10pound baby? is it possible?

[aussienic]

I don't know if I would be blaming the size of the baby. Another friend of mine had a baby under 8lb ( can't remember exact weight now) and she ripped badly. She to was rushed to theatre and had to be stitched from front to back and inside. So I think it might have more to do with the womens body itself.. and the MW care kwim?

[~Raven~]

hi renstar it is definately possible cause my last girl was 12 pound 8 and i delivered her naturally no drugs in six hours

Well done
My dear friend had one 12lb2oz and 12lb9oz. Only used gas and had minor grazing which didn't need a stitch.

When she was in hospital after having her first there was a girl who had 3rd degree tearing and her bub was much smaller at around 8lbs from memory. All the midwives thought it made interesting conversation comparing the two of them lol

[christy]

Look I was told 3 days before Jovie was born that she was 10lb 11oz on the scan. Luckily I ignored it knowing that it wasn't accurate. The sonographer was saying "you shouldn't birth vaginally" and I thought, "how do you know?" then the OB said I should have a c/s. Luckily I ignored them because Jovie was born vaginally and was only 8lb 13oz!!! No where near the size predicted, she had a rather large head, and I tore but only because her hand was up on her head...

[rosehannah]

I found it was the size of the head (36cm) that did the damage for me, I had 2x 8lb 10oz bubs and a 9lb 4oz bub and had 2nd degree tearing with each birth, how ever there was no trouble with them moving through the birth canal. I tried to manage the delivery so as not to tear but to no avail. Yet you find that other ladies birth smaller bubs and have lots of trouble. IMO it has a lot to do with the makeup of the mum and how the labour is managed (also I think we need to be looking at the size of you partners head and asking how big he was at birth before you fall in love and make babies)

[New Dawn]

I remember a friend of my mum's always saying that as her babies got bigger they almost fall out. not to say that there wouldnt have been any pain but I think she just ment they got quicker as the babies were so heavy she had a 9lb 10lb and her last was 12lb

[BellyBelly]

But babies heads are made up of 4 movable bones which move and mould into shape even in big babies. Much has to do with the labour. Sometimes baby's position can be a problem if the head is deflexed or something but this is not that common... birth is designed to work for the survival of our species and we've done pretty well so far! There truly aren't as many obstacles as your doctors would have you believe. Just need to keep active and get off the bed and avoid drugs or inductions.

Small Pelvis? Here's The Truth About Cephalopelvic Disproportion (CPD)

[Rouge]

I don't know if I would be blaming the size of the baby. Another friend of mine had a baby under 8lb ( can't remember exact weight now) and she ripped badly. She to was rushed to theatre and had to be stitched from front to back and inside. So I think it might have more to do with the womens body itself.. and the MW care kwim?

Totally agree...

And Kelly... too true!

[BellyBelly]

Oh and I forgot - get a doula too LOL

[Tanya]

My DD#1 I tore from one end to the other, and the only reason I tore was because I pushed her very quickly. I was young and no-one told me to stop pushing to help ease her out. I remember the look on the dr's face cause she came flying out! I wish now that the midwives and dr had've told me to stop pushing!!

I must also add, my smallest was the worst birth yet! And she was #4.

Tanya

[Peach]

Christy - I was told the same thing and was booked in for a c/s. I requested to be induced first and see how it all goes then if needed I would have a c/s. I had the most wonderful birth and only 2 hours of 'active labour' and gave birth naturally. Kenzie was born 8lb10oz and had a 36cm head. I had no stitches and left the hospital the next day at 10.30am. I give credit to my midwife who was wonderful ... she was with me the entiree time and guided me through the pushing .. I had 1 shot of pethadine about 10 mins before she was born (I begged heheh)

So yeah I believe that perhaps it had the to with how the doctors/midwife/doula manage your labour and also physically how the woman is built.

[ninja_turtle]

i was 9lbs 8 and my brother before me was 10lbs 2oz. my mother did all her births without more than a bit of gas and mostly on her back.

of course it can be done. we just don't beg for it for the first one. for 7lb

[*oli's*mrs*]

interesting convo, i had my 1st @ 20yrs & had 2nd degree tears and a whole lot of grazing had an active labour of 9hours but 1hr 45min pushing and my dd finally popped out with a 37cm head & i thought how did that come out of there!!! hehehe she weighed 7lb 14oz all done with no drugs/gas Very proud of myself

[Inanna]

I havaen't time to read through all the posts (buat I will at some stage!)

I believe that our bodies grow babies that fit our bodies... In the absence of illness our bodies will grow the perfect baby for us.

I have birthed an almost 10lb baby and my smallest was 6 1/2lbs. I can honestly say that it hurt no more or less. I have been at births where the baby was 11lbs. That Mama was tiny teeny - but that baby was perfectly sized for her. He was big and it was a short labour.

We have a fear of big babies - I think it is perpetuated by the obsession we have with how "big is your bump"...stories. Our woman b odies are amazing. We can open up so wonderfully with loving support from others and trust in our bodies.

[*Efjay*]

I don't really think of a 10lb baby as a "BIG" baby. Sure its big but not undoable big. I haven't had a baby over 8lb 4oz yet but the idea of a 10lb baby dosen't bother me one bit.
Someone earlier said the size of the head is what counts. That is so true I reakon, My biggest baby had the smallest head by 3.5cm. Even my smallest baby at 7lb 8oz had a bigger head then my biggest baby.
But again as it was also said in a earlier post its all about the how we birth not the size of the baby.

As odd as it may sound, I would love to experience a larger baby birth.

eta - I haven't had anything more then some light grazes with each of my births & only my first had Gas for the transition stage of labour. The rest have all been drug free (including a posterior birth). Oh my biggest baby was also my shortest labour. First two births where 9 & 14 hour active labours & my third (biggest) was only 45 minutes to an hour depending on who's records you go off.

[Trillian]

I agree 100% that it's the way the birth is managed that counts the most when giving birth regardless of the size of the baby. I must say that this time round I was very impressed with the way things went and how my Dr and Midwife handled things.

[soul]

Fear can do alot of damage in anything but especially birth!

[Inanna]

I love reading and being involved in threads such as this one. It does so much to highlight the great differences and the great similarities we as women face with birth!

You did a wonderful job with your birth Shannon. For me I find the contracting part of labour (first stage) to be far far easier than the pushing (second)! For those of you who have read "The REd Tent" where she speaks of death being in the corner of the room - for me that's what the transition before second stage is. It's kind a like jumping off that cliff and trusting that I will be caught. I find it a challenge - yet the first stage I find much easier. My first labour I pushed for almost 3 hours but with my subsequent births it was only 1 or two pushes until I birthed my babies. My almost 10lb baby was no more painful than my teeny 6lbs + baby (for me).

I love hearing all of the differing experiences and feelings that we as women experience in birthing. Thankyou!

[Janie]

Isn't it interesting how we all cope so differently! And how each baby's birth is so different! I can't wait to do it again, and see what the next one will be like.

I really enjoyed the first stage of labour, yes it hurt, but geez it's good hurt! What a wonderful exprience it was, I've never felt better about myself, or more in tune with myself, I had such control. I don't really remember going through transition. The second stage wasn't terrible, but it did hurt more than the first. But that was because Nicholas was posterior, I'm sure. Most of the pain was in my back. But I loved the second stage because that was when I birthed my baby and got to meet him!