Big baby

[KittyKat2020]

So for the last four weeks my baby has been measuring big, there is no diabetes and everything’s been normal. Been for a scan today and he has put on 9oz in three days!!!!
Obstetrician thinks I’ll need an instrument birth and I’m dead against this so looking to have an elective Caesarian. To top it off his also breech.
Anyone else had this as it’s stressing me out, I really wanted a natural water birth so I’m pretty down about it. I’m worried I’ll take forever to heal and it’ll ruin my breastfeeding plans.

[Sunsage]

Hi lovely, I haven't experienced this but please try not to bog yourself down about what your ideal birth would have been. I'm sure you are disappointed you won't get the water birth but please don't put pressure on yourself as it isn't maybe going to be how you had imagined.

[Twitchett22]

My first was 9lb 2oz and I had her naturally with no intervention! Granted she came extremely quickly so I didn't have a choice but because she was so heavy I think it helped with the gravity and she was relatively easy to birth (not that I've had anything to compare it to). Also don't forget that the scans aren't always accurate, babies have measured 'big' and come out at 8lb before so try not to worry until the time comes. There's nothing to say you can't give birth with no intervention and even the staff won't know whether you'll need forceps etc until the time comes. Obviously all depends on whether baby wants to turn into the right position before then though!

[TenThousandSpoons0]

Sorry you’ve got these worries - sounds a bit strange though, I’m probably missing most of the story! how many weeks are you? Assume it’s your first baby? They shouldn’t be scanning and checking weight only 3 days apart, the error margin with scan measurements makes that meaningless, so try to forget about the 9oz in 3 days. 2 weeks minimum between weight estimates on scan is the norm. And the error margin is +/- 15% at least at full term.
If baby remains breech and estimated weight is high, then definitely that would be a reason not to aim for breech vaginal delivery and may be a reason that an ECV would be less likely to succeed, and/or a reason to opt against ECV anyway, but it doesn’t absolutely mean you can’t try an ECV and aim for vaginal birth. You have the option of aiming for normal labour but with a low threshold for CS if progress is slow for example? Some women manage normal labour with quite big babies with no issue, some women get stuck in labour with small babies too... it’s pretty hard to predict!
On the other hand - if a CS is what you want and you’re happy with that decision, you should be well supported to breastfeed after that and usually you’ll be able to manage that fine (eg skin to skin straight away etc).

[Itsallthedramamick]

The weight estimates are often significantly wrong so personally I would refuse any intervention based on a predicted big baby. I wouldn't try and push a breech baby out myself though so unless he turns would go for a section. I had an elective section with DD2 and it was actually a pleasant experience. Much better than the traumatic emergency section with DD1

[Itsallthedramamick]

Also should have mentioned, breastfed DD1 for 17 months and currently feeding DD2 at 7 months old. DD1 was born via emergency section following induction and DD2 was planned section.

[blue122]

Following as I'm in the same situation OP, my boy is breech and measuring off the charts in size. There's no diabetes or anything with me either just a big baby!

It's looking likely I'll be having an ELCS too if moxibustion doesn't work to turn him. I feel exactly the same as you as I really wanted a natural birth ☹️ how far along are you? X

[Hatepickinganame]

Ive had 2 quite large babies, 9lb 1oz and 10lb 6oz. Both natural births. 9lb baby was a lovely textbook labour, almost a water birth but got out to push. 10lb was induced labour, 5 days overdue as he was measuring so large they didnt want to risk any more weight by going two weeks over. no instrumental help, some stitches with bigger boy. This time (baby no4) i am not hopeful for my water birth as the last one was so big i think they will recommend induction earlier, but will see consultant in 2 weeks to see what they currently think. Im only 16 weeks and my bump is already rather large!! The only thing i cant comment on is breech, as mine were always head down.

[MeadowHay]

My baby was measuring large with fundal height measurements until I got to near the end of my pregnancy and then it looked like she had stopped growing completely. They booked me for a growth scan but I had to wait two weeks for it and ended up giving birth on the morning of the appt day. I had to give birth on delivery suite as they were worried she might have been small for gestational age (so funny when up until they point she'd been looking to be big and I had been worried about that!). Then she was a perfectly average weight in the end at just under 7lbs so not big and not small. The predictions are so inaccurate. And I had an instrumental anyway and she was only small ish. I don't think there is much of a correlation between the size of the baby and instrumental delivery. I know a few people who had instrumentals and none of our babies were big. Whereas I know a few people who had big babies (9lb+) who had vaginal births with no intervention.

