Homebirth and bigger babies

[Al39]

Hi everyone,

I am 7 weeks off 1st baby, and really want a home birth (but if I need to go to hospital I would in a heartbeat). I have anxiety any way, especially around hospitals (historical unpleasant surgeries). Being single, and an older mum and with a limited support group (my father, a small group of friends) I have explored a homebirth with my midwife. She is very much in support of this. The thing is, I already look like I am having a litter of puppies and have had to have a growth scan where he is predicted to be 9-10lbs. My midwife knows this but says it is still safe for a home birth. I am over 5'10 and was a size 12 when I fell pregnant with decent hips and pelvis - but having never done this before I am anxious about him getting stuck. I am happy to be having a bonny baby, I just do not want to do anything that could harm him - has anyone else had a larger baby at home and if so what was your experience. I am continually talking to my midwife and I do trust her and she does listen to me- just nerves before the big event -thank you in advance for sharing xxx

I wouldn’t but then my view is skewed by the fact I’ve seen too many home births go wrong and you might say you would go to hospital in a heartbeat but you might not be able to control the availability of an ambulance to get you there.

I've never had a home birth and glad I haven't as ours have either needed extra help/monitoring or been classed high risk.
Don't worry too much about size, I'm 5ft 8 and a size 12 when I was at my slimmest. Our 2nd was 10lb 12oz at 40+5 (high risk with polydramnios) but I managed an unassisted vb only 14mins pushing with him. Our 3rd was 9lb 10oz and only took 3 pushes, she was back to back through my labour so I did get a bad tear (midwife was out of room when I started pushing too). Big babies can be easier to deliver than you'd think.

I have a friend who has just had a marvellous home birth experience and it did sound lovely. Baby was 7lbish. But I had a 9lb 1oz baby in a hospital and was very glad to be there. I needed ventouse and an episiotomy and the whole pushing part of Labour was very prolonged. The staff were all wonderful and I felt a lot less anxious being in the right place for additional medical support to be called in at different times. Good luck whatever you decide.

My largest baby was 8lb 6oz by homebirth. But I am 5ft tall.

I say prepare for a homebirth. You can go into hospital at any time.

I felt intervention was far more likely in hospital (first was a hospital birth) and they would have intervened had I not had the supportive birthing partners I had. Hospital protocol was intervention after 2 hours pushing. Would have been a very different birth.

2, 3 & 4 were home births, each progressively bigger (8, 9, 10 pounds).

Talk to your midwife. Good luck l.

Dd2 was 9lb and I had a lovely smooth home birth with her.

Dd1 was 8lb and slow going, but turned up eventually! Also at home and a lovely experience.

It's more head/pelvis ratio that's the issue rather than weight afaik.

Good luck!

I'm a similar height/size to you and had my 2 dc as homebirths, one was 9lb and the other 8lb11. I had no issues (bar usual tearing with stitches) but was same as you - would have gone into hospital if needed at any point. I think if you feel comfortable at home then go for it, as others have said you can always transfer to hospital if your midwife advises to or if you're not comfortable.

I had a wonderful home birth with my third after two hospital born babies. Are you on your local fb homebirth pages? They will be helpful. You are checked on more regularly at home.
As far as what baby weighs is a rough guess and not accurate for most people.

Growth scans and bump size are notoriously unreliable! They told me DD2 would be at least 8.5lbs and she was less than 6lbs

Lots of people on here will be keen to discourage you from home birth, basing their anecdotes on births that would never have been planned or suitable for anywhere but a hospital. You are low risk, so these anecdotes are not relevant to you. Please focus on the advice of your midwife.

In a low risk pregnancy like yours, your feelings of safety and calm will be far more important than the size of your baby, unless advised otherwise by a healthcare professional. Also remember that perinatal birthweight estimates are notoriously inaccurate.

Good luck, you'll be fine whatever you decide.

I’ve had 3 lovely home births with “big” babies (over 9lbs) estimating weight is difficult and notoriously unreliable. Trust your body. You can always transfer at any point, either on mw recommendation or simply because you want to.

How far is the hospital would be my deciding factor?

A large baby risks shoulder dysocia so I would not risk it. I think they are risky anyway, but my view is skewed by a disastrous 1st birth

I have a friend who had a first birth in hospital and ended up with fourth degree tears and a life time of problems due to intervention.

She said no to ever having another birth in hospital.
The next two were easy births at home with local midwife.

But when it came to her fourth baby she was very large and at that time midwifery had changed and midwives couldn't get insurance. She chose a competent private midwife and had her baby girl at home. It was a difficult labour but with her skilled midwife it was safe.

I think the key is getting a very experienced, competent private midwife that's prepared to help you. It might not be easy now, I don't know easy it is to get insurance for midwives helping with home births.

This is all really useful. I should point out, I am in fine health as is baby. No risk factors (about from being 40 - but I am classing that as a bonus as I feel more able to ask questions at this age then I would have in my 20s). My bp and iron etc all perfect for me and no underlying health conditions. The baby is already head down in the right position fingers crossed he stays). I appreciate comments on ability to get to the hospital - I am approx 3 minutes from my local mum and baby/a and e. I know every minute would count if something went wrong, that is where my anxiety is coming from. I also will be alone giving birth (aside from my midwife and another midwife) but I feel better doing this as I am been pretty much alone my whole pregnancy. Not on social media and no plans to anytime soon. My midwife leads the team at my community centre and has over 25 years experience. When we first met I was really unsure of what to do and she never once tried to push a homebirth on me or even mention it to me - I arrived at the decision myself. It has taken many months for me to feel in control because of the dad and various unpleasant things. I know in a medical emergency the best thing is to be in a hospital, if I can do this at home, I would prefer it. It is really lonely going to a mum and baby unit and antenatal and being the only person alone there - which seems to have happened to me each time I go. Home makes me safer and calmer and less judged. Well, I have my next birth plan/check up/risk assessment for home birth on the 2nd June so I will be measured again and I will see what midwife says. I know he will be big but I am not entirely convinced my bump is all baby as I had a noticeable bump at 6 weeks and at my scan then he was literally a tadpole! Thanks again everyone. Reading all the different experiences is so helpful and appreciated xxx

@Al39Agree with others, birth weight estimations can be way off. I had DD1 on an MLU, quick labour of 4.5 hours and gave birth to her in the pool, pleasant experience overall but this time I'm going for a homebirth (currently 20 weeks pregnant) I'm classed as low risk and the midwife team is very supportive in me having one. Like you, I really dont feel comfortable around hospitals, the sounds, smell.. just puts me on edge!
With your hospital being so close I'd say go for it. I hope you have a wonderful experience! 💖