Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

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:
grooovychick · 16/06/2021 00:44

My DC1 was big - they didn't know because I was tiny! Really easy 3.5 hour labour.

Twizbe · 16/06/2021 06:52

@TheFormidableMrsC from what my American friends have told me, they don't have gas and air because the hospitals don't know how to to effectively charge for it!

An epidural works and can have a set cost.

Blossomandbee · 16/06/2021 09:16

@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.
I recommend Tens machines if you have those! They don't take away the pain but do distract from it and it gives you some control
Snoopy28x · 16/06/2021 09:20

My 2nd was 10lb 3oz. Which was a shock to us all as he was estimated 8lbs.. I was measuring 2 weeks ahead every week at the end of my pregnancy but no one seemed concerned.

I had a vaginal delivery 3 days past due date, very speedy. Once waters went minutes later I was pushing. I didnt have time for any pain relief so totally natural. He did decide to try and come out with his hand against his face to.. so had to be pushed back in. However no complications.

Good luck xx

TheFormidableMrsC · 16/06/2021 09:46

[quote Twizbe]@TheFormidableMrsC from what my American friends have told me, they don't have gas and air because the hospitals don't know how to to effectively charge for it!

An epidural works and can have a set cost. [/quote]
Astonishing!

SwimSwim · 16/06/2021 11:13

My second was almost 11lbs (estimated at 9.5lbs on growth scan at 41+9) and because I'd been referred late for a growth scan by an incompetent midwife, I got offered a c-section because of the risks with larger babies. I delivered with just gas & air and morphine at the end and it was all quick and much easier than my 9lb first born. I did require a bit of stitching though because of the position I'd been in but it healed absolutely fine.

If it helps, we got told that although they offer c-sections when the baby is large, it's often to reduce the risk of shoulder distocia and the consultant told us that can happen with smaller babies too, so it's not a definite because they're larger. Good luck, whatever you choose to do!

Twizbe · 16/06/2021 15:22

@TheFormidableMrsC yep. Not wanting to derail but what I've heard from my friends in America makes me really appreciate the NHS.

My friends pregnancy and birth would have cost her $150,000 without insurance. It was $5000 with her 'really good' insurance

Fitforforty · 16/06/2021 16:33

I had my 8lb 8oz vbac baby at 38 weeks. I was higher risk for a number of reasons. My consultant wanted me to have a c section and I agreed to have one if I got to 39 week. I was only allowed to labour in the pool and not give birth in it. For pain relief I used tens to start with and then the pool and gas and air. I had to be cut. I had retained placenta, it has grown on mum section scar and I lost a lot of blood post birth and I had to have it removed under GA about an hour after birth.

Original poster
Gingerspice100 · 16/06/2021 20:07

It's great to hear how many people have managed to push those big babas out. Love the idea that the higher weight might even help (gravity!) I'll hold on to that! I've been told from the beginning that I have 60 % chance of a vaginal birth and I just discussed the baby weight with one of the midwives and she doesn't think the weight changes that stat.

Yeah... all hail the glorious NHS! I am from London originally and think nostalgically back to the days of getting ill and just like, going to a doctor (lol). I have been in Brooklyn for 10 years and still don't understand how the healthcare system works. I do have insurance, which will cover most of it. But trying to nail down an actual final cost is impossible. Ultimately another incentive to try and go drug free and get in and out as quickly as possible!

Although I just had an exam and my cervix is still fully closed 😩 I am so ready to get this show on the road!

OP posts:
Original poster
Gingerspice100 · 16/06/2021 20:10

@Happyd no I am not petite in anyway lol! 5 foot 7 and Medium (maybe on the slightly larger side of medium) build. Have always considered myself to have 'good old fashioned child bearing hips'... so I guess we'll see what happens when I put them to the test 😬

OP posts:
Original poster
Gingerspice100 · 16/06/2021 20:12

@Blossomandbee they don't have tens machines available. I just asked. 🙄

OP posts:
Angel2702 · 16/06/2021 20:25

My eldest was 9lb 1oz had been told her would be small as well. Natural birth, no pain relief.

