Natural Birth

Induction at 39+3 due to baby's estimated size of @ 8lbs 14 oz? - Update & help needed!

JennoskcajJennoskcaj member
edited April 2014 in Natural Birth
Hi ladies, I'm a FTM and have had a perfect pregnancy so far...thank goodness. I'm also hoping for a natural birth if possible. Last week, I had a final ultrasound with the "high risk" doc due to my age (39) and she began suggesting induction due to the baby measuring somewhere between 8.5 lbs and 8 lbs. 14oz. She also mentioned "slightly elevated" fluid levels. She ordered a NST this Tuesday, which I went in for, but the baby was pretty quiet through most of it, so the doctor I was seeing who was a different one from last week wanted to do another US to check the fluid levels again. It came back normal - level of 10.1 and she said she didn't know why they would have said it's high and that we had some time, the baby's doing great and all is fine, so no induction needed. Fast forward to today when I had my usual weekly appointment to check on progress and this new doctor went back to the "we should induce due to the size of the baby" mantra. (I have a group of doctors rather than just one so I'm always seeing new docs with this medical group). I told her I'd rather not induce just due to the estimated size of the baby and everything I've read, including the recommendations from the ACOG says not to induce just due to the baby's size. She agreed, but didn't give me much assurance that it was the right thing to do. I'd like to get some input on this from the group here....what would you do in this situation? Any insight is welcomed! Sorry for no paragraphs.....on an iPad..................... Update - I'm now at 41W and still no signs of labor. I scheduled the induction for tonight at 7pm, but more as a "placeholder". I've been getting pressure from everyone around me to have the induction from the docs to family. I'm worried about waiting too long, but I also feel like I'm the only one pushing to wait longer. It's hard for me not to constantly think about the fact a few of the docs wanted the baby out 2 weeks ago. WWYD???

Re: Induction at 39+3 due to baby's estimated size of @ 8lbs 14 oz? - Update & help needed!

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  • Thanks Sidrajedi, that's what I'm afraid of. It seems like a few of my docs are pushing for it and two others aren't worried at all about the size of the baby. The two that pushed for induction are saying that if they do it soon we have a better chance of a vaginal birth, but according to ACOG, The c/s rate jumps from 30% to 50% with induction due to baby's size. When I mentioned that she didn't have much to say.
  • @oliversmommy32912‌ - thank you! I think I'm just nervous about going against their recommendation and then regretting it later. I'm sticking with my gut though.
  • When my water broke early, I went against the on-call OB's instruction of going to the hospital. I had already discussed the scenario with my OB and he had ok'd me to stay home for up to 24 hrs to labor. The on-call OB called the following morning and gave me a "slap on the hand" for not going in. Everyone is going to have a different recommendation. Go with what you're comfortable with. I ended up delivering 6 min shy of 24 hrs after my water breaking and if I had been tied down to a hospital bed and monitor (I was a 2nd time VBAC), I know I would have ended up in a c/s. Plus, u/s size predictions can be way off. Good luck, mama!
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  • SidraJedi said:
    I wouldn't induce. DD's birthweight was 8lb 14oz and I did great (a small but deep tear that i didn't feel). I had a home birth. I would wait it out. Inducing because of size seems silly to me and seems like a recipe for an unplanned c/s! Better to let baby come on her own if you can.
    This!

    I've had two babies that have been nearly nine pounds.  I've never torn.  My last DD was 8 lb. 15 oz. and was born at home.  In fact, both of my larger babies have been my easiest and quickest deliveries.  My tinier babies have been much more difficult.  IME ease of delivery has more to do with positioning and head size than it does overall weight.
        
  • that seems crazy to me. I would be hesitant to induce for size even if they predicted an 11 pound baby. Unless your <5ft 8 or 9 pounds doesn't seem like it should be an issue. Measuring can be off by 2+ pounds so you could just as easily have a 6.5 pound baby. I wouldn't risk it.

    Engaged 10/2/1202
    BFP (a lil quicker than expected) 12/7/2012
    Married to my best friend 12/24/2012
    Beautiful baby girl arrived 8/15/2013
    BFP #2 3/13/2016

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  • I think you should trust your gut on this one.  As you said, these weight estimates are notoriously inaccurate and based on the information you have provided the ACOG would not consider that a valid reason to induce. 

    For what it's worth DS was 8lb12oz and I had him out in two pushes.  I did have a second degree tear, but it healed up quickly, they thought it was from the speed of his delivery not his size. 
  • Thank you ladies! I'm definitely going to hold out and hope she comes soon on her own. My official due date is next Tuesday, but I feel like she's ready to come any minute now! @joules235‌ - I'll definitely check out Spinning babies! Thanks :).
  • I agree with PP that position is a bigger factor than size.

    I know this just an anecdotal story but hopefully it can give you confidence and courage to stand your ground. My first was 8lbs 2oz and I had all kinds of tearing. My second I did all the exercises that spinning babies recommends to prepare and try to avoid the issues I had with my first. DS ended up being 10lbs 4.9oz. I pushed him out in 6 minutes with only a small "skid mark" as my MW called it and had a very easy recovery.
  • L0L0L0L0 member
    In your situation, I would refuse the induction. If the baby is big, so what? He doesn't have that much time to grow that much bigger anyway. My baby was born at 41+5 at 9 lbs 4 oz. Had I induced at or before his due date, he would have been smaller, but maybe his position wouldn't have been as good. I was fortunate, I didn't tear at all.
  • I started doing some of the positions from spinning babies today, they definitely seem like they help with alignment and balance. I've done some yoga on and off throughout my pregnancy, so some of the moves were very familiar, but it felt really good to focus on those things today. Still waiting on any sign of labor, but nothing definitive yet. My next dr appt isn't until Thursday next week....hopefully she'll be here well before then and I don't have to deal with the induction discussion again. The reassurance and support from all of you has been so helpful!! Thanks for sharing!!!
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