Big baby! Earlier birth?

[Wouldyouknow]

I recently had my 20 week scan and my bouncing baby is measuring on the rather large size. Now I don’t put huge faith in these scans as my first was tiny at 20 weeks and then born at 40 weeks weighing 8lb 2 so I know they can be off. But this one is definitely very long and generally big. I’m hoping to have a c section anyway so if I continue to measure big would they take the baby out earlier or leave it in until 39 weeks anyway? I don’t want it out too early but I also don’t think I can fit in an 11lb baby like my partner was!

I’m 37 + 4 and the baby is over the 97th centile. They’re inducing me on 6th Jan (I’ll be 39 weeks) and have said that they wouldn’t let me go over 40 weeks as a precaution. They kept inviting me to take part in a trial involving babies, but because they’ve now said they’ll induce me at 39 weeks I can’t (if I had I might have been induced a bit earlier). I’ve had 5 (I think) growth scans and the baby has been measuring big all the way through, but DP is 6”3 sooooo...

Ahh ok thank you that’s really useful. My dp is also 6’3 and I’m 5’10 so this baby is definitely not going to be short but at the moment it’s measuring over the top of the percentile chart so it freaked me out a tiny bit! Hopefully some growth scans later will keep an eye on the growth.
Hope your induction goes well!

If you’re having a c section they won’t do it before 39 weeks for a big baby unless there is another medical reason for it. If you go into labour earlier and have a c section booked they’ll just do the c section when you’re in labour.

Same here, the baby’s head came back as 0 weeks gestation because it was too far of the chart 😂. This obviously fills me with joy, but they told me they’ll only recommend a section of the baby is over a certain weight (I think it’s 5kg where there’s no diabetes involved), so that’s why they’re inducing me rather than giving me a section. They have said that I’ll be low threshold for a section though, so if I don’t progress quickly with the induction then they’ll give me a section.

They’ll definitely keep an eye on you though. Have you have a GTT yet?

Thank you! Counting down the days now haha 😊

Mine was consistently measured in the 90th percentile and very long bodied (I am tall) but they never said anything about inducing for that.

I ended up going two weeks overdue and the baby weighed 4.5 kilos 😱 and very long so maybe they should have induced in retrospect...

"I also don’t think I can fit in an 11lb baby like my partner was"

Eh? Are you honestly saying that you don't think an 11lb baby will fit inside your body?! You do realise that the uterus (and the rest of your body) expands as the baby grows, right?! That's the whole point of pregnancy.

The only possible concern with a large baby (apart from gestational diabetes but they can rule it out with tests) would be a slightly higher risk of shoulder dystocia or other complications during a vaginal birth. But as you're having a c-section it won't be an issue at all.

LockedDownKnockedUp
No I wasn’t going to be having one as I had no factors to be tested but they may change their minds now and do one.

anothernc4you I have a pulmonary embolism and pudendal neuralgia which is why I’m asking for the c section but I’m not sure either of those would be a factor for a big baby. I currently have a low lying placenta covering the cervix. I want to avoid going in to Labour as then I’d have to have a general anesthetic because of the blood thinners and I really would rather avoid that.

NameChange30
Obviously I understand that it’s possible and the logistics of the female body I’m not an idiot but I think an 11lb baby inside you is taking the proverbial for most people. My dp nearly killed his mother during birth so I’d like to avoid that.

I'm also being induced on 6th January. I'll be 38 weeks. My baby is measuring on the larger side. DC2 weighed 7lbs 10oz but got stuck due to shoulder dystocia so they are inducing me to stop him growing bigger than that.

@Grumpy19
Have you had a(ny) growth scan(s)? They are not hugely accurate but can give an indication so you should have at least one before agreeing to an induction simply for a suspected large baby.

I had shoulder dystocia with DC1 but not DC2, I don't think it was anything to do with their size (both big babies) more to do with my position when giving birth. (Was forced to lie on my back with DC1, absolutely didn't want that for DC2, gave birth on all fours with no issues.)

I did a lot of research about the risk of shoulder dystocia for a subsequent birth and suspected big baby. I concluded that early induction would increase the risk rather than decreasing it.

Dr's told me my 2nd baby was going to be a big one....and my 1st was 8lbs 12oz born at 40+9 so we were expecting 10lbs or more. Ds2 was born at 40+7 and weighed 7lbs 12! The measurements are so inaccurate

My big baby came came on his own at 37weeks (8lb 10oz) I think he ran out of room as I'm very little. He measured about 4 weeks ahead through the whole pregnancy

He was booked for an elective c.section (previous traumatic birth) at 39 weeks but whizzed out on his own after a very short labour

Feeling just as massive with this one but they won't do the initial fundal height measurement for another week

@Namechange30 I have had 3 growth scans. I am also more fearful of a repeat of shoulder dystocia than an induction.

DD was measuring 99th centile and they let me get to 41+3 before bringing me in for induction. But they examined me, realised DD hasn't dropped and my cervix was completely closed so recommended a C-section instead. She was 10lbs 13oz and 60cm long. I'm very relieved I had a section as she was stuck in my pelvis and had to be hauled out with forceps anyway.