2nd time Moms: if you gave birth to an 8 lb + baby...

lovelyladylump · October 2011

I had a growth u/s last Wednesday (38 weeks) and my little man is measuring approx. 8 lbs. 3 oz, give or take a lb, and his head is 34 cm (not sure if that is average). So if he goes full 40 weeks or over, he'll likely be 8-10 lbs...l am officially terrified. I can't stop thinking about the damage he could do coming out, not to mention any harm that could happen to him if he gets stuck behind my pubic bone (thanks for adding that tid bit in doc).

My question is, if your baby was over 8 lbs and you were successful with a vaginal birth, how did you and your little one fair the delivery? How was your recovery?

TIA!

PandaMom06 · October 2011

I was induced due to GD at 39w6d. She was estimated the day before delivery to be 8lbs 10oz. She was born at 8lbs 5oz. I had a vaginal delivery with no problems. I did tear but that was because she shot out like a rocket at the end. My OB literally had to catch her. It wasn't a bad tear, just a couple stitches. I think my recovery was great. Of course I was sore but I don't think it was bad at all. Within a couple days I was ready to go for walks at the park. DD was fine also, no problems not even from me having the GD.

MarineWifePalmer · October 2011

I had 2 9lbs babies.. My son was 9lb 3oz and the only complation was he came out face up and his nose got stuck on my pelvic bone and they had to use the vaccum, but other than that no problem after great recovery.. My daughter was 9lbs 6oz and she had no problems coming out and same recovery as my son.. I hoping this one comes out a bit smaller but either way i have no worries about delivery.. GL hope things go smooth for you..

winelvr · October 2011

DD was 8lbs 3oz and I did tear but recovery wasn't horrible. She was a big one to push out though!! My MIL had an over 9lb'er and an almost 12lb'er!! yikes!!!

lovelyladylump · October 2011

I bit of tearing I'll be fine with, I can deal with that. Thank you for giving me some peace of mind and that big baby doesn't = a difficult delivery! My doctor made it sound like I'll be a ravenous mess down there after and gave me all new complications to worry about. Thank you ladies and good luck to you too:)

BritanyV · October 2011

My ds was 8lbs 5ounces and we had no problems with delivery. I did have a small tear but that is likely due to the fact he was sunny side up.

lildevil968 · October 2011

My DD was 8Ibs even at 37 wks 3 days. My recovery was horrible because I had torn all the way up to my urethra, and down almost to my anus. I tore so bad because she came very quick (out within 3 pushes). It took me the whole 6 wks to recover from the taring, but she did great.

Qmommy · October 2011

My DD was 8lbs 7oz and had no problems during or after delivery. I had a couple 2nd degree tears but nothing horrible.

TimeRacer · October 2011

My BIL was over 11lbs when born, my DH was just shy of 10lbs, and my MIL had minimal tearing and she and the boys all recovered very well. This is remarkable with DH considering she was almost 40 when he was born.

My mom, on the other hand, had 7lb 6oz me and tore through the emergency episiotomy.

I think the size of your LO is only one of many factors. I'd say relax and let LO come as need be; the odds seem to be in your favor for good things judging from the moms who've replied so far :-D

BeachBum73 · October 2011

I had a much longer and harder delivery with my 6 lb, 2oz girl than I did with my 8 lb, 8 oz boy. Of course he was my 2nd and I was told that they are easier, even if they are bigger. Just a thought - growth u/s are notoriously off but even if it isn't, your baby could be long rather than round.

Deltadawn8 · October 2011

DD was 8lb 2oz and DS was 8lb 8oz. Both were vaginal delivery and I had very few stitches with both. Recovery was good considering.

NewMomAlyssa · October 2011

8 lbs 7 oz and no problems, a small labial tear that didn't need stitches. Don't let them give you an epsiotomy it increases tearing, and also don't push the baby out as fast as you can when it's crowning, take your time. Called "laboring down" A bigger baby is not nec an issue, fat is not hard to give birth to. It's just bigger heads/shoulders that cause trouble! And that won't be increasing at all at this point. Plus ultrasounds are usually way off in weight guessing, so I'm thinking your doc is trying to prep you for suggesting you get induced. Don't let him do that either!

avbliss · October 2011

DD1 was 8 lb 9oz when she was born, and I have a small frame, was a size 6 before getting pg. I did have a 1st degree tear, and also a small labial tear. I pushed for 3 hours (I just couldn't get the hang of it), and it was definitely hard work but worth it. I wouldn't have consented to an episiotomy unless there was an emergency with LO. Also keep in mind US can be off by an entire lb, so just because they are guestimating that LO is 8lb 3oz doesn't mean he is.

smiles_jds2003 · October 2011

My first baby was 10lbs, delivered vaginally with no forceps or vacuum. I did have an episiotomy (which kept me from tearing, as opposed to the previous suggestion that they make tearing worse). There was a small degree of shoulder dystocia but with repositioning me and a nurse putting pressure on my stomach baby came out with no problems and has had no problems since.

hollinor · October 2011

My "little" one was 8lbs. 13 ozs. I had zero tearing because my midwife was there doing a perineal massage with olive oil. It hurt like crazy, but I didn't have to contend with tearing or stiches so that was awesome. As for baby, I had to be induced at 42 weeks and amniotic fluid was running low. She was aboslutely fine and had a very healthy appetite. She was downing 8 ounces every two hours. I had to switch her to soy because the regular formula upset her stomach. Other than colic, she did awesome.

brewcitybride · October 2011

I don't know why people think 8-9 pound babies are that big of a deal. Maybe I just have a lot of friends and family members who have babies of this size, but to me, anything smaller than 8 pounds is a small baby. 8 is average, and 9 is a little above average. My friends who had 8-9 pound babies did not have any more or less tearing or damage than someone who had a 7 pound baby - everything is different with every birth, regardless of size. Now, a 10 or 11 pound baby, NOW you are talking terrified!

