Ladies: Who's delivered a big baby?

[Nette]

Don't put too much stock in weights by ultrasounds. Everyone I know has had it off by way more than 10oz. My last DS was supposed to be 8lbs 5 oz by the ultrasound, and he weighed 7lbs and 2 oz.

I was told at 36 weeks that DS was measuring at about 8 lbs. I hoped hoped hoped it was actually off by a pound, but alas, two weeks later he was born at 9lb 1oz. Both of mine were C-sections though. On the table with DS, the OB was saying "It's a good thing you decided not to try the VBAC, his head is HUGE"

ETA: My tiny grandmother (about 5ft) had 4 babies... first was my dad who was 4 weeks early and 8.5 lbs. The rest were on time at 40 weeks -- Next one was my uncle who was 10.5 lbs, then my aunt who was 9ish and then my last uncle at 13 lbs. OMG. (Of course, my mother was telling me all about this when I was in labor with my first...

 

[Pakey]

9 lbs 13 oz; natural childbirth. It was a long time ago; no ultrasounds to determine size.

 

[my3sonsagn]

Mine were:

8lbs 13oz l)(arrived the "old fashioned" way since the Dis apparently has issues with the "v" word lol)
9lbs 10oz (csec)
9lbs 15.5oz (csec)

My aunt at 5'2" had an 11 pounder, and my stepdad was 13lbs 1oz (his mom is tiny!). I think pelvis size/shape has more to do with birthing than height - if your ob/gyn thinks your pelvis looks "good" then everything should go smoothly!

Good luck!

 

[spacemountainmom]

I am 5' 10" and my first one was 8lbs 13oz. She came naturally two days after her due date.

My second one was 10lbs 3oz and he wasn't weighed until he was 2 or 3 hours old. The hospital was so busy that day that they couldn't get a scale. My nurse told me that he probably was a couple ounces bigger when he was born. I was induced with him 12 days before my due date. My OB was concerned that he was big and felt he needed to come out.

It was somewhat funny, he and I were the celebrities of the maternity unit. I was told that there had been a 12lb'er born there a few weeks prior. WOW! I decided I was done after ds. My second was was 1lb 6 oz bigger than my first. I was afraid a third one might be even bigger.

Big babies are nice to bring home. They don't feel nearly so fragile.

 

[deegack]

My sister's babies were all over 10 lbs. But all by c-section. The first was delivered at 42 weeks and 11 lbs 11 oz. Second 38 weeks 10 lbs 12 oz. Third 38 weeks 10lbs 2 oz.

 

[princess isabella]

I agree with whomever said to not trust US so much. I had a C-section because DD was measuring big and they told me to expect 12 lbs or so. When she was born she was 5 lbs. I was told afterwards that I had a large amount of fluid and thats why things looked so big.

Good Luck!

 

[njmom47]

Mine were 9 lbs 6 oz (8 days past due date), 9 lbs 11 oz (2 days past due date) and 8 lbs 9 oz (4 days past due date). My biggest baby is my smallest child (5 '5, wears size 2) and my smallest baby is my biggest child (just turned 16, 6'4, 200 lbs). My dgd was 9 lbs 14 oz, delivered by my 9 lb 6 oz baby....not one c-section in the group.

 

[LuLuO]

Don't put too much stock in weights by ultrasounds. Everyone I know has had it off by way more than 10oz. My last DS was supposed to be 8lbs 5 oz by the ultrasound, and he weighed 7lbs and 2 oz.

I agree. I was "measuring big" with each of my kids and they were estimated to be close to 10 pounds. DD was 7.14 and DS was 7.6. SIL was told her DD was going to be at least 9 pounds. She was 7.7.

 

[tiggger1]

My nephew was 11 lbs 6 ounces and he was a natural birth

 

[Buckeye Princess]

My cousin was born 12lbs 3 oz. Naturally. When DD was born, there was a baby in the hospital that was born via cesarean that was 13 lbs 9 oz. At one point they were both in the nursery for testing and it was so odd to see them next to each other. DD was 6 lbs 6 oz.

