9 lb baby and small frame

[Ar1el]

Thanks again all. You guys are making it easier for me to keep clam. I really appreciate it.

 

[KelsiesMommy]

I'm 5'3" and very small framed- and my first dd was 6lbs 6oz 19 1/2 inches, my second DD, just 21 months later, was 9lbs 2oz 22 inches- both born without the aid of any epidural or drugs- DD2 was born at home with a midwife- no tearing or sutures or anything.

Don't worry!

 

[Nicolepa]

I had 3 kids, 7.13, 7.14 and 9.0. My 9 pounder was by far the easiest delivery and recovery.

 

[brergnat]

The fear of big babies, IMO (and in the opinion of many others) is absolutely ridiculous. Pelvises are pelvises, and pelvises have very movable bones!


Having major abdominal surgery on the day you meet your baby is NOT the optimal way to do it, trust me. And while some people have no problems, many others DO, and you never know what camp you'll fall into until it's too late.

Don't let the OB scare you!

The overall size of the baby is not as worrisome as the size and shape of the HEAD. Many babies heads get "stuck" in the pelvis and/or birth canal. Happened to me with my first. To this day, he has an abnormally large and square-ish shaped head. I have large hips, too, but my pelvic opening was just not big enough. And, having a c-section was not some sort of nightmare scenario. I often think that having my first son "the natural way" would have lead to some epic tearing "down there." Glad I didn't have to deal with THAT! (and so is my DH)

OP, that "guess" can be off by 20%. So, the reality is that your baby can be anywhere from 7lbs to 9lbs...if your other kids delivered fine, and abnormally large heads don't run in the family, you can relax!

 

[Hannathy]

It isn't the weight that matters it is the head. If there is a problem they will decide shortly before delivery
I am even smaller than you, have never weighed over 100 except when I was pregnant and shorter. With my DS they did a CT scan to decide if the head would fit. It wouldn't and I had a C but he was very skinny just a big head
Now my DD was a different story her head was supposed to fit they just didn't count on her shoulders! her shoulders are what got stuck and she was a very stressful, difficult delivery. She was an ounce under 8lbs and I did have her V birth but with a lot of damage.

Relax and remember your DR pays a fortune in insurance and is not going to allow you to try to deliver in any way that will hurt you or the baby if with in their powers!

 

[quentina]

Thank you for the replies. I appreciate them. I was just caught so off guard when she said 9lbs. That seems like such a large baby!

My son was 9pds, 3oz and 23.5".

I would recommend a c-section. I am on the taller side, 5-8 wearing a 10-12 at the time. I had to have 40 stitches when it was done and the suggested plastic surgery down there to do repair. In addition, my son got stuck...his heart stopped etc. I have a high pain tolerance....I am not kidding, it took me 5 weeks before I can stand up straight!

As I write this, I am thinking, why am I telling you this?? People have small babies, big babies all the time. Listen to your doctor. As they were trying to get my son out, the doctor said....we should of done a C on her. I never had a size estimate for him.

Good luck. I will also add, this was my first and only birth....I adopted my next two!! I do think it is easier if you already had a child.

 

[doclegler]

I've had 3 children, 1 each way really (normal, emergency c-sec and vbac) and I would suggest trying to avoid the c-section at all costs. The recovery for me, was so much more difficult and many dr's are now saying no to vbac's (very sad in my opinion) which may limit your choices down the road if you chose to have more children.
Also, having worked in labor and delivery for 6 years, I've seen woman capable of just about anything! As others mentioned, your baby could be *much* smaller than guesstimates...my firstborn was supposed to be 8 pounds and he was a tiny 5 lbs 13 oz full term.
You can do this...don't let them intimidate you! Keep a positive frame of mind and try not to worry too much.
Good luck to you. I hope you have a perfect delivery and healthy baby!

 

[~Kristina~]

I am 38 weeks pregnant and I had my doc appointment today. He said I was measuring small and sent me to the hospital to get an ultra sound to measure the baby and the fluid around the baby. I was told that this was not a small baby but it was a large baby...........9lb. I have to other children, DD was 6 lbs 10 oz and DS was 7 lbs 14oz. 9 lbs sounds so big and I am not a tad bit nervous. I have a very small frame. I am about 5"4 with no hips really. I am scared that this baby will get stuck on my pelvic bone or something. I am now considering a c-section. I have had 2 very easy deliveries with my other 2 but I am scared that this one will not go so well bc of the size of the baby. I have not spoken to my doctor yet, I plan to call tomorrow.
What would you all do? I am sure 9lbs is not uncommon but my frame is just so small. Before I got pregnant I wore a size 0 or 1. I have no pregnancy pants bc even the xs are to big on me. I just wear my sweatpants and yoga pants I wore before I got pregnant. Just do not know what to do. I really did not expect to hear that this baby is 9lbs.

The odds of this baby being that big after smaller sized babies is small - not impossible. I'm 5'4" and not breastfeeding weigh 135lbs, my smallest baby was 8lbs 10oz and largest was 9lbs 14oz. Keep in mind that u/s in late pregnancy aren't typically accurate. I've heard the "my ob said my baby was going to be 9lbs, but s/he was 7lbs."

If you stay mobile and squat while in labor, your pelvis will open up and allow baby to pass. It's not physiological to labor on your back and expect to push out any size baby easily, so keep that in mind.

 

[~Kristina~]

And just to add, I've seen a 6lbs baby get "stuck" before. She just needed to be manuvered a little and then came out on her own. She just turned 1 yesterday.

 

[Ar1el]

The odds of this baby being that big after smaller sized babies is small - not impossible. I'm 5'4" and not breastfeeding weigh 135lbs, my smallest baby was 8lbs 10oz and largest was 9lbs 14oz. Keep in mind that u/s in late pregnancy aren't typically accurate. I've heard the "my ob said my baby was going to be 9lbs, but s/he was 7lbs."

