Baby size, genetics question.

bumpuser5078523

Is baby size dependent on the mother's genes or the father's?

It is normal in H's family to have 10 pound babies. My family usually has 7 pound babies. I am 5'2" and don't really want a 10 pound baby. haha. I would love a healthy 6 pound baby.

Any insight? 

Pumpkin_Princess

Lol! I think that it's a combination of both. I want a 6lb baby, too, but DH thinks that ours will be born 5' tall and 70lbs! He's 6'4" and I'm 5'1". Good luck!

PrimRoseMama

You get what you get. If either side has a history of large babies then you might have one too.

I imagine no one likes the idea of a large baby having to be pushed out of their vagina. However, as long as your baby is healthy you won't care as soon as he or she is in your arms.

Also, your size or being petite does not mean you will have more trouble with a larger baby. Same is true for a larger boned woman. Just because she is big or tall means nothing for how she will fair during delivery. Good luck!

hasenbank

I would say a combo, but in my family my dad was over 11 lbs. (And my sister's kids were all high 9s, low 10s.)

DH and I were both in the 7 lb. range.

DS?

He was 9 lbs. 14.9 oz.  Lol, I can only hope they don't get bigger every time!  

Denae'sTTC

I'm not sure but I bet if your baby was 10 lbs you could talk to your doc about an induction a little earlier....

kkfeb04

Denae'sTTC:

I'm not sure but I bet if your baby was 10 lbs you could talk to your doc about an induction a little earlier....

They do not induce for size. DS was 10 lbs, 22" at 39w1d. I only had him at 39w because I was high risk. My RCS was scheduled for 39w1d with DD, this was scheduled when I was 28w pg. She had other plans and I was an emergent RCS at 37w0d. She was 9 lbs 2 oz, 21" at birth. They say 37w is full-term, DD was a late pre-term and was kept in the hospital for 6 days due to jaundice from ABO incompatibility and a positive Coombs test. It's best to keep them cooking longer.

CougFan

DH and I were both 7 lbs...our boys were 10lb 4oz and 10lb 15oz...so you never can tell! 

I have 3 friends around your height who birthed 9+ lb babies. You can do it!! 

Que*Syrah

Denae'sTTC:

I'm not sure but I bet if your baby was 10 lbs you could talk to your doc about an induction a little earlier....

This is terrible advice. Besides, it's doubtful your OB would actually do this.

kkfeb04

DH was 6 lbs 6 oz, 18" at birth a week early, I was 7 lbs 1 oz, 21.75" at birth a few days early. Our son was 10 lbs, 22" at 39w1d. Our daughter was 9 lbs 2 oz, 21" at 37w0d. She was on track to be much bigger. He was estimated on u/s at 36w2d to be 7 lbs 3 oz with MFM level II (8 lbs 1 oz with OB the day prior), she was estimated at 36w3d to be 8 lbs 11 oz with MFM level II. She was 10 oz smaller at her 32w1d level II at 5 lbs 3 oz; he was 5 lbs 13 oz at the exact same age with same equipment. If I lasted the extra two weeks to my scheduled CS, she would've been much, much bigger.

mommajewels87

doeie04:

Is baby size dependent on the mother's genes or the father's?

It is normal in H's family to have 10 pound babies. My family usually has 7 pound babies. I am 5'2" and don't really want a 10 pound baby. haha. I would love a healthy 6 pound baby.

Any insight? 

In my personal experience, genetics had no effect regarding the size of my kids. At birth, full term, I was 6lbs 8ozs and 18" long. Dh was full term as well and 6lbs 2ozs, no idea on the length.

Our 1st, born at 38 weeks, was 7lbs 1oz. #2, born at 38 weeks, was 8lbs 1oz. #3, born at 36 weeks, was 7lbs 2ozs. #4, born at 37 weeks, was 8lbs 10ozs. #5, born at 38 weeks, was 8lbs 14ozs. (after peeing all over me, lol)

 I have heard that taller people tend to have larger babies and shorter people tend to have smaller babies. Not sure how much trust I have in that, as I am only 5'1 and I don't have "small" babies.... two of them bordering 9lbs 2-3 weeks early. However, Dh is 6'0.. so I guess maybe it could come from the father.

