One strike against me....per my doctor

mheather77 · December 2011

At my doctor's appt a few days ago the doc told me I had one strike against me and that is that I'm on the petite side (5'4) and with twins. I didn't really get into it with him because I do understand what he meant, I have a smaller torso and therefore more limited room for them to grow compared to someone who is taller.

I''m wondering if you other moms out there on the shorter side were able to deliver babies weighing over 5, 6, 7, lbs. I'm hoping I'll be able to stretch enough and carry them until they're at a healthy weight.

Any words of encouragement or happy ending stories are gladly welcomed! Thanks

April320 · December 2011

I'm also 5'4" and my babies were 5 lb 7 oz and 6 lb 9 oz (born at 36w4d). I was enormous and totally uncomfortable at the end, but I suspect that would have been the case even if I was 6 feet tall!

September2007 · December 2011

I'm 5'4 (and 120lbs), and my OB never mentioned anything about my shorter stature... My babies were delivered at 33w6d, thanks to Pre-E and severe IUGR, but I don't believe my height/weight had anything to do with our early delivery. It was more a risk to me and to them with the Pre-E and DS's severe IUGR. DD weighed 4.2lbs and DS weighed 2.7lbs at birth.

On the flip side, my cousin who is built very similar to me, had triplets yesterday, at 35w2d. The girls weighed 5.7lbs, 5.2lbs, and 4.14lbs.

Good Luck to you!!!

LALASEPT05 · December 2011

That seems like a terrible thing for someone to tell you. I am 5'2" and was 109lbs before babies. We went to 36w1d and they were 6lbs7oz and 5lbs2oz. You can absolutely do it. Just take it easy...stay off of your feet drink lots of water and don't push yourself. You can do it. There are many petite women on this board who have had nice sized babies. Good luck to you!

JosiePosy · December 2011

Ok I'm 5'3" and delivered early, but my height had nothing to do with it.

MontyMrs · December 2011

I'm 5'4 and I successfully carried and delivered triplets who all weighed around 5 pounds at birth - that's 15 pounds of baby! GL!!!

PianoPlayingSarah · December 2011

Size has nothing to do with it. I am (almost) 5'4" and weighed 100 lbs pre-baby. I used to wear size 00 jeans from Abercrombie.

I carried my triplets to a scheduled c-section at 35 weeks, 6 days. They weighed 5.3, 4.13 and 4.13.

(ETA: Genetics has a large role in what size your babies will be too.)

dec13th · December 2011

April320:
I'm also 5'4" and my babies were 5 lb 7 oz and 6 lb 9 oz (born at 36w4d). I was enormous and totally uncomfortable at the end, but I suspect that would have been the case even if I was 6 feet tall!

same thoughts! I am 5'1" and delieverd at 38w2d, 7lbs 1oz and 7lbs 14oz.

mheather77 · December 2011

Wow, thanks so much for all of your responses! Makes me feel a WHOLE lot better!!!

vakatiebug28 · December 2011

I'm mostly a lurker, but every time I see these posts I have to chime in because they annoy me so much! I can't believe doctors would be so discouraging.

I'm 5'0" even and weighed 115 pre-pregnancy, and I carried my twins to 38 weeks. (And honestly, I probably could have made it another week but a late growth ultrasound caused us to think there was a big size disparity when there wasn't so I was induced.)

Henry was 5 pounds, 7 ounces, and 19 inches long; Ellie was 5 pounds, 11 ounces, and 19.5 inches long. I wish they had been heavier, but they were healthy and required no NICU time. Today, they're both in the 90% for height and Henry is in the 95% for weight.

There's no reason to think being short means you won't be able to carry them to term. Arggg.

Mrs. Alice · December 2011

I'm going to agree with all the others. I'm also thin (5'6 118 size 0-2 pre-p). The only person who equated my pregnancy complications to my stature was my FIL (whom we educated really quickly!). It was a placenta problem, nothing to do with my body or ability to carry them. I think it was because a few months before another family member of similar stature delivered her di/di twins at 36 weeks with no complications. With that being said, 5'4" is pretty average height anyway.

j&j508 · December 2011

No reason to worry-- it just means you'll grow out more when they can't move up anymore. That might make for a little more heartburn or being a little more uncomfortable at the end, but like PPs said, you can certainly go on to have big healthy babies and not have to deliver too early.

mheather77 · December 2011

So good to hear these stories. My husband will feel a lot better about this too when I share with him your posts...

robinsokj · December 2011

I'm 4'11" and my doc wasn't worried at all about my height

ninjabridemom · December 2011

My doc DID mention my height (I'm 5'6") and said people under 5'4"-5'2" can have more discomfort, so she was glad I was a little taller w a longer torso. But -- that's just a comfort thing...

