Anyone deliver a big baby (8lbs+)?

[bny807]

hello everyone!!! I am so excited, we are getting closer to finally meeting our little miracle!  I go in each week for biophysical profiles, and for a long time now they have said she was measuing quite big! At last check.. via ultrasound she was measuring 6lbs at the 34 weeks 0 days! with a big head- it was measuring 36 weeks! Anyhow.. i'm on blood thinners, so my scheduled induction is not until oct 28th (i'll be 39 weeks at that time- and she is predicted to be huge by then 8.5-9lbs).   The first time my obgyn checked my cervix she said " whoo your pelvic bone really angles downward" making my pelvic opening small.. Soo my question is anyone deliver a big baby vaginally? we are getting induced, which i know increases your risk of c section in the first place, but my dr has a farily low c section rate (13%). But i'm getting a little nervous, IF she can even fit thru my pelvis, i'm scared to tear all the way (3rd-4th degree tears i hear about- ouch!)   Any advice or experiences??  thanks!!

[Fugitive06]

I think you'll be fine.  Although you will be induced (perhaps some natural labor inducing activities closer to your desired delivery will reduce or eliminate the need for artificial induction) you could try to avoid an epidural.

This will allow you to move around & find better positioning for your babies trip down & out of the birth canal.  An epidural will limit you to the incredibly unnatural on-your-back position for the duration.

Women of all shapes & sizes have been birthing babies way before the medical community had the power to freak us out about our slightest deviations from the normal.  With the ability to feel your labor, you will be able to listen to your baby & your body & do what needs to be done.

Namaste!
Fugitive

[nannie1979]

All four of my babies were well over 8 pounds.  My smallest was 8 pounds 10 ounces, the largest was 10 pounds 4 ournces.  No gestational diabetes....two of them (not the ten pounder) were about a week late.  I had all four naturally, no epidurals, no nothing....with the longest labor being 8 hours, the ten pounder.  I am small, only 5 fout 3, and when I had the babies I ranged in weight from 110 pounds to about 135 (when I got pregnant).  

Don't stress about it too much, you will do fine!  

[mel979]

My last baby was 9lb 1oz i had no pain relief with him never had time did tear a little but wasn't all that bad and i just had my 36 week scan to be told that he weighs 8lb now so he'll be 10lb that i'm not looking forward to at all.

[bny807]

wow, thats a big baby!!!  yea.. we are just going to play it by ear.. as big as my belly is measuring and the sono's have been measuring.. i imagine she is on the bigger side for sure! but we wont be going to 40 weeks since i'm on heparin at least!   we'll see!! thanks girls!

[laila23]

well it was c-section but i had a 10lb baby 14 oz and 23 inches long th labor was well you will find out...and he was a week late ...

[alikat1205]

I had a 9.4 oz baby and a 8.10 oz. baby, but had a c/s with both.  However, I don't know that they were caused by a small pelvis, so I don't think you should think the worst just because the baby is big, things can stretch!!!! Good luck!

[Courtcoop]

I was 8 lbs and my brother was 9 lbs!  My mom delivered both naturally.
You will be just fine!

[bny807]

thanks so much yall! thats making me feel a little more confident! about delivery!!   I have noticed starting this weekend that my pelvis must be moving or opening- my hips and pubic bone feel like they are separating when i stand - so i guess thats a good sign that the bones are relaxing and geting ready!?    Not tooo much longer!!!! thank yall!

[Heather5]

Hi bny! Just wanted to let you know that my sister gave birth to a big baby girl in June, at 9.25 lbs., and she had no issues delivering naturally. She was about a week overdue, though. Plus, I'm not sure about her pelvic bone. Best of luck!!!

