C section for projected large baby

ajmarimba

I'm just about 40 weeks, and was given the option today by my ob to either induce on 4/10 or schedule a c-section this week.  This is my first baby, and is supposedly measuring (as of last Thursday) 9lbs 8oz.  I've heard horror stories about induction leading to mishaps during labor which ultimately ends in c sections anyway.  Does anyone here have any experience with this from previous pregnancies?  Thanks for your help!

mben1119

Why can't you birth a 9 lb 8 oz baby vaginally?  Those estimates are usually wrong anyway.

DGandDG

At my 38 week growth scan, my LO was projected to be 8 lbs 4-8 oz (he was born at 8 lbs 13 oz). I was induced at 39 weeks 5 days because I was nervous about shoulder dystocia (my husband almost had his collar bone broken during birth). My induction did wind up ending with a c-section but it was mostly because LO was sunny side up and over 2 hours of pushing provided little progress. In hind sight, I wish I had pushed a bit longer but the back labor was brutal and my body was just completely exhausted.  If I were in your shoes, I would try for a vaginal birth before scheduling a c-section just so you don't have any regrets. With that said, my c-section was a success story and my recovery has been pretty easy. In the end, a healthy baby is what matters. Just try to keep that in mind!

anewmrsS

Those estimates are generally wrong. They guessed my baby to be big, and she was 19 inches and 8 lbs at birth.Most of the inductions that I have heard about have ended in a c-section. If I were you I would gauge my decision on how favorable your cervix is for induction. If it's still hard and closed up, the induction will be harder to pull off.

ajmarimba

Thanks for your thoughts.  My cervix is not dilated or effaced, and I've been having strong contractions for the past 3 1/2 weeks.  From what I've read those conditions aren't quite favorable for a successful induction.  Albeit not the only factor involved, but a factor nevertheless.  I know that there is an error rate in either direction of the ultrasounds, and that they aren't the most accurate.  But there's always the what-if factor.  Thanks for sharing your experiences.  The input really helps!

skio

Why does your OB want to induce only five days past your due date? I assume it's because of size, but your doctor of all people should know that measuring ultrasounds can be way off. Most OBs will allow a mom to go to 42 weeks before induction, which is what I would request if I were in your shoes. Don't let anyone scare you into something you're not comfortable with; 9-10lb babies are born vagunally every day. 

BUT this is your body and you have to make the decision that you're most comfortable with. If you are comfortable with the idea of surgery rather than the "what ifs", and there are always what ifs with birth, whether it's a big baby or not, go for it. If not, or if your heart is set on trying the vaginal birth, talk to your OB about more options. No decision is the wrong decision...having that healthy baby in your arms at the en of it all is the end goal. Lots of luck. 

mom2babyvitz

I was told that I was going to have a big baby, and they were right. I was 8 days late when they induced me. After 27 hrs of labor, I finally dialated to a 9.5, but my son's shoulders were to big. So I had a choice of breaking his collar bone or going in for a C-Section. Of course I picked a C-Section. No regrets on my end. I had a 9lb 11 oz baby who was 21 inches long. He was very healthy and so was I. I am having another C-Section with this one too.

If you are set on having a vaginal birth, then I would talk to my OB/midwife about what you want. Its is for sure your choice. I just wanted you to know that there are success stories too for C-Sections. GL on your decision!

mlf625

You'll get a lot of negative responses here, but my situation was similar.  DS was measuring just shy of 9lb at my 39 week appointment.  I had zero dilation or effacement.  The slight difference for me is that I had GD, so my doctor didn't want to let me go overdue (because baby was putting on weight quickly at the end, and because the risks for GD babies rise after 40 weeks).  I was offered an induction or c-section.  I ultimately decided to schedule the c/s for 39w4d, but wanted to be checked that day, and if I had started to dilate we would've considered induction instead.  When I was still not doing anything, we went for the scheduled c/s.  DS was 8 lb 15 oz, so my OB was right on, and he had a HUGE head.  I was so happy when I saw that head that I'd scheduled the c/s, and my OB said the same - it would've been rough.

