Opinions: C-section vs. vaginal

cja06

New moms, I could use your opinion. I had another ultrasound this morning and the baby is measuring 9 lbs. at 39 weeks. I've been having consistent ultrasounds throughout the later half of my pregnancy for kidney-related issues and the baby has been measuring consistently very big. The doctor confirmed that while it is possible the baby is closer to 8 lbs, it is more likely that he is measuring correctly because I have had so many ultrasounds.

Because I am so petite and do not have diabetes, my doctor is recommending I either induce or consider a scheduled c-section before the baby gets larger. I am really torn about the right thing to do. I had a vaginal delivery with my first child, and I don't like the idea of doing a c-section. However, if I try to go vaginally and the baby gets stuck or suffers a broken arm, collar bone, etc. (all possible complications for the baby) that would be horrible. The little guy already has an obstructed kidney that will need to be addressed after he is born. I think c-section is the safest thing for the baby, but not necessarily for me.

My question is now that you have given birth - would you have chosen to have a c-section or vaginal delivery? And did anyone give birth to a baby larger than 8lbs. 13 oz., if so, how did it go?

 

sandy02

I would definitely choose vaginal.  My sister is a size 4 and had 2 10 lb'ers no problem.  Good luck with you decision!

pixy_stix

I read stories all the time where the docs told someone the baby was going to be a giant, and came out normal.  When my docs were telling me my babe was measuring huge I posted about it, and would literally get 2 pages of people with stories that their baby was smaller than what was on the u/s.

That being said, there were a handful that the baby was larger.  )

Point being, the u/s measurements are just a guess.  From the stories, the u/s measurements are just about as accurate as a carny guessing your weight for a prize.

JMama10

it is my understanding that women very rarely make babies they can't birth vaginally.  plus, every time i hear of a baby measuring big, it is always wrong and the baby ends up not being as big as they say it will be. 

LCB34

I loved my c-section (well everything but the fact that I was under general) and my recovery was a breeze. 

I delivered at 38 weeks do to medical comlications with me but, I will never attempt a vaginal birth b/c I loved my c-section that much.

ETA: I had a growth u/s 3 days before I delivered and was told K was 6 lbs 6 oz.  She was 6 lbs 2 oz at birth so the u/s measurement was pretty accurate for us.

dougsbug

C section is major surgery and as such, comes with surgical recovery. I don't know how old your first is, but consider if you feel you are able to juggle recovery, your current child and a newborn. Do you have help? I had a c section almost 2 weeks ago and am just now feeling like I can do the things I hve been wanting to be able to do...including sitting up in bed to nurse, while holding thr baby.

dougsbug

Ps I had a growth u/s at 38 wks and it showed 6.9. A week later, I had a c section at 39 weeks and she was 6.13, so it was also pretty accurate for me. Buuuut I was surprised about that fact that it was accurate bc had heard so many other stories...

Twinluv

I'd say go with what your Dr feels is the safest. I gave birth to Twins three months ago and was TERRIFIED of a C-Section. I fought up until the end to try vaginally (Baby B ended up traverse). At that point, I was in so much pain, I said, "let's do the C!". In the end, it was a breeze! I had such a great experience. The whole procedure maybe took 30-45 mins as opposed to HOURS of potential labor and complications. Both my little babies did great! Healthy and no probs at all. The recovery for me was easy as well. As long as you stay on top of your meds, you shouldn't feel that much pain. I'm not going to lie, getting out of bed was torture on the first day, but once you take your meds, the pain is gone. If you do feel the C-section is the way to go, don't be scared. I was a HUGE scaredy cat and in the end (compared to being pregnant), the discomfort was nothing.

Good luck with your decision!

Spookster

I originally wanted to do a natural vaginal birth with my DD, unfortunatley I was breech at 40 weeks and decided the odds of a version working were slim as I had elevated AF and a very active baby. I had my baby the day after my 40 week appt 8-27-10, my c-sec was a great experience and wouldnt have changed my descision, I think its all about what you want and what your comfortable with. Yes it is major surgery and with such there are complications, I know for me though I was up walking around the very next day and all my pain was gone in 2 weeks. I have a very light scar and you can barely tell its there, I will in the future have to have c-sections becasue of the insicion to my uterus, they had to do a t shaped insicion becasue they couldnt get a good hold on DD and her head was so big and didnt want to come out, the obgyn who did it said she would have been very suprised if I could have birthed Makaia naturally her head was 15.5 inches around..but its all up to what your comfortable with just weigh your options...it took me 5 hours after they told me to decide to go with a c-sec. It is definetly not any easy choice.

blondek8

I vag delivered my twins last week. Our last growth scan was 4 days prior to my delivery. It estimated the twins' weights at 7.13 and 7.8 they ended up being 6.12 and 6.1. My epidural was amazing. I had ZERO pain, only pressure and both twins needed forceps to help them out. My recovery hadn't been all that great though. Lots of pain and swelling in my crotch. Sometimes difficult to walk/sit. Neither method of delivery is without pain. Just b/c you're petite doesn't mean your body can't accommodate a bigger baby. Your decision -- go with what suits you best and forget about everyone else.

