Do bigger babies come earlier?

[Letsallscreamatthesistene]

Hi All!

So after my 36 week scan, I found out my baby is likely to be big. I have a consultants appointment this week. Does anyone have any experience of this? Will I be offered an induction? Will I be offered a csection? Will I be allowed to go into labour naturally? Is an alongside birthing unit out of the question now?

I'd really appreciate any wise words of experience from anyone

Thank you!

Two weeks late (by which time they were even bigger obviously).

My 1st came at 37+1, weighing 7lb 3. Second was 40+1, weighing 8lb 3.

Both seemed to be the same weight at same times or at least projected to be, yet both had completely different (spontaneous!) arrival times.

My 11.2lb baby was born spot on due date (c section)

everyone i know who has had big babies have all been overdue. my sister was almost 2 weeks over and her baby was 9lb 8oz.

@sunshineandshowers21 absolutely not true! I had a two day labour which started on due date for my 9.8lb first born. My sister (who is a tiny size 6) had her 10lb 2oz baby nearly 2 weeks early.

My husband was nearly 9lb at 4 weeks premature (born to a 4ft 10 mother). Some people just naturally grow big babies.

i’m not saying it’s true for everyone? i’m just saying that it’s true in my circle of friends... 🤷🏻‍♀️

8lb 13oz born on due date. Was perfect just enormous! She didn't look overdone but was bigger than all the other newborns on the ward!

Just as a cautionary tale my friend had her first in Dubai. She was scanned weekly as is often the norm there. The doctors got very concerned that she was having a whopper. Estimates over nearly 10lb at 37 weeks. She was induced early, laboured for 48 hours but baby's head wasn't down. Had an emergency c section in the end and brought home an under 7lb baby.

My first baby was predicted at 10lb and I was told they don't like to induce early as they often end up doing a c section. I was allowed to go 6 days over (although I also had too much amniotic fluid) and went in for an induction but ended up with a c section. I know plenty of people that have had massive babies naturally and most of them came late. You just never know!!

DS1 was 10lb at 42 weeks. Induced for being overdue, we didn't expect him to be so big.
DS2 was induced at 39+1 because he was looking big on scans, and he was - 9lb12. Dread to think how big he'd have got if he'd gone overdue!

My first born was 9lbs and 5 days over due and my second was 10lbs 5 ounces and also 5 days overdue .At no point was I offered a section with either. The midwives while in labour with my second just kept saying how big the baby was which is not something you want to hear when in labour and in pain!! Lol 😆

9lb1, 13 bloody days late here, the little bugger. I was induced but other than a pessary didn’t need any other help - I did tear a bit and needed some stitches, but no worse than friends who had much more reasonably sized (and punctual!) babies. So don’t let yourself get too hung up on it, if you can.

Also, the advantage of a bigger baby is that they can move to sleeping bags sooner and you can stop needing to fuss about blankets and things. Much easier when you’re shattered. So there are upsides as well!

@sunshineandshowers21 sorry misread and thought you’d written babies are only big when overdue! 😝

My first was breech. C section 6 days before due date.
Second - I had to have my waters broken 9 days overdue, had him the next day 10 days over. 10lbs 13.5
I was 11lb 4 and 3 weeks early. but elcs.

My dd1 was 9lb 12 oz and 4 days early

My 9lb3oz ds was 10 days early (thank goodness!)

My dd2 was only 7lb 15oz but was born at 36+6, so again very glad she came when she did! Though she was induced as I was really unwell and needed her out!

@Phillipa12 the weights of your babies make me actually gasp aloud! You're a legend!

I have nothing help to add as all my baby's were 7 lbs and under!

My baby is measuring big so I was offered a c section or induction.

I'm almost 38 weeks and baby is also transverse breech so I've been booked in a c section for next week at 39 weeks.
I've been told if he's to move and engage I will be offered an induction but advised that he can get stuck or labour could come to a stop after a few hours and I would end up with an emergency c section.

Nope my first was 8.8 and was 14 days over, but a 2 day labour. My second was 10lbs and was 12 days over but onky a 5 hour labour.

So babies measuring at 7lb 6oz at 36 weeks, but I know its uncertain as to if this is actually the weight or not.

Its also my 1st. Im expecting baby to be late tbh!

Mine didn't. 9lb 5oz and 3 days late. My other 3 slightly smaller all came to date or week or so earlier.

I had three medically large babies, all born three days late.

one of mine was 2 weeks late and slightly under 10lb, the other was 1 week late and slightly over 10lb. So both were really pretty large, especially given I was only a size 8. Both born naturally, neither induced.