Very big baby - induction vs. C-section?

[TeainanIV]

I'm feeling so conflicted and frightened and would love to hear others experiences/perspectives. Apologies as this is a long one!!

For context, I'm currently 37 + 4 weeks pregnant with my second baby - first DD was a teeny tiny dot (5lbs 3 ozs and born at 37 + 5 weeks, vaginal birth but very traumatic, very fast ending with forceps and episiotomy followed by a large PPH). As a result, I've been on aspirin this pregnancy (stopped at 36 weeks) and had regular growth scans to monitor baby. This baby is HUGE! For the last three growth scans has gotten bigger and bigger, now plotting on the 99th centile. My consultant is also concerned about my water as that is way over the threshold - I had a lot of water with my DD too.

After my growth scan this week the consultant sat us down to discuss options - basically offered an induction Vs C-section at 39 weeks. I was very overwhelmed and a little teary - I've got a lot of anxiety around birth due to my first. Their concern is that it's particularly baby's stomach measurement that is large (head is pretty much fully engaged now so they couldn't get a measurement). There was discussion about induction leading to baby becoming stuck in the birth canal and ending in emergency section - I think for me this would be my worst case scenario. After a lot of discussion, I opted for the planned section to feel more controlled but I'm still petrified. The recovery frightens me and I've never had any surgery before - I also really want to breastfeed again and I've got worries about it being more difficult to establish after a section. I don't know what's for the best - the consultant was lovely and has assured me it's still ultimately my choice. If I go in to labour spontaneously and decide I want to try and labour I can do.

Has anybody had experiences of this before?? I know that growth scans can be inaccurate, but these have been consistent my whole pregnancy which gives me more confidence in them being right. Thank you if you've made it this far!

Edited to add: I have had a gestational diabetes test which came back normal.

I had a similar experience with my first child, measuring big so it was recommended that I was induced. They tried for 3 days to induce me and it didn't work so recommended C-section. The C-section went really smoothly, what helped me through it as I was scared to have the surgery was thinking that they do this all the time. The team doing it really put me at ease too. The recovery for me wasn't as bad as I expected, they want you up and moving as soon as possible, it is painful at the start but the pain doesn't last too long and before you know it you're up and moving around and carrying and changing baby etc. I also had a C-section with my second as he was also measuring big and had a similar experience. Hopefully this helps!

I had 2 elcs. The births were great / enjoyable. Super calm and we had a nice music play list

Recovery was sore but doable/ fine. Get up as soon as you can i was about 6-7 hrs post op and get shuffling day 2-3 is the worst but you are home by then usually.

Other threads on here have all the tips but main ones

bring a pillow in coloured pillow case (hospital ones arent nice) use the pillow on your stomach in the car.
Good sports water bottle
Long charging cable.
Ask for stronger painkillers if needed
First poo was fine both times just take the lactulose.
6wks post surgery get silicone strips.

My milk took a little longer to come in (day5?) But i produced milk FINE. Bf was crap for me due to her latch but i had all the milk. There is also medicine that can boost supply.

Given your description of 1st birth i think you'll be pleasantly surprised by elcs

@Grenouillevert thank you for sharing your experience - can I ask, were the growth scans accurate and your DC big in the end? I hear such mixed opinions on growth scans! Even my community midwife dismissed them in my appointment the other week!

@TemuSpecialBuy thanks so much for your advice and sharing your experiences - can I ask, what are the silicone strips you mentioned at 6 weeks? I need to do some research as I'm clueless on C-section recovery!!

My Ds was 4kg (almost 9lb). I’m very petite, dh tall. Although he measured at 99+ percentile for almost everything all the way through, there was no talk of him being too big and c section needed ( in not in uk so maybe they have different regulations). Birth was straight forward and no complications. He was very long also, and newborn clothes didn’t fit.

@Caspianberg this sounds similar to myself and my DH! All my family are very small, and had small babies so this whopper has thrown us!!

I think the reason they've offered a C-section is because it's particularly the baby's stomach measurement that's large and they're concerned of them becoming stuck in the birth canal. They offered me both induction or c-section and after a long talk I chose the section for fear of needing an emergency one anyway. But it's still ultimately my choice, if I go in to labour beforehand I can try and see how I go. I just don't know what's for the best!

Please have the c section. I have birth to a back to back 11lb baby and it was hell - I’m only 5’3. Took 36 hours and I couldn’t even talk about it for years. Had a planned c- section the second time around and it was just so easy. Honestly my recovery physically and mentally was a breeze.

@FergusSingsTheBIues I'm so sorry you had that experience, it sounds terrifying - thank you for sharing with me. This is my fear, I'm 5'2 and the thought of birthing a huge baby worries me so much. I'm definitely leaning more towards the section, I just need to wrap my head around it I think

I'd recommend the c section. I've had 2 (9lb @ 38w, & 10lb 6 oz @ 39w) and the recovery was much faster from them than the natural birth of my first (8lb 1oz @ 38w). I also had lots of fluid and negative for gestational diabetes.

My milk came in as usual, so no problem breastfeeding. Good luck, hope all goes smoothly.

I've had two inductions with big babies - I really should have had c-sections as very traumatic. I'd go with a scheduled C-section.

