This may be a stupid question...but I'm curious, is delivering early/late or having larger babies genetic in any way? I was 2.5 weeks early and over 7.5 lbs, and my brother was 2 weeks early and over 8 lbs. Gets me worried to go full term and have a big ol' baby! (My mom and I are both 5' 8" and pear shaped, so we do have "large birthing hips", as she has always told me lol) Obviously I will be happy whenever and however big my baby is, so this is more of a fun speculation.
@jemmerjams I was born at 37 weeks and weighed 6lbs 6oz, so smaller side of average and early term. My oldest was born at 27 weeks - average weight is 2lbs, he was 2lbs 11oz, so huge for dates. My twins were 33+2 weeks, average weight is 3lbs 12 oz, and they were 4lbs7oz and 5lbs4oz and B got an extra risk factor for being so big for dates. And they were all IVF so the dates were definite.
@jemmerjams I don’t know the answer from a scientific perspective, but anecdotally from my family - my mom was about 2 weeks early with both me and my sister (I don’t know our weights at birth, but I think we were on the smaller side of average), and I was 3 weeks and a day early with my son, who was 6lbs 2 oz. I’m pretty sure my nana (mom’s Mom) was also early with all 4 of her kids, but no clue on their sizes).
@jemmerjams I thought for sure I'd have a big, late baby because my brother and I were both over 10 days late, and I was almost 9 pounds, and my brother was over 9 pounds. Nope. Thankfully DS came a few days early and was a nice, manageable 7 pounds, 5 ounces. I'm really hoping this one will be a little early, too. I feel like having the due date come and go would make me mental with anticipation.
@jemmerjams There aren't any patterns in my family, but there are so many factors that I don't really know.
My mom had 3 kids. All delivered by c-section, at 32, 34, and 36 weeks. I'm the middle. My brother and sister were small. I was 7lb, 8oz, I believe. Pretty big considering how early I was. My mom was T1 diabetic, though. And out of the 3 of us, guess which one developed T2 diabetes?
Anyways, my mom went into early labor with all three of us. My sister has had 3 kids. She went past 40 weeks with all of them. She did go into labor on her own eventually, but did not progress and needed c-sections. That part at least she shared with my mom. All babies were between 8-9 lbs, I believe.
And me, I don't know. I was induced because of the diabetes. I did progress fully, but needed an emergency c-sections due to a cord issue. This time around, I expect a scheduled c-section. My daughter was 8lb, 6oz, delivered on her due date.
@jemmerjams I think so, but have no science to back it up. DH was born at 34 weeks, but was 6lbs. DS clearly has DH size genetics and was 9lbs 2oz when born. I had no indication he was going to be big and my family is very average in size.
@jemmerjams no need to worry. Baby will come when they’re ready, and they’ll be the size they’ll be. 3 weeks early is almost never a particularly big deal; most babies are a healthy birth weight by then. Also no need to worry about baby being on the big side. Their head size is the issue, and those last couple pounds they gain in the 3rd tri go mostly to baby chub.
I feel like there has to be some genetic component to it (coming from both sides). But there’s also a million other things that can effect it, too. So it’s definitely not a sure thing.
I was scared to death about having a huge baby when I was pregnant with DD since my MIL kept talking about how all three of her kids were 9+ lbs, plus my DH is 6'6" and I'm only 5'4" and a very small build. Luckily DD was a manageable 7lbs 4oz and 20in long at 39 weeks. Since becoming an outside baby she has sprouted and clearly takes after DH.
I was two weeks late and weighed 9 pounds and my son was nearly two weeks and weighed 10 pounds, maybe just coincidence though. I'm pretty sure your body makes babies that your body can handle delivering, I wouldn't worry about it.
Unless your body doesn’t. But even then, the doctors will find a way to get it out my baby was 97% head percentile and... yeah. That took a while. But she’s been out for 3 years now! And she was 9 days early!
I asked my mom about all of her kids last night. Apparently we were all big (8 or 9lb). My one sister was apparently induced early so she wouldn't be as big as me. Now I'm hoping that doesn't run in the family!
My mom's biggest was 6lbs 4oz (I was 4lbs 2oz but born a month early) and all born at least a few days early. MIL's biggest was still under 6lbs 8 or 9oz and pretty sure she said all came early. Ds was 8lbs 8oz, 98% head and shoulder dystocia (sunny side up and shoulders stuck because he was so broad shouldered). (I feel ya @HoosOnFirst ! That ended in a bunch of tearing and a shit ton of stitches lol) He was born 3.5 hours shy of 40 weeks. I said from the beginning he would be bigger. It seems like all the babies born in our family have been smaller than our kiddo *shrug* I wouldn't invest much thought into it.
Re: Randoms 4/12
My oldest was born at 27 weeks - average weight is 2lbs, he was 2lbs 11oz, so huge for dates. My twins were 33+2 weeks, average weight is 3lbs 12 oz, and they were 4lbs7oz and 5lbs4oz and B got an extra risk factor for being so big for dates. And they were all IVF so the dates were definite.
TLDR: not according to me and my kids
My mom had 3 kids. All delivered by c-section, at 32, 34, and 36 weeks. I'm the middle. My brother and sister were small. I was 7lb, 8oz, I believe. Pretty big considering how early I was. My mom was T1 diabetic, though. And out of the 3 of us, guess which one developed T2 diabetes?
Anyways, my mom went into early labor with all three of us. My sister has had 3 kids. She went past 40 weeks with all of them. She did go into labor on her own eventually, but did not progress and needed c-sections. That part at least she shared with my mom. All babies were between 8-9 lbs, I believe.
And me, I don't know. I was induced because of the diabetes. I did progress fully, but needed an emergency c-sections due to a cord issue. This time around, I expect a scheduled c-section. My daughter was 8lb, 6oz, delivered on her due date.