Do they induce early with heavy babies anymore?

[jacksmamx]

Hi all.

Pregnant with my second child, first child came 2 weeks early after a sweep and weighed 7lb 3oz at 38 weeks.

This baby is measuring 6lbs already I'm 35 weeks tomorrow. They've told me she's a big baby.

Will they induce me if she gets "too big" or do they just let them keep growing? Will they offer me a sweep again? I'm fed up now I'm in so much pain already can only imagine when she just keeps getting bigger and bigger 😭

Sounds just like me! I’m 35 weeks and have to have an other growth scan next week as baby is weighing a lot. I’ve got a consultant appointment just after the scan to talk about possible induction too but I’d rather avoid induction although if it really is medically best for baby then I will.
I too am so god damn fed up & HUGE! The thing that makes me worry is that they said my daughter was going to be 10lb, induced me and she was 7lb… none of the measurements are exact and can I fact be way off.

Also wondering the same, im 38+4. My 'little' one was estimated 7lb 4 at my 35+5 scan...have another scan tomorrow and have been doing some research on induction before 40wks with possible large babies, not much out there thought. Not sure what's going to happen after my scan tomorrow - the unknown is very anxiety provoking!!
My scans have all been done at a fetal medicine unit (routine through my trust) so I imagine they would be quite accurate with their measurements?
Completely empathising with feeling huge and my PGP just getting worse

I don’t know anyone that’s had accurate growth scans I wouldn’t worry too much.

They told me my baby was huge, not to bother buying any newborn clothes. She was tiny, was in newborn clothes till she was 6 months. She just had a fat tummy.

I'm seeing my midwife today at 1... I'll ask her and see what she says and I'll feedback to you.

I'm torn between wanting to go naturally and just wanting her out so I don't know if early induction would be such a bad thing. I'm miserable! I have a 2 year old and it's so hard to do anything with him as I can barely move I feel terrible.

I'll let you know what mw says!

I was induced at 39 weeks last month due to size of baby

The estimate can be way off, (experience of this, 3rd baby, I thought I was small), NHS scan said 7 pound at 37 weeks. Private scanning (specifically for weight) said 8 pounds at 40 weeks, born 10.5 pounds. That’s 25% bigger.

Yes they do factor this into decision about induction but I’d take all pre birth estimates with a pinch salt.

I don't get why they offer these "growth scans" if they are so off the mark then?

Growth scans are more accurate than measuring the bump

They may do but fwiw growth scans are always wrong.. both my DCs measured average and were both 9lb. Nit the biggest but certainly larger than most and I went 9 days overdue with both of them!

@jacksmamx please do feedback - would be great to hear what your midwife says!

I had a c-section 18 months ago for a large baby - she was born bang on 38 weeks and was 9lbs 8, along with massive amounts of water and a very large placenta. I am v.glad I pushed for it, as I would NOT have wanted to get to 42 weeks...
(Caveat - I had a poor first birth and had strong reasons for not wanting to go the induction route, so CS was much better for me and lovely and relaxing after birth #1).

I honestly have no idea why they keep acting like growth scans are even remotely accurate!

Regardless, its against NICE guidelines to induce purely for a suspected big baby so they shouldn't be offering it honestly (I know some trusts still do). Induction comes with all sorts of increased risks, far more than just a big baby, they don't tend to tell you that though!

It can go either way.

Our 2nd was measuring very big, 4 weeks ahead and above the 97th centile. They were not planning to induce me until 2 weeks overdue. I was examined at 39+6 and 1cm dilated so they thought he'd come soon after, went back to hospital at 40+4 only 5cm. They refused to break waters due to polyhdramnios and I was admitted to the ward. The next evening after a lot of nagging they broke my waters and he arrived 2hr 19mins later after 14 mins pushing weighing 10lb 12oz. Shoulder did get a bit wedged but I managed an unassisted delivery. 3rd was also measuring big but as I'd done well with 2nd they left me to it and she arrived at 40+2, 9lb 10oz and a breeze after the boy. Twins measured big but they were always planning on bringing them by 38wk, elcs as breech (8lb 5oz & 8lb 11oz). As I had the elcs last time I can choose to have another this time. This baby was estimated at 5lb 4oz at 31+6 (large on all measurements), I have another scan on Monday and they will decide if it's best to delivery early base on how big she is then. I have already said I'd rather go elcs over induction, they don't want me to labour at home due to scar rupture risk and I don't want to be stuck in hospital for days before birth if I can avoid it. My 1st was an induction which took 3 days, ended up with hormone drip which is not fun without an epidural and an assisted delivery (vontouse, she was only 7lb 7oz) due to fetal distress.

Yes I think so, I was recommended to be induced at 39 weeks with mine due to his size, but only made it to 37.5, he was 8lb3.

According to the NICE guidelines, they shouldn't induce purely based on the baby being big, assuming there are no other health issues (like gestational diabetes).

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg70/chapter/1-Guidance#induction-of-labour-in-specific-circumstances

I say this as someone who had a 93rd % baby last time and is expecting the same again. I would decline an early induction if there were no other problems suspected.

6lb at 35 weeks doesn't sound that big so can't see them offering an induction based on that

I am 38+4 weeks at 36+1 baby was estimated to be 7.3lb so consultant says probably will be bigger than 9lb at due date. I am against an induction as had one with DS which resulted in hormone drip, his large head getting wedged and a traumatic emcs. So plan is sweep tomorrow, another one on due date and a elcs booked at 41 weeks as they don't want me going over this due to size causing issues with this birth.

So... midwife said she's not concerned as my bump measurements are still on the same centile she just said I'm on the larger side of normal but nothing but I have a hospital appt on Thursday where I will see if she's any bigger on a scan.

MW said if I'm worried about having a bigger baby I can have an elcs (I had a really traumatic birth with my first so I am swaying more towards having an elcs anyway). But she did say they would induce me if they were overly worried about her size.

Anyway.... sweep booked for 38 weeks, hopefully that works cos I've had enough. I'm in so much pain! Will update everyone on Thursday what the hospital says

I had a scan at 37 weeks and they thought DC2 was measuring 8lb + then, born 3 weeks later at 7lb.

Not really that accurate

@jacksmamx did you get a weight estimate yesterday?