Induction and large head circumference... would love to hear your experiences!

[myletterbox]

I'm currently 38 weeks pregnant and due to be inducted next week at 39+0 due to gestational diabetes.

My first baby was induced at 39+5 due to high blood pressure and she arrived very quickly. But was tiny - 2.5kg and 3rd perentile I think.

This time the baby is measuring big (97th percentile) and the baby's head is measuring massive (98th percentile). It's totally freaked me out as I just don't think I can manage to give birth to a bigger baby than last time.

I'd love to hear any stories - good or bad!

On my first pregnancy I was told DS had a large square head, too much information that makes you worry, won’t say having him was a breeze but I managed a natural birth, you will be fine. X

Both my babies were induced and both had head circumferences off the scale - over 100th centile - and I had 2 great births! First labour was 3 hours from first contraction to birth and the second was 2 hours. I had second degree years both times but healed really well. They have soft heads that can mould to the birth canal so size doesn’t really matter. In terms of weights mine were 75th and 95th centile.

He didn’t have a square head BTW.

My first baby was induced due to reduced movements. Her measurements were 50th centile but once she was out and actually measured it turned out she had a 98th centile head. The birth was fine. Seven hours active labour, one hour pushing, had to be on dry land because of the reduced movements otherwise I would have been in the pool.

Thanks - these stories are so reassuring!

Would love to hear others too if there are any more out there - both good and bad!

I was induced for GD with DC 2 and 3 after a prem birth with DC1 (who was 5 lbs 4 I think). Both DC2 and 3 had ridiculous head circumferences (I remember the consultant at a scan asking if my DH was particularly tall as their head circumference was so big).

Both births were fine and the only DC I had to have an episiostomy for was DC1 who was the tiny one!

@Sideofnoreturn

Both my babies were induced and both had head circumferences off the scale - over 100th centile - and I had 2 great births! First labour was 3 hours from first contraction to birth and the second was 2 hours. I had second degree years both times but healed really well. They have soft heads that can mould to the birth canal so size doesn’t really matter. In terms of weights mine were 75th and 95th centile.

First I was induced because I was 12 days overdue, second induced because my waters broke but contractions hadn’t started, so neither anything to do with the babies’ size btw.

My second child's head was 98th centile and he weighed 9lb5oz. He was born after only 6 minutes of pushing and I didn't need any stitches. It was a much easier delivery than my first child, who was smaller.

Growth scans (presuming this is how they "know"?) are REALLY unreliable. Don't borrow trouble from tomorrow!

Both my DSs had heads >98th centile and were 10lb and 9lb12oz respectively. Straightforward vaginal births with both of them - 2nd degree tear which has healed fine both times