Induction/Shoulder Dystocia Fears (big baby)

[HopefulTTC2024]

Hoping for some advice.
Just had a growth scan (35 week) and baby is measuring above 97th centile (has been big all along). Worth noting I’m very small - 5”1.

The consultant was discussing delivery options and the most favourable seems to be induction early (I’d rather avoid cs if possible).
This is my first baby, head is currently measuring just under 40 weeks.

I’d like some thoughts/advice re delivery - I’ve heard inductions are not an easy option and can last days, but what the consultant was most worried about is shoulder dystocia and tears. Has anyone been in a similar situation to this/what happened?

Bump

Take measurements with a pinch of salt. Size estimations are famously innacurate for large babies. The system was designed to pick up smaller ones, and it's more accurate in those cases
Many many people are scared into early delivery in your situation and the babies are very rarely so big as to have been a concern.
Personally I'd be waiting for baby to come on their own.

I have 2 friends in close circle who had inductions because bsby was meant to be huge. Both were 7lb ish and very average.

My baby was born with a broken collarbone after getting stuck, although we had no idea it had happened until the day after when she was being checked over before being discharged. She was a water birth. 9lb - wasn't expecting that! No tears though. I think I'm probably glad - in hindsight - that we knew nothing about it at the time; the birth was amazing.

Honestly I agree with the PPs that the measurements are completely inaccurate and to be taken with a very large pinch of salt. I'd be surprised to hear from anyone who was told they were having a big baby actually having a big baby. DS measured big the whole way through and despite concerns for his size he was a mere 6lb and change at birth.

I've just had my second and she was estimated 9lbs 9oz at my last growth scan at 39+4. I was induced at 39+6 and she was born 36 hours later and was 9lbs 7oz, so they weren't far off! Delivery ended up being helped along with forceps at the final stage. I'm healing well and have no regrets about my birth choices.

I'm 5' and teeny tiny framed was 6st 3oz before my first pregnancy.

2nd was 10lb 6oz - not even a stitch required.

So many scans are way out.