Mrs.Greeko · October 2011

I had a third degree tear with a 6 pound 11 ounce baby so I don't really think size plays all that much into it. Recovery wasn't that bad with that tear. FWIW, my second was 7 pounds 4.5 ounces and I didn't tear at all. I think it has more to do with positioning (mom and baby) and how you push (too fast or with enough time to stretch, etc).

*BabyMamma03* · October 2011

Mine was 8lbs on the dot. I don't have anything to compare it to, but I healed normal and he came out fine. I don't really know how much of a difference there is in feeling between a 6lb baby and a 10 lb baby. Either way it's gonna hurt, but will be over quick.

GoombaGirl_79 · October 2011

DS was 8 lbs 6 oz at birth and he apparently had a pretty big head haha. I had a successful vaginal birth, although we did need forceps at the end because he kinda got stuck. I don't think he got stuck behind the pubic bone or anything but they needed to speed things up to make sure he wasn't getting his little head squashed for too long while he was stuck. Other then that though, not a whole lot of damage happened and I recovered in I think the usual amount of time (5 or 6 weeks after was when I stopped feeling really achy and sore 'down there')

I'm fairly small boned and don't have big hips so I'm glad everything went well.. I was also pretty nervous! The human body is pretty amazing...

adri77 · October 2011

Mine was 8lbs 9oz, just normal tearing, baby was fine, good luck!!!

missashleyyy · October 2011

I was induced at 41 weeks with DS1 & he weighed 8lb 1 oz. & was 22 in. long. My doctor cut me because he said I would end up tearing. Recovery wasn't too bad just load up on ice packs for a few days. I would say that I was fine (pain wise) by a week later...

LittleMonkeys3 · October 2011

I was induced at 41 weeks with DD. She was 8lb 7oz and I ended up with a 4th degree tear, but she had a huge head for her size. I lost a ton of blood and fainted and was not able to care for DD for the first 3 days because I couldn't stand up long enough to do things for her (I could nurse her and hold her lying down). My recovery was horrible and I ended up with residual effects from what happened. I don't think this is normal for everyone, by any means. I pushed for 3 hours and she was just stuck so they took her by vaccuum. The dr thinks that for me her size was too much. So with DS1 I ended up with a c/s at 38w 6d because I'd been laboring forever and he wouldn't descend. It ended up being a much easier recovery for me because I didn't have all the trauma from my first birth. You just never know how your body is going to react. So try not to worry because most people don't have trouble with an 8lb baby.

PhysChic7685 · October 2011

Mine was 8lb 2oz and I had a 2nd degree tear, but recovery went smoothly.

Madringal · October 2011

DD was 8lbs 11 oz. Delivery was as fine as a vaginal delivery can go with an epidural. I pushed for about an hour and a half and had some minor tearing. I was TERRIFIED to poop for a few days but other then that everything was fine.

karleegirl · October 2011

My first child was 8lb5oz. I had a small episiotomy and was sore for about a week. Honestly the contractions are 100x worse than the soreness. My second was 6lb 9oz. I was really only sore about 2 days. Pushing them both hurt the same.

Cleo29 · October 2011

My daughter was 9 lbs 7 oz, with a large head and shoulders and I did have a vaginal birth and pushed for one and a half hours. They did need to do an episiotme, which I didn't feel at all, but it was all fine. I had no idea she would be that big.

My sister had a vaginal birth with a 9 lb 13 oz baby.

I did great during delivery and was on a high afterwards that was great. I think by the time I fell asleep I had been awake for 24 hours, but I could not get enough of gazing at her.

My recovery was a little rough, things were just sore. I have had stitches in years. I would say the first three weeks were the worst, in terms of discomfort, but not unbearable. Also, Dermoplast is a must!

JLS0320 · October 2011

I had a vaginal delivery and DS1 was 10 lbs even. He had shoulder dystocia and my OB broke his collarbone to dislodge him. I had a 2nd degree episiotomy and a reasonable recovery, he healed in about 7-10 days. Baby 2 appears to be large as well, but I do plan to attempt another vag delivery if OB says its safe

Oliver715 · November 2011

My DD was 9lbs 4 oz with a big head. She got stuck. I was induced the day after my due date and they finally decided to do a csection at 5:15pm. I stayed at 1cm the WHOLE time! Just go with the flow I guess. It will be ok. IN MY OPINION ( I know its a sensitive topic) when the Dr said csection I said go for it. I knew she had a big head and I was not about to put either of us in danger just so I could have a vag birth. GL!

georgia3 · November 2011

DD was 8#14 oz, DS was 10#5oz- both were vag deliveries with no complications. I'm hoping for something a little smaller this time, but not overly concerned if not

. Don't let them talk you into early induction or c section based on a projection of "big baby"- you will do fine !

lovelyladylump · November 2011

I was worried about the induction-like a couple posters mentioned, it sounded like the dr. was trying to convince me to get induced but I'm going to try steer clear of that, unless I go a week overdue I won't have a choice. Thank you so much again ladies, my mind would be a wandering mess if it wasn't for all of your insight!!!

2nd time Moms: if you gave birth to an 8 lb + baby...

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