However given baby is breech I'd opt for a section just on that basis if they don't turn prior to labour.

[KittyKat2020]

Wow thanks for everyone’s input.
So to clarify baby is currently 32+1 according to NHS (although based on a private scan and his size I am adamant there three weeks out but are refusing to change the date even though the Sonographer agreed with me)
The 9oz in three days is because I had a nhs scan today and a 4D scan Monday.
My biggest concern is the epidural as I have heard stories about women being disabled as they put the needle in the wrong place plus honestly I don’t want to be butchered I want to get back to the gym!

[TheLovleyChebbyMcGee]

Yeah I'd be more worried about the breech than the size. DS was 10lb 11 forceps delivery and I'd been terrified of an instrument birth till the options were forceps or emergency section. It was honestly fine.

[dairylee1003]

I've had a 10lb and a 10lb 12oz, both c-sections. With my first I was hoping for a natural birth in the birthing centre - that all went out the window when my blood pressure went sky-high during labour. Ended up on the labour ward, I had an epidural (it was amazing) went through the whole process and even got to the point where I was pushing but she just wasn't coming (might have been the epidural affecting things) and then her heart-rate dropped so it was an emergency c-section for me.

For the 2nd, once again I was hoping for a natural birth but when my blood pressure started creeping up in late pregnancy we opted for elective c-section as it was looking like I'd end up going down the same route as the first and figured that an elective c-section would be safer than an emergency one. I did feel guilty about this initially, but with hindsight I know we made the best decision for us.

Please don't put too much pressure on yourself re: birth plans and how you want things to be. It is lovely that some mums are able to have a natural birth with no pain-relief etc etc, but the most important thing is that your baby arrives safely and that you are healthy too. I know of lots of women that are still, many years down the line, annoyed at how their birth experiences turned out or feel guilty that, for whatever reason, they were unable to have their baby the way they wanted.

Is this your first baby? I managed to breastfeed both my children (for over a year). I did find it very hard to get started with my first child, but I don't think that was a result of the c-section as with my 2nd I knew exactly what I was doing and we just got on with it. Hopefully you will have a lot of support if you want to do this, I nearly gave up but our health visitor was amazing and kept checking in on me long after I should have been signed off. I've never had a natural birth, so can't give you a comparison but I can say that c-sections are not as scary as they seem, and i have recovered well both times (tbh, I think pushing out 2 babies that size would have caused me much more damage than having a section). I'm now pregnant with twins (hopefully they're not going to be 10lb-ers!) and will be having a 3rd section to have them.

And on the plus side, I found that both my mega-babies were great sleepers pretty much from the start! You just get them tanked up on milk before bed and they were sleeping for much longer chunks (I guess because their tummies are bigger too!)

[Lazydaisydaydream]

As the scans were done at two different places by different people I really wouldnt put much stock in the 9oz in three days. That's well within the 20% error margin they allow themselves.

I don't believe a big baby on its own is a reason for early induction according to nice guidelines? Might be wrong on that. There is still time for baby to turn from breech position, if you are still wanting a vaginal birth I recommend doing some of the exercises from the spinning babies website.

[BeeyatchPlease]

It's so hard to be accurate when measuring babies in utero. I was hold that DS was going to be close to 11lbs! No GD either but I was absolutely enormous so fully believed it. So after failed inductions over 3 days, I was taken for a section. 11lb my arse, he was only 8lb5! I found the section, spinal and recovery to be a breeze, had no impact on my ability to breastfeed.
I was able to walk about and clean myself up within hours of surgery and was home the next day. I was driving 3 weeks later and back to full fitness and doing exercise 6 weeks later.
I'd be more concerned about baby being breach and just getting them delivered safely.
A planned section isn't a bad thing at all.

[Quackersandcheese3]

I had an elective c section for my big baby and it was a wonderful experience. Managed breast feeding too with no issues .

