If you had a very long pregnancy....

[luna moth]

... did you have a very big baby?

Someone I know is about to have a baby and is "not allowed" to go past 40 weeks. There is a bit of big baby = bad birth fear-mongering, and I just wonder how much basis there is in it.

I went to 41 weeks 5 days. Baby was 4.07kg.

^ I know that my stats are probably playing on her mind a little bit. But at the same time, I had a big baby and an awesome birth, so I hope that's a consideration too.

[Beach Mama]

Mmmm I think the "not allowed" can be negotiated in some cases.... I wasnt allowed to go past 9 days with my vbac attempt.... I got to 14 days and he was 4.56kg(10lbs), and DD was 11 days over and 3.99kgs(8lb13oz)..... Lots of people give birth naturally with big babies with no worries... I just never got the chance! My gf who is tiny had a 9lber and 10lb14 bub only a few days late both vaginally. Good luck to your friend.

[onthefly]

I thought the not being 'allowed' thing was more about the fear of an increase in the risk of stillbirth?
Anyway, mine were 4029g and 4030g, both at around 42 weeks, so not particularly big.
It's a pet peeve of mine that people feel they're 'not allowed' to gestate beyond a certain point. It's a decision that should be made by the mother.

[Shades]

I went 40+13d and he was 3730g so not particularly huge. And he was really long (55cm) so he was more skinny even though he was heavy.

[luna moth]

I thought the not being 'allowed' thing was more about the fear of an increase in the risk of stillbirth?

I thought that was about going past 42, or the magical 40+10?

Her first was born at 40 + 10, so the 40 week limit is very much about not wanting her to have too big a baby. Firstborn was 3.7kg, after a lot of scans and hoopla and carry on about how big it would be in the weeks leading up to the birth.

[Jakabella]

DD was 42 weeks, induced emerg csect and 8pds 2oz.
DS was 41+5 VBAC and 9pds 1oz.

[Shanti]

DD1 - went to 41weeks and she was 8pds 1oz....
DD2 - went to 40+6 and she was 10pds 6oz........ I make big bubba's!!! thats 4.7kg

[surprised]

I was 40+13 when he was born... 3.8kg

[Heaven]

DD1 40+12 and 8lb 10oz so not huge

[~Kaz~]

40+11 here and DS was 3.84kg or 8p7.

They told me/indicated he would be "big" but I'm pretty sure he was right on the 50th% in the end. They really can't tell how big a baby is going to be until it arrives

[kateo]

My daughter Ellen was stillborn at 41 weeks. I didn't want to be induced early. She weighed 3.333kg

[Beach Mama]

The risks are usually because the placenta can start breaking down and not functioning as it should, I had scans every 2 days from 6 days overdue heading to my due date.. Interestingly the last scan the day before JJ was born I asked what size he was and she said - oh he looks average and he was 10lb so it is clearly not a precise science guessing the weight of these babies! I know there are loads of people even on here that have had sizing scans that are way off - so something for her to consider as well xoxxo

[onthefly]

Why do they think she's going to have a big baby?
So far as I know, the risk increases after 42 weeks (although there is some differing info on this). The line in the sand seems to be a bit arbitrary though, as some doctors/hospitals seem to insist on 40, 41, 41+3 or 42 weeks as a cutoff, while some (particularly midwifery-led practices) will also suggest it's safe to continue gestating (if the mother wishes) with regular monitoring after 42 weeks.
There is research concluding that routine induction at 41 weeks did not improve outcomes.

[Trillian]

A baby will be as big as it is meant to be. I know of women who have gone to well over 42 weeks (I'm talking 43+) and some of them have been quite large babies and some of them haven't been that big at all. I know women who have gone before 40 weeks and had large babies and some who've had really small babies. It really does sound like your friend is being given all the bull**** lies just to suit the Dr because there is absolutely NO reason at all to induce at bang on 40wks because she might have a big baby. And her last baby wasn't big at all in my opinion. My pgs were 39+6, 40+1, 40 and 40+4 and their sizes ranged from 3.85kg to 4.56kg.

[Arimeh]

42 weeks - 8 pound 11.5
41 + 5 - 8 pound 10
41 + 4 - 7 pound 12

I think the amount of weight they put on is pretty negligible in two weeks over. I think at my 37 week scan for dd3 she was estimated as being 3.1kg and came out 400g more than that nearly 5 weeks later.

[Crystalwings]

DD1 - 39wks - 8lb 15oz

DD2 - 40 + 12 - 10lb 7oz

Another one here who makes em big lol but i can't say they were good births sorry. No one told me i was having a 3mth old, just joked about it. It is a catch 22 because obviously intervention leads to more problems but having huge babies can also lead to alot of problems.

[~clover~]

I really think its more to do with the baby...

Me:
DD1 - 41+1 ; 7lb 5oz
DD2 - 41 ; 8lb 9oz
DS - 39+5 ; 8lb 7.5oz
DD3 - 40+5 ; 7lb 5oz

Friend 1:
DD - 42+2 ; 7lb 9oz
DS - 42+2 ; 10lb 10oz

Friend 2:
DD1 - 40+2 ; 7lb 5oz
DD2 - 40+5 ; 6lb 9oz

All babies birthed naturally, except friend 2's DD. Baby was brow presenting (face first)

Obviously the more time inside, the more chance to chub up, but that means nothing really.

[luna moth]

It really does sound like your friend is being given all the bull**** lies just to suit the Dr because there is absolutely NO reason at all to induce at bang on 40wks because she might have a big baby. And her last baby wasn't big at all in my opinion.

*shock*

How dare you question the doctor!!

I can't fit enough of the little dude in here to convey how I feel. She truly believes that this baby will be big. She truly believes that big baby = bad birth. She WILL go dutifully into that hospital on B-day and succumb to the cascade of interventions again. She will blame the midwives/hospital/birth experience/size of the baby again. She will end up in tears over it later, again.

She's not my friend. She is a member of the family I married into. The one who punched my husband in the face over our parenting choices. This baby's imminent arrival is stressing the pants off me. Part of me wants to save her from this, to shake her by the shoulders and say "it doesn't have to be that way!" But if she gets violent over me breastfeeding twice in an hour, I don't think that will be received favourably The other part of me says "Fine. Go. Follow orders, and get what you deserve."

I'm sure that makes me sound horrible. But I have to get it out.