would have weighed full term and having a natural birth?? I would have been terrified of having an SD birth again.

Two 9lb babies, third degree tear with my first and a smaller tear with the second but no other issues.

I had a 6lb baby after being told baby would be large on my first child, on my 3rd baby I was told 5 days before being induced that baby would be 7lb max after a growth scan, baby was 9lb 11ozs the bigger baby was was fastest labour and easiest delivery of all 4 of my children, my hardest most complicated was my smallest. I honestly think that unless baby can't fit in the birth canal that our bodies are amazing at coping. One piece of advice from my own experiences and that of my family and friends, epidurals can often lead to intervention to get baby out.

I was told DC1 was big - around 9lbs. He was actually 10 lb 12 ! I had to have an emergency section as he wasn’t coming out. He had huge shoulders and I’ve no idea how I would have given birth to him naturally.

However I was also told DC2 was ‘looking around 9lbs’ and she was 7lbs. So I wouldn’t treat the weight estimate as gospel.

Yes knew DS1 and 2 were both going to be large. DS1 estimated 7lb 10oz at 36wrrks. I was induced at 41+1 for reduced movement and decelerating heart rate. He was an emergency CS at 9cm for infection. Born 10lb 5oz.
DS2 was a VBAC, induced at 39+4 for polyhydramnios, large baby and likely late onset diabetes. He was a normal birth but with a 3rd degree tear and 2.5L PPh. I do still have pelvic floor issues but working on them (17month post birth). He was 10lb.

Planning a VBAC again for next baby whenever that will be

Had shoulder dystocia with DS. He was 8lb 9oz which isn't huge by I am only 5ft 2 with a narrow pelvis. I'd had no drugs or anything so that made it all the more real in terms of pain but it was manageable. He was blue and needed resuscitation but was fine within minutes and no lasting effects.

I am pregnant again now and worried about this happening again as I know the risk increases.

DS1 was 10lb, born at 42 weeks, had measured big-ish on a growth scan at 34 weeks but not tracked since then.

DS2 was monitored more closely, was measuring 9lb13oz on a scan at 38+6 so they decided to induce me (plus I had excess fluid at that point). He was born at 39+2 weighing 9lb12, so the scan was almost exactly right!

I was induced for both, but the actual births weren't too awful, both vaginal births with no assistance, 2nd degree tear both times. But I'm 5'9 with a big pelvis, so this might not be the case for everyone!

I measured small she was 10lb6oz and I'm 5' it was fine 🤷🏽‍♀️

I was told I had a big baby & was actually part of the 'big baby trial' which is taking place nationwide.

My son was born the day after his due date at 7lb4!

The weight estimates they give you are only that...estimates. They can be so far off the actual weight! Try not to worry & trust your instinct.

My first child was 8lb odd but has should dystocia. I had my pelvis x rayed and the outlet was too small. I have never heard of presentation being the issue. I am lucky to be alive and so is he. It was absolutely horrendous and I lost massive amounts of blood. Huge episiotomy. He was in special care for over a week and I couldn’t sit or walk for two weeks.
I was warned never to have a ‘natural’ birth again. I had two elective c sections afterwards.

Had shoulder dystocia

Ds2 was scanned as a large baby but the growth scan revealed expected weight of 7lbs -8lbs. Ds2 arrived early at 10lbs with shoulder dystosia. Delivery room was chaotic, midwives panicked as they tried to deliver him safely. Lots if shouting (particularly at me) and it was traumatic, dh still can't watch one born years later! With lots of physical manhandling, he was born before being whipped off to xray, luckily no broken bones but he was paralysed and no assurance of whether it was temporary. Happy to report 6 months of physio and he recovered well. Unfortunately the damage to my lady bits was permanent.

I consider myself lucky as I was told that had they not got him out as they did, he was to be pushed back up the birth canal for a c-section, when asked if that hadn't worked and was told the pelvis was to be cut in 2 to get him out 😱

This is the RCOG information on shoulder dystocia. The part about risk factors is helpful
www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/patients/patient-information-leaflets/pregnancy/pi-shoulder-dystocia.pdf

My best friend’s second baby was a big girl, she was 10lb9oz, mum is on 5’6” and size 10(UK).