MamaTutu2 · 16/06/2021 20:28

@Gingerspice100 my baby was predicted to be 10lb and I managed to get her out at 38 weeks with hand expressing. Everyone I’ve recommended it to since has gone into labour within a day or two (I went into labour that day) and had quick labours. Definitely worth a go!

highlighteryellow · 16/06/2021 20:31

I sometimes read these threads and see people say things like "head size matters more than weight IMO". Although nobody has said it yet.

So I'll just throw in that I had two babies with 99th centile heads on gas and air with with minimal tearing.

I guess I'd be classed as petite as well, I'm 5'4" and a size 8.

According to my midwife, the single most important factor is the position of the baby.

Happyd · 16/06/2021 20:45

[quote Gingerspice100]@Happyd no I am not petite in anyway lol! 5 foot 7 and Medium (maybe on the slightly larger side of medium) build. Have always considered myself to have 'good old fashioned child bearing hips'... so I guess we'll see what happens when I put them to the test 😬[/quote]
Wonderful.. I'm 5.2 and was never more then 7.st 12 before my midi 30s I had a 9lb 5 .. was traumatic ..The doctor even come in afterwards and apologised saying they know he was going to be big but didn't think he was going to be that big and we are really sorry

TowelStripes · 16/06/2021 20:50

I gave birth at home with no painful relief for my DC2 who was 10lb, in about 2.5 hrs. Had a small tear stitched at home (the gas and air arrived by that point thank god!)

Original poster
Gingerspice100 · 16/06/2021 21:12

[quote MamaTutu2]@Gingerspice100 my baby was predicted to be 10lb and I managed to get her out at 38 weeks with hand expressing. Everyone I’ve recommended it to since has gone into labour within a day or two (I went into labour that day) and had quick labours. Definitely worth a go![/quote]
Oh interesting! Do you mean hand expressing like as in the same way you would hand express your boobs once your milk is in?

OP posts:
kitkatsky · 16/06/2021 21:14

My baby I was predicted 9lbs and was 5kbs 13 born. Ignore predictions!

Original poster
Gingerspice100 · 16/06/2021 21:14

@Happyd ah sorry you had a traumatic experience. That is a very petite frame to be birthing a bigger baby.

OP posts:
Happyd · 16/06/2021 21:26

[quote Gingerspice100]@Happyd ah sorry you had a traumatic experience. That is a very petite frame to be birthing a bigger baby. [/quote]
Aww Thank you ..

newroundhere · 16/06/2021 21:28

[quote Gingerspice100]@Blossomandbee they don't have tens machines available. I just asked. 🙄[/quote]
I don't think they have them in hospitals here either (well, mine didn't) - I hired mine online. Looks like they are also available that way in the US but it might be a bit late!

tensforlabor.com/

Good luck! My DS was 9lb 10oz and I had him on gas and air. Oh and the TENs machine!

MamaTutu2 · 16/06/2021 21:37

@Gingerspice100 exactly that, I wasted lots of colostrum looking back because I could have been harvesting it into a container.

birdglasspen · 16/06/2021 21:42

9lb 2 ounces at 40 weeks plus 2.
V bac
Back to back baby
Long labour, (16 hours from managed waters breaking) managed on gas and air.
The gas and air help get breathing technique right, I'd invest in hypnobirthing, even just breathing techniques and listen to a recording telling you you can do it throughout labour! An easy water bottle to drink from and some sugary drinks too for energy! You can do it!

birdglasspen · 16/06/2021 21:46

If you do the hand expressing look at colostrum harvesting, if your going to take it out make sure you can use it incase you need it! After both of my births I was asked to hand express colostrum, first for a sectioned baby who wouldn't latch on and second for a baby in neonatal (not serious but started off in there being tube fed). Both times a supply of colostrum would have helped me as so tired, emotional etc from births that hand expressing was extremely difficult!

carolinesbaby · 16/06/2021 21:48

My DD was 9lb 1oz at birth, she was 10 days overdue. Born naturally with pethadine. Wasn't so bad. No harder than my DS who was born on due date at 8lb 3oz.