Are doctors alowed to induce if baby is large?

[Ashlee2210]

I'm asking this question because at 36 wks the ultrasound said that my little boy was 8lbs 7oz. I had to wait two more weeks to get another one to make sure if he is actually 'big'. Well, I go and have my sonogram at 38 wks and now he is weighing 10 lbs 11oz. My doctor said that they are not allowed to induce before 39 wks due to a large baby. Yet I get concernced for how big he is. The doctor in her own words says, "Your baby isnt big, he's huge!" Now you would think they wouldn't let it get that far because of all the risks. She finally said I could have a scheduled c-section Jan 18th because I will be 39 wks then. Does anyone know if this is true? "Are they really now allowed to induce before 39wks because of a large baby? I am just worrying because my babyboy keeps gaining more and more weight, and I am hoping that it is safe for him to be a 12 + pounder =/

[Ashlee2210]

Thanks for the quick responses! I am just going nuts over this, and think I am stressing way too much about it. My daughter was 9lbs 13oz and I had her vaginally, so I am used to the whole big baby, but they are making it out to be that my son is "huge" and over the 4,000 gram mark. My amnoitic fluid was fine and the placenta as well. She told me the c-section is the best option for me due to the shoulders getting stuck and to where it will be life threatening (that just boosted my confidence...not!)

[Ashelen]

I would NOT opt for a c-section until you get into labor and they can get a more accurate idea of what the baby's size will be. at 36wks 3 different doctors on THREE DIFFERENT ULTRASOUND MACHINES told me that my son was already 8+lbs and would weigh "well over 10, closer to 12+ lbs" if he made it to 40wks..I asked if I needed to get a c-section and they said no, that if it turned out he was too big and couldn't fit, I could always get an emergency c-section, but they recommended trying for a vaginal.

I'm SOO SO SO glad that I opted for a vaginal delivery..my son was born at 39w4d, and he was 7lbs 10oz..I had 3/4 hours of active labor and 3 easy sets of pushes and he was out without a single tear.

So....don't do anything drastic and do NOT trust the ultrasound measurements. if something happens in labor (i.e. baby is too big) they can always get him out via c-section....but there are SO many factors that influence the accuracy of ultrasound measurements and I would NOT have major surgery based on an estimate, personally. The reason MY measurements were so off is because I have excess fluid and a very large placenta....

anyway, it's up to you, but I personally would wait and give natural labor a try first...if something happens and baby is too big, you can always go for a c-section. and no they most likely won't induce. it's about lung maturity not size that determines when it's safe for a baby to be born :-).

[SiSi_]

Well, 37w is considered full term. If your doc doesn't have a very drastic reason to induce, he wont. My doc had to induce my cousin at 36w due to blood pressure. He also said my baby was big n when I asked to induce at 37w he said no. I ended up having her at 38w2d and she was only 7lbs 13oz! Those weight measurements can be off by a lb or so.

[Lenanbaby2]

I had a friend who had a 13lb baby.. Most doctors won't induce because of a big baby... I would take the c-section