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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Vaginal birth with heavier baby?

56 replies

Gingerspice100 · 15/06/2021 15:43

Hi everyone. I am 39 weeks and 5 days pregnant. Just found out my baby is currently weighing an estimated weight of 9.1 pounds. I am hoping to have a vbac (my first child was Breech and was delivered a week early by scheduled c - section). But now I know this baby is on the heavier side I am wondering what my chances are for a successful vaginal birth.

Would love to hear some experiences of vaginal labor with heavy babies. Medicated/ no meds... any vbacs with heavier baby would be especially helpful.

Thanks so much!

OP posts:
Leftphalange · 15/06/2021 15:46

I got induced early as baby was showing as large in growth scans. Delivered vaginally on just gas and air, was 9lbs 2oz, no stitches. Wasn't my first vaginal birth though.

Also they had overestimated the size of the baby- and though big, she wasn't as big as they had thought

JassyRadlett · 15/06/2021 15:50

My two were 9lb4 and 10lb6 - both vaginal births with gas and air for pain relief.

I had to be on continuous monitoring on my back for the eldest which probably made it a harder birth but it was honestly ok, small second degree tear but he had a MASSIVE 99.9 centile head (thanks DH). DS2 despite being bigger in every way was actually much easier.

Findmeatthebeach · 15/06/2021 15:55

11lber on gas and air in the water. My bump was HUGE (measured off the chart) but was never flagged up as a concern. It was only when baby was crowning and the midwife called for backup, I opened my eyes to her mouthing and justiculating 'really big head'!! that I thought uh oh Confused but it was absolutely fine. Far easier birth than with my 9lb daughter.

Also growth scans are notoriously over-optimistic on predicting weights. So many friends have had babies lbs smaller than estimated in the scan, and had chosen to be induced or c-section because of it.

Original poster
Gingerspice100 · 15/06/2021 16:00

Thanks guys! Very reassuring!

OP posts:
redpontipine · 15/06/2021 16:09

My growth scans showed a 97 percentile baby. I was induced at 38 weeks due to growth scans and gave birth to a 7lb7 baby who weighed a lot less than the scan. Now a chubby 6m old.
If it's any reassurance my friend had 11lb baby and said it was the easiest birth she had.

Chelyanne · 15/06/2021 17:45

My 2nd was 10lb 12oz. His shoulders did get a bit wedged but I managed to get him out with 14mins of unassisted pushing on G&A (though they took that off me to push after a while). I was on my back on the bed due to monitors too, they did do episiotomy to stop tearing, glad they did as I tore with the 3rd who was 9lb 10oz (bigger head though) and that scar is more troublesome. I wasn't induced with either of those 2 but they did break my waters for me at 5cm with the 2nd and 8cm with 3rd. I had an elcs with breech twins last time, they are doing growth scans for this one soon and have said they will bring her early if she's close to the boys size. I'll be going elcs over induction, the risk of scar rupture worries me with induction rather than pushing out another big one.

Blossomandbee · 15/06/2021 18:49

Mine were 10lbs and 9lb 5oz. Both were quick, easy births with nothing but a Tens machine for pain relief. A big baby doesn't equal problems or more pain.

Original poster
Gingerspice100 · 15/06/2021 21:21

Thanks so much all. Really great to hear all your positive experiences! Fingers crossed I can make it happen too. As I'm trying for a vbac the midwives won't induce me (apart from a membrane sweep) so Hopfully this 9 pound boy decides to make an appearance sooner rather then later!

And also because you know, soooo over being pregnant. Currently admiring my sexy cankles as I type 😂😩🙄

OP posts:
Mummyme87 · 15/06/2021 21:23

My first was a CS at 9cm 10lb 5 and my second was a VBAC 10lb 👍

Passthesauce · 15/06/2021 21:33

I've had 4 - 8lbs 5, 9lbs 10, 8lbs 13 and 10lbs 1. None of them flagged as a concern (despite my pointing out that I thought I was just a tad MAHOOSIVE with DCs 2 & 4) and all treated the same.

It was all fine - all water births with just gas and air. I recall being very aware that DC4 felt quite solid in the pushing stage and needed stitches with all, but out of hospital within hours with DC1 (birthing centre), home births with DC2&3 and after an overnight stay with DC4 - only because they were slightly surprised at his weight and wanted to check I hadn't super sized him with sugar during the pregnancy.

DC2 was the easiest of them all - 6 hours start to finished with very mild but regular contractions from the off (wouldn't have even called MW otherwise) - it was a bit of a bewildering last 30 mins but recovery really quick too.

And FWIW, as PP, I have known many people be told they are expecting a larger baby and then not.

Best of luck.

