petite girls--question about delivery

MrsMommyQ · June 2010

I went for my 37 week appt today and everything is looking good. My OB's office doesn't do internals until the 39th week unless something is wrong bc they don't want to get your hopes up if you are dilated/effaced bc you could stay that way for a while.

Dr. came in an measured me, and I'm measuring fine but bc I'm so short (I'm barely 5 feet tall and pre-pregnancy I weighed about 110) he is sending me for a growth u/s on Friday to see if LO's shoulders will fit for a vaginal delivery. Any other petite girls have their doctor say anything like this?

I was sorta surprised bc I was told I was NOT getting a growth u/s so I just sat there and didn't ask any questions, and now I'm full of them. If she's big, do they just schedule the c-section or let you try and go into labor? When do they schedule the c-section for? 39 weeks? 40? after 40? I know it's different with every person and every doctor's office, but anyone in a similar situation that can share what happened to them would be great.

ETA: This is not meant to spark a debate about c-sections. Bottom line is that I'll talk to my doctor and make the best decision I can with all the info I have.

**Octoberbride09** · June 2010

I'm petite. I'm 5'5, I get a growth U/S at 32 weeks and one further down the line if the OB thinks that DD is measuring big. The earliest my OB would induce/ perform c-section is 39 weeks. Check to see what your ob's policy is.

Skyqueen737 · June 2010

Good question as I am only 4'10.

MrsSR · June 2010

Hmm... I'm an inch taller than you are.

At my very first appointment my OB said he doesn't think I'd be able to push out a baby over 7 lbs.

Nothing has been said to me since then; but baby is measuring on the small side of average.

flippy1234 · June 2010

That seems silly to me... I've heard of plenty of short women delivering babies without a problem. I'm also 5'0 tall.. I had a vaginal birth with my first w/ out any issues.

CamFam · June 2010

Hmmmm, I'm 5'2" and the only comment my OB gave about my size and delivering was asking how big I was as a baby. I was 6lbs. 5oz.

I guess that answer pleased her, because nothing more was said. Good luck with the scan and everything!

yeshuahamasshiah · June 2010

I am 4'10'' and so far everything is on track for a vaginal delivery.

DH is 5'11'' so I know there is a chance for a bigger baby but I have been seeing a chiropractor to make sure that my pelvis is completely aligned and able to provide the widest opening possible for LO to fit through.

Growth U/S are not very accurate (they tend to be 1-2lbs off) so I personally would not base my decision to have a c-section solely on what the U/S may reveal, 50% of "macrosomic" babies are misdiagnosed when in reality they are regular sized.

My MW is 5'1'' herself and her latest baby was somewhat large at 9lbs 2oz and she delivered vaginally, no issues and not even any tearing. I figure if she can do it, why can't I?

vicbabe3 · June 2010

I'm 5'1" and I'm on my third baby. My doctor never said anything about me not being able to deliver vaginally. In fact, my last one was 9 lbs and 21 1/4". I was diagnosed with GD this time around and she is super worried about baby being too big all of a sudden. No growth US in the near future though. I don't know what changed her mind. Every doctor has their own parameters for what is too much of a risk.

toyah81 · June 2010

Of course every OB is different. I'm 5'2 and the OB I had with DD said I wouldn't have been able to deliver vaginally (not due to height) but supposedly my pelvis is too narrow. DD was only 5lbs 14oz, so I was skeptical of that - this was said after my emergency C.

This OB told me I'd be fine to deliver vaginally as my pelvis was average size. But now Mikylah is measuring very large (4 weeks ahead) so they don't want her to get too big. So now, I may be having another c-section (scheduled, of course) due to her size plus the fact that my DD was delivered via c-section.

lillanmer · June 2010

Please dont' give in unless you truely want a c-section or there is a problem. Give your body a chance. Growth u/s can be off by 10%. I am 5' tall and pre-pregnancy was 115 with my first. I didn't know enough and wish I had been induced earlier, but my doc didn't try until I was 42 weeks, that gave the baby a whole pound to grow. I have found docs are pretty good at convincing us we need a c-section, and I regret giving in to mine. I was induced for 3 days, and I always question, if I had given it one more day would I have made it. Listen to your instincts... I am in the process of trying for a VBAC, and once again facing docs who aren't so encouraging, it's been quite an emotional roller coaster for me. I am trying accupuncture on Friday, if I dont' give birth by my due date, they insist on a c-section... good luck.... you know what is best for you..