 

[Mermaid02]

DS has been measuring weeks ahead for a long time. They did an ultrasound at 36 weeks, and he weighed about 8 lbs. 12 oz.. The dr. said it can be off by as much as 10 oz. either way. That could be good; that could be bad! Plus, babies gain about 1/2 a lb. a week in the last month. We are going to induce at 39 weeks. My cervix is "favorable" and this isn't my first, plus I am of a bigger build (5'10"). I'm a little worried, though: ds was 7 lbs. 2 oz. and dd was 7 lbs. 4 oz. but are by xh. Something about combining dh and my DNA has created a whopper!!!
Any words of advice or success stories?

You'll be fine. My dd was 3 weeks early and 9#12 1/2 oz 22inches. I was too scared to have an epidural so I didn't. That was dumb, but we made out okay. LOL Had the epidural with my son (who was 2# smaller but back labor) and that was better. Again, you'll be fine.... you will be so focused on the delivery you won't even be thinking about the size of the baby.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I have another "ultrasounds are wrong" story. I was measuring small so I was sent for an ultrasound at 38 weeks. They told me DS was in the 5 lb range, so not overly small but definitely in the small side of normal. He was born 2 weeks later at 8 lbs. Not such a small baby! Unless he gained 3 lbs in less than 2 weeks, the ultrasound was definitely off by a lot!

 

[paintnolish]

Thanks for the replies, ladies. I am definitely planning on an epi. I had one with each of my previous birthes and had no complications or complaints. I'm jus tafraid of ending up with a c-section after laboring for a long time. I'm also afraid of the episiotomy I might end up with after this (and possible forceps or something). I had one (episiotomy) with my other dcs, and they were bad enough!
And, yes, they won't allow you to induce before 39 weeks, but my dr. said 10 days before your due date is considered 39 weeks. She also said it's possible I'd go before that. She told me to stay active, walk, and have lots of (if you get my drift!). I was 2-3 cm and 65% effaced last week.

 

[lovin'fl]

I had 2 pregnancies. My 1st went 40 weeks and a day and my labor was LONG...well over 24 hours. I gained 60 pounds and gave birth, after 2 hours of pushing and use of suction thingy, to a 9lb 9oz baby boy...no C-section. 2 years later I was pregnant again...with twins. Went into labor at 36 weeks after gaining 60 pounds. Labored for a good 24 hours and easliy pushed out a 5.5 pounder and then pushed for 50 minutes to get out the 6 pounder because she was sunny-side-up...no C-section. I had epidurals with both deliveries and an episiotomy with just the 1st, but a small tear with the second. All is forgotten and I would have done it again, except DH had a vasectomy when the twins were 3 months old (we should have waited a couple years). Actually, even though I had long labors...they weren't all that painful...they had to break my water (both times) and I had an epidural by the time they did that...once my water was broken, things moved more quickly. And I was 5ft 4in and 100 lbs prior to my 1st pregnancy and it wasn't too terrible delivering my big baby boy.

 

[Terapin]

Saying 10 days before your due date is the same as 39 weeks is some pretty wacky math. I am a midwife and her statement isn't fact... perhaps just trying to soften a 38 week induction to sound better?

Unfortunately, inductions are risk factors for caesarian birth. Sometimes they are necessary though. There is no organization recommending induction for large babies - the research doesn't support better outcomes as compared to spontaneous labour with big babies, or any benefit to elective caesarean for big babies.

A big baby who is well positioned can be easier to birth than a small baby not positioned ideally.

I have seen ultrasounds off by more than a pound OFTEN. It is commonly accepted that they can be off by about 20%, and are no more accurate for size estimation than an experienced practitioner's hands. One of my last clients had an estimate off by 1 pound in a 6 pound baby by TWO labs, including by the experienced radiologist at the hospital). We also had a recent client told to expect a 8.5 lb baby and got an 11 lb baby. Very inaccurate which is one of the reasons no one recommends inducing for size.

My own babies were:
1st: 10lbs4oz at 39 weeks (******l, Nubain, 2nd degree tear)
2nd: 8lbs9oz at 41 weeks (******l, no meds, at home, 2nd degree tear)
3rd: 9lbs3oz at 41 weeks (******l, no tear, no complications, at home).

My first labour was slow and a bit complicated. My second and third were textbook.

Good luck and I hope things go well for you for you and your sweet little one!