I have no regrets.  A few things for you to consider: how many kids do you ultimately want?  If you want more than 3, you may want to more strongly consider going vaginally, as some OBs get nervous about 3+ c/s.  Are you hung up on your birth experience at all?  I wasn't - I didn't really care how the baby got out and never thought much about experiencing labor, so it wasn't disappointing for me when I didn't.  I loved my c/s birth and MUCH preferred to go in for a scheduled c/s over going through a failed induction then a c/s, because the recoveries in those situations are notoriously more difficult. 

In the end, only you and your OB know what's right, not a board of opinionated internet strangers. You'll make the right choice for you!

Fgsp

Absolutely get the c section. Best decision I ever made for a variety of reasons.  Takes 20 minutes without stress to you or baby. I researched this very carefully and spoke to numerous professionals in 3 different countries. No one will ever tell you the truth about the damage done to your vagina after delivering a huge baby vaginally.  It's horrific.  

pinkmoonlight

Me! My last pregnancy I was measuring a head and with a big baby. I was induced at 41 weeks only to end up with an emergency c-section due to failure to descend and fetal distress. It was not a positioning problem because I asked my OB about it. The baby just would not fit. My DD was born weighing 9 pounds 6 ounces.

I was given the option to VBAC this time, but because I ended up with the emergency c/s and subsequently was a sleep for the whole thing and missed the first 4 hours of DD life and do not even remember meeting her for the first time, which ended up with some pretty rough postpartum blues/depression I decided that I am scheduling this time due to my history.

I will say though that there is no way to know whether or not you can birth a large baby until you try. There are plenty of woman out there that are able to birth bigger babies then 9 pounds 8 ounces. As pp also said those U/S can be off as well.

Tink522

I have had 3 large babies (had GD with all of them).  My us tech was literally off by no more than 4 oz with all of them and they were 9lbs 13oz, 9lbs 13 oz, and 11 lbs 10 oz.   When I had my first my doctor had also checked me and I had no effacement or dialation and made the decision together not to risk a broken collar bone, shoulder dislocation, or possible nerve damage from trying to get him to fit.  When the others showed to be measuring as big or bigger we went the c-section route again.  I am scheduled for my 4th cs in June and I am already measuring big and we have a growth us on Fri.  I am sure it was the right decision for us, regardless of people thinking pushing out 9/10  lb babies is an option, it wasn't for me.

Texas77again

mabenner1:

Why can't you birth a 9 lb 8 oz baby vaginally?  Those estimates are usually wrong anyway.

this!

 

Texas77again

Fgsp:

Absolutely get the c section. Best decision I ever made for a variety of reasons.  Takes 20 minutes without stress to you or baby. I researched this very carefully and spoke to numerous professionals in 3 different countries. No one will ever tell you the truth about the damage done to your vagina after delivering a huge baby vaginally.  It's horrific.  

FFS, really?  "20 minutes without stress to you or baby."  no, having MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY is not stressful to you or your baby at all. 

in all of your research did you look at mental disorders?

UsuallyLurking

mlf625:

You'll get a lot of negative responses here, but my situation was similar.  DS was measuring just shy of 9lb at my 39 week appointment.  I had zero dilation or effacement.  The slight difference for me is that I had GD, so my doctor didn't want to let me go overdue (because baby was putting on weight quickly at the end, and because the risks for GD babies rise after 40 weeks).  I was offered an induction or c-section.  I ultimately decided to schedule the c/s for 39w4d, but wanted to be checked that day, and if I had started to dilate we would've considered induction instead.  When I was still not doing anything, we went for the scheduled c/s.  DS was 8 lb 15 oz, so my OB was right on, and he had a HUGE head.  I was so happy when I saw that head that I'd scheduled the c/s, and my OB said the same - it would've been rough.

I have no regrets.  A few things for you to consider: how many kids do you ultimately want?  If you want more than 3, you may want to more strongly consider going vaginally, as some OBs get nervous about 3+ c/s.  Are you hung up on your birth experience at all?  I wasn't - I didn't really care how the baby got out and never thought much about experiencing labor, so it wasn't disappointing for me when I didn't.  I loved my c/s birth and MUCH preferred to go in for a scheduled c/s over going through a failed induction then a c/s, because the recoveries in those situations are notoriously more difficult. 

In the end, only you and your OB know what's right, not a board of opinionated internet strangers. You'll make the right choice for you!

