How can u tell if baby is to big?

Question

ok guys I am due on Thursday Oct 11th. Tuesday we found out baby was already almost 9 pounds. I know they can be off by a whole pound because with previous pregancy's they were under a over a pound just a week before birth. I can tell this baby is BIG and starting to really fatten up. I have given birth naturally 3 times now and do not want a csection. Is there any other way to tell if the baby is to large for delivery. He still has not dropped yet and the doctor told me i was only dialated to a 1 for 3 weeks now. I had a version done and he is NOT head down 5 days after the proceedure. Ive talked to my midwife and she just tells me if its to big emergancy csection will b performed. If i need a csection i want it planned not emergancy! So how do we know before if he is to big

I understand that my body may or may not be able to do it. Just the last two times i had babies they were like 8 pounds barley and they pop out over 9! Now they are saying almost 9 pounds my luck he is gonna be 10 Pounds or more. I know this is my 4th time and i should b scared but I am, caint help itplus my 12 yr old is going back with me and i dont want something like a emergancy csection to happen and scare the crap out of her

Answer 1

Hi, best wishes with whatever happens with the birth, remember the end result is what is important...a healthy baby, the birth is just how he or she gets into your arms, c-section or vaginal, at the end of the day you still have your beautiful new baby to cuddle. What is also important to know is if your baby is breach, a c-section in our country (Australia) is considered the safest way to deliver babies in this position.

You mention big baby AND breach, and I cannot help but suggest a planned c-section would be the safest choice. Your daughter can sit with you behind the sheet (that they hold up to prevent you from seeing the operation) and you can both meet your new baby together and have cuddles just seconds after he/she is born. A c-section can be a beautiful birth as well, not just vaginal births, after all remember...it is about the baby being welcomed into your arms, not just how it got out. Best wishes for the days ahead.

ps. Often it is only baby no. 1 that 'drops' into the pelvis during the last few weeks of pregnancy, usually with babies no.2 etc they become 'engaged' just before or during labour. You could ask for an ultrasound which will measure the diameter of the head so that they have a more accurate knowledge of the size of your baby. To be dilated 1 cm is just an indication that you have given birth before - often called a 'multi os', the cervix can be 1-2 cm and still be not actively dilating, but is just like this. This doesn't have any bearing on when you will or will not go into labour. Hope this helps.

p.p.s I know of at least 2 people who have given birth vaginally to 12 pound babies, no stitches either, but they were head first.

Answer 2

Okay, the way I see it Mary Rose is pretty on. Plenty of women have babies this large all of the time. I myself was 9 when I was born, my mother did all of her births naturally w/o epi's. The only thing I have to input past this is that with a emergency you'd more than likely either be given a spinal (no more dangerous than epi) or general. Where you are at in your labor when your arrive would be the deciding factor in this. The more dire the situation the more likely general would be used. With general the risk of mortality does increase for the mother and exposure to drugs for the baby. I had twins in my second pregnancy, first was a vaginal delivery and the second was c-sect. My boy was just fine and seemed to suffer no ill effects from the general anesthetic that I was given ( i had opted no epi). Based on this I think you should add a third option for consideration, which would be to deliver in hospital (w/ or w/o epi- in case of emergency) just to keep things safe. I realize this negates the choice of a home birth using a midwife but sometimes the best environment for the baby if the risk of problems is elevated is the hospital environment. Of course I also want to wish good luck and extend and early congrats!!

Answer 3

There is no way to know before birth if the baby is too big. Your pelvis spreads and opens up when you are in labor, and every woman is different as far as how much her pelvis will open up and how big of a baby will be able to pass through it. Women have given birth vaginally to babies who were 10 lbs. There is no reason to plan a c-section. Just trust in your body and give it a chance to do what you know it is capable of, and if they find out in the middle of labor that your pelvis didn't open up enough, then have a c-section - just like your midwife said. A planned c-section isn't really more beneficial to you than an emergency one.

Answer 4

Mine was 9.5 and she was a c-section. I was in labor for 15 hours and could not have her. Her head was 14 inches in diameter. (They had no way of knowing this until she came out though.) She was a BIG baby. I would say that if the head is small enough to get through, then a 9 pounder could be had naturally. Just not in my case.

Answer 5

I had a 9 lbs baby and a 8 lbs baby. The baby will come out don't worry. And congrats on the new baby. My B Days Oct. 10 th. Let me just warn you that kids going to be trouble LOL.

Answer 6

I think the only way to know for sure is by an ultrasound. My daughter was 9lb 13oz and delivered naturally. Dr had no idea she would be that big, he thought close to 9lbs, he didn't realize she was too big until she got stuck and had to be vacuum extracted. I'm 28 weeks pregnant and I will be having a few ultrasounds the closer I get to my due date to make sure this baby won't be as big. Good luck!!

Answer 7

If the Maury show is already calling you for a guest appearance.

No but really, I was just about 9 pounds when I was born. The only problem was that I was breach birth, and they couldn't flip me around, so they had to perform the csection.

Answer 8

i was told my 3rd child would be 9lb+ she was 7lbs 2 oz.. But that said 9lb babies are quite common, my friend gave birth to a 9lb baby 3 weeks ago..(her 5th baby) her younger sisters 1st baby was 9lb 12 and she was fine giving birth

Answer 9

Ok girl, this is your fourth time, so you know how this works! If you need it, you'll get it, if not, well you're gonna get some hemorrhoids! Good luck! I had a ten pound baby my first time, naturally, so it wasn't so bad.

Answer 10

as it is your 3rd pregnancy it wouldnt be expected for it to have dropped as there is plenty of room in there now and your hips and pelvis have done it all before so should be able to do it now