I have never heard of height being associated with **serious issues** like that. It sounds irresponsible b/c there are so many relevant factors to worry about instead!!! And that's not even including the fact that issues come up that can't be predicted.

KarliB84 · December 2011

I am 5'3" and about 127 pre-pregnancy and my girls were 6lb 5oz and 6lb 9oz. My belly did stick out A LOT!! I don't think that height really has anything to do with it! GL!

Kristi1971 · December 2011

That comment sort of reminds of of an old-fashioned view/"wives-tale". I'm a petite frame, and it's not easy to carry these two sweet girls, but I'm doing it. I'm a little taller that you, but then again...wives-tale.

You will do great, I am sure! Our bodies are built to carry babies and are very versitile (I think I spelled that wrong, but you know what I mean).

jxd215 · December 2011

I'll echo what everyone else has said - height has nothing to do with it! I am 5' exactly, and my twins were born at 37 weeks, DD was 5 lb 5 oz, DS was 6 lb 10 oz. And I was lucky enough to have a very easy pregnancy and walked and took the train to work until the day before my c-section. The only time height ever came up in a discussion with my doctor was when she was explaining at an ultrasound that she wasn't worried about the weight difference between the kids because I am short and DH is tall (6'3") so the kids were probably taking after us.

afwifestrecker7706 · December 2011

I am 5ft 2in and went to 35w 3d and babies were 4 lbs 5oz, 4lbs 11oz and 5lbs 2oz. And they were 18-17 in long and I don't have a long torso either.

Temp6313048411121614 · December 2011

I'm 5'5" (technically 5'4.5") and I carried my twins until my 38w c/s. A was 6lb, B was 5lb 5oz.

MrsLnt · December 2011

That's kind of a crappy attitude for your doctor to have. I asked my MFM about this and she said it had no bearing on anything. I'm 5'3, petite to medium build and made it to my scheduled c-section at 37w 1d with no signs of labor. DS was 6lbs 5oz and DD was 4 lbs 15.5 oz, but was estimated to be bigger. She's just long and skinny. Still is at 13 months old.

google123 · December 2011

just about 5'4 here, DS was 6lbs 8oz and DD 6lbs 3oz. They could've gotten bigger then that if i would've kept them in. I had a c-sect cause I was complaining of decreased fetal movement.

SpinningJess · December 2011

I'm 5'4" and my girls were 5lbs6oz and 5lbs2oz at 36w5d. It was ALL out front. Uncomfortable as all get out. But....no one has ever called me petite, I might have hugged the doc if she called me that LOL

natb22 · December 2011

I'm 5'3" and had 6lbs 12oz and 6lbs 5oz healthy babies at full term (38w 2d) my dr never even mentioned that as being a "strike" against me. I gained 38lbs total during my pregnancy. No worries!!!

sara1014 · December 2011

I'm 5'3" and my doctor never said anything about my size. I stretched beyond my wildest imagination and my babies were born at 38 weeks 2 days at 5lbs. 5oz. and 5 lbs. even.

It's amazing what the human body can do!

After reading some of the other posts, let me add that you ARE likely to be uncomfortable later. My heartburn was so, so bad. Tums were my best friend and my belly stuck out so far it was almost cumbersome! Drink loads of water. I learned this the hard way and was having contractions due to dehydration.

Good luck! I'm sorry your doctor had that kind of attitude. Unless he/she meant it in the fact that you would be less comfortable later in pregnancy and was trying to give you a heads up.

Fancy3Face · December 2011

I'm 5'4 and while I had 5lb babies (small people usually make small babies) I made it to 36w and I'm positive I'd have made it all the way if it weren't for pre-e. My cervix held pretty well.

I wouldn't worry about stature. Lots of teeny MoM's have gotten to term with zero problem.

ETA: I read the blog of a trip mom who's like 5'2 105lbs and she made it to 35w with TRIPS. You can do it!

mheather77 · December 2011

I'm overwhelmed with all the positive responses and words of encouragement! How lucky we are to live in this day and age when we can reach out to people we don't know and get such tremendous feedback and support in such a short amount of time. So glad I posed this question and feel so much better. I guess I'll just look forward to my body doing some crazy stretching along this amazing journey. Thanks to all of you!!!

ams8099 · December 2011

I am about 5'5. I carried until 35 weeks (spent 12 weeks on bedrest). My girls were born at 5lbs 13oz and 5lbs 7oz.

