Big baby

[LondonGirl1992]

Hello all,

I am currently 38 weeks pregnant and my additional growth scans have shown since week 32 that the baby is consistently tracking above the 97th percentile. At my scan last week, I was given an estimated weight of 9 lbs already and still have 2 and a half weeks to go.

I am going in this Tuesday to discuss possible induction/elective section and wondered if anyone has been through similar and has any advice?

I know the risks of a natural labour can often end in shoulder dystocia, third degree tearing and baby getting stuck resulting in an emergency section. I’m hesitant to accept a section but equally have heard lots of positive stories so want to keep an open mind.

Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated! This is my first baby.

My DS2 was a planned induction at 38 weeks due to size, my choice was that or planned C-section (not in UK at the time). He was 9.5lbs, with a large head and broad shoulders. He did get a bit stuck and I had an episiotomy. It was about 12 hours start to finish (pitocin drip to start labour).

My middle baby was 10lb and on the 91st centile and it was missed. She was back to back and got stuck resulting in her heartbeat going down and an emergency c-section. It was chaotic and I had a panic attack on the table. The pain of labouring her was unbelievable I felt like every bone in my body was breaking. My pelvic floor had never been the same after baring down on a baby that was too big for me to birth as I’m only small.

Baby after was a planned c-section and a totally different experience.

Go for the C-Section and stick to it.

I'd like to offer a more encouraging perspective. All of my babies were large and I pushed them out with no problem. Some women struggle with tiny babies. I was upright to have them and gravity helped.

I had a 9pm 9oz by induction with an episiotomy on his due date. Epidural didn’t come in time v painful. Couldn’t get head out. Next Bub 10lb 9oz. 3 day induction failed couldn’t go into labour emergency c- section. Exhausted from 3 day induction. Third baby 9 pounds elective C-section at 38 weeks due to preeclampsia best decision. Recovered very quick from elective c- section.

My first was 8lb 13oz and I had a very long slow labour resulting in forceps and tearing, I was exhausted and battered by the experience and it made the start to motherhood quite challenging. I also have ongoing pelvic floor issues relating to this. If someone had told me this might happen before hand and said I could have a c section I would chose that 100%. I can remember the obstetrician apologising for the huge 3rd degree tear due to babies shoulder being stuck and I didn't understand why he was so sorry until I realised my pelvic floor was never going to be the same again.

My 4th child was a surprising 9ib 11oz baby. Not expecting that, and the midwives wouldn’t believe me during labour when I said it was more painful than the other births also being back-to-back didn’t help. The birth itself wasn’t any more complicated than the first three, I always end with a really long first phase, a 2nd degree tear with every child and pushing phase is always quick (3 min).

If this is your first child I would recommend a c-section, just because your body hasn’t done this before. I think it would be more of a shock to the system to have a big first child.

Hey. I’m currently 29+2 with GD and very very high amniotic fluid level. My baby is measuring a week ahead at the moment but if I don’t get this GD under control I will be having her early. There is no doubt in my mind that if she becomes bigger than 8lb I will be accepting a c section. Not just for my sake but for hers too. I’ve heard so many positive stories! I know the recovery is long but I’d quite like my private parts intact at the end of it! Good luck x

I had 2 of my babies at home - first was 10lb - shoulder dystocia but fine - second was 9lb 80z, long and skinny. I think it depends upon your build to a large extent, although I wouldn't describe my build as anything more than average

I've known tiny women to have big babies at home with no problem. I'm more average. My pelvic floor is in really good shape and I have no problems at all after plenty of big babies.

All the comments are going to be anecdotal.

Weigh up the risks of labour and potential long term risks to you.

I know people have birthed big babies for a millennial but by this day and age we should be able to opt for the different kind of births without shame or stigma attached - and potentially avoid long term damage to our bodies

My DS was consistently measuring over the 98th centile. At my 38 week growth scan I was told he was approx 8lbs 3oz. He was born 24 hours later (vaginally but with episootomy and ventouse, I believe it to be a cascade of interventions from the epidural which I wish I hadn't had) at 6lbs 14!