 

[Shelly888]

My 2nd DS was 9#.03 oz which to me, especially compared to DS1(7#3.3oz), was big! But, after hearing some of these weights, I guess he wasn't 'that' big. No worries #2 was easier than #1 in many ways, including pushing!

 

[Scornelius]

My son was 10lbs, induced a day after my EDD. I was against the induction but because he was measuring so large and I had GD, my OB insisted. (I'd had a midwife for the pregnancy, but the case was handed to the OB because of the GD.) I'd hoped to deliver naturally, but after breaking my water and seeing it was sludgy and nearly black, we decided on a c section. DS was in the NICU due to meconium aspiration and DH said it was so funny seeing our giant baby next to the tiny preemies. His 'neighbour' was 4lbs.

A friend of mine who is 4'10'' and less than 100 lbs gave birth at home to her ELEVEN POUND CHILD. Can you imagine?? The human body is incredible. And remember, fat squishes. The only things that really matter are head and shoulder size. Good luck OP!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

DS has been measuring weeks ahead for a long time. They did an ultrasound at 36 weeks, and he weighed about 8 lbs. 12 oz.. The dr. said it can be off by as much as 10 oz. either way. That could be good; that could be bad! Plus, babies gain about 1/2 a lb. a week in the last month. We are going to induce at 39 weeks. My cervix is "favorable" and this isn't my first, plus I am of a bigger build (5'10"). I'm a little worried, though: ds was 7 lbs. 2 oz. and dd was 7 lbs. 4 oz. but are by xh. Something about combining dh and my DNA has created a whopper!!!
Any words of advice or success stories?

I had 4 children that spanned all sorts of weights.

My only unmedicated birth was my near 11 pound baby.

I didn't plan to do it just because--that is just how things worked out. I did have some post delivery difficulties that are too personal to share here. Nothing that slower pushing wouldn't have helped prevent. But pain and "get him out now!" was what was on my mind.

The one thing that would have slowed his weight gain likely would have been me not drinking a 2 liter of coca cola everyday.

You might ask your OB about going on the GD diet--basically cuts your sugar intake...I don't know that it slows baby's weight gain nor should we "diet" just do to that--but I know that I was consuming gobs of sugar because that was just what I craved and it was like giving my son miracle grow.

Each of my babies was so very different...My baby after that was over 3 pounds lighter.

My final weight for each baby (weights ranging from under 7 pounds to almost 11 pounds) was all within 5-10 pounds of one another. 180-190pounds.

My doctor did not guess the weights on any babies which is a good thing--all my fundal heights matched. I was always on the nose for each week until baby began descending and the number dropped.

I delivered them all the good ol' fashioned way.

And I am only 5'5" and have what you would call good birth hips.

 

[Katy Belle]

My first baby was 9 lb 11 oz....with a 16 1/2 " head. After pushing 3 1/2 hours, he ended up being a c-section and was stuck in my pelvis, but they got him pushed back up...it was very stressful.

Next baby was 8 lb 4oz, 14 1/2" head. V-BAC birth, 14 1/2" head. Came out on 2nd push.

Third baby 9 lbs 4oz, 14 1/2 " head, V-BAC as well, 2nd push as well.

Dr did ultrasounds at 38 weeks to check head size, on the last 2.

 

[spacemountainmom]

My son was 10lbs, induced a day after my EDD. I was against the induction but because he was measuring so large and I had GD, my OB insisted. (I'd had a midwife for the pregnancy, but the case was handed to the OB because of the GD.) I'd hoped to deliver naturally, but after breaking my water and seeing it was sludgy and nearly black, we decided on a c section. DS was in the NICU due to meconium aspiration and DH said it was so funny seeing our giant baby next to the tiny preemies. His 'neighbour' was 4lbs.

My first (the 8lb 13oz one) had some complications at birth so she spent her first weekend in the NICU. She looked absolutely huge compared to the other babies. Her "neighbor" was only a little over a pound and all alone. His mother had some serious issues in delivery and had not regained conciousness all weekend. I assumed the dad stayed with the mom as the poor little guy never had any visitors. I felt horrible and have often wondered how it all turned out for them.

DD was kind of a rock star in the NICU. The nurses told me that they all fought over who got to take care of her and would debate calling me down if dd needed a diaper or feeding. They said it was so much fun for them to have a big baby to play with.