Biiiigggg baby

[Sliiim]

My little boy is measuring big, in the 97th percentile!

Im 32 weeks and they have mentioned about inducing me nearer the time.

What has everyone’s experience with induction been?
I might just opt straight for a c-section?!

i had two big babies, 10lb 4 and 10lb 6. Both born naturally, one at home. When I looked into it I would have preferred a c section to induction.

My son was 10lb 14

Had an induction, natural birth, was all fine tbh

How big are you? Makes a missive difference is you're a tiny slight 5ft woman vs a taller/ broader 5ft 9 one. I always measure small but then I'm small, consultant said my low centile baby was actually big compared to me and mother's size should be considered. He also considered shoe size important.

Also every one I know with an off the charts pregnancy went on to have nothing over 9lbs. The big babies I know were all measuring average.

I was measuring at the 97 centile at 32 weeks but by 38 weeks (a week ago) he was measuring on the 88 centile. So things can change and it's worth remembering there's quite a big margin of error with scans as well. I assume that you have been or will be tested for gestational diabetes with a big baby (I was, twice); if you do have it then the risks are different but if you don't, there's mixed evidence about the value of an induction so do some reading about it (clinical terms for big baby are LGA (large for gestational age) or fetal macrosomia) and make up your own mind (the NICE guidelines are just that you should be given the option of induction if you want it, it's not one of those cases where there are super strong indications about better outcomes). Staff might also have opinions based on how big you are i.e. I'm 5'10" so most doctors aren't surprised that the baby is big because it's in proportion and more than one person has said to me that they would feel differently if I was a tiny person with a big baby. So at the moment I'm opting to just wait for him to come in his own time.

That said I haven't had him yet so we will see how big he is in reality!

I measured big throughout, and was induced at 41 weeks as they didn't want her growing any more. They scanned me on the day of the induction and offered the c section but I decided to go ahead with the induction. In the end she was 9lb 7oz (i.e. within the margin of error on the scan) and had a head circumference that was above the 99.6th percentile. I was on the drip for ages but never dilated, possibly as her head was too big to descend. I was contracting like billio on the monitor but fortunately couldn't really feel them so it was fine and then I had a very relaxed EMCS. Easy recovery, breastfed in recovery, all that jazz.

DC2 was a few oz heavier at 39 weeks and was born by ELCS, but her size and position did cause a few minor issues as she was transverse. Nothing major though.

Our big babies weren't a suprise, I was high 8lbs and DH over 10lbs so they were basically the average of our birth weights. I'm also short with small feet and was FECKING ENORMOUS in pregnancy. No one was in the slightest bit surprised when they came out looking like toddlers.

In your shoes I'd seriously consider the section over the induction unless you have a burning desire for a natural delivery. My sections were entirely positive experiences.

Just to say that I had two big babies (one 11lb 6oz and one 10lb 7oz - the second one was planned c section at 41 weeks, the first induced at almost 42 weeks) I wanted natural births and tried with the first but she became an emergency C Section. Second time I went straight for C section and had a really positive experience :-)

My babies range from 9lb 1oz to 11lb 7oz. First was emergency c-section and final was vaginal. Biggest was actually easiest! A lady opposite me in hospital had measures big and had a planned section, then baby was only about 7lb so she was furious.

I'm currently almost 32w and have gestational diabetes but it's well controlled. Baby measuring 75th centile (which is still "big for me" considering the size of me and my husband)
And also abdominal circumference is over 95th centiles which usually correlates with big shoulders so vaginal delivery may be tricky.

So I'll be opting for c section at 39w if baby continues along this current trajectory.

I’m 5ft2!

I’m 5ft2 and been tested twice for gestational diabetes and both tests have came back fine!

@Sliiim I have just had the same. Baby measuring 97th percentile at 32 weeks 5lb 4. Big head and big abdominal. I'm 5'2 also and quite petite size 8 pre pregnancy. They said about baby getting stuck, tares, hemmoroging risks. Also they may do a cesarean or induce early. Won't know much else untill I do my glucose test and go for My next scan. Good luck

We are literally the same! I have my next scan on the 10th October to check how much he has grown. They haven’t said much to me about the risks yet and I have always dreamed of having a water birth but not sure 😬

Big baby article sarah wickham

this may help!

I think the main reason for a baby being large at birth is if the mother has got diabetes or is over weight themselves

Been tested twice for diabetes and they came back fine and I'm not overweight and never have been so I think I just have a big baby :)

I'd take most predictions on size with a huge pinch of salt.

With my last PG I had growth scans all the way through, weekly at the end. Was told they'd be tiny and might need SCBU.

She was 8lb 3oz and born without intervention.

Predictions on size are notoriously unreliable.

You need to focus less on the centile, because what is 98th centile for you will be different for someone else, as the growth charts they use are individualised (to your height, weight, ethnicity etc). I'd instead focus on what the estimated weight would be at birth. Risks increase if baby is estimated to be over 4.5kg at birth. You might find this helpful if you are considering induction or c-section due to babies size: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-for-induction-or-c-section-for-big-baby/

I've told my midwife I'm refusing an induction and will opt for an elective section over an induction. The chances of ending up with intervention from an induction and the additional pain and risks have completely put me off. I think only you can decide on this one.

Don't they get this hugely wrong quite often? I had to have extra scans because I was measuring small and they thought I didn't eat as I was underweight. I had a 9lb 2ozer.
My mum had an induction and she said it was the worst thing ever, there's no way I would have one. You baby might end up being completely average weight especially if you're not over weight and don't have diabetes. Do what you want and don't listen too much to the box tickers would be my advice.

My ‘big baby’ was born smaller than estimated. I second the recommendation to read up on Sara Wickhams work on this topic.

Yeah it can be due to another condition, if the mother has been really stressed, genetics etc

I know so many people told their were having enormous babies who were told to have c-sections or inductions who had 7lb babies 😂

My friend has had 5 babies, all big and all natural. The biggest was 13lb. The smallest was 10lb 9oz.
I think it depends on what size he's measuring now. They can usually calculate how much the baby will weigh at birth and if it will be risky.