Induction for Large Baby

[Lkb2020]

I had a growth scan today (36+3) and baby is on 99th centile.
Our hospital don’t do face to face consultant appointments so they called me after and told me I was being induced at 38+6 because of the size.
The head and AC measurements are both off the charts so I’m worried about delivery.
Has anyone been in the same position and should they allow me to opt for a section instead?

Growth scans aren’t always accurate. So I would be asking for another scan to check and speak to the medical team. My large baby wasn’t picked up until I was ten days overview. He ended up being 11lbs 4 and I opted for c section.

They shouldn’t be calling and instructing you of next steps. It should be a discussion

My baby was apparently off the chart, they induced at 38+0. He was less than 8lbs.

I had a big baby, measured big all the way through. I was told early induction would make no difference so I wasn't "allowed" it. On that basis I asked for an ELCS. I'm also overweight so in my mind that was two increased risks of shoulder dystocia. My son was born and 10lbs 10oz and I don't regret my decision. Plenty of people have delivered big babies however so that's just one story.

Guidelines don’t recommend induction for a large baby alone, unless there are other issues at play.

And they can’t just tell you you’re being induced. It’s entirely your choice and they need to wind it in with how they’re speaking to you.

I was induced for a large baby at 40 weeks, he was 8lb 10, they had wanted to induce at 38 weeks.
Baby two, was born at home at 41 weeks, he weighed 9 lb 4 (he did have shoulder dystocia, the midwives were able to wiggle his shoulders thru)

@MonkeyPuddle

Guidelines don’t recommend induction for a large baby alone, unless there are other issues at play.

And they can’t just tell you you’re being induced. It’s entirely your choice and they need to wind it in with how they’re speaking to you.

Exactly this. Growth scans only aren't meant to be used to make medical decisions only highlight other potential issues (gestational diabetes, issues with the placenta or cord with slowing growth etc). We don't tend to grow babies we can't birth and there's a lot of positives to birthing a bigger baby.

I was induced 6 years ago due to a combination of large baby (10lb 6oz) and polyhydramnios. Was told by the consultant that induction wouldn't have been necessary for one or the other of those issues, but combined it was. Baby this time is predicted 10lb+ at term, her growth has shot from 50th centile at 32 weeks to 90th 4 weeks later. If they suggest a section for her size ill request an induction instead!

Thank you for your replies, I think I will discuss with my midwife as I have an appointment next week.
I expressed my concerns about constantly measuring big to my midwife at the last appointment and she told me the consultant would discuss the big baby trial with me and give me options but there has been no mention of either!
I do feel like I’m huge but I am only 5ft!

If it's any comfort I'm 5 and delivered a 10lb6oz baby with no tears etc.

I was induced with ds2 because he was measuring big all along and because ds1 was 9lb 6oz when he came at 38 weeks.

They wanted him out by 40 weeks as he was predicted to me 10lb by then which they said would be manageable for me.

He was born at 39+6, he was 10lb 12oz but was an easier labour and birth than my 9lb 6oz child. I had only a small tear and recovered much easier.

Interestingly my male consultant pushed for me to have a natural birth when they predicted my DC would be 10lb 6. I told him I valued my pelvic floor and sex life. He laughed and he ended up doing the C section and when he saw he was over 5kg told me i made the right decision.

I delivered a 10lb 5oz baby. She ended up with shoulder dystocia and went to special care for a few hours. I had a major bleed and it was very traumatic. A student nurse saved both of our lives.

How do you feel about an elective c section? If you’re 5ft and measuring off the charts for head size I’d consider it.

@AuntyPasta

How do you feel about an elective c section? If you’re 5ft and measuring off the charts for head size I’d consider it.

I think personally I would prefer that at the moment! I’d always wanted to avoid one because of the recovery and potential longer stay afterwards in hospital with my partner only being able to visit 1 hour per day. It just didn’t sound like that was an option after the call today!

Hello 👋🏼, I’m after gaining insight into scan accuracy for large babies after multiple scans.

I’ve been told I have a large baby who keeps jumping centiles. My first scan that they said LO was large was 6 weeks ago. I have then had fortnightly scans to monitor her growth. I’m now 38 weeks my last scan was 3 days ago.

Scan 1: 88th centile with large belly 97th centile
Scan 2: 91st centile with large belly above 99th centile of the scale
Scan 3: 97th centil with belly over the scale again.

I’ve been offered induction or C-section at 39 weeks due to the risk of shoulder dystopia. I would have preferred a natural delivery like I had with my previous LO’s or been induced at 38 weeks but this wasn’t available for me. I moved areas so my final scan was private and she told me it’s not the head that is big it is the legs (feamur) and abdomen. I was tested for diabetes at 31 weeks and came back negative.