I personally think the factors that are more influential to newborn birth weight are nutrition during pregnancy, maternal health during pregnancy, and gestational age at birth.

Also, you'd be amazed at what your body can do, regardless of your size/height. Many small women give birth to large babies with no complications at all. If your doctor ever tells you that you need to induce early because of fetal size, or go straight for a c-section because of fetal size, I'd strongly suggest finding a new provider.

AFBTB

Babies on my side of the family are all over 10lbs. My sister and I were over 10lbs. On DH's side all the babies have been between 6-7 lbs. DS was comfortably between the 2. He was 8 and a half lbs at 39 weeks. But your stature won't affect your ability to have big babies. My mom is 5'3" and she gave birth vaginally to my 10 and a half pound sister, and me at 10lbs. Without any meds too, she's my hero ;-) lol.

mrsjjohnson2010

i don't think it matters, you get what you get! i know in the last trimester baby begins to pick up weight.

My mother was just under 12lbs. and my father was 9lbs. I was 5lbs 2oz and my brother was 4lbs 7oz both full term. My mother carried us large but we were small babies. So I think its more an individual thing.

brinbri

Both my SIL's had 9-10lb babies (and between the two there is eight kids)!  DS was 5lbs 13oz, on time and perfectly healthy.  I am 5'3" so I was very glad he wasn't huge!

acesup

there is no way of knowing. 

my sisters and i were all around 7 lbs. my DH was 6.6.

my DD was 9.3 at 38 weeks.

edited for spelling 

jensriot

Que_Syrah:

Denae'sTTC:

I'm not sure but I bet if your baby was 10 lbs you could talk to your doc about an induction a little earlier....

This is terrible advice. Besides, it's doubtful your OB would actually do this.

It depends, my doc was afraid my 1st was getting to big for me to push out, so I was induced. Not very early, but at 39 weeks. Of course, we were very certain of my dates.

BrittKav

DH & I were both 7 lbs 13 oz at birth.

DD1 was 6 lbs 15 oz (38w6d)

DD2 was 7 lbs 4 oz (39w1d)

Que*Syrah

JenS2203:

Que_Syrah:

Denae'sTTC:

I'm not sure but I bet if your baby was 10 lbs you could talk to your doc about an induction a little earlier....

This is terrible advice. Besides, it's doubtful your OB would actually do this.

It depends, my doc was afraid my 1st was getting to big for me to push out, so I was induced. Not very early, but at 39 weeks. Of course, we were very certain of my dates.

How big was your baby?

jensriot

She was 7 lb 6 oz, but my pelvis was considered really small. We went in half expecting a CS because of my shape, but no problem. There's a term for it, cephalopelvic disproportion (sp ?)

Que*Syrah

JenS2203:

She was 7 lb 6 oz, but my pelvis was considered really small. We went in half expecting a CS because of my shape, but no problem. There's a term for it, cephalopelvic disproportion (sp ?)

That's a totally different situation than the OP.

OP: It's rare that a baby is too large or a mother's pelvis to be too small to deliver vaginally. Your body is made to do this, and your pelvis stretches to accommodate birthing a baby. Later in pregnancy (34-35 weeks) your body will start to release the relaxin hormone that allows the pelvis to stretch.

LiteraryFoodie

Denae'sTTC:

I'm not sure but I bet if your baby was 10 lbs you could talk to your doc about an induction a little earlier....

For goodness sake please don't do this. This is terrible advice.The only medical reason for an induction is if you are past 41(ish) weeks. Babies are meant to be cooked for 40 weeks, it is really important to their muscle development and their ability to live outside of you. 

