Big baby, dr offering c-section, what to do?

twirlyjack73 · January 2011

Today I'm 37 weeks & had a sonogram today showing LO measuring 8.3 pounds. My dr said that if LO doesn't show on his own by week 40 he will do another sonogram & depending on size likely be offering me the option of a c-section for safety reasons. He won't induce me b/c that likely winds up in a c-section for first time moms anyway. I know it's a bit in advance to be asking opinions but I kinda want to get my head on straight. Thoughts? Has anyone had this experience?

ksyknelvr73 · January 2011

It's kind of odd to me that they are offering a c-section after 40 weeks and then saying they don't want to induce b/c it might "end up" in a c-section Hmm

I also have a big baby at 37 weeks and we are going with an induction in 16 days if LO doesn't show before then. Do you have any progress...any dilation, effacement?

wishin&hopin2008 · January 2011

I was induced the first time around and everything went fine- a little painful because of the pitocin (sp?) but DS came with no worries. Here is the thing if inducing you might end in a C-Section, why not try it and see where you land? Or do you have a fear of having a big baby vaginally?

Jaylea · January 2011

Unless it was a safety issue (ie the baby or me had some sort of condition which made L&D dangerous), I would always opt to try for vaginal delivery first.

I wouldn't want to jump to surgery knowing that A. the measurements can be off, and B. you might not have any trouble birthing a baby even if the measurements are correct.

They estimated this baby to be 8 lbs 8 oz at 36 weeks, and we're not talking c section at all.

TheBub · January 2011

I gave birth to DS vaginally at 38w4d. He was 9lbs 11oz. I would most definitely try for a vaginal birth first.

dee1369 · January 2011

My best friend's baby was measuring huge between 34 and 37 weeks, so she was induced at 39 weeks. It went fine - although it took a while - and her baby was less than 8 pounds.

CAkelly · January 2011

I am also measuring big (baby was measuring 38 weeks at 34 and estimated 7lbs at that time) I am being induced at 38 weeks (because of other health issues), my dr and I have decided to try an induction and if it ends up in a c/s, then we will deal with it at that time. I wouldn't go straight to c/s unless I had other issues.

TiffanyTheMom · January 2011

Of course he'd offer a c/s- it makes them more money than a vaginal delivery does.

If you need to be induced, fine, do that. But I'd only go for a c/s if there was danger to me or the baby. A big baby is not dangerous unless we're talking 12lbs or bigger.

myszko · January 2011

I would never go for a c-section because of a 'big baby'. The percentage of women who have babies who are just too big to fit is sooooo small- it's called cephalo-pelvic disproportion. Docs like to push c-sections. Plus those size estimates can be off by a decent amount.

I agree that it doesn't make sense that he doesn't want to induce you because it often leads to c-section? But he want to do a c-section to begin with?

RumbleLina · January 2011

I would try for a vaginal birth and see how things go. If you stall you can always go for a c-section. My OB told me that if your LO is too big your body isn't going to allow you to progress and you will stall, but you need to remember our bodies can do amazing things.

A story my OB told me last week was they had a women who they had estimated her LO at 11lbs so they gave her an option to try vaginal first or go straight to c-section. She chose c-section and her LO came out 9lbs...waaaay off from the 11lbs and that woman could have very well had a vaginal birth.

twirlyjack73 · January 2011

Thanks ladies, so far some pretty good input

To clarify, my dr meant that since inductions usually lead to emergency c-sections in first time moms why bother distressing the baby & me. He meant it's better to plan it rather than cause a problem from a failing induction. I know you're right that the size may be off. It was also nice to hear about the almost 10 pounder that came out just fine. I think what I'll do is ask him to measure my hips (my friend told me her dr did this) to determine if the baby could pass if it really was that big. Also I'll ask what he would do if he was me (his wife is an OB & they have young kids). Lastly I'll ask him to explain what goes on in a failing induction & at what point he'd do a c-section. I'd rather have the pain of a vag delivery than deal with a c-section recovery. Thanks again & good luck to everyone

MarriedWriter · January 2011

I had to have an appendectomy at 28 weeks, and if you don't have to have surgery, don't do it! My recovery was slow and painful, and a c-section is a much more intense surgery than an appendectomy. I can't imagine what I'd have done if I'd had to care for a baby while healing from surgery.

ryry1919 · January 2011

I am having a c-section because of a big baby/he hasn't descended the way he should.......If I tried to labor it out, it could end in a c-section, but I had to make the most wise choice for me due to my back problems.......You will just have to figure what is best for you and baby......also the epidural wouldn't work for me due to disc problems/scarring

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