Macrosomnia (large baby) what happens next?

[SunflowerLyd]

Just looking for advice please! I went for a scan a couple of days ago due to measuring large for dates (currently 35 weeks). They put me as measuring at 40 weeks, on the 100 centile and estimated baby weight currently 8 pounds, estimated to be around 10.5/11 at birth. The midwife said my consultant would be in touch at some point, but meanwhile I feel like I'm second guessing what might happen next. I'm due to stay at work until I'm 38 weeks but would obviously like to go earlier if there's a chance I'll need an early c-section. I should also mention, this is my second pregnancy - the first ended in an emergency c-section 3.5 years ago. I was hoping on a Vbac this time round but am quite petite so if I can't, I won't!

So, my questions are for other mums who have been in my situation. Did you...

• Have a c-section or normal birth?
• If you had a c-section, at how many weeks?
• If a natural birth, how many weeks? Did you need to be induced?
• If a natural birth, was there A LOT of tearing? Just how bad was it?!

+ any other stories/ words of wisdom?

DD was 9.10.
I had a C-section because labour wasn't progressing. Midwife commented afterwards it was probably a good thing looking at the size of DD's shoulders.
I'm not petite but I'm not sure how much of a bearing that always has. Some tiny women birth big babies easily and large women get little ones who won't come out!
Good luck whatever your delivery looks like in the end.

I had my first baby in pool and was 9 pound 14. 2nd degree tear.
My second was 11 pounds!! Also in water, with same tear.
I am medium build but tall.
My waters broke at 39 weeks.
I wasn't ever offered a c-section but they were adament I would be induced, I was not. Being induced always frightened me.

I had a 100% measuring baby also. He was 9 13 at 39 weeks in the end so big but not insanely so.

It was my first, I’m small, and so they either wanted to induce me early to get him out while not too massive, or section.

He was also transverse which affected the decision.

I took ages to decide but ultimately went with section as it was a known risk which I could prepare for, vs unknown labour time, likely issues with size and tearing, and possibly ending in emergency section anyway which I really didn’t want.

while lots of people have big babies and it’s fine, I’m glad in the end I went for the section, though knocked me far more than I’d expected!

My son was measuring 95 percentile at 36 weeks

I reluctantly agreed to an induction at 39 weeks which turned into an emergency caesarean and when he came out he was only 80 percentile and 9 lb

Growth scans are not hugely accurate. The lady said that she's basically measuring and person inside a person.

I was in your position and wasn't offered anything at all, I went very overdue and delivered naturally.
How big was your first baby and what was the reason for the c section?
Scans are notoriously inaccurate for estimating size, so I would keep that in mind when weighing up the options. Also large babies don't always mean a bad labour or tearing.

My daughter had a 100th percentile head and was over 90th percentile estimated weight.

They offered me either a 39w c-section or induction. I went for the ELCS. She was born on the 83rd percentile, settled on the 50th at her 10 day check and has followed the 25th percentile since 8 weeks old. She’s still got a big head and always needs the next size up in hats.

I read around it at the time and the large head was a bigger risk factor than a large baby.

Scans can be really inaccurate for weight estimates, so please try not to worry.

If it helps in any way, my second was born naturally at 42 weeks. Weighing 10lbs 11oz, labour was fine. No tearing, painful if I lay on my back whilst labouring, but manageable on my knees leaning over the back of the bed. I think gravity and his weight worked together 😁

My DD was 10.7 at birth. She was measuring big and so they induced me on my due date, but ended up with an emergency CS due to labour not progressing. As it turned out her head circumference was off the scale (she is 6 now and has to wear adult size hats) so I'm quite glad I didn't end up pushing her out! Good luck with everything.

My son was 11lbs at 37 weeks. An absolute whopper. He was born by C Section as his head was like Stewie from Family Guy.

Hi, I'm just under 5'4"

First baby was big (9.5lb) and got stuck. 20+ hour labour ended with failed ventouse, forceps, should dystocia. 2nd degree tear and op to repair.

They told me that was too big for me and I'd have to have a c/s if I had another.

I begged to at least try a natural birth. Second baby was 10lb 10oz, active birth, 2⁰ tear and a fantastic experience.

I was told my baby would be about 8lbs 7oz but he was 11lb 3oz at 41 weeks. Labour was quite long but vaginal delivery with small episiotomy.

Dd was 11lb 4 at 38 weeks. I had a cesarean.

DD1 10lb 5oz. Normal birth. Grazes. No drugs or interventions. Back to back too.

I had a 10lb and 9lb 11oz babies vaginally no problem but obviously everyone is built differently, pelvis etc

Term plus seven, not Induced xx

I did tear though and had deep muscle stitches which wasnt great

My first D.C. was 10lbs exactly at 40+2. Natural birth, no induction, no tearing, no stitches. All thanks to fantastic midwife-led care. Don't assume you'll need intervention.

My second was 9lb 4oz and I’m v petite- just over 5 foot. It was a very fast birth and I was induced.
I did think she was big, but reading the above- wow! Well done, ladies!

My scans were showing a big baby, final scan at about 37/38 weeks showed baby weighing 10.5, the sonographer sent me round to see the midwives after the scan, they said if I wasn't already booked in for a section, they would book me in now and not let me go naturally, I had a section with my first. Baby was 10.10 at 39weeks. Good luck x

My 3rd baby was overdue and weighed 11lb 12oz at birth. His shoulders got stuck and it was a long labour but easier than my first who was 8lb 2. I had a 3rd degree tear which needed a lot of stitches afterwards in theatre but still felt like a fairly okay birth in comparison to my first with forceps and ventous. He's 6ft 5 now so I think it was more the length of him as he didn't seem too big.

I had a 10lb 14oz baby at 41 weeks vaginally. No tears. Baby had the dubious honour of having the largest head the midwife had ever delivered.

Nothing had picked up that baby was big so the size was a surprise. The doctor said afterwards they would have advised a C-section if they knew baby was that size. I think kneeling over the bed head/being on all fours helped.

I was induced, but only needed rupture of membranes and was away.

I had a harder time delivering my first baby, who was a much more standard 7 pounds 4 oz. I got a second degree tear but I delivered on my back.

I worked up until 38 weeks with no issue in an office job. I was much more uncomfortable with my second pregnancy - just felt huge and everything aches.It all made sense afterwards!

DD was born at 40 weeks, 9lbs 8oz, shoulder dystocia, post-partum haemorrhage. It was scary. I'm going for an ELCS this time, at 39 weeks.

My DS was 10lb 8oz at 38 weeks. I had a c-section. There was much hmmming and different doctors being called in to examine me towards the end and it was decided that due my DS's big fat head that a section would be best. His giant noggin never engaged in my pelvis at all. I’m 4’ 10” and probably built a bit wonky due to disability so he was never coming out naturally!

I had GD towards the end of my pregnancy, she measured off the charts at onr point.

I chose a c section. She was 8lb 1oz.

Currently pregnant again and will try to have a vaginal birth, induced if needed. I really struggled with c section recovery.

They got 1 out of 3 weights vaguely correct for my babies.

Had 2 decently sized babies one 2 weeks over and one a week before due dates weighing 10lb3 and 9lb11. Long ish stop start labours but all vaginal and unmedicated, no tearing.