SarahC720

I personally would not wish a c-section on my worst enemy.  I had a horrible time with the recovery (starting in the OR right after DD was born). 

DD was 8lb, 14oz and I wanted to have a vaginal birth so badly, but developed a fever during labor and wasn't progressing fast enough - which landed me in the OR.  Had they known for sure that DD was OK I would have tried longer for the vaginal....oh well. 

I know everyone's experience is different, and lots of PP say they had a good experience....just wanted you to know that it isn't like that for everyone.  I will try for a VBAC with LO #2 for sure.  

GL.

Mrs.Eisensmith

I have no idea on a c-section, but I was induced for blood pressure reasons, and because I guess DS was measuring big.  They said he was a bit over 8lbs, and he ended up being over 9lbs.  So, I guess I'm one of the weird people.

Vaginal birth wasn't that bad.  I had around 2 hours of pushing, but it was more to do with the size of his head and not the size of the baby.  Pedi said that his head was past the size for 42 weeks, and I was at 39<.< The induction was a good thing for me.  I did end up with a tear, but it was only bad for a couple days and then I was good to go.  If a 2-3 inches of stitches were that annoying, I'm not sure I would have wanted to deal with a c-section.

5de5

I org. wanted a natural unmedicated birth.  A week before my due date I opted for a c/s because I had GD so they would not let me go past my due date. LO had not dropped, I was not dilated or effaced and was a very very poor induction candidate (I had a 75% chance of a c/s anyway). my c/s was the day before my EDD, the u/s the week before showed LO was 7.5lbs, she was exactly 8lbs 1oz at birth, so accounting for the week of growth the u/s was very accurate for us.

I loved my c/s, and had a great recovery.  I was up and walking around the room the same night, and the halls the next morning. I ended up having to share a room with a woman who had a vaginal delivery of a 10lb + baby, and she was in a lot more pain than I was.  I think some people will have great and awful experiences no matter how they deliver. Ultimately it's a very personal choice, but if I had to do it again I'd chose the c/s again

mrs.kapow

Due to the baby's kidney issues, I would be more apt for scheduling either an induction or c/s, that choice being up to my likelihood of a successful induction.

I was induced at 40 wks due to low amniotic fluid and had a good experience. With just cervadil, I went into active labor and delivered DD with just IV drugs.

And our u/s the day before DD was born estimated her to be just under 8 lbs. She was 7 lb 9 oz, so they were accurate in their guess. 

Kimmy1836

I would never, ever do an elective c-section based on size simply because those weight estimates aren't always accurate. I have heard of women being told they were going to have a 9 lb+ baby to then have one around 7 lbs.

I would choose to vaginally deliver if I were you. My daughter was 8 lbs 5 oz and I am a small girl who had a successful vaginal delivery.  

KellyD01

I've had babies both ways and would by ALL means go vaginal if at all possible. I can also tell you that the u/s  (and I had TONS) guestimated my twins to be each well over 8# each I think  the last one guessed them at almost 9# a piece. They were born a week after that last u/s at 6#11 and 6#14

ETA: My C-section was for all intents an absolute breeze! My incision was all but healed on the outside by 8 days pp when we had  the  staples removed. By 2 weeks pp I was able to do things I hadn't done in months. No complications from the epi or from the spinal. I would STILL deliver vaginally next time around if there is a next time!

cg0112358

I had a friend who was talked into a c/s by her doctor. He kept telling her that her baby was going to be too big for her to delivery vaginally and so she scheduled the c/s. Five days before her scheduled delivery date the doc said her baby was already over 9 lbs. She delivered her 8 lb 2 oz baby via c/s. He was more than a pound less than predicted.

I had a c/s due to breech position after my water broke and I desperately wish I had never had one. I agree with PP that "I personally would not wish a c-section on my worst enemy.  I had a horrible time with the recovery." My c/s left me unable to BF my child b/c the medications left him so sleepy I couldn't wake him up to feed him. At the same time the pain I was going through was so intense I couldn't do without the meds. Even with help from the LC I still ended up having to supplement with formula and since I don't respond well to the pump I now struggle with supply issues even though DS does nurse now. It was almost two weeks before I could get out of bed without being in tears (and that was fully medicated on prescription narcotics!!)

