Guess What...

[jgonz]

I realize your own experiences tell you otherwise, but the statistics are that except for a Very few medical type reasons (such as a dwarf marrying a normal sized person, etc.) you Can birth whatever size baby your body grows.

However! There are many things that play into being able to birth a larger baby.... Like I said before, it's the size of the Head, the Position of the baby, whether your pelvis is in correct alignment, if you've gone into labor on your own (no induction or pitocin given), if you have Not had an epidural, if you are able to move around during labor, and if you are Not on your back during labor and birthing.... (also true cases of Gestational Diabetes plays into having larger babies, so someone who truly has issues with this needs to be extremely careful to follow the correct diet to avoid extra unnecessary fat on the baby.) There are also emotional and psychological issues that many women don't even realize they need to deal with before birth.

I know several moms who've given birth to 10lb+ babies (several of them) and they've all said the same thing... It's not the actual Poundage of the baby, it's the other factors.

Using the words "whether or not you're up to the challenge of birthing a bigger baby is up to you" probably sounded rude &/or challenging. But it Is a challenge and you Do have to make the decision in your own mind that you are going to do whatever you have to to birth your baby naturally. (Like checking out www.spinningbabies.com, and making sure that you have health care provider(s) who support you in your endeavor, etc.)

Having a health care provider who considers any baby over 7 or 8lbs to be "large" and "impossible" to birth, is not going to be supportive of you trying to have a natural birth. I stick by my statement that the majority of these types of doctors are saying these things and pushing c-sections purely for their own convenience.

I really don't want to be a thorn in anyone's side here... I was just trying to make the point that birthing a larger baby Can be done, and done well. Ultimately it's up to you, the Consumer, to make the decisions (not even your doctor). And if your decision is to have a c-section, then that's Ok! As a doula, part of my training was learning that as long as the Mom made the choices, then she would have a Much better birth experience and memories than if the doctor took away her choices. I Totally agree with that, not only in seeing it with doula clients, but my also my own experiences.

A fabulous book that's been recommended before in this forum is Henci Goer's A Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. Great information.

 

[CarrieAg93]

I have to disagree,also. My first was 9 lbs, 4 oz and I was unable to give birth vaginally. My cervix refused to dilate. I went through Bradley classes, I was intending on a natural birth (My husband is also a chiropractor and did everything he could to ensure my body was in proper conditon for birthing). I did go into labor on my own, but after 20 hours of hard labor, I was only at 5 cm and was shaking so severly, I was nearly in convulsion. We opted for the C-section at that point, because we didn't feel it was worth the risk to me or the baby to continue to try to labor. This baby will be a scheduled C-section and I'm not going to be ashamed of that.

My next 2 were C-sections and it was the best decision we made. No reason to be ashamed. You're not a better mother if you give birth naturally.

 

[Singin4Him]

Ladies thank you for your input here though I really did not ask for it and feel some of it was a bit unnecessary. I fully trust my OB she gave me the option for a vaginal delivery thru induction and I still have the option to deliver naturally if I go into labor early. However, her fear is that his head is to big and my pelvis is to petite though this won't be 100% confirmed until my next sono which I will have in another week I believe. She was not at all pushing me one way or another, she fully encouraged me to try for a vaginal if I want but her fear was a long labor ending in c-section.

As another woman said, I am not ashamed of having a planned c-section. I feel this is going to be the best option for me unless I go into labor early then I might reconsider. It has nothing to do with whether i am up for the challenge of a vaginal deliver but what is safer for me and my baby.

 

[jessesgirl]

I get that, but you can still have a c-section if you go into labor naturally and at least that way you know the baby is really ready to come out and has those last couple of weeks for even better lung development.

Baby is considered full term @ 38 weeks. Anything after that point is fair game. Singin4him, I don't have another sono until the 21 of this month.

 

[CarrieAg93]

I realize your own experiences tell you otherwise, but the statistics are that except for a Very few medical type reasons (such as a dwarf marrying a normal sized person, etc.) you Can birth whatever size baby your body grows.