TheFormidableMrsC · 15/06/2021 21:34

I can give you a positive story. I had a horrific birth 13 years previously. 7lb baby. I ended up having to be surgically repaired. Anyway, had my second at 42. Nobody said he was big, my bump was small. I had a brilliant student midwife who was using me for her thesis. I went into labour on my due date. I did everything differently. I stayed mobile, I had just gas and air. Somehow, 6 hours later, I birthed a giant 9.5lb baby while I was on my knees. I required one internal stitch for a deep graze. Other than that it was an amazingly positive birth experience and a huge relief given the previous horror. I couldn't believe such a big baby was so much easier. I hope that helps!! Thanks

Twizbe · 15/06/2021 21:44

My second was 9lb3 (first was 9lb1). She was such an easy birth.

I went into labour at 3am, got to the hospital at 4 and she was born at 5:30am.

I had her in the pool with just gas and air. I was on all fours and waters didn't go until I was pushing. Despite having a third degree tear with my son 2 years before, not a scratch with her! Midwife was super impressed with her own handy work on my previous stitches.

WankmasterBastardDeLaShithead · 15/06/2021 21:47

I gave birth to a 10lb 9oz chonker, and an 11lb 8oz whopper, both with gas and air, and both with 2nd degree tears (which healed quickly and well). The 10 pounder was an amazing quick and easy birth. The 11 pounder was a bit longer, and briefly had shoulder dystocia. My first born was 8lb, and much harder work!

WankmasterBastardDeLaShithead · 15/06/2021 21:49

I reckon that a heavier baby can sometimes have gravity on their side. Also, I'm not sure how reliable the scans are... Neither of my giant babies were predicted to be bigger than average.

WhyMrsRobinson · 15/06/2021 22:10

Get hypnotised! Then you can handle anything - and be relaxed enough to enjoy the wierd feelings!

Original poster
Gingerspice100 · 15/06/2021 22:39

Oh these are all such great stories. Really making me feel much more positive! Only annoying thing is that gas and air is not available to me as I am in NYC and hospitals don't have it. Sigh! I know it's the first line of defense for pain relief in the Uk. So for me it's fully unmedicated or epidural. I'm prepping to go Au natural, while trying to keep open minded about an epidural being a possibility.

OP posts:
Passthesauce · 15/06/2021 22:46

I wouldn't worry too much about the Gas & Air, @Gingerspice100 - on each occasion I decided to wait until I really needed it - each time, I enjoyed a handful of puffs before deciding it wasn't making any difference other than to make me lightheaded and was annoying me, so I gave up.

The really random thing was I actually found paracetamol helped for DCs2-4, having discounted it as a ridiculous proposition first time round. Took some in the early stages and it definitely took the edge of a bit.

Hopefully you will be just fine - it is all worth it when the baby arrives, however s/he arrives, as you clearly know.

CovIneedanamechange · 15/06/2021 22:54

Yep 11lb 7oz water birth with just G&A ..honestly think gravity helps! (No suggestion baby was going to be esp heavy in the run up!)

TheFormidableMrsC · 15/06/2021 23:18

@Gingerspice100

Oh these are all such great stories. Really making me feel much more positive! Only annoying thing is that gas and air is not available to me as I am in NYC and hospitals don't have it. Sigh! I know it's the first line of defense for pain relief in the Uk. So for me it's fully unmedicated or epidural. I'm prepping to go Au natural, while trying to keep open minded about an epidural being a possibility.
What? No gas and air in NYC. Do they do other pain relief such as pethedine? How weird that such a simple effective pain relief is not available. In all honesty I'd avoid epidural if you can (I did beg for it with no 2 but we got through!), it just prolongs things and takes ages for you to recover.
Landslidelife · 15/06/2021 23:28

Mine was spontaneous labour, gas and air only and dc was 9lb4oz.

Original poster
Gingerspice100 · 16/06/2021 00:07

@TheFormidableMrsC yeah... it's pretty much just an epidural for the actual delivery. It's so dumb!

OP posts:
Patapouf · 16/06/2021 00:16

I think half of the weight estimations are total bollocks

TheFormidableMrsC · 16/06/2021 00:21

[quote Gingerspice100]@TheFormidableMrsC yeah... it's pretty much just an epidural for the actual delivery. It's so dumb! [/quote]
So dumb. I'm astounded and presume you're paying for this too? 😬

Happyd · 16/06/2021 00:28

Op can I ask what kind of build you are .. it makes all the difference as if your petite having a big baby can get tricky

User1357 · 16/06/2021 00:33

9.5lb baby was much less painful contraction wise. Natural water birth, gas and air, no issues.

7.4lb absolutely excruciating contractions.

Would t worry at all. Didn’t tear with either.