Baby size matters

kfnunn88 · January 2020

Let me tell you why size matters. In 2013 I was pregnant for the 1st time. I made a post asking about size I was currently 38 wks to what my dr had told me but in reality I was further along than that and my dr refused to check or update my progression. My questions on the size of my child during pregnancy had gone unanswered and ultimately almost killed me. Literally I almost died. The comments I had received about the previous post were what does it matter as long as the baby is healthy...um my health matters too. Anyway, the size of my child was 10 lbs 11 oz and 24 inches long. This was my first pregnancy. My body was not prepared to birth a child of that size. I ended up loosing 2000cc's of blood (A half gallon). I wanted my body to have plenty of time to recover before we tried for baby # 2. Which I miscarried early on. Not long after I found out I was pregnant with baby # 3 and he arrived in 2017 at 8 lbs 9 oz 21 inches long. Much better and an easier delivery. Easier on recovery time too. I am currently 35wks 5 days with baby # 4. Two wks ago I went into early labor and was able to get it to stop however, we did a growth scan because as it turns out I give birth to big babies and it is not good for my health as my history has provided. The growth scan showed that this one was just shy of 6lbs at 33 wks 5 days along. The rest of the measurements where showing about 2 wks a head of what my current state of pregnancy were at. I am not looking at trying to have more GIANT and big babies I just want normal healthy size babies. So if you are concerned like I was or am ALWAYS get a 2nd drs Opinion both YOUR health and the health of your baby matters. I was not given the option of a C-section with my first because the size was unknown. When my 1st arrived the delivery process was hard on him too. His eyes had hemorrhaged and you could see where the blood had pooled in his eyes.

Now some may say well you have big babies because your tall. Yes, I am tall I am 5' 10" and my husband is 5' 6". The height comes from my side of the family but being given an estimation on baby size would have helped me be a better advocate for myself. The dr even admitted that the baby should not have gotten that big and he was approximately 3 weeks late.

harpseal135 · January 2020

kfnunn88 said:

Let me tell you why size matters. In 2013 I was pregnant for the 1st time. I made a post asking about size I was currently 38 wks to what my dr had told me but in reality I was further along than that and my dr refused to check or update my progression. My questions on the size of my child during pregnancy had gone unanswered and ultimately almost killed me. Literally I almost died. The comments I had received about the previous post were what does it matter as long as the baby is healthy...um my health matters too. Anyway, the size of my child was 10 lbs 11 oz and 24 inches long. This was my first pregnancy. My body was not prepared to birth a child of that size. I ended up loosing 2000cc's of blood (A half gallon). I wanted my body to have plenty of time to recover before we tried for baby # 2. Which I miscarried early on. Not long after I found out I was pregnant with baby # 3 and he arrived in 2017 at 8 lbs 9 oz 21 inches long. Much better and an easier delivery. Easier on recovery time too. I am currently 35wks 5 days with baby # 4. Two wks ago I went into early labor and was able to get it to stop however, we did a growth scan because as it turns out I give birth to big babies and it is not good for my health as my history has provided. The growth scan showed that this one was just shy of 6lbs at 33 wks 5 days along. The rest of the measurements where showing about 2 wks a head of what my current state of pregnancy were at. I am not looking at trying to have more GIANT and big babies I just want normal healthy size babies. So if you are concerned like I was or am ALWAYS get a 2nd drs Opinion both YOUR health and the health of your baby matters. I was not given the option of a C-section with my first because the size was unknown. When my 1st arrived the delivery process was hard on him too. His eyes had hemorrhaged and you could see where the blood had pooled in his eyes.

Now some may say well you have big babies because your tall. Yes, I am tall I am 5' 10" and my husband is 5' 6". The height comes from my side of the family but being given an estimation on baby size would have helped me be a better advocate for myself. The dr even admitted that the baby should not have gotten that big and he was approximately 3 weeks late.

I am sorry you went through that,it had to have been scarry.

BUT on the reverse of your story I know a lady who gave birth to a 7LB baby, who is 5'8 and she went through something similar. She almost died on the delivery table, she remembers fading away, before passing out. Was given multiple transfusions, etc. It was her 4th child (not her biggest nor smallest), and 1st time it happened. She had 2 more children after that with no issue.

I work with a lady who is 5'4 and gave birth to a 10 1/2 pound baby with no complications.

Things happen, and unfortunately, they are unpredictable. I am not taking away from your experience but just saying that it can happen with any sized baby. Labor and Delivery is not an exact science.

I find it hard to believe that a doctor admits that a baby shouldn't have gotten that big (you are not the 1st with a 10+ baby) - maybe they did but it really then what are they advocating early inductions a c-sections because a measurement or ultrasound (notorious for being off by weight up to two pounds) that put baby at risk, and not fully developed lungs, etc, because they are being forced out too soon? Also, if baby was truly 3 weeks late, the meconium would have passed, a week or so earlier.

