Delivering a big baby....

elizhope · February 2013

Anyone give birth to a 9 pound baby without a c-section?

Im getting nervous how big LO has been measuring in our growth scans... My OB was pretty accurate with the size estimate of my other two kids (6.14, 7.01), so I cant see her being totally wrong this time....Im 5'4" and small framed, no GD. I just cant see how in the world I can push out a 9-10 pounder (eek)

She measured 8.03 at 37w5d and has been steadily gaining almost a pound a week

baby4anne · February 2013

My first baby was 9lb 5oz and she was my easiest labor and delivery (all natural...no drugs, epi or anything). I am 4'11'' and only weighed 102lb when I got pregnant and weighed 135lb at delivery. You should do fine...best wishes!!!

tmp-406157062502221 · February 2013

My first baby was 10 lbs 1 oz and I had a c-section because they thought she was going to be 10 lbs 13 oz. With my second, I had a succesful VBAC with a 9 lb 15 oz baby. I know I would have been fine pushing out my first baby.

I am 5'6" though and probably average framed. Both of my girls were 22 & 23" though, and I think that has a lot to do with their high weight.

blush64 · February 2013

Having a small frame doesn't mean much. Many women who are shorter than you have larder babies. I am 5'2" and my second son was over 9lbs. I have a small frame, although since then I have gained weight my frame remains the same.

My aunt who is shorter than me and was very tiny gave birth vaginally to a baby over 12 lbs. My sister is your height and had a baby over 10 lbs.

Having a baby that is actually to big to fit is way more uncommon than we are told. Many women who were told that their baby was too big could have had it vaginally. (but were scared into not trying) Sometimes when a vaginal birth is attempted and failed it's not because of the baby's size but it's easy to blame that.

amberandtroy19 · February 2013

Just got back from the OB and she said the babe is measuring 35 weeks (at 32)...She made a really funny nervous face when she told me! ha. It made me super nervous, but whatever happens happens

lightgetsin · February 2013

My second baby was 9lbs. 10 oz and it was a pretty easy labor and delivery ( a couple of pushes, 6 hours total). I had no tearing or episiotomy or anything.

amykins1283 · February 2013

My husband was over 9 lbs and his mom delivered naturally. One of my best friends delivered her over 9 lb baby vaginally. Another friend came into the world at 11 lbs, was delivered naturally, and his mom is barely 5 feet tall. It can definitely be done!

letzgoracing81 · February 2013

I am very much worried about the same thing. I had a growth scan done and Baby Boy is measuring quite large. (I about passed out when I saw the size of his head!)

I am nervous and scared....but the doctor didn't seem very worried.

We will wait and see what she says at the next appt.

blush64 · February 2013

tricia560:
I've been doing some reading on this (I'm concerned about having a big baby too), and it has more to do with the size of the baby's head and the size and shape of your hips than how tall you are.
Check out this blog post for some interesting pictures (diagrams only!)
https://www.skepticalob.com/2010/06/why-wont-my-babys-head-fit.html
I hadn't seen this explanation of why some babies won't fit some women's pelvis, while other women & babies of a similar size have no problems, and I thought it was fascinating.

You won't know what you're body can do before you are in labour. You can appear to be very narrow, with extremely narrow hips and still manage to loosen up enough to push the baby out. Yes, it matters but it's not something you can usually tell before labour.

That explanation is better than some I've seen but still leaves out so much. It's more rare than people know for a woman in 2013 to actually be too narrow or unable to have the baby due to size.

elizhope · February 2013

Thanks guys! Im feeling a little more hopeful. 9-10 pounds just seems like a big big baby compared to my other two. Hopefully since this is baby #3 it will be okay, but I really really dont want to end up with a c-section or LO to have a broken collarbone/shoulder

happywife2b · February 2013

Wow, you are tiny! I was in labor for 24 hours before needing an emergency C-section with my 9 lb. 11 oz. baby girl. This time I am having a scheduled C-section and so happy about it!

Bink720 · February 2013

baby4anne:
My first baby was 9lb 5oz and she was my easiest labor and delivery (all natural...no drugs, epi or anything). I am 4'11'' and only weighed 102lb when I got pregnant and weighed 135lb at delivery. You should do fine...best wishes!!!

So I'm actually sharing my mom's experience. My mom is 5'0" and maybe got up to 125lbs while pregnant with me. I was 9 lbs, 22 in long and my mom had an easy non-medicated vaginal birth. GL OP!

MelTwe · February 2013

DD was 9 lbs., had a head circumfrence was in the 90% percentile and I was induced to PIH. It wasn't my ideal delivery, but she was delivered vaginally, so it can be done.

LadyDelilah · February 2013

My mom delivered my brother at 11lbs 4oz and 28 inches and said it was her easier delivery out of the three she had. Her smallest baby (my other brother) was her hardest one.

My kids are around 9lbs and Ive had one vaginal and one C/S recovery was the same for me with the exception of the lifting restrictions I had.

mrsbea · February 2013

elizhope:
Anyone give birth to a 9 pound baby without a csection? Im getting nervous how big LO has been measuring in our growth scans... My OB was pretty accurate with the size estimate of my other two kids 6.14, 7.01, so I cant see her being totally wrong this time....Im 5'4" and small framed, no GD. I just cant see how in the world I can push out a 910 pounder eek She measured 8.03 at 37w5d and has been steadily gaining almost a pound a week

Growth scans still can be off either way by a couple pounds so ya never know.

But your frame and height really have nothing to do with your capability of birthing a 9lber vs a 7lber and so on. Just like if you're 500lbs it doesn't make you any more capable of birthing a 12lber with ease.

When my DH was born he said he was 9lb 6oz, vag. DHs son with ex was born vag at 9 something. Lots of 8lbers in my family and his.

My DD was in the 8s. I too wonder if this LO will be in the 9s though.

Megroons · February 2013

tricia560:

I've been doing some reading on this (I'm concerned about having a big baby too), and it has more to do with the size of the baby's head and the size and shape of your hips than how tall you are.

Check out this blog post for some interesting pictures (diagrams only!)

https://www.skepticalob.com/2010/06/why-wont-my-babys-head-fit.html

I hadn't seen this explanation of why some babies won't fit some women's pelvis, while other women & babies of a similar size have no problems, and I thought it was fascinating.

Just lurking but I agree with this. DS had a 15.5 cm head and I delivered him vaginally. My midwife couldn't tell me how many stiches I had and I pushed for 4 hours but everything turned out fine! Once his head got out his 10 lbs. made no difference....