I have heard scans can be 15% out either way, does anyone have experience of multiple scans being wrong (not just 1 scan).

I’m worried that I will have a c-section when there is no need. I’ve never had one and my other LO’s where from a previous relationship. I feel my OH will miss out on the whole birth experience as this is his 1st but what is more important is that the LO arrives safely. In a way I wish I didn’t have to choose and the consultant chose for me.

@LeaLea31 you might get better answers from a new thread as people are likely to respond to the op otherwise. Having seen this though, I was induced at 39 weeks for similar measurements and the scans were bang on. I was actually high risk for other reasons though.

@LeaLea31 As they don’t want me to go past due date, I had the choice between an induction and CS and am opting for a CS as have heard so many horrible induction stories, especially with bigger babies.

Of course, there’s no way of knowing now how induction would have gone, but I’ve considered the risks on both delivery methods and have also been advised that CS is less risky for my baby due to potential for shoulder dystocia.

It never occurred to me that DH will miss out on the birthing experience! I imagine it will be less stressful for him if anything!

Hi Isonthecase,

I thought I had posted a new post, or have I and you can post a new post on a new thread 🙈. First time posting haha, I will have a go at creating a new thread. Thank you for your reply, there’s so much about scans being wrong and it’s made me feel a bit like I’m fussing over nothing. People keep saying to me ‘oh you don’t want a c-section’ but I just want LO to be safe and healthy.

I was offered an either or by my consultant but she mentioned shoulder dystopia and the risks such as the likely hood or forceps and me possibly being in stirrups. I’ve gone for CS in week 39.

Its reassuring hearing that others have too, seems there is a lot of pressure from to not have a CS apart from my mum, but my view is they don’t offer out major procedures for no reason. My midwife had told me she’s anti induction as but I hadn’t heard any horror stories.

told me I was being induced at 38+6 because of the size.

Well this is pretty appalling because they cannot ‘tell you’ to do anything. They may OFFER you an induction and it is your choice whether you decide to let them induce you or not.

I have not personally been in this situation with a baby measuring big but I imagine there are pros and cons to different options, have a chat with your midwife about the different routes including a planned c-section

@LeaLea31 hope it all goes well! For what it's worth my induction was fine, my consultant said chance of shoulder dystocia was there but odds of it causing issues were about the same as being hit by a car crossing the road. They have to give you the list of risks, it doesn't mean any of them are that high. Personally having done the induction but not a c section I doubt there's much in it, planned c sections are meant to be fairly smooth anyway.

I had the same situation and booked for an elective section but was happy to birth DD3 naturally if she came before then. She arrived at 37 weeks on the dot at 8lb 8

They won't offer you a section but you can certainly have one!

I had a section over being induced. Best decision I made.

@Teenprobs They they have offered me a C-section and advices me of the risks of both induction and c-section with a baby of her size. I’m in the Uk in case you are somewhere else where they don’t offer them.

@Isonthecase It’s low risk at 5% when she was 91 centile but where she kept jumping centiles every fortnight, rather than staying on the same trajectory and growing at a standard rate. The risk percentage/odds goes up the larger the baby, she was 97th centile 2 weeks ago and at 40weeks could very well be over the 99th centile as her trend shows increases of of 5-6 percentile points per fortnight. So at 40w she could be over 11lb which would be 15% I think 🤔 or it may have been 15% at 97th centile. I can’t remember off the top of my head. I’m a stats geek lol and used to write up research/stat reports years ago.

I guess 15% is still low but I don’t think that I’d forgive myself if something went wrong. I’ve only stuck this reply on incase someone else reads this and isn’t aware of the risks increasing as the size does. You are correct though some women give birth to 11.5 baby’s naturally, however they are more likely to have a episiotomy and forceps That’s good to hear that planned C-sections are pretty smooth going, if they would offered me an induction at 38 weeks I would have definitely taken it.

@BridetoBee Your so lucky! That’s what I was hoping for, I started stretch & sweeps at 37 weeks. I was dilated 1cm on my first and second seeep and then 2-3cm on my final one a week ago but still nothing 🙈.I’ve stopped them now because the consultant wanted the c-section done at 39 weeks, but there was no room in the clinic. They just said if I go into labor now it will convert into an emergency c-section. I’m booked in for the c-section in 5 days from now, at 39+5.

I just can’t wait to meet her now whichever way she comes now I don’t really mind 🥰