As I said, i am not saying your story is scary and what you went through was tough. But there is a flip side to things, I'm not saying that people shouldn't advocate for themselves, but the unexpected happens bo matter the size of the mom or the baby.

meggyme · January 2020

Growth scans are certainly not an exact science either, so forcing a baby out early because they MIGHT be big is a gamble and doesn’t preclude you or the baby from having complications. It sounds like the issue was less about the size of your baby and more about the complications from your births. It also sounds like you have some trauma associated with them that you might want to work through with a professional and discuss options with your doctor.

stassischroeder · January 2020

LSS: "I'm uneducated about a scary experience I had, so I'm spreading misinformation to the masses in the form of a PSA"

I fixed it for you.

Having said that, I agree that you should always advocate for yourself and not be afraid to get a 2nd opinion.

wabash15 · January 2020

OP late growth scans are notoriously inaccurate. for 3 of my kids they have been off by 1-2 lbs from actual birth weight. Complications happen with babies of any size. My largest baby was my easiest birth and recovery... Sorry you had issues but having a big baby is not in and of itself an issue.

mrswheeler812 · June 2020

I was born at 36 weeks and I was 10lbs. I went through first pregnancy telling the doctor we had to keep an eye on size and we did. They refused a third trimester ultrasound because I was measuring 2 weeks behind and then had an 8lb baby that was came out blue and caused so much trauma the LOST COUNT of my stitches. I have an extra 2 days in the hospital and 2 blood transfusions. I still can't sit on an uncushioned chair for more than 5 minutes and its been nearly 3 years. Big babies cause damage. Don't tell me I am uneducated regarding what happened to me.

stassischroeder · June 2020

mrswheeler812 said:

I was born at 36 weeks and I was 10lbs. I went through first pregnancy telling the doctor we had to keep an eye on size and we did. They refused a third trimester ultrasound because I was measuring 2 weeks behind and then had an 8lb baby that was came out blue and caused so much trauma the LOST COUNT of my stitches. I have an extra 2 days in the hospital and 2 blood transfusions. I still can't sit on an uncushioned chair for more than 5 minutes and its been nearly 3 years. Big babies cause damage. Don't tell me I am uneducated regarding what happened to me.

Sooooo you dug this thread up from 5 months ago to make an inaccurate point?

If you were born at 36 weeks and were 10 lbs, it's very likely the ovulation date (and subsequently, the estimated due date) were inaccurate.

An 8 lb baby isn't abnormally large. At all. My first was 8 lbs 6 oz, second was 8 lb 10 oz and I had zero issues delivering vaginally, with very minimal tearing. If an 8 lb baby is delivered blue due to lack of oxygen it is very unlikely that it has anything to do with the size.

And, as was pointed out numerous times, late growth scans are notoriously inaccurate. Essentially, the size of your baby wasn't the source of your issues. Unless you have underlying medical issue like dwarfism.

harpseal135 · June 2020

8lb baby is by no means big. Sorry you went through what you did @mrswheeler812, but crap happens in delivery. I know a lady who had a 6lb baby vaginally and nearly bleed out on the table (baby number 5 no previous issues or future issues) and is now due with baby 9.

coldlife2 · June 2020

I'm sorryx @kfunnell89 and @mrswheeler812, that you had difficult deliveries.

It is possible for complications to occur regardless of baby size. It's important to remember that the vast majority of women can vaginally deliver their baby. You can call it evolution or God or whatever you want, but women's bodies do not, in the vast majority of circumstances, grow babies that their body cannot safely deliver.

Current ACOG guidelines regarding suspected large babies.

https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Fulltext/2020/01000/Macrosomia__ACOG_Practice_Bulletin,_Number_216.50.aspx

Of note -

-If a provider tells you your baby is estimated at greater than 9 pounds, 15 ounces, that estimation is wrong more than half the time (first paragraph under "Diagnosis.")
-A physical exam (aka - feeling your belly and measuring fundal height) is about as accurate as ultrasound (last paragraph under "Diagnosis.")
-Suspected macrosomia is not a reason to induce prior to 39 weeks (under the question that starts "is there a role for induction of labor...").
-A planned c-section due to suspected macrosomia is controversial, and generally isn't recommended unless the baby is estimated at more than 11 pounds. Even then, it should be a discussion between the woman and her provider, including noting that ultrasound estimation is notoriously wrong (and, as referenced above, that it's wrong more than half the time at this weight) (under the question that starts "when should scheduled cesarean birth...")
-A suspected big baby is not a reason to skip attempting a VBAC and going straight to a c-section (under the question that starts "is suspected macrosomia a contraindication...")

Baby size matters

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