What is considered big in regards to a babies head circumference?

[DaintreeDream]

All is welcome Janie... it is great to get all extremes (hmm not quite the word but you know what I mean).

babies put all their effort into making sure the most important thing is well developed, the head, which is why babies heads are generally normal size even if early

DD1 was 11 days early 7lb 5oz head 35cm 50cm long
DD2 was 3 days late 8lb 1oz head 33.5cm and 49.5cm long

This is great info Jols, exactly what I wanted to hear, makes sense .

[Janie]

I know Jols it's just that they look so funny with their skinny little bodies and their big heads! Well, I thought DS did

[sushee]

Charlie's head circumference was 39cm, and my Dr and midwives all commented about how his head didn't go all conical despite a vaginal birth. He definitely felt bigger as far as pushing him out was concerned, but I still managed to, with only the slightest of tears.

My Ob laughingly told me later that birthing a baby with a HC of 39cm was like birthing a 10lb baby. And all I thought in response to that was that it didn't matter, all I cared about what that I still managed to get him out. Lol!

[Janie]

Yes, it's funny, my head didn't mold when I was being born. Mum said that all the staff couldn't stop staring at my perfectly round head as it came out! As a first baby, mum had no idea because there was no another birth to compare it to, but she says delivering my younger brother who was footling breech was HEAPS easier!

[blue daisy]

35-37cm is 'average'

the more important measurements are your pelvic brim, pelvic cavity and pelvic outlet

[Visitor8]

I have to say, reading back over these replies, I am envious to those who had big heads and felt it was no different.

Ashton was 39, his head didn't cone, I wish it had. He was the HARDEST birth of all 3. I almost gave up a couple of times and refused to push. I actually didn't feel like I would get him out. Yes we all get like that, I remember that point with both the other boys, but with Ash it was physically harder and I needed to push a lot more. He was also 11 pounds so that didn't help. And his shoulders got stuck for a minute which tore me, but only a little.

I was so relieved when I got him out. My mum commented that she couldn't believe the screaming that I did. I believe the word the doctor used was 'primal'

[sunshine_sieben]

DD was born at 39+3, weighing 3.895 kg (I think that's about 8lb 9 oz), 52cm long and head circ was 34.5. I was told that she was long-ish for her weight, but head was only average.
I did tear (not badly), but that was probably only because I got impatient and just pushed really hard, maybe a little too hard.

Heads can mold, pelvises stretch, the position of the mother (ie. squatting, lying on back) and the presentation of the baby's head have a lot to do with it, too. So I guess just comparing head sizes is not very representative of hoiw hard or easy a birth will be. Your attitude is the most important factor, I believe.
Some people believe in massaging the perineum during pregnancy to soften it. Others like to apply warm oil during crowning. Breathing the head out is said to help, too, as it gives the perineum time to stretch.
Water birth is said to have a lower incidence of tearing, too. Some think this is because the skin is more pliable in the warm water, others think it is because the mother is more relaxed and not lying back. Still others think it is because of a lack of "coaching" and interventions by care providers and a more natural approach.

I firmly believe that the healthy female body is not in the habit of growing babies that are too big for this body to birth. Kelly has posted a link somewhere to a site where you can see tiny little Mexican women give birth to babies with heads that look huge for them. I'll have a look if I cann find it for you. It's amazing. All homebirths, too.

ETA link: https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...es-nudity.html

All the best,
Sasa

[Liz]

I think both mine were around 34cm.. and dd was a prem too.

WRT the charts.. I wonder if c/s bubs 'skew' the average, seeing as they are born with nice round heads which didn't need to be squished?

[berrme]

DS1 was born at 38 weeks, was 6lb 15oz, 51 cm long with a 31cm head. He was definitely long and skinny! His head was only at the 5th percentile but was up at the 50th 2 weeks later. He was a c/s too so wasn't even squished, I joked at the time that he would have been 'easy' to push out.

DS2 is due today. I have no idea how big he will be as I haven't had any sizing scans. Am very pleased about it as I haven't gotten myself scared about pushing out a giant baby! I am secretly hoping for a smallish head again though.

[DaintreeDream]

Heads can mold, pelvises stretch, the position of the mother (ie. squatting, lying on back) and the presentation of the baby's head have a lot to do with it, too. So I guess just comparing head sizes is not very representative of hoiw hard or easy a birth will be. Your attitude is the most important factor, I believe.

I completely agree that you have a lot of factors to consider and that a mother knowledge and confidence in their body plays a major part, just consider this one of my factors , I am trying to get all of the knowledge and understanding possible to acheieve my dream VBAC. Thankyou for all of the information you have given .

IWRT the charts.. I wonder if c/s bubs 'skew' the average, seeing as they are born with nice round heads which didn't need to be squished?

Interesting point, I wonder .

berrme - Best of luck with the birth of your DS2, I hope you get the VBAC of your dreams.

blue daisy - Was that you that wrote the thread about understand the pain of childbirth? I read and printed and re-read this thread when I was pg with DD and it gave me the confidence and understanding that I needed and I had no fears or questions that I could birth my DD naturally. Unfortunatly due to medical reasons I had a labour free CS.

I think I have to hunt that thread down and read again.

I also have nice size hips, as people say mother bearing hips, is that a good sign of pelvis size or an old wives tale?

[Liz]

Most women have child bearing hips regardless of the size And it all happens during labour when the hormones relax everything, and getting in a good squatting position to open it right up. Nothing to do with what the hips are like any other time.

Mind you... my hips are a completely different shape now to what they used to be... NOW i have childbearing hips LOL.

[DaintreeDream]

Mind you... my hips are a completely different shape now to what they used to be... NOW i have childbearing hips LOL.

Argh, don't say that, mine are big enough for me as it is, I don't want any more , although I must say I have always loved you avvy because of your curvy hips .

[Liz]

LOL - I hadn't noticed my curvy child bearing hips in my av! How appropriate! hehehehe

[LaDeeDa]

Lachie was :-
10.5lb or 4.80kg
54cm long
37.5 head circumfrance

I'm 5'2 and DF is 6'5 ...lol

[LaDeeDa]

Lachie was :-

10.5lb or 4.8kg
54cm
37.5cm head circumfrance

I'm 5'2 and DF is 6'5 ....hmmmm maybe I should have known better ....LOL

[Karina]

Claires head was 33.5cm. I pushed for like 2 hours but that was because of her dodgy position making it harder, not to do with her head size. She did come out with a bit of a cone head, but not as coney as other newborns I've seen. She was 48cm and 6lb 7oz. Everyone told me she was just all head, and a tiny body. But I dont think her head was particularly large, especially going by the sizes of some of the other babies heads you ladies have.

[Maybebabie]

Lachie was :-

10.5lb or 4.8kg
54cm
37.5cm head circumfrance

I'm 5'2 and DF is 6'5 ....hmmmm maybe I should have known better ....LOL

Oh my God! I am crossing my legs looking at those numbers

[berrme]

I think we should all keep in mind that a couple of cm extra circumference makes very little difference to the diameter of the head. Babies heads should all be around 10cm across, making them around the same size as a dilated cervix.