Baby's head too big?

Re: Baby's head too big?

• aboodtobe member

  July 2014

  I just wanted to add that she is normal size/weight/height for a standard delivery. She has no other medical conditions that would cause a "small pelvis" (like rickets or something). We also know that pelvic size is not a fixed width and that the baby's head will become more "cone like" as it passes through the birth canal. 

  

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• MuchlyGen member

  July 2014

  I don't know exactly what to ask the doctor... but I will say that usually the only reason a baby is "too big" is if the mother has something like Rickets, which actually deformed the pelvic bones. The baby's head is designed to compress (the separate skull plates can overlap, the head ''cones''), and the pelvis is designed to expand with the pregnancy hormones causing the cartilage to loosen so that the pelvis actually stretches. 

  
  

  So, uh. I guess I would just ask a great deal of questions about what leads the doctor to think there may be a problem, and maybe bring up those specific points to see what he says?

  
  

  And if your friend isn't convinced, consider the option of speaking to another physician/getting a second opinion?

  
  

  
   

  
  

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• JCWhitey member

  July 2014

  My kid had a giant head.  In the 85th percentile at birth.  I had a vaginal delivery and no tear.  Heads are designed to compress.  I'd definitely suggest a second opinion.

  B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17

  
  

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• conradraging member

  July 2014

  My baby's head was in the 85th percentile at an u/s last week at 33 weeks. And nobody has said anything to me about it being too big for vaginal delivery. I mean, I'm of course like oh crap that's a big head... But I still plan on going with a med-free vaginal delivery barring any emergencies.

  
  

  
  

  BFP: 09/13/13  ---  MMC: 10/25/13

  BFP: 12/25/13  ---  DD: 09/10/14

  BFP: 03/16/15  ---  EDD: 11/30/15

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• aetg member

  July 2014

  I guess you could ask if they would support her laboring in different positions as they contribute to having an more open pelvis.  

  
  

  If they say no, after having told her she needs her pelvis to be more open...  Well, can't help you there!

  
  

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• bagonzalez90 member

  July 2014

  I would say do some research because i know today that is one of the BIGEST "excuses" for doctors to schedule a c section. if she is healthy and there is nothing wrong with baby then i would say ask and if the dr still refuses get a second opinion. its her right to choose! its not endangering her and baby so she still has the option of doing it natural. 

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• catsinawindow member

  July 2014

  I evidently make giant-headed babies. My son's head was in the 99th percentile (off the charts per the OB) and my daughter's head has been in the 90th percentile. I had vaginal births with both, my daughter was born all-naturally after just 7 minutes of pushing.
  
  The way I see it, what's the harm in trying a vaginal birth? The concern with large babies is generally shoulder dystocia (where the head comes out, but the shoulders get stuck). As long as baby is otherwise a normal size, I would think a huge head might actually prevent this from happening (ie once the large head emerges, the shoulder and body is NBD). I'm not an OB or MW though, so I'm not basing this thought on anything medical.

  
  

  
  

  

  BFP#2:  EDD 2/11/14, MMC confirmed 7/15/13 (growth stopped at 6 weeks), D&C @ 12 weeks 7/25/13
  

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• MsMacual member

  July 2014

  Ditto getting a second opinion and that the head will contract to go through the birth canal.  Also, u/s are notorious for being off with the measurements so idk that I'd trust that the u/s is accurate enough to make the decision to schedule a c-section.  If I were in her shoes, I'd tell my doc that I wanted to try for a vaginal birth and make the call for an emergency c-section only if the baby's or my health was in danger.  If the answer is not supportive, I'd find a new doc or even better- a midwife.

  

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• sweetsyrup member

  July 2014

  My LO had a head in the 95th percentile.  I had a normal vaginal delivery (2nd degree tearing, but not bad at all).  I was induced because of his size (I had GD).  They estimated he would be 8.5#.  He was 9# 13 oz, so I agree with the PP in that U/S can be way off!  You can always get a different MD or get a second opinion.

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• aboodtobe member

  July 2014

  Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Followed through with some questions for the o.b. and (long story short) she's good to go! Amazing how two different doctors can have such different opinions. 8-|

  

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