She had a really traumatic birth and had shoulder dystocia, she had a bit of physio as a baby and physically she is perfect. But she has learning needs which are a direct result of her birthing.

My friend was told early on that she had a big baby (it was hard to miss!) and was told that she would be induced at 39w, but after the second and in preparing for her third baby (also a whopper) she wishes that she’d pushed for a caesarean.

Her sister has given birth this week, been told she was having a giant as well (‘measured’ as 7lb at 34w!!) but she just has a long boy. He only weighed 8lb, very average. She delivered at 39w5d, but was booked for a sweep and induction before 41w in case she went over.

I guess the trust you are in is also a big factor in how they will deal with you, the NHS as it is doesn’t have set pathways for big babies or otherwise.

My DS1 was 10 days overdue, only 8lb 8 and had shoulder dystocia. Think pp mentioned more to do with the positioning than weight. My midwives did a McRoberts manoeuvre and changed his position in the pelvis. Was v stressful for a few minutes but the midwives were really calm and played it down (although one cried after!)only stitches and minor recovery. I'd say cs recovery might be worse.

DS2 was same 8lb 8 no problems. But was told couldn't have a waterbirth as DS1 "got stuck" I was never actually told it was shoulder dystocia until I was pregnant with DD3.

I've never been told a weight of my baby in the womb...

"I'd say cs recovery might be worse."

I've never had a c-section but I was not in a good way after my episiotomy and shoulder dystocia birth. I was very swollen and sore, couldn't sit down for a long time, and was popping the painkillers for weeks.

Obviously it's not the same for everyone but I think in some cases an ELCS might be a bit easier!

Mummyme helpful link!
OP (from the link):
"Ultrasound scans are not good at telling whether you are likely to have a large baby and therefore they are not recommended for predicting shoulder dystocia, if you have no other risk factors."

As a more positive story, I had a ventouse delivery of a 10lb 6oz baby with shoulder dystocia following an induction and back to back labour at 42 weeks.

I laboured with no pain relief (because the midwife didn’t believe me about how quickly things were progressing - not because it wasn’t painful) but it was only 3 hours from start of contractions to delivery.

They needed to get him out quickly because he showed signs of distress as I became fully dilated hence the ventouse (which they did immediately without any natural pushing stage). That was uncomfortable but they gave me a local anaesthetic by injection. The ventouse helped turn him and pull him out. He had shoulder dystocia on the way but they paused and did the McRoberts manoeuvre on the next contraction. He was born incredibly healthy, loud cry, strong and breastfed within 30 minutes. No lasting damage to me, just a normal episiotomy.

I was told after series of growth scans that baby was measuring very large (97 centile) and told elective c was an option. We decided to try for natural birth - ended in c section but not due to shoulder dystocia (just general lack of progress). In the end baby was 7.10 so nowhere near prediction! I discussed in detail with the consultant before decision to try natural birth and she said that they really can’t predict which babies are going to get stuck with SD and which aren’t which helped me to make my decision to try natural (though sure that is subject to truly massive babies!)

I had a shoulder dystocia with number one. He was only 7lb 4oz when he arrived on his due date. I had a water birth and he descended so quickly, he didn’t turn properly. When the pool drained and I stood up to get out, gravity brought him out and I ended up with a third degree tear. I’m having an elective c-section with number two in the autumn but that’s more to do with the risks of more tearing and scar tissue down there than another shoulder dystocia.

My DS was a big baby and I was concerned about shoulder dystoxia also so i opted for an elective c section. It went very smoothly and I'd have another c section in a heartbeat.

The surgeon doing the section said he was very glad I had opted for a section as he would have been at very high risk of getting stuck. Even now his shoulders and torso are massive compared to the rest of him, so most days I breathe a sigh of relief that I made the choice of an elective.

Just to add he was 10lb and a few days early.

He was measuring off the grid on the growth scans, and he has always been between 90th-100th percentile