2nd+ babies heavier than firstborns?

swirl25 · October 2013

So I had what should be my 2nd to last growth scan today -- LO is looking great. She is head down, estimated at about 4.5 lbs and HB was 133. All her measurements are on track, which is a relief! I asked the MFM out of curiosity whether siblings are usually around the same weight at birth. She said that actually, each child tends to be heavier than the previous one. Since I likely can't and won't be getting an epi, I was hoping to hear that they are usually about the same (DD was 6lbs 15 oz). Gulp. I'm thinking at most this one will be in the low 7lb range, but now I'm crossing everything that I don't end up with an 8 pounder! Dr said that would be unlikely, but just wondering what the birth weight difference was for you STMs. True or not?

mavgirl_73 · October 2013

My 2nd was 2oz lighter than my first.

Tigger & pooh · October 2013

My oldest was a few days early and weighed 8.9 my youngest was a few days late and weighed 8.10

MEP923 · October 2013

DS1 measured 8 lbs 13 oz. My doctor said it is hard to tell a weight estimate until 36 weeks. Today I got an ultrasound and this baby was already 5 lbs 13oz. His head was measuring 4 and a half weeks ahead. @-)

hjweber · October 2013

I am the oldest of 3 girls and I was the heaviest. Some 2nd+ babies are heavier, some are lighter. Also, I've heard it's not the weight of the baby that 'hurts' but the head coming through the pelvis and crowning. The rest of the body just sort of slides right out. So don't be worried about having a healthy 7-8 pounder. If weight were the determining factor on pain, I should have had very little pain since DD was only 4lb15oz. And that wasn't the case.

HerbanMom · October 2013

Hmm, DS1 was 6 lb 8 oz and DS2 was 6 lb 12 oz. DS2 was a couple days older gestation though.

lp0 · October 2013

My dr estimated that this lo will be lighter or at most the same as DS. DS was in the 45th percentile at the growth scan and weighed 6 lbs 8 oz. This lo is measuring in the 23rd percentile and was last measured at 4 lbs 3 oz.

bcvolleymom · October 2013

My first was 8 lbs 3 oz and my second was 7 lbs 10 oz. When I was being admitted to L&D for my second the Dr. asked me what I thought about the size of the baby. I must have looked at her like she was crazy, because she explained that studies have shown that the mother typically has a good idea of the size. I told her that in that case I thought that the second was smaller and I was right. What does it feel like to you?

cherylnicole · October 2013

I hope not..DS was 8 and a half pounds. I'm afraid if I cross over into a niner. My vagina will rip in half.

swirl25 · October 2013

Hmm, lots of lighter 2nd+ kids! I guess I am a little worried this one could be bigger, because I feel so uncomfortable and heavy already, but that probably doesn't mean anything.

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KFiori1 · October 2013

My 2nd was 6oz less than my 1st. And she was a few days later as well.

Crgardner957 · October 2013

My second was 4 oz lighter than my first.

4lilmunchkins · October 2013

DD1 9 days early 8lbs 10oz

DD2 4 days early 8lbs 8oz

DS1 9 days early 7lbs 15oz

MEP923 · October 2013

Just wanted to add as far as siblings, I am one of 3. My oldest sister was 6lbs, middle was 7 and I was 8.

jamrosj · October 2013

I just want to add that weight alone does not determine labor pain or tearing. Position is much more important.

northport6 · October 2013

cherylnicole said:

I hope not..DS was 8 and a half pounds. I'm afraid if I cross over into a niner. My vagina will rip in half.

This made me laugh and want to barf at the same time.

thetheisens · October 2013

My second was significantly larger than my first, but they also have different fathers. I hope this baby is smaller so I can have a normal delivery. Ds1 was 7lbs 9 oz, ds2 was 9 lbs 1oz and had shoulder dystocia. This baby is a girl, so I am hoping that helps this baby be smaller than the last. I have also have heard that each baby usually gets bigger in subsequent pregnancies.

leahraewku · October 2013

DD came first and was 8lbs 12oz
DS was 8lb 11oz

Both were born at 40w1d.

FutureMrsCaesar · October 2013

Mine were very similar in weight, only 1 oz different. Around the same gestation. The 2nd was a muuuuuch easier delivery though, so I agree that weight isn't a huge factor in how difficult the labor is. Although my grandma did say her first was 5lbs-something and her 2nd was 8lbs-something and there was a huge difference haha. But I think if you're talking 1/2 to 1 lb and it's your 2nd baby you'll be totally fine.

My Dr also asked me at my last appointment if I thought this baby felt bigger than my last two and I thought it was super weird that she asked me, but I do in fact, think that he feels big, even though he's 'only' measuring 39%.

sportsmomma · October 2013

Well, DS was 9 lbs 9 oz so I'm hoping we don't get much bigger than that!!!

His delivery was pretty traumatic, but like a PP said it had MUCH more to do with his complicated presentation/position than his weight. Also helped that even though his length/weight we're 99%+ percentile, his head was 40%.

FWIW, my younger brother weighed about half a pound lighter than me.