However! There are many things that play into being able to birth a larger baby.... Like I said before, it's the size of the Head, the Position of the baby, whether your pelvis is in correct alignment, if you've gone into labor on your own (no induction or pitocin given), if you have Not had an epidural, if you are able to move around during labor, and if you are Not on your back during labor and birthing.... (also true cases of Gestational Diabetes plays into having larger babies, so someone who truly has issues with this needs to be extremely careful to follow the correct diet to avoid extra unnecessary fat on the baby.) There are also emotional and psychological issues that many women don't even realize they need to deal with before birth.

I know several moms who've given birth to 10lb+ babies (several of them) and they've all said the same thing... It's not the actual Poundage of the baby, it's the other factors.

Using the words "whether or not you're up to the challenge of birthing a bigger baby is up to you" probably sounded rude &/or challenging. But it Is a challenge and you Do have to make the decision in your own mind that you are going to do whatever you have to to birth your baby naturally. (Like checking out www.spinningbabies.com, and making sure that you have health care provider(s) who support you in your endeavor, etc.)

Having a health care provider who considers any baby over 7 or 8lbs to be "large" and "impossible" to birth, is not going to be supportive of you trying to have a natural birth. I stick by my statement that the majority of these types of doctors are saying these things and pushing c-sections purely for their own convenience.

I really don't want to be a thorn in anyone's side here... I was just trying to make the point that birthing a larger baby Can be done, and done well. Ultimately it's up to you, the Consumer, to make the decisions (not even your doctor). And if your decision is to have a c-section, then that's Ok! As a doula, part of my training was learning that as long as the Mom made the choices, then she would have a Much better birth experience and memories than if the doctor took away her choices. I Totally agree with that, not only in seeing it with doula clients, but my also my own experiences.

A fabulous book that's been recommended before in this forum is Henci Goer's A Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. Great information.

No thorn here. I just don't like it (is that a thorn ) when people assume that a vaginal birth is best in every situation and that anyone can have one. I truly believe that had I been giving birth in the days before modern medicine (i.e. induction) both my baby and I would have died in child birth. As it is my son has brain damage, epilepsy, and language delays from being born naturally. We knew something was wrong and practically begged for a C-section, but our doctor was anti C-section unless the baby was in distress so she wouldn't listen to us. I was all for a natural birth, but my mother's intuition kicked in and because I was ignored my son suffered.

Anyway, sorry your thread got derailed, Singin4him. Congrats on your BIG boy. Don't let my experience scare you if you are able to go naturally, but also don't let someone make you feel guilty that you've chosen a C-section. I believe that Mother's intuition is God's gift to moms. Good luck.

 

[seamonster]

Baby is considered full term @ 38 weeks. Anything after that point is fair game. Singin4him, I don't have another sono until the 21 of this month.

I understand that anything between 37 & 42 weeks is considered normal. I just asked the original poster about why she chose to schedule a c-section instead of preferring to go into labor naturally so that she knows her baby is really ready. I'm not ripping on anyone, I asked out of genuine curiosity because I've heard of people scheduling c-sections early but don't know what the benefits would be, other than being able to choose your baby's due date. If you've already decided to go with a c-section, it really won't matter if you go into labor early or not because you already know how that baby is coming out.

Ladies thank you for your input here though I really did not ask for it and feel some of it was a bit unnecessary.

Not sure if this is in response to me or not, but I was really just curious as to why you would schedule your c-section early. I wasn't trying to upset anyone

 

[katelyn]

So we decided that if I go into labor early on my own I may try for a vaginal birth depending on his size. Otherwise we have a c-section scheduled tentatively for the 26th of December.

This means there's a chance you'll have your baby before I have mine. If I would happen to be two weeks late (which is probably the latest they would let me go without inducing) that would put me at Dec. 28. Of course, I'm hoping it won't get to that point! Good luck with whatever happens.

 

[RoseofLima]

I have to disagree. My first was 10 lbs. 4 oz. He had to be pulled out with forceps because he wasn't going to come out on his own no matter how hard I pushed. In hindsite he should have been a C-section. We both would have been better off. He was also 9 days late and I showed no signs of going into labor so I was induced. No telling how big he'd been if we'd waited until my body decided it was time. Yikes!!