I know that some people have good c/s experiences but I am not one of them. My c/s experience affected me so much that if I can't VBAC for the next one DS might be an only child.

kcisthebombdotcom

I had a friend deliver a large baby and the LO suffered a shoulder injury, had lung issues, and she ended up with a 3rd degree tear and had a painful recovery, even longer than my c-section one. C-section is usually a tougher recovery, but not always. I had a 10lb LO, ended up with a c-section and gladly volunteered for another one for this pregnancy. I'd personally go for the c-section. I had a great recovery and I felt it was best for my LO considering his size.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

smerka

I had an induction and vaginal birth with my first (9 pounds, 6 ounces) and a planned c-section with my second (he was breech).  C-section was infinitely easier to recover from.  I didn't feel right after my first for almost 3 months.  I'm 6 weeks pp with my second and have felt fine for a couple weeks.  Everyone is different.

hollywoodgirl311

I can't speak with the issue with a large baby since both of mine were under 7lbs but I have had both a c-section as well as a VBAC.  Personally the c-section was horrible.  It may have been cause of laboring 15 hours overnight making me exhausted going into it, but I was not able to walk over a day, I felt horrible for weeks and was very sore moving around for over a month.  The severe pain took a few weeks to get over for me and it made breast feeding tough cause of getting into a comfy position to nurse. 

 My vaginal birth was un-medicated and amazing.  I had a small scratch and got a couple stitches but I can say that the discomfort I felt recovering from the VBAC was not able to be considered pain when I compared it to the c-section.  Many say that planned c-sections are not as bad cause you go in rested and knowing what you are faced with.  For me and many others, the shock and depression you feel after an failed vaginal birth attempt makes things harder to cope with. 

I recommend going for the vaginal birth cause the experience and recovery is top notch in my opinion but learn from my mistake and don't get upset/depressed if it ends in a c-section. Some things just work out that way.  Good luck and let us know how it all goes!

beccs98

I had a 9lb 12oz baby vaginally. I was induced at 41w1d and had him at 41w3d. I had 2nd degree tears.

All that being said, I would still choose vaginal over c-section. My recovery really wasn't that bad (Especially considering his size). The only thing I would change is how long the whole process took, but really, there was nothing that could be done about that!

As for the ultrasound: We never had a growth u/s (our last one was at 25weeks, and that was an elective 3D u/s) so we had NO idea how big he was. I think I would prefer it that way though. If I went into it knowing he was almost 10 lbs I might have psyched myself out! Good luck!

lauroura

No opinion on the vaginal but my c section was great as was my recovery. I was super anxious about it but it's been two weeks and I have been feeling ~85% since the 1 week mark.

And at 36 weeks E was measuring 8 lbs 8 oz and we were given an est birth weight of ~9 lbs. We opted for a c section d/t the reasons OP stated and E ended being 10 lbs 6 oz so I am super glad we went with the c section.

rachelann

I had ultrasounds throughout my pregnancy- about 10 or 11 total and I had two the last week I was pregnant.  They always said he was going to be about 9lbs.  He was 8 lbs 4oz. 

I was told because his head and femur always measured so big that it skewed the weight estimate. 

I would vote for vaginal.

driveshorses

I too had a ton of ultrasounds because of past pregnancy issues. DD constantly measured super big, she was supposed to be 9-10lbs easy. She was 8#1oz and 20.5in long. I would choose a vaginal birth over a c-section. I had 2 sections (first an emergency cs, 2nd planned) and they're not a walk in the park.

Don't underestimate your body! Mine just happens to abhor the last trimester of pregnancy and everything about birth.

iheartstuart

My first DD was 9 pounds, 7 ounces and I gave birth vaginally.  I would much prefer a vaginal birth over a c-section.  

jazzyexpo

LCB34:

I loved my c-section (well everything but the fact that I was under general) and my recovery was a breeze. 

I delivered at 38 weeks do to medical comlications with me but, I will never attempt a vaginal birth b/c I loved my c-section that much.

ETA: I had a growth u/s 3 days before I delivered and was told K was 6 lbs 6 oz.  She was 6 lbs 2 oz at birth so the u/s measurement was pretty accurate for us.

This. I really loved mine too. I had a spinal though. I had no choice DD was breech & I had low fluid. 5 days before our ultrasound said 7lb 13oz & DD came out 7lb 12oz. It is different for everyone, but I had no problems.

Mrs_JR

I had to face the same decision. DH was pushing for the c/s to lessen risk to the baby but it just didn't feel right to me. Both of my babies were smaller than estimated on their u/s. I went with the induction and delivered my son way easier than my daughter, who was almost a pound smaller than him. Good luck with your decision!

kelleylk

Definitely vaginal!  I was told my baby was going to be over 9 lbs at my 38 week appointment.  The OB told me I should get a c-section.  I decided to go ahead with a vaginal delivery.  Glad I did.  I delivered an 8 pound 4 ounce baby boy.  Pushing went fine.

My aunt gave birth to a 10 lb boy vaginally and only had a 1st degree tare.  She is petite also 5'2'', 110 lbs. 

I really think you should do as much research on c-sections as possible before you make your decision.  Its major abdominal surgery.