This is very similar to my situation, too.  At 35 weeks DS's head was measuring on par with a 40-week baby, lol.  At 37 weeks his growth ultrasound put him at 9.5 lbs.  My sisters and I were all large babies (9, 9.5, 10) and my H and his brother were large (8 lbs) for my VERY small MIL (100 lbs soaking wet).  We knew DS was going to be big.  My doctor gave me the choice, but the thought of the damage that could be done to me vaginally delivering a baby that large, in addition to the thought of possible harm to DS (breaking  his collar bone), were more than enough to sway me to schedule the c-section.

I scheduled for 39 weeks.  At 38 weeks, my water broke.  I still had a c-section.  DS was born weighing 10 lbs, 7 oz, 21" long, a huge head and broad shoulders.  I was SO glad I made the choice to have a c-section.  My doctor was relieved, too.  H took a picture of the doctor holding DS up to him for the first time and the doctor has a serious look of shock/amazement/excitement at just how big DS was.  Haha, the picture still makes me laugh.

This kiddo (DS2) is shaping up to be just as big.  We moved and I switched doctors.  I tried explaining to my doctor how big DS1 was, that big babies run in the family, etc.  But at my anatomy scan at 19 weeks, even he was surprised at just how big/how far "ahead" this baby is already measuring.  I had already decided when I got pregnant that I'd elect to have a repeat c-section.  Seeing how big the baby is, in addition to right now he's breech/frank breech, my decision is even more confirmed.

Good luck!  But I don't regret my c-section at all, and don't anticipate to in the future, either. 

hopkins5

Why is your OB suggesting an induction so soon? Also, I was told the measurements can be as far off as 1 lb either way at this point.

jjhp2018

This is always a tough one. Estimates can definetly be off. My last growth scan was at 35 weeks and she was over 6lbs. We induced due to GD and hypertension issues at 39+1 weeks and though I dialated to almost 9 she wouldn't come down at all. They tried letting me push to bring her down but she was stuck so we did the CS. She ended up being 9lbs 6oz - too big for my body apparently (first DD was only 6lbs 13oz).

That being said --- if they had done another scan and said she was over 9lbs i'm not sure what I would have done. I *probably* would have said let's try the induction and if we don't progress we'll know but then our hospital has certain policies on if the baby is measuring so large. I'm not sure their cut off point on that.

Fgsp

Texas.  Yes actually.  As an attorney licensed to practice in Sydney Australia, London and New York I approach all of this very very carefully.  Though have no reason to justify myself to you.  I had access to the best doctors, research and medical care NYC has to offer and used that to my maximum advantage. In addition, my father is a doctor, my best friend is a PhD Doctor in Germany and deals with this, so does her husband, and my mother and sister both had complications from prolapsed wombs to bladder issues later in life and therefore a C section was the right decision for me when I had a baby in the 90th percentile of height and weight. Yes, my surgery took 20 minutes - actually longer than needed because my obgyn was training NYU medical students that day during my surgery. My best girlfriend in Australia delivered an 11lb baby girl 4 months earlier than me. 12 months later her vagina is irreparably torn, she can't use tampons, she is still doing pelvic floor exercises, was even slower to exercise than me after a c section and lets not even get onto her sex life or the pure vanity of what her body now looks like from the tearing and stretching during the last few weeks and labor.  I am also an amateur athlete and have my body back completely.   Another girlfriend, went through 20 hours of labor only to have an emergency C and it was horrific for her and baby.... I could go on and on and on... about the people I spoke to personally about their experiences when making my decision.

ajmarimba

I really appreciate you all taking the time to share your experiences.  Right now they want to induce at that point, because he was measuring above the 90th percentile for head and ab circumference and weight when I had my u/s a week ago.  When I met with my ob yesterday (who has a specialty in high risk), she had given me the option of the c for this week.  I didn't see her last week right after the u/s and the doc I did see is the one that initially scheduled me for the induction.  I was concerned about his shoulders getting stuck because of how large his abdominal circumference was. I've always wanted to try to deliver vaginally, but I don't think that it's worth risking his safety.  I wouldn't be heartbroken if the c section was in the cards at all.  I just want him here safe and sound.  Thanks to all for your help.