nabiasi · June 2010

It just depends. The size of your baby doesn't depend on the size of your DH though - I was 9lbs 6 oz and I am only 5'2 105lb pre-preg. Totally irrelevant. But anyway- no discussion yet for a second growth sono (I had one at 36 weeks and LO was measuring on the larger side). It all depends on the size of the baby's head in relation to the size of your pelvic bones in the birth canal.. also how much everything flexes to accomodate the birth. I don't know why they would jump the gun and go for a c-section right away rather than letting you attempt to deliver vaginally. I would seriously question the doctor if the c-section is absolutely necessary (that is if you want to attempt the vaginal delivery).

vettechick99 · June 2010

I had the same question when I was pg with my first DD. I am 5'6" but normally only weigh 97lbs. I've always been skinny and small-boned. He said that small moms make small babies and after doing an internal, felt I was ok. I may be small but I guess I have my mother's italian hips! Ended up DD was breech and he said I WAS too small to try a version so we did a C/S. GL with it all!

jenniferueding · June 2010

I really can't believe how many doctors tell women this. Small women deliver big babies all of the time. I was a size 2 pp and delivered DD (8 1/2 pounds) in one push.

Mrs.RCH · June 2010

I am also petite, 5'1" and had an ultrasound yesterday. The baby was measuring at 8 lb 10 oz! They did not say a word about not being able to deliver vaginally.

evadizzle · June 2010

my mom is 4'11" and was able to deliver my 9lb brother vaginally. I guess it's different with every doctor.

2mommiesinoh · June 2010

I am 5' and my OB said it is more common for petitie moms with small shoe size (yes this actually was part of the discussion) to end up with c-sections. Something about a correlation between build and pelvic size. That being said my OB also noted at my first appointment I had a good pelvic build for vaginal delivery in my chart....so as long as she does not get too big (and she flips head down) my OB wil llet me try naturally.

scoutkate · June 2010

2mommiesinoh:
I am 5' and my OB said it is more common for petitie moms with small shoe size (yes this actually was part of the discussion) to end up with c-sections. Something about a correlation between build and pelvic size. That being said my OB also noted at my first appointment I had a good pelvic build for vaginal delivery in my chart....so as long as she does not get too big (and she flips head down) my OB wil llet me try naturally.

That's funny. I wear a 5 or 5.5 in shoes, and I was able to deliver vaginally! I am 5'4 and was 112 pre-pregnancy, and my daughter was 7lbs 6oz--bigger than both me and DH at birth. As I said, I was able to deliver vaginally but just barely. She was sunny side up and my pelvis was too narrow for the OB to attempt to turn her--she got stuck and was only delivered after 2 hours of pushing, an episiotomy AND a 2nd degree tear, and two tries with a vacuum. If the vacuum hadn't worked, I would have had a c-section.

Wendy525 · June 2010

I'm 5 ft tall as well, narrow hips. DD was 7lbs and I had no trouble pushing her out. Granted my hips felt like they were broken in a thousand places after the delivery. This LO is supposed to be over 8lbs and OB is not worried at all.

MamaNikita · June 2010

i'm sure they factor in a few things. i'm 5'0, 115 pp, but DH is 6'5, and at the 20-week baby was measuring large. i've also gained 35 lbs. already. my doctor actually has me watching what i eat because she is afraid that the baby will grow too large and doesn't want to have to do a c-section. she hasn't yet told me what "too large" is, which is annoying because i can't stand being told to cut back on ice cream, but needless to say i'm just following her advice on the diet thing. i also had one abnormal value on the GD three-hour, so i'm just playing things safe.

but she did say at 36 weeks she will have me going for weekly growth ultrasounds, also because i am 35 years old.

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