If baby is really "too big" at 40 weeks, that can be determined after a trial of labor and then a c-section can be performed. Also, the further along you go u/s become less accurate at a measure of fetal size. The u/s could say your baby is measuring 10 pounds, but then it could be very likely baby is only 8 pounds. This is why medical intervention because of estimated size is not usually a good idea. 

LiteraryFoodie

JenS2203:

Que_Syrah:

Denae'sTTC:

I'm not sure but I bet if your baby was 10 lbs you could talk to your doc about an induction a little earlier....

This is terrible advice. Besides, it's doubtful your OB would actually do this.

It depends, my doc was afraid my 1st was getting to big for me to push out, so I was induced. Not very early, but at 39 weeks. Of course, we were very certain of my dates.

I'm sorry, but you have a crappy OB if he/she doubt your ability to give birth, especially with a first child when you haven't even attempted it before. To me, this says they were more concerned about a lawsuit and keeping their vacation plans than what was actually best for you and the baby.

Que*Syrah

LiteraryFoodie:

Denae'sTTC:

I'm not sure but I bet if your baby was 10 lbs you could talk to your doc about an induction a little earlier....

For goodness sake please don't do this. This is terrible advice.The only medical reason for an induction is if you are past 41(ish) weeks. Babies are meant to be cooked for 40 weeks, it is really important to their muscle development and their ability to live outside of you. 

If baby is really "too big" at 40 weeks, that can be determined after a trial of labor and then a c-section can be performed. Also, the further along you go u/s become less accurate at a measure of fetal size. The u/s could say your baby is measuring 10 pounds, but then it could be very likely baby is only 8 pounds. This is why medical intervention because of estimated size is not usually a good idea. 

Thank you! I really wish OBs wouldn't even estimate size.

kkfeb04

Also remember that your weight gain really doesn't have as much say in it either. I gained 12 lbs with my 10 lber (I lost 26 lbs during the pregnancy and gained 12 back so I was still 14 lbs lighter the day I delivered then when I conceived) and 16 lbs with my 9+ lber (again I lost 30 lbs and gained 16 lbs back, I walked out of the hospital 50+ lbs lighter from pre-pregnancy). I did have too much fluid with her. I carried huge with both. I was measuring at 48 weeks when I delivered her at 37 weeks, I measured 44 weeks (my biggest was 37 weeks and I measured 46 weeks with him). I've known people that have gained 50 lbs and have a 6 lber.

Yes, I opted for a c/s with my son. I didn't labor at all. He was estimated on u/s, 6 hours before delivering, to be 10 lbs 2 oz, his head was huge on u/s. I was not dilated, I was not effaced, I was not contracting. When the midwife comes in and asks you how do you want to proceed and you ask her opinion and she looks you in the eye and says "A c/s is your best option to get your child out safely" you listen. I never regretted my decision. He had a 15" head for cripes sakes. That u/s was only off by 1.5 oz you can't get much more accurate than that.

synchrosally

It could be a combination of both, but sometimes follows more along what the mother weighed at birth. When I was at the end with DS they estimated he was 7 lbs. I told them I was 8 lbs 13 oz at birth and the OB said "Oh, then maybe he'll be a bit bigger than 7 lbs". Um, yeah, he was 9 lbs. So as you can see even the docs can get it wrong. Right up until I pushed him out they were saying 7 lbs. DH's side were all 6 and 7 lb babies, but his sister had 2 babies over 9 lbs.

bumpuser5078523

Don't worry ladies, I don't plan on being induced. We are wanting a home birth if the baby and I are healthy enough to do so. If baby is too big, I will trust the midwife to say we need to go to the hospital. (I expect her to, if it isn't safe to deliver naturally.)

I was just curious about the sizes. 

It is funny, in H's family, their babies are usually born busting out of NB diapers. It is the strangest thing to me!

Angela814

DH was 10.5 lbs 2 weeks late, and his younger brother was almost 9 lbs. My siblings and I were all between 78 lbs.

DD1 was 9 lbs 2oz at 10 days late. DD2 was 9 lbs 4oz at 2 days late. So from my experience, size has come from DH's side.