Fgsp

I am sure you will make the right decision for you.  Good luck!!  They do gain about a lb per week at this point and inducing or C sounds like a good option.  I absolutely do not understand why women are criticized on this site for choosing a c section.  Nor why I am called mentally insane for sharing my experience.  Outrageous.  Yes women are designed to deliver vaginally, but not babies of this size and not later in life as we are choosing to do.  We have advantages of medical science and should use them.  As I said, I researched this very carefully for myself and would be happy to share that with you.  Of course, the ideal would be delivering a 5-6lb baby at 25 years old and this isn't what we do anymore.  I work hard professionally and am also an athlete and need my body for different things.  I don't sit in a cave collecting berries. Another upside of the C is you are ready for sex sooner as your vagina is still in tact. Are we allowed to like sex too??

cottonlily84

If you're already worried about a possible c/s from the induction I wouldn't do it.  I wouldn't have a c/s or be induced for a "large baby".  Some babies are small, some are larger.  They all come out.  I wouldn't create an issue out of it until the issue presented itself.  Even if you have a 9 lb baby you might have no problems delivering him/her vaginally just fine.  Those u/s estimates are most often wrong; my DD was actually bigger than they estimated.  Just like no one delivers on their due date, no baby is ever what size they predict. 

arevans31

If your worried about it I would c section. I was induced at 40 weeks and 2 days by choice. I was dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced prior to coming in they did cervidil and then pitocin in the morning. Ob broke my water in the morning. Dilated to a 7 and that was it. In labor all day. Had a c section. Baby weighed 9lbs 1.5 oz. Im not real tiny but still not big. But I don't think there was any way she was coming out of there without problems. 

nealbl

hmmm I find it a little strange that your OB would opt for C-section b/c he predicts you will have a large baby.

1. Predictions are just that predictions and can be way off

2. A lot of women V birth large babies

Now my experience with this does not end in V birth. I had a 9lb 12oz baby that was induced and ended in emergency C-section. I never got past 3cm.

nealbl

ajmarimba:

Thanks for your thoughts.  My cervix is not dilated or effaced, and I've been having strong contractions for the past 3 1/2 weeks.  From what I've read those conditions aren't quite favorable for a successful induction.  Albeit not the only factor involved, but a factor nevertheless.  I know that there is an error rate in either direction of the ultrasounds, and that they aren't the most accurate.  But there's always the what-if factor.  Thanks for sharing your experiences.  The input really helps!

this sounds just like me. I was having contractions but nothing was happening b/c the baby was not dropping down far enough to cause any action.

nealbl

Texas77again:

Fgsp:

Absolutely get the c section. Best decision I ever made for a variety of reasons.  Takes 20 minutes without stress to you or baby. I researched this very carefully and spoke to numerous professionals in 3 different countries. No one will ever tell you the truth about the damage done to your vagina after delivering a huge baby vaginally.  It's horrific.  

FFS, really?  "20 minutes without stress to you or baby."  no, having MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY is not stressful to you or your baby at all. 

in all of your research did you look at mental disorders?

I agree with Fgsp. I didn't do any research b/c I didn't think I would need one, but my c-section took less than 20 min and I felt fine after. The C-section itself was no stress to me and it was way less stressful than laboring for my baby. I was up the next day showering and walking around. I didn't even take pain meds once I was home. I healed super quick. Now with that said not everyone has a wonderful C-section experience but not everyone has a wonderful V birth experience either. It is really crap shoot either way.

rockychryslerb2010

I was in a similar situation with DS. I had planned a natural birth and at 38.5 weeks had an ultrasound because I was measuring big. The ultrasound predicted a 12lb 14oz baby and my midwife recommended a c section so we met with an OB the next day.  They strongly recommended a c section but at first I was torn and didn't want to give up the natural birth I had planned. Then the OB started talking risks and fetal distress and death were mentioned. We elected to have the c section and I'm glad we did.  E was 11lbs 4oz at birth, and his shoulders and abs were bigger than his head.  They said there was no way he was going to come out vaginally.  In the end, it was hard to give up my natural birth due to a large baby, but c section was the best thing for us.  E is here safe and sound, and that is what matters.  I had an easy recovery and don't regret the c section at all.

ajmarimba

Thank you all so much for sharing your stories.  I'm scheduled for a c-section tomorrow morning.  I'm a little nervous, as I've never had surgery before, but I think that the benefits far outweigh any potential negatives.  That's where I was leaning towards from when we found out about his suggested size, and to hear all of your experiences helped me feel better about this decision.  Thanks so much!

kcisthebombdotcom

To offer a different opinion-

My first was a c-section. I had an ultrasound at 38 weeks and they told me to prepare for a 7lb baby. He was 10lbs, his head was off the charts. I tried labor first but ultimately failed. My c-section was a breeze and I was up and moving quickly after.