~Lynchie~ · December 2011

I am 5'2" and my boys were born at 36w2d weighing 5 lbs 1 oz and 6lbs 15oz. Good luck!

HisBelovedPrincess · December 2011

God has a funny sense of humor, with all these tiny women carrying more than one baby!:) (or any woman carrying more than one babe for that matter. lol) Height is NOT a strike against you, it just might mean that your back will hurt/stress alot sooner= a support belt works wonders!:) You might measure larger than some women, if you don't have a long torso, so you might have a "big ole belly" pretty early on . If you are smaller chested, you might start looking kind of funny in maternity shirts that are too big for your chest, but have to be bigger and bigger to cover that melon of a belly. Those are just a few things I experienced as slight inconveniences while carrying our B/B twins to 38wks on my 5'1" and 115lb frame But, just like all of these other ladies, I managed ) You will too

Mrs_MBed · December 2011

I'm still pg, but I'm 5'0" on a good day and my boys are growing fine. At 28 wks they are approx 2 lbs 10 oz (51%) and 3 lbs 7 oz (82%) respectively, so they are on the big side - built like my DH (who is 6'0" & 220lbs). My singletons were also on the large size, so I am not too worried about it. And neither my OB or MFM have mentioned that as being a problem for me to carry the twins.

Its not that you have limited room for them to grow, as that is why the uterus expands outwards, rather than staying in your torso. Your belly will probably stick out further than someone who is taller or has a longer torso. I wouldn't worry about your height or torso length.

ardilla · December 2011

I'm 4 foot 10, 93 lbs when I got pregnant. I carried to 36w0d, babies were 4 lbs 9 oz, 4 lbs 2 oz (by u/s they were estimated around 5 lbs). My doc wasn't worried about their size because my family is so petite. I did have PTL issues but considering they started in week 22, before I got huge, I wouldn't know if you would attribute any of it to my height. The babies were released from the hospital with me. Also, don't believe anyone who says petite people are unable to lose the baby weight -- it may be a factor but not necessarily true. I'm currently 5 pounds down from pre-pregnant weight. Good luck, and hope you have a happy and healthy pregnancy!

blueberries8 · December 2011

Wow, these stories are so wonderful and reassuring to read! Thanks ladies! I am 5'2" 3/4 and was 102 pounds before the IVF bloat. I have a very short torso and while no doctor has commented, I've definitely been concerned about my ability to keep them baking long enough. I just try to think of my great-grandmother who was 4'10" and gave birth to healthy twin girls (one being my grandmother, of course!).

srh08.05.06 · December 2011

I'm 5'4" and was just under 120 lbs when I got pregnant with twins. I carried them to 36w2d and they were 7lbs 2oz and 5 lbs 12 oz and perfectly healthy!

Rangergal9 · December 2011

I'm 5'4 and my babies were 6.10 and 7lbs and I had them at 38wk1d. I had no problems besides really bad swelling.

UsedToBeGoldie · December 2011

i'm 5'8" and made it to 38w1d with no signs of labor. My OB did tell me that taller women tend to go longer with multiples... but the fact is- anyone can go full term, anyone can go early - you never know what you'll have happen to you until it happens.

volgirl123 · December 2011

I'm 5'3 122 lbs & had two boys @ 36 weeks that were 6 lb 12 ozs & 6 lb 3 ozs. Take home babies! Good Luck!!!

Kristen61607 · December 2011

I'm 5'4" and my girls were 5lbs and 5lbs 3 oz, so they were small. But very healthy with no NICU time!

MrsCali_Bride · December 2011

I'm 5'3" and carried my twins to 37w2d. Amelia weighed 7lbs 12 oz and Owen weighed 6lbs 5 oz. I measured 47 weeks at my appt the week prior to delivery.

This pic is at 37 weeks exactly. I went into labor the next night.

besu-chan · December 2011

I'm also 5'4" with twins and so far everything has been fine. I haven't delivered my babies yet so I don't know their actual weights but at 35 weeks they are estimating around 5.7lbs each and I have had a pretty much complication-free pregnancy. I've also met MoMs much shorter than me who delivered full-term, healthy babies so that has really helped me feel better (especially the lady at my church who is 4'9"!!). Yes, I think it probably is an advantage to be taller, but that doesn't mean you will have any difficulties.

joliemariée · December 2011

sorry, but what a jerk of a doctor. I w'ould be super upset and pissed if my Dr had ever said such a stupid comment.

That said, I am just under 5'4", weigh 105 on a good day and carried my twins to 35wks, no NICU, so serious PG issues, both weighed over 5lbs & I only gained 35lb.

Good luck and I would let that Dr. know how rude that comment was if I were you!

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