Oh, I would like to avoid a medical induction at all costs! I know that, ultimately, even if my doctor recommended it out of the possibility that she might be 'too large', I am of course allowed to refuse. I have been booked in for a growth scan on Thursday morning, so I suppose that should give us some idea...though I'm quite skeptical about the accuracy of an ultrasound at this stage of pregnancy. Do you know what I think it is? It isn't the idea that she might be large, it's that the idea of a baby being too large/difficult to birth almost implies that your body is somehow going to be unable to cope with the physiological process of birth. I suppose my worry has more to do with the doubt that comes along with such judgments of baby's size - I've worked really hard during my pregnancy to rid myself of any fears or doubts I might have had about birth, and I feel as though I've been set back months in terms of my mindset. It's back to that old 'oh my God - how on earth is a little body going to fit through there?!' worry of the first trimester, only now it's combined with - 'oh my God - there is an increased chance of her getting completely stuck on the way out?! What if her collarbone breaks? What if she needs to be resuscitated?' etc, etc...I've had a complete worry-wart relapse! I think I am going to have to spend the afternoon doing Calmbirth relaxations...these stories are helpful, though.
Just so you know. I was cruel to my mother & I got 'stuck'. Don't know the datails, should ask I guess, but she was taken to the next hospital 60 kms away so they could use forceps & I'm fine.
(Well a bit quirky, but fine!!)
I have no idea how it worked or what stage she was at when transferred, but I made the trip no problems & was perfectly healthy born.
Go with what you are comfortable with. You can & will do this.
Good luck.
hav you read up on active birthing positions as well? That would give you more room to fit out a bub if you do have a larger than average (and whats an average anyway - roughly 50% will be smaller and 50% larger!)
im sorry your OB has put this doubt in to your mind!
You are right that your body grows a baby right for your body!
check out the gaskin manouvere(sp) maybe give the info to your ob
it is a change of positon that opens your pelvis up more when bubs is (if it happens) stuck.
I think you know that no good will come out of the scan as they can be soo far off base with the measurements. that i think you shouldnt go....
as it will add more stress and doubt on to yourself about "not being able to birth" your baby the way you want! and that your ob obviously thinks you wouldnt be capable either.
Gosh, are those third trimester growth scans ever accurate at all?! Our doula was actually just talking about the Gaskin manouvre - she is loaning me the more recent Gaskin book (not Spiritual Midwifery) which has a whole section about that in there. I wonder if the incidence of babies getting stuck have more to do with the kind of labour you experience, rather than it just being a matter of having a 'big' baby?
Our OB is actually pretty great...we were also talking about optimal birthing positions, particularly ones that allow for ease in protecting the perineum, and also about taking things slow as I want to avoid an episiotomy...she did also say that a bigger baby is not necessarily going to be an indicator of a difficult or traumatic birth, so it's not all doom and gloom! I think she's definitely in the minority in terms of obstetricians, particularly in that her style is to consult with you, rather than just tell you what to do! Although I hate that I am worrying about it now, at least I have a doctor who is accepting of the kind of hopes I have for the birth. I feel as though I have read so many stories on here of women being told that thet have to birth via c-section due to baby's size, only to discover that their 'huge' baby wasn't really all that huge at all!
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