Gapeach83 · October 2013

Actually kinda funny you posted this me and my mom where talking about it yesterday. My oldest brother was 6lbs 6ozs, middle brother 7lbs 8oz and I was the biggest at 7lbs 12ozs. My DD was 7lbs 8ozs so I am going with this one being 7lbs 12ozs.

KELLILOVESJOSH · October 2013

First was 7.5
Second 7.12
I'm guessing this LO will be a little bigger, because of GD ( she's in a higher percentile than my previous pregnancies as well)

willowprincess · October 2013

My first was 5lbs 2oz and my second was 6lbs 13oz, but my first was also born over a month early and my second was born at 38 weeks. So the difference between them probably would have been minimal.

edenkeever · October 2013

My first, boy, was 7lbs15oz...my second, girl, was 7lbs3oz. So I'm not sure that's entirely true...supposedly this baby is ginormous. I think it just depends on each baby and each pregnancy.

ETA: both of them were born at exactly 39 weeks via csection.

kittyh8r · October 2013

Am I the only one that thinks it's funny that you're worried about a 7 or *GASP* 8 pound baby. I can understand 9 or 10 pound babies being what scares people...but 7 or 8? My daughter was 9lbs 9oz. She ended up as a c-section because I pushed for 3 hours and she wouldn't budge. I have a friend who is 4.5 ft, 80 pounds, and gave birth to a 9 pound baby without tearing. Another friend of mine just had a baby 2 weeks ago, he was 6 pounds and she ripped almost completely in half..poor thing! Like PP said, it's not really the weight, but the position of the baby that matters!

swirl25 · October 2013

EmmaBoBemma said:
Am I the only one that thinks it's funny that you're worried about a 7 or *GASP* 8 pound baby. I can understand 9 or 10 pound babies being what scares people...but 7 or 8? My daughter was 9lbs 9oz. She ended up as a c-section because I pushed for 3 hours and she wouldn't budge. I have a friend who is 4.5 ft, 80 pounds, and gave birth to a 9 pound baby without tearing. Another friend of mine just had a baby 2 weeks ago, he was 6 pounds and she ripped almost completely in half..poor thing! Like PP said, it's not really the weight, but the position of the baby that matters!

I'm not losing sleep at night over it (well, I AM losing sleep, but certainly not over that!

). Like I mentioned, it's extremely likely I am not able to get an epidural. I think any mom-to-be who faces going through labor without effective pain meds is going to have that weigh on her mind somewhat, regardless of baby's estimated size.

jamrosj · October 2013

swirl25 said:

Am I the only one that thinks it's funny that you're worried about a 7 or *GASP* 8 pound baby. I can understand 9 or 10 pound babies being what scares people...but 7 or 8? My daughter was 9lbs 9oz. She ended up as a c-section because I pushed for 3 hours and she wouldn't budge. I have a friend who is 4.5 ft, 80 pounds, and gave birth to a 9 pound baby without tearing. Another friend of mine just had a baby 2 weeks ago, he was 6 pounds and she ripped almost completely in half..poor thing! Like PP said, it's not really the weight, but the position of the baby that matters!
I'm not losing sleep at night over it (well, I AM losing sleep, but certainly not over that! ). Like I mentioned, it's extremely likely I am not able to get an epidural. I think any mom-to-be who faces going through labor without effective pain meds is going to have that weigh on her mind somewhat, regardless of baby's estimated size.

Do you have a plan for pain management? I've heard stories of other meds not doing the trick.

swirl25 · October 2013

jamrosj said:

swirl25 said:

EmmaBoBemma said:
Am I the only one that thinks it's funny that you're worried about a 7 or *GASP* 8 pound baby. I can understand 9 or 10 pound babies being what scares people...but 7 or 8? My daughter was 9lbs 9oz. She ended up as a c-section because I pushed for 3 hours and she wouldn't budge. I have a friend who is 4.5 ft, 80 pounds, and gave birth to a 9 pound baby without tearing. Another friend of mine just had a baby 2 weeks ago, he was 6 pounds and she ripped almost completely in half..poor thing! Like PP said, it's not really the weight, but the position of the baby that matters!
I'm not losing sleep at night over it (well, I AM losing sleep, but certainly not over that! ). Like I mentioned, it's extremely likely I am not able to get an epidural. I think any mom-to-be who faces going through labor without effective pain meds is going to have that weigh on her mind somewhat, regardless of baby's estimated size.

Do you have a plan for pain management? I've heard stories of other meds not doing the trick.

They have labor tubs in the L&D rooms at my hospital, so I will be trying that, as well as a birthing ball. I am also researching hypnobirthing and listening to the CD to learn some relaxation techniques. And if all else fails, I'll go with Stadol in my IV, which I did last time. It didn't really do much except slightly take the edge off and make me extremely loopy, but it got me through to 10 cm.

Ark2013 · October 2013

Like others have said, it's not really the size of the baby but the position that matters.

To answer your question though, my dr believes that if all my children were born at the same gestational age they would have been pretty close to the same size.

DD1: 38.4 weeks 6lbs 12oz
DD2: 37 weeks 6lbs 8oz
DD3: 39 weeks 7lbs 5oz

The longer I carry them the bigger they are. Pain wise, it was the same for all three.

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