[blueeyedtabbycat]

After reading your post I just had to mention that with my last pregnancy (my DD is 7 weeks today) They kept saying she was going to be huge!!! I had so many u/s's I lost count but I had my last one during my 37 th week and they said my baby was already measuring 9 lbs 11 ozs!!! I eneded going into labor 2 days later delivering a great big baby girl all of 7 lbs 6 ozs, lol!! I wouldnt put much stock in the docotrs "guesses" using u/s or otherwise. Who knows you just might have a big baby but then again you might not. I can imagine going to my due date my DD MIGHT have been close to 9 lbs but I am glad she came when she did and wasnt the predicted 9 lbs 11 ozs at only 37 weeks!! Good luck
BTW- All my babies had big heads (measuring in the 95th percentile + at birth, except my 3rd but he has a huge head now) and I only tore and needed one stitch with #3 who had the smallest head at birth, lol. Go figuar. I honestly dont think they can tell if baby will fit properly untill they try, but thats just my opinion. They can also massage your labia (?) with oil to help prevent tearing to some extent.
Good luck!!!

[Jnnlw]

My first daughter was 8 lbs6oz.  I had her vaginally, without any meds or epidural.  I did tear (2nd degree) and needed some stitches, but otherwise labor was fine (4 hours).  You'll do fine!!  See if you can do most of your labor in a hot bath.  My hospital had bathtubs in every delivery room.  The hot water REALLY made a difference with the labor sensations.  I didn't want to leave it when it was time to push.  BTW, I swear by frozen maxipads with a little spray of witch hazel to help with post-partum discomfort.  

[natalie910]

My first son was 9lbs2oz and I had him naturally. My labor was only about 3 hours. Good luck things will be fine either way!!

[bny807]

thanks!!!!  i guess time will tell!! hopefully if i go the induction route we wont have to end up getting an emergency c section after a hard labor- i feel like that happens a lot!

[pat4rod]

My baby was born vag and he weighed 9lbs. and measured 19 inches long, but then he was number 7 so I guess he was easy except for he came a little bruised up bc he hit his face on cervix bone. My midwife said bc he came out too fast.  

[prevatt77]

Gavin was 8 lbs 10 ozs.  Not so big, but check his head out, it wasn't small.  He was a vaginal birth.  He still has a big head.

[bny807]

thanks so much girls!!! oh i know i saw that article about the 19lb baby!!! wooooww!!! I can't imagine how big her belly was!    Yea.... the possibility of severe perineal damage scares me... If i have to have a large cut or tear i think i'd rather it be via c section than down there- where i hear it can interfere with relations for a long time thereafter! especially with my doctor commenting on my small pelvis size!   as of now i think we are just going to play it by ear.. she says that the Relaxin hormone may separate my pelvis just fine.. My mom also delivered 8lb babies.. but her pelvis is wider than mine.. I guess time will tell! yikes, i'm getting sooooo excited!!!!

[stillwaiting52]

I had a 9 lb 1oz and an 8 lb 3 oz, both were C-Section not b/c of size though. My mother deliever 4 babies naturally from 8 lb 9 oz to 10 lb 6 oz, she had problems later in life with her perieum and had to have minor surgery, her doctor told her that now days she would have delivered with C-section, big babies are too hard on the body, it may not show up until years later like it did with my mother.

[adgal]

Tracey, I was going to mention the same thing.  This is my first baby, so I can't really comment, but OMG, 19lbs?  And I was worried about how I will handle it if I have an over 7lb baby.....

[PamelaBee]

Yes, my Mother did to 3 girls.  Each of us were over 8lbs!!

[traceynjar]

Hi, I don't have experience in this area, but couldn't help but notice your post and then thought of the article I read online today of a woman who delivered at 19lb baby by c section this week in indonesia.  I guess that's something to be grateful for, at least she won't be that big huh.  Congrats and good luck with your delivery.

[limpet]

Hi there!

Congratulations!!!

I had a huge baby 9lbs 10ozs and it went just fine he also had a big head. I had a great birth experience and did need an episiotomy but it really was not bad (honest). The only advice I can give is try not to listen to horror stories. I had a very big baby, only pushed for a half hour and was laughing when he came out. Trust that your body knows what to do and try to relax and let it happen. Oh I was induced also and a c-section was never mentioned.   Everyones body reacts differently but no matter what happens the end result is a beautiful baby in your arms!

BTW
October 28th is a great day to have a baby (its my birthday :) )