With my 2nd I was considering a VBAC. I had multiple ultrasounds towards the end to check on her progress, as my OB did not want my 2nd LO to get as big as my first. I was measuring 2 weeks ahead the whole time. She was measuring big on ultrasound as late as 39 weeks. They told me to prepare for another big baby over 9lbs. She was born via c-section at 39w5d since I wanted to wait as long as possible to see if I went into labor on my own and she was a tad over 7 1/2lbs. They were WAY off. I had a god awful recovery and wished I delivered via VBAC.

If I were in your shoes, I would wait another 5 days because a lot can change in that time. Before they did the c-section I'd check for progress. If your bishops score is in any way favorable, try labor first. If it's not, then go for the section.

kcisthebombdotcom

Fgsp:

Absolutely get the c section. Best decision I ever made for a variety of reasons.  Takes 20 minutes without stress to you or baby. I researched this very carefully and spoke to numerous professionals in 3 different countries. No one will ever tell you the truth about the damage done to your vagina after delivering a huge baby vaginally.  It's horrific.  

That's actually inaccurate. You can have damage from a 6lb baby (my SIL did, and she's got a wide frame so you would never think by appearances), or you can have no damage from an 11lb baby. It's not one of those things that you can look at someone and think "bet she could deliver a large baby!" It has a lot to do with your pelvic inlet, how your body performs during labor (which you can't predict), etc. It's actually more head size vs weight. Weight doesn't affect delivery as much as head size.

Babies and mom are much more likely to develop complications from c-section deliveries vs vaginal. How is that "less stressful"?

emma&katiesmom

Your baby will be born on my birthday - yay! 

 I've had three c-sections and it's definitely not bad at all.  I know it's major surgery but I wouldn't have it any other way.  Well, mainly because my kids never wanted to come out on their own.  I never dialated AT.ALL. with any of my kids and they were all big:

DD#1: born at 39w4d, 9 lbs 7 oz

DD#2: born at 38w6d, 8 lbs, 9oz

DS: born at 39w, 9 lbs, 13.9 oz

 

With my first child my OB talked to me at my last appointment at 39w1d and said he'd be willing to let me go on my own but that she was measuring 9 lbs 9oz on the u/s and she could be 10-11 lbs if we waited past my due date.  He reminded me that I could need an induction, but that some inductions end in c-section anyways.  My mom and MIL only ever had c-sections so I wasn't nervous about it because they told me all about it....

Anyhow, good luck tomorrow and enjoy that snuggly newborn!

skio

OP - congrats on your baby, I hope everything went well for you! Don't bother reading what I'm writing below, it's 100% addressed to Fgsp. Who is probably a troll on whom I'm wasting my breath, but I have never been so mad in my entire life.

Fgsp:

Absolutely get the c section. Best decision I ever made for a variety of reasons.  Takes 20 minutes without stress to you or baby. I researched this very carefully and spoke to numerous professionals in 3 different countries. No one will ever tell you the truth about the damage done to your vagina after delivering a huge baby vaginally.  It's horrific.  

The comment about you having a mental disorder was inappropriate, but this line of thinking is complete fear-mongering crap. It is NOT true that everyone who delivers a large baby will have horrific damage to their vaginas; that's actually quite rare and often due to the methods of laboring and pushing involved. The bit about no stress to you or baby is also incredibly ignorant, especially coming from someone who claims to have so much medical knowledge.