@Swissrollover thank you for sharing and that's really good to know regarding the breastfeeding - I know there's no guarantee with it but I had such a positive experience with my DD I really want to try again second time around too

@May09Bump thank you for sharing, and I'm so sorry you had such an awful time with your inductions 💐

They were both smaller than the growth scans but still quite big babies but not huge... One was 3.9kg and the other 3.96kg. I don't really hold much faith in the growth scans either as the scans were predicting huge but I do think they give some indication...

@Grenouillevert this is my worry too - it's such a gamble isn't it! Wish I had a crystal ball and I could see what would happen with induction Vs section 🙈

Just to give the other side and with no desire to influence anyone, I had my 10'6 baby vaginally and my labour was just over 3 hours. I was home the same day and my recovery was very fast. I'm REALLY not suggesting anyone else does the same- but big baby does not necessarily mean difficult labour.

I had an induction for supposedly big baby and he was only 7lbs! It was fine.

As someone who has observed doctors perform 2 c sections years ago and it’s stayed with me, I would not choose this over an induction. People may say it’s easier because they don’t look behind the sheet, but it’s actually realty brutal - two doctors literally rip your stomach apart with force after the incision ( they don’t cut as it causes more damage) goes through 8 layers. The baby comes out really quickly and then they sew up each layer one by one. It takes about an hour.

The doctors perform so many c sections these days if you look at the stats which is reassuring. Basically doubling in last decade. So they have lots of practice. But Is the workforce there… has this doubled too? I’ve got no idea, but I do know it takes 10-12 people to do a c section and 2 people for induction all being well.

It’s a major operation and there are risks of scar tissue, potential complications on subsequent pregnancies. Hysterectomies and infections.

I’ll never understand why people opt for c section when they are being offered an induction and it’s not clinically necessary

I'm not offering you advice just my experience, they said my baby had a big stomach and pestered me to have an induction, she was 8.4 which I didn't think was that big. I refused an induction all the way through because I couldn't see how that would actually help. In the end my waters broke (I had a lot of water too) and she failed to progress so I had to have an EMCS.the consultant did say it was a good job I'd refused the induction at that point.
From anecdotal stories from other women, large isn't necessarily a diff birth but I can understand why you are concerned.

It took me ages to heal from the CS and I was in pain. Years later and I still have numbness from it too.

It really is, and it's not an easy decision, in the end I listened to the recommendations from the consultants (I know this is not for everyone as they have different preferences!) - especially with my first as I had no experience and I figured they are the experts. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I’ve had 4 sections. My first baby was similar to you, she was 5lb 13 born. Second measured big and I was advised to have section no 2. He was 9lb 1 so not quite as big as expected.
Recovery isn’t too bad. Get moving as soon as you can. Get home as soon as you can! You can relax more in your own home.
I breastfed all my children after sections with no issues x

Whilst I didn’t measure big on either occasions my first was 9lbs 4 and second 9lbs 15. Both were fairly traumatic births and babies were shoulder dystocia births which is exactly why they offer a c section . Long labours and hours of pushing and both were induced. I’m 5ft 4, and I was in hospital a few weeks after with her first and only a few days with the second. I won’t be having another baby but if I did it would be an elective c section absolutely. Regardless I still had my babies and they are fine, but the dr who delivered my second baby was actually furious after he delivered that my consultant didn’t either induced me much earlier or have a planned section

I had a section for other reasons and honestly the recovery wasn't too bad , the only annoying thing was I struggled to lie flat but plenty pillows and it was fine . Only lasted about 10 days or so.

Whereas my first baby was 9.4lbs and it was absolutely fine. Back to back Labour but was completely manageable with gas and air. No tears and minimal blood loss

Big baby can be easier to birth as they have some weight to push through… like a big poo!

Sorry struggling to reply individually but I am so grateful for every response! I appreciate hearing both sides of the coin - these are the things I keep debating in my own mind! I think my other concerns are shoulder dystocia (@GreatScroller so sorry you had to go through that). But then equally I know others have said the same, that often bigger babies are easier to birth than smaller ones - and my teeny tiny DD was definitely not an easy birth!! Aaah I just don't know what to do - ultimately, I know that if I decide even the day before that I don't want the section anymore I can do and go for an induction instead and see what happens.

As traumatic as my first birth was, the recovery wasn't too bad - and I worry that recovering after a section with a toddler too would be very tricky.

Lots of to think about and I cannot thank you all enough for sharing your experiences, I know it's not always easy thinking about our births especially if they've been a traumatic one 💐

I used Elastoplast XL but any of them are good,

you just stick it over the HEALED scar never broken / healing skin!!!

I don’t know why there don’t tell people about them. it really helps prevent bad healing (internal adhesions etc)

8m after my second I have very light internal scarring on one side and have got more silicone strips to address it and it’s almost gone (I was v space with massaging as have a toddler too)

You take the strip off when you shower and gently massage it. It’s really important for healing and no one tells you!

@TemuSpecialBuy thanks for the tip! I've heard about the importance of scar massage - need to look in to all of this if I do go with a section! Thanks for your reply - can I ask, how did you find recovery with a toddler as well? My DD is 3 now and I just feel so bad for her. I've been no fun at all these last few weeks as I've struggled so much with how big I am and general exhaustion 😞 think she just wants Mum back to normal!!