[Itsallthedramamick]

It took me longer to get over the emcs than the elected one but in both cases I was up and running properly again within 10 weeks. My scars are barely viable as well and both below the bikini line so if 8 wanted to I could wear a bikini (stretch marks are another story! Ha)

[doadeer]

I don't believe many hospitals will offer an elective just based on large baby. You might have to push quite hard for it if that is what you want. I had an elective, my pelvic pain was absolutely debilitating I could walk, or move without severe pain and I was predicted a 10lb-er. I still had to push for this, it wasn't medical grounds.

Baby was born 9lbs 4 on due day, he was very very sleepy and had trouble getting him to latch (I think he would have come later if left to nature.) I did eventually get breastfeeding established after 6 days but it was a slog. Lots of women have no problems though!

One thing id say... You can exercise a lot sooner after a vaginal birth. Lots of women say they healed well after a c section but remember it's major surgery and they cut through 7 layers including many layers of muscle which take time to knit back together. Typically it's not advise to exercise before 12 weeks and even then you have to take it easy to protect your scar. It's taken a long time for my lower abs to switch back on.

[KittyKat2020]

@doadeer this is what concerns me as I really want to be back to normal quick due to my active lifestyle

[Mascotte]

Please try to get a section. I had a giant baby though they didn't know that beforehand and really wish I'd had a section, despite being a hippy dipping type who'd practised yoga for hypnobirthing 😃

[doadeer]

Exercise might not be your top priority when you have a newborn and 3 hours sleep... 🤣

Usually getting out walking with the pram is enough at the beginning and post natal yoga / pilates.

[AmICrazyorWhat2]

DD was 9lb 10 oz...she was predicted to be around 7lbs!

I had her naturally with an episiotomy, which healed well. The epidural was a bugger because they put the first one in the wrong place and I had to have a second. Ended up with a spinal headache afterwards that required intervention.

The main issue for me with having a big baby was the bleeding. I essentially hemorrhaged as I need alot of stitches. I was in hospital for a week recovering. That's one reason to consider an elective C-section.

Still, I was back to normal six weeks later.

[sunshinepasta]

My second was 9lb 8, natural birth with only gas and air. Minor year but nothing to worry about. I would do it again tomorrow, don't worry - size is just one aspect of birth. X

[Lilybet1980]

I’ve had two c sections. First one emergency, second one planned. I EBF both babies for 6 months, still going with DC 2 at 7 months. No BF issues at all.

Back in the gym at 8 weeks after DC1. Back after 6 weeks with DC2. Back to pre pregnancy weight within 6 months with both. My (private) doctor was more than happy for me to return sensibly to exercise at that stage but did stress no abs work for at least 12 weeks. I only stress private because it means I had a thorough 6 week check up (I also went for the GP one so I know it was a lot more thorough).

[LeekPeachPlum]

I really wanted a natural water birth too OP and I really understand why you are disappointed. After 36 hours in labour with a baby in a difficult position I had an emergency c section. In hindsight I wish I had considered an elective c section. It at least gives you some control over the decision and can be a nice experience compared to a difficult instrumental birth or emergency c section although I do understand that this is not the type of birth you are hoping for. I hope all goes well for you.

[LeekPeachPlum]

I managed to breast feed for a year after my c section. My milk did come in a little late but i was very unwell. I was told hand expressing before an elective can help

[Somethingsnappy]

I've had three c sections OP. And breastfed all successfully straightaway. There is no reason to think you'd struggle with it as a result of a section. Sometimes milk can take slightly longer to come in, but often that is down to excessive blood loss. With an elective, your chances of that happening are much lower. Just make sure you get lots of skin to skin with baby a soon as possible after the birth.
As for recovery, everyone is different, but all mine were very quick. Depending on what you mean by 'very active' and what you plan to do, it's recommended you give yourself a certain recovery period regardless of what type of birth you've had, easing back into it gently. My personal experience was that my recovery was much quicker than many women i knew who had a vaginal birth and suffered with minor tear infections etc.
Good luck with whichever you choose! Once your baby is here, its unlikely you'll care too much about what kind of birth you had anyway.
On another note, an elective section can be a very pleasant experience for many women. Taking the emergency out of it also takes the stressful aspect out of it. Do some reading about a 'gentle caesarean', to guide you in your decision.