Fgsp:

Yes actually. As an attorney licensed to practice in Sydney Australia, London and New York I approach all of this very very carefully.  Though have no reason to justify myself to you. I had access to the best doctors, research and medical care NYC has to offer and used that to my maximum advantage. In addition, my father is a doctor, my best friend is a PhD Doctor in Germany and deals with this, so does her husband, and my mother and sister both had complications from prolapsed wombs to bladder issues later in life and therefore a C section was the right decision for me when I had a baby in the 90th percentile of height and weight. Yes, my surgery took 20 minutes - actually longer than needed because my obgyn was training NYU medical students that day during my surgery. My best girlfriend in Australia delivered an 11lb baby girl 4 months earlier than me. 12 months later her vagina is irreparably torn, she can't use tampons, she is still doing pelvic floor exercises, was even slower to exercise than me after a c section and lets not even get onto her sex life or the pure vanity of what her body now looks like from the tearing and stretching during the last few weeks and labor.  I am also an amateur athlete and have my body back completely.   Another girlfriend, went through 20 hours of labor only to have an emergency C and it was horrific for her and baby.... I could go on and on and on... about the people I spoke to personally about their experiences when making my decision.

So, let me get this right, you and everyone you know have extensively studied both the vagina and exactly what happens during the birthing experience? Are you joking? You can spew all the psycho-babbly you want about how many doctors you know and what top secret "medical research" you had access to, it doesn't make you any more right to say that major abdominal surgery is better for a woman carrying a large baby than delivering vaginally. I don't care if you INVENTED the vagina. YOU made the decision that was right for YOU, and that's great. But the rest of this is incredibly pretentious. Every woman needs to make the decision that is right for her body and her family. If what happened to your friend, which I agree is totally horrible, scared you away from delivering vaginally, just say it. Don't pretend like your decision is based on medical fact, because it's not. And as far as having your body back? Good for you. But again, WOW, that's ignorant. Recoveries from c/s births are notoriously longer and more difficult than a vaginal births. It's common knowledge. And I can tell you that I, who was a serious athlete pre-pregnancy, do NOT have my body back and it's because of my c-section. It was nine months before I could run again. I'm very fit and hardworking, but my body is different now and I can't do the things I used to be able to do even a year postpartum.

Fgsp:

They do gain about a lb per week at this point and inducing or C sounds like a good option. I absolutely do not understand why women are criticized on this site for choosing a c section. Nor why I am called mentally insane for sharing my experience.  Outrageous. Yes women are designed to deliver vaginally, but not babies of this size and not later in life as we are choosing to do. We have advantages of medical science and should use them.  As I said, I researched this very carefully for myself and would be happy to share that with you. Of course, the ideal would be delivering a 5-6lb baby at 25 years old and this isn't what we do anymore. I work hard professionally and am also an athlete and need my body for different things. I don't sit in a cave collecting berries. Another upside of the C is you are ready for sex sooner as your vagina is still in tact. Are we allowed to like sex too??

1) Babies gain a half a pound per week after 36 weeks. Between all your medical research and all-knowing family and friends, I would have thought you'd have an accurate comment on that one.

2) No one criticized OP for choosing a c/s.

3) You weren't called mentally insane for sharing your experience. That comment was due to how ridiculously inaccurate and pretentious your original comment was. No one here is judging you, either. Choosing a c/s due to a large projected size is not a big deal. It was your tone that drew attention.

4) Really? You are going to pull the "we're not cave-women anymore and c-sections are a fabulous medical advancement that everyone should try" card? Givemeafuckingbreak. I originally thought you were firm on your stance simply because you felt that women who were thought to be carrying large babies should be able to have c-sections without being judged, which I agree with. But I can now see that you're just a total pro-c/s nutcase who uses fear to get women to clutch their "oh, my poor vagina" pearls to see it your way. That's sick.

5) The last bolded sentence is completely untrue. You're restricted from sex until 6 weeks either way, and many, many women who delivered vaginally are ready to have sex then. And here's something that'll blow your mind: Sex hurt like HELL for me for 8 months. Again, some information based on actual medical fact that I thought you would've known in your mightyness - intercourse after having a baby can often be painful for several months due to hormonal changes in the body.

Some people have great c-section experiences, some don't. Some people have great vaginal birth experiences, some don't. There's no right way, and no way is the clear easier or healthier choice in every situation. Every woman has the right to make her own decision in regards to what happens to her body. And every woman should respect what others choose.

I hope you add my experience to your long list of highly credible sources next time you try to scare someone into having a c-section.