Baby is HUGE! So scared

lindsaur

I have been having some complications in my final weeks of pregnancy. (Low amniotic fluid, high blood pressure.) I am 38 weeks and my most recent ultrasound determined the baby is 10 lbs! I am freaking out. I know that this prediction can be a pound off either direction, but this is still a huge boy. My doctor wants me to be induced Monday when I am 39 weeks. My biggest concern is trying to deliver such a large baby. Am I better to just request a c-section at this point? I realize this baby is coming out one way or the other, but neither seems ideal to me. I'm so afraid.

rue:D

That's a call you have to make. Would you be okay with trying for a vaginal delivery on the chance that it won't work and you have to ultimately have a c-section anyway? I've read from others that c-sections done after laboring are harder to recover from for some reason (no experience from me), so it may be worth considering the c-section. Just depends how important a vaginal birth is to you, as I know it's really important to some people. I opted for the c-section personally. I went in knowing what to expect and I didn't really have any surprises.

NicoleAndDerrick

I am a FTM and still pregnant so I can't offer you any personal experience. However, one of my best friends requested a c-section because large babies run in both her and her husbands family and her baby was measuring large before she was due as well. She was overdue by a couple of days and ended up scheduling a c-section rather than being induced. A lot of nurses were making judgmental comments to her for not trying a vaginal birth. But After her little girl was born at well over 11 lbs, her doctor applauded her decision and said that there was a very strong chance that the baby could have dislocated her shoulders in a vaginal delivery. At the end of the day, you need to make the decision that feels best for you. This is your baby, your body and your choice! Either choice you make will result in the same outcome: your precious little gift in your arms! Good luck

MrsFaust1432

My little girl was estimated to be 10lbs 7oz at my 38week ultrasound. My OB suggested a c-section due to babies size, but said she would support our decision to go natural if that is what we decided.

Ultimately we decided to go with the c-section bc we wanted what was safest for both baby and myself-and that's what the doctor suggested and she is the professional not us.

We ended up having a 9lb little girl so the ultrasound was almost a pound and a half off! The ultrasound can definitely be wrong but I was still happy with my decision to have the c-section and I believe I would have preferred it anyway over labor.

All that to say... Talk with your OB and come up with a plan that you will be happy with! Good luck!

ktlany

I was in a similar situation last week. The dr estimated 9 lbs at our 39 week appt so we discussed induction to avoid letting baby get too big to deliver vaginally, which was my goal. My dr was very supportive of a vaginal birth and so we decided to induce. I labored for 56 hours, including 3 hours of pushing before deciding to have a c-section. Ultimately, baby got stuck and wasn't progressing.

From my experience the induction process is very long and painful. You're basically asking your body to do something it's not ready for. I knew going into it that there's a higher chance of c-section, but I was prepared for that and felt since the baby was big that this would be my best chance at delivering vaginally. She ended up being 7 lbs 14 oz, so the estimate was pretty far off. I think if we had waited until I labored naturally we could have avoided the c-section, but who knows.

In the end we have a happy healthy baby who is a champ at breastfeeding and sleeping. The recovery isn't fun, but I'm 5 days out and already feel almost normal.

Do what you feel is right, you're the mama! Any decision you make will end with your baby in your arms.

lissabee21

My friend had two babies who were both 10lbs and she isn't a big gal. She didn't need to be induced or anything

basdenjn6

We're in a similar boat right now and it's hard to know what to do. I've had friends who did c-sections for big babies and a cousin who delivered an 11pound baby vaginally. There is no right answer. I would say your best bet is to have a thorough, honest conversation with your doc, go over all your concerns about every option and go from there. In the end, we've decided that however it plays out I refuse to have regrets. This is the first of a million decisions with this baby that I won't know what's "right" just gotta do my best! Good luck momma!

NathanheartsKim

@lindsaur Don't let them scare you! A friend of mine got talked into a c-section because her baby was "over 10 pounds"! Fast forward to the c-section and here is an 8 pounds 13oz baby. Definitely not over 10 pounds. Another friend of mine was induced due to BP but they were telling her baby was already over 9 pounds. Nope, 7 pounds 9oz. In my experience they are usually off by a pound or more and the baby is pretty much always smaller. ♡

ameares721

If I were in your situation, I'd get an epidural and try vaginal birth, that way if I did need an emergency c-section, I could be awake for the birth. I didn't realize until I took classes at the hospital that if you need an emergency c-section and don't already have an epidural, you have to be out completely under!

lindsaur

Thank you so much everyone for your words of advice and encouragement! I'm going to try my best to deliver without c-section, but I am going to go in prepared for anything.

mistycray

My daughter was estimated to be between 10-11 lbs and came out weighing 8 lbs 1 oz., and I let my obgyn convince me that a csection would be best. Since then Ive had to have two other csections all because her us tech measured wrong.