- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Natural Birth
jshf
member
Large babies and induction
jshf
member
I had an ultrasound last week, when I was 31.5 weeks. They said everything looked great and then I saw my OB today. She said that at the rate this baby is growing and based on my first being 8lbs, 7 oz, she is estimating the baby will be over 9 lbs if I go to my due date! She said that if my cervix is ripe and I've dialated a little, she may want to induce me a week early. She said if my cervix is not ripe, then she won't try to induce. But if the baby is large, there are more risks including the baby's shoulder getting lodged or having a c-section!
I had an epidural with my first and then my labor stalled. So they gave me pitocin which was awful and I wanted to avoid any meds this time around. I even hired a doula who I am meeting with next week to come up with a birth plan.
I've been reading people's posts below and trying to do some research, but I am just nervous about either scenario. What are your thoughts about doing an induction a week early to avoid the baby getting too large?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Large babies and induction
I"m still learning about all of this myself, but I know the USs are not very accurate and can be off by as much as 2 pounds. Personally, I wouldn't be induced. I would just wait.
I"m curious to see what the other ladies on here will say. Great question to post.
ETA: I asked a similar question a few days ago. Maybe you can find some helpful information.
https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/59918498.aspx
Are you planning on going med-free this time? Staying active and upright during labor and pushing is your best bet with suspected macrosomia.
Honestly, your OB sounds like she's panicking for no reason. You already had a decent-sized baby vaginally, which means even if your next baby is bigger, you still have a better-than-average chance of being able to give birth to a bigger baby.
Are you certain of your EDD? The risk of inducing a week early is that your dates might be off, and your baby might be younger than the estimate, which brings another set of risks. And induction isn't recommend with suspected macrosomia, anyway. This is a good link to read:
https://birthsen.tmdhosting930.com/?p=1531
FWIW, I had a successful VBAC with a 10 lb 10 oz baby. My first was 8 lb 4 oz, and a c-section. I didn't have any sizing estimates, and wasn't induced.
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
The AGOC recommends against inductions for "big babies." I personally would ask your OB why she thinks she knows better than the AGOC.
It is VERY rare for a baby to grow to big to fit...most of the cases where babies don't fit has little to do with their size and more to do with the position of the baby and the position of the mother during labor. Many women give birth on their back which is pretty much the worst position for everyone other than the Dr.
As PP said, u/s can be way off this late in the game. A projected 9 or 10 lb baby is not a medical reason to induce.
Babies squish- even their heads.
My antidotal reason- I gave birth at home to a 9 lb 15 oz baby and wouldn't have changed a thing.
A 9+ pound baby isn't abnormal and isn't something we should be scared of. Have faith in your body...it knows what it is doing. Your OB sounds almost panicky too me, I hope this isn't the case.
GL with however you go forward, I wouldn't concern myself with the 'i' word just yet.
Thanks for everyone's feedback! I think I am the one panicking, not my OB. She just told me I should think about it and that she might advise me to do it if my baby seems extremely large.
I really wanted to go med free this time because I had such a rough experience last time. My main reason for thinking that an induction would be better is if it would significantly reduce my chances of having a c-section. But so far, it doesn't really seem to make a difference.
I'll definitely do more research, but I feel a lot less stressed about it!
I would argue that having an induction would up your chance of a c-section. When your body isn't ready and the doctors try to force it, the baby gets stressed, things don't progress and then you get rushed into a c-section as if it is your saving grace, when really the induction caused it all to go wrong in the first place.
I agree with all the previous posters that say wait. Big babies are nothing to be afraid of. Relax and trust your body to do what it needs to do.
My first was just shy of 9 lbs and she came right on out. Unless you're really tiny, I don't see what the fuss was about. OBs act like you can't possibly deliver anything over 8 lbs. But it's doable and people used to do it all the time.
If your labor stalled with pit, then it's probably a good idea to avoid it if possible. Inductions are a slippery slope when it comes to interventions.
They gave me a hard time about delivering my twins because teh smaller one was in line to deliver first and they discourage vaginal birth in case the second get's stuck. I asked the perinatologist flat out what the margin of error was on their measurements of the baby's size. They said + or - 2 lbs. That tells me that they haven't a clue how big my baby really is, other than are we continuing to see growth. They told me my 9lb baby was going to around a nice normal 7 lbs.
Trust yourself and your body.
I had a u/s on Friday when I was 28w2d. Baby measured at 29w5d and just over 3lbs. I know my dates aren't off because we concieved via IUI.
My dr isn't concerned about LO's size and has no plans of inducing just because she's measuring large. Hubby was over 9lb and is a big guy so dr thinks LO may just be a big baby too. My dr has no plans of inducing at all unless medically necessary.
FWIW, my friend had a u/s a few days before she gave birth and her son measured at over 9lbs. He was 7lb 7oz at birth.
Nine pounds is not, in any way, "extremely large." In fact, it's still just normal. ACOG doesn't even recommend induction unless the baby is suspected to be over eleven pounds. Your OB sounds induction-happy. Lots of people have natural births with nine and ten pound babies.
Plus, like others have pointed out, those u/s are notoriously inaccurate.
♥ Married since June 2009 ♥
TW: Living children & Losses:
Pregnant after 4 losses via IVF/FET with daughter "Gamma" (EDD Oct 2, 2019)