If you stay mobile and squat while in labor, your pelvis will open up and allow baby to pass. It's not physiological to labor on your back and expect to push out any size baby easily, so keep that in mind.

Never thought of squatting. Hopefully all the squatting I do when I do my morning exercise will help with that.

 

[msmayor]

Pffffffftttt...you folks with 9 pounders. OK, my first was 9lbs 3oz, but my second?

10lbs 13ozs.

Yes. Almost 11 pounds.

Delivered 'normally', no c-section.

I had nurses and doctors stopping by my room the next two days just to see the woman who had the biggest child in the nursery.

 

[sweetsusannah]

11 lbs! That scares me. I am pregnant with my second. My first was 9.3 so I anticipate another large baby. My mom has two and we were 9 and 10 lbs. each. I had a pelvic injury a couple years proir to my first pregnancy and at 38 weeks my DD was measuring 9 lbs and had not dropped at all. I agreed to a C-section after talking to my doctor who was 95% sure I'd end up in one anyway and my mom about the difficulty she had with such large babies. However, I would not advocate a C-section if there is no medical need for it and your doctor can tell you if it is. It does take longer to recover, it's major surgery plus the worst part is it leaves the dreaded mother's pouch. Sounds like you had good deliveries before, chances are this one will be no different.

 

[postage stamp]

I was scared into my C section by a doctor. I had a HORRIBLE recovery and can't IMAGINE volunteering for that. I had a vbac with my second and it was a BREEZE! And the forst one was 10 Lbs. the second was 10 lbs. 8 oz.

 

[mrsltg]

OP... my "13lb" baby was 9lbs 6 oz! The doctor had me terrified thinking I was having a "HUGE" baby (his word, not mine). I sat in her nursery crying looking at all of the clothes she'd never wear because she was going to be in size 3-6mo. clothes. Yeah. That didn't happen. Four and one half years later (and a different practice), I delivered my 10lb8oz 37 week baby with no scare tactics and no "the sky is falling" predictions on size. She ended up being a c-section due to sudden onset pre-eclampsia, but until the afternoon she was born had been a planned VBAC. Really, don't listen to the size predictions. You may as well go to a psychic and let them predict the size...

 

[Ar1el]

Thanks guys!! I will try to ignore what I heard today and go about the rest of my pregnancy the way I was from the begging.

 

[badblackpug]

My sister is 5" tall. Her daughter was 9lb 7oz. She delivered her ******lly, without and episiotomy or an epidural. She moved and changed obgyns and her new OB measured her son at 9 lbs, and because of her small frame, scheduled a section. Her son was 6lb 4oz and the recovery was waaaaay worse than the recovery from her daughter's birth.

 

[tigger51276]

Yup, with my DD2 they told me at 36 weeks that she was already over 8lbs and that if I lasted another 4 weeks that she would probably be close to 10lbs. Had another ultrasound at 38 weeks and they said she was over 9lbs and I had my c-section at 38wks 2days and guess what....she was 7lbs 1 oz! I never believe what they give for estimates for weight....they were totally off with my first DD also and anyone I know who's had a baby. Not sure why they even bother telling people what they think the baby weighs when they are always so off.

 

[phillmolly]

If it were me, no way would I want a c-section. It is tough enough to take care of a newborn and I wouldn't want to have to recover from major surgery at the same time.

BTW, I am problay the only woman I knew who had a U/S tech that predicted the babies weight right on the nose, 22 hours before my son was born, the tech estimated his weight at 5lbs 13oz, I was so surprised when they told me how much he weighed!! 5lbs 13oz!! I don't think I have ever heard of anyone else who has beens so close!

Oh, I also have a friend who had a baby a few weeks ago, they told her the baby was going to be big, close to 9lbs, and he was 7lbs 13oz.

 

[keri125]

Pffffffftttt...you folks with 9 pounders. OK, my first was 9lbs 3oz, but my second?

10lbs 13ozs.

Yes. Almost 11 pounds.

Believe it or not, I can top that! My son was 11lbs, 6 oz!!! (Two weeks early!) Had him induced as he was so big that my body was treating him like an allergy and I was going crazy from the itching! Pushed for two hours before the c-section, had the c-section and the doctor said he was a "gorilla" and there was no way he was comin' out naturally! I recovered just fine - sore, but no biggie! Just was happy that everyone was healthy! BTW, my pediatrician actually gave him a perfect score on his APGAR b/c of his coloring - said he was the pinkest baby she had ever seen, and that most likely that was do to the c-section! So... it was healthiest for him and healthiest for me, and five years later we are doing great!! Good luck with everything! You'll be great!

 

[Jaime4004]

Believe it or not, I can top that! My son was 11lbs, 6 oz!!! (Two weeks early!) Had him induced as he was so big that my body was treating him like an allergy and I was going crazy from the itching! Pushed for two hours before the c-section, had the c-section and the doctor said he was a "gorilla" and there was no way he was comin' out naturally! I recovered just fine - sore, but no biggie! Just was happy that everyone was healthy! BTW, my pediatrician actually gave him a perfect score on his APGAR b/c of his coloring - said he was the pinkest baby she had ever seen, and that most likely that was do to the c-section! So... it was healthiest for him and healthiest for me, and five years later we are doing great!! Good luck with everything! You'll be great!

You win.
For me, there was no difference in pushing out two 8 1/2 pounders or the 6 pounders. The first 8 1/2 pounder labor took forever, then 4 hours of pushing. Tearing and long recovery. She's still my most difficult child. Her 8 1/2 pound brother, a few yrs later, slid right out within a few pushes. He's still my easiest child. The 6 pounder took his sweet little time also and hurt just as much as the first.