By all means listen to the risks, but don't let them push you into induction, section etc based purely on the growth scan. They can be wildly inaccurate and I'm proof of that!

My husband’s sister had an elective section due to the size of the baby, she was in private care. The doctor basically advised if they were going to let her go further that baby would be 5kg in 10 days. So they opted for the section and she is indeed a massive girl. She’s 5 but at the size of a 7 year old already.

Unfortunately just knowing that your baby might be big puts you at risk of intervention. scans at that gestation can also be wildly inaccurate. Unless your baby is 'big' due to gestational diabetes, or there is a physical difference with your pelvis, then we don't grow babies that are too big to birth (in most cases)

All you'll get is anecdotal advice, but you need to make your own informed decision.

My anecdotal story is my first baby tracked 75th centile and was born 50th. My Second was tracking 50th centile but I declined scans and fundal measurements after 36 weeks. I birthed her at 9lb10oz , 91st centile at home just fine. Id recommend Searching the Better Birth Podcast or Midwives Cauldron podcast for episodes on this topic

Good luck!

My anecdote is that I had a nearly 10lb baby with a massive head & I am small. I had an elective section and it was bloody marvellous. Very calm experience and everything was fine in the following weeks. No regrets at all.
All the best.

Scan estimates are so inaccurate, especially for big babies (more accurate for small estimates) They can be up to 20% variation from EFW. Yes they are obliged to inform you of the risks but I'd take this with a pinch or salt and be sure to make your own informed decision and remember you don't have to accept either.

I know so many people who were told their baby was massive from the scan and had a caesarean, then ended up having a 7lb baby! I would be be cautious about believing it!

Another one with a 9lb5oz baby delivered vaginally here and no lasting issues. She was late and I was induced for going overdue. But her size wasn’t a issue. And I’m not a particularly large person. Find out how big your mum’s babies were and maybe you grandmothers’ babies.

In my personal experience growth scans were accurate 33% of the time.
I’ve had 2 large for gestational age babies, one undetected , one they were accurate about. Middle baby was predicted to be off the charts massive and she was under 8lb.

My first baby was 10.5lb, long labour back to back but no medical intervention and to tearing. Third baby was 9lb13oz, stop start labour but no problems pushing them out at the end, again no tearing. Was upright in 2/3 of my labors.

I know so many who have been told they’re having a small or large baby, it’s been wildly inaccurate and they’ve ended up with all sorts of unnecessary interventions.

There’s actually no evidence to suggest large baby without any other risk factors requires any intervention.

they told me my baby would be around 8lbs.
He was 10lb 7.5oz. I had an emergency section.
He is now 6ft3!

It’s so so helpful reading everyone’s replies! Thank you so much to everyone who gave the time to share their experience- really good hearing first hand positive and less positive accounts to weigh things up. I think I’m leaning towards an elective section at this stage but I’ll know more after my final growth scan on Tuesday! Eek!

My first was big, ended up being induced at 41 weeks. Long labour resulting in episiotomy and forceps. My pelvic floor has never been the same!
Second baby measuring similarly big (tracking 95th centile) so opted for elective section. Much calmer experience and recovery was smoother (and no more pelvic floor damage!).
Would go for an elective section again, given the choice.

I had a huge and I mean HUGE bump but was not flagged up for having a big baby. So I had gas and air and a water birth with an 11lb baby!! It was far easier than my first baby (pre eclampsia induction 2 weeks early and 8lb8)

The growth scan can be way out, all friends who've had them were predicted far bigger babies than what they had.

That being said you have to weigh up the risks and what you're happy with. There will always be positive and negative experiences from others but it's about what you feel happiest doing, be that elective c section or labouring naturally.

My first was a big baby, just under 9lbs, the labour was alright tbh. Ended up with forceps, but nothing too bad. I was never flagged as having a big baby throughout my pregnancy.
With my second I had growth scans, and was advised to have an induction at 39 weeks as the baby was already 9lbs- she was 6lbs 10!
Only go for the induction if you’re comfortable- growth scans can be inaccurate