Most often this truly has nothing to do with the baby's size-but rather how he is presenting. If a baby is not presenting in an optimal position- he can get really hung up in the pelvis- or labor can really not progress well.

My smallest baby was the only one who was ever dystosic...she was only 6lb. 13 oz..but was in a super wierd presentation. Oddly my biggest baby who was just about 9 lbs had a nuchal arm- but didn't get all hung up -though my labor was four days late- which for me is really late- probably because her hand was interfering with the optimal pressure on my cervix.

I really liked what Linnis had to say though- if a woman is unsure of herself or frightened for the health of her baby- and makes the informed decision to have a c-section---she will probably much more satisfied with her whole birth experience.

 

[Thankful4HIM]

I don't think 6lbs is huge.. all my babies have been under 6 lbs and I find that to be tiny... to me a big baby is 8lbs or more

 

[Singin4Him]

I don't think 6lbs is huge.. all my babies have been under 6 lbs and I find that to be tiny... to me a big baby is 8lbs or more

You're right, 6 pounds isn't big but it is big for me only being 35 weeks today so he probably will be about 8 pounds...or more when we have him .

 

[Evangelina]

Do you find that pre-birth weight estimates tend to be accurate, over there? I know a number of women who were told an approximate birth weight, only to find out that baby was 2-3 pound lighter or heavier than estimated.

 

[jgonz]

Do you find that pre-birth weight estimates tend to be accurate, over there? I know a number of women who were told an approximate birth weight, only to find out that baby was 2-3 pound lighter or heavier than estimated.

It's the same here, unfortunately. Very inaccurate.

 

[Singin4Him]

Do you find that pre-birth weight estimates tend to be accurate, over there? I know a number of women who were told an approximate birth weight, only to find out that baby was 2-3 pound lighter or heavier than estimated.

Yes this can be true. I actually go in for another sono a week from Friday so we'll see what they say then.

 

[CrystalBrooke]

Emily's weight was fairly accurate, my doctor expected her to be just a little over 7 lbs and she was 7lb 13.4oz ..not that it mattered, I ended up having a c-section. I hope you have a delivery that is best for you and that the baby is healthy...we already know he'll be beautiful!

 

[Thankful4HIM]

You're right, 6 pounds isn't big but it is big for me only being 35 weeks today so he probably will be about 8 pounds...or more when we have him .

I think they say babies don't gain as faster when they're getting Older.. or could I be wrong. but anyway.. yeah an 8 lber is one big baby! wish you the best in that one lol

 

[RedTulipMom]

Yep he's gonna be a bit big I think. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I haven't been sick at all during my whole pregnancy...or it could just be genes who knows . I'm pretty shocked though.

that has nothing to do with it. I was sick as a dog till week 17 with my son luke..and he was a BIG baby. I had pre-eclampsia so they had to induce me at 35 1/2 weeks and luke was born weighing 7 lbs 8 ozs..they said he would have been about 10 lbs if he was full term.

 

[Singin4Him]

that has nothing to do with it. I was sick as a dog till week 17 with my son luke..and he was a BIG baby. I had pre-eclampsia so they had to induce me at 35 1/2 weeks and luke was born weighing 7 lbs 8 ozs..they said he would have been about 10 lbs if he was full term.

Nice to know, thanks.

 

[hisbloodformysins]

Wow, a christmas baby. My daughter was kind of a christmas baby also, had her Dec. 22cd, and it was a planned c-section, due the 31st. The doctor let me come home christmas eve (though I could've benefited from staying longer) anyways, that is great, that means you get to have your baby sooner! God Bless!

HB

 

[hisbloodformysins]

He could be 10 pounds, don't they gain a pound a week by then?

HB

 

[ChildByGrace]

Well one thing that sprang to mind when i read your first post is someone i used to work with. Her sister was a little under 5 foot and she was a british size 6 (so a 2 in the US i think).

She gave birth to a 13lb baby. She had no problems and didn't have one stitch. It's not always the head that weighs alot.