Possible C Section - head all of a tizz!

[Lulu]

There is a plethora of information about c/s etc around here, there are also many many stories of mother being told how big their babies were (even after scans), going through surgery to find the baby is only 7 pds etc.
There are also plenty of stories of big chubba's being born naturally with no complications all the time. Take time to check out the vbac threads too, see why so many mums want one and the struggles they have to achieve it...many times because they had c/sect on the wrong opinion of an ob.

Talk to your own ob, you know it's not something to be taken lightly - and don't let the opinion of some bloke who has seen you once get your head all in a tizz! I have plenty of short friends with 9pd+ babies and it wasn't an issue.

xoxoxoxo

[Arimeh]

Hey What a thing to be dealt !!

FWIW, my DH is 6 foot 7, and I'm about 5 foot 5 - so there is a similar height difference between us and you guys. Just because they are tall doesn't mean you will have a big baby! I had a wellbeing scan done at 41 + 6 with Miss M, and they "estimated" her to be around 10 pounds, 4 oz with a HUGE tummy circumference (40cm).

She came out via c-section at 42 weeks (not because of size issues, but because the placenta and cord were deteriorating) at 8 pounds, 11.5 oz.

I'm trying for a VBA2C now - going through an independent birth centre, and its a struggle to find any support unless you go with independent midwives (which aren't always available).

It depends where your heart is really - but if I were you I would push for a natural birth, because if the baby is too big (which is quite rare I'm told), I think its better to have at least laboured and lost, than never to have laboured at all.

And the size of the baby is usually a little bit bigger on average than what you were at birth - not usually the father's size. I've read that its usually a pound difference between your birth weight as a baby and what your baby will be (dunno how accurate this is, I was 7 pounds 7 born, DH was 7 pound 14, DS was 8 pound 2.5 oz)

I dunno, I'd be inclined to give it a go at least, maybe because I know the struggle to obtain a VBAC?

Good luck with whichever you decide though

[Fleur]

Hun, Obs are medical experts in the field of complex births. A possibly large baby is not a birth complication.
It's pretty crap in my books to start waving the 'big baby' card around. He's not even your ob.

No one thinks a c/sect makes you any less of a mother, and there is NOTHING to say you can't have this baby through your vagina.

:yeahthat: Lulu you said it perfectly.

It depends where your heart is really - but if I were you I would push for a natural birth, because if the baby is too big (which is quite rare I'm told), I think its better to have at least laboured and lost, than never to have laboured at all.

what a thing to have thrown at you now. I can't say it any better than Lulu & Mel. It is very unusual for you to grow a baby too big for you to birth. That's not to say it doesn't happen, but those cases are the exception.

I chose to have my VBAC because I believed it was safer, and because the recovery time was much, much quicker.

As for whether to try for a natural birth or accept it & have the CS... you could try for a vaginal birth , accepting that sometimes there is a need for a CS... don't pressure yourself to have a VB, just try it & see what happens.
Ultimately though it has to be whatever you feel comfortable with
Good luck

[*Belle*]

Hon I was told my first bubba was big and she came out 7 pds 8 oz. Unfortunately her head got stuck in my pelvis during the pushing stage and I had emergency c/s. This was NOT due to her size hon. Your choice, totally up to you.

[STARRYSKY]

hiya! as everyone else has said, whoa! what a thing to have thrown at you now! that being said, me personally, I NEVER entertained the thought that I would have to have a CS, I skipped over all those bits in the birth books, was going to be all natural for me, but that wasnt the case.
at 40 weeks I was told I was going to be induced (due to pre labour for 2 wks) but the OB I saw was very staraightforward in her " no point faffing around here, we will let you labour for 4 hours then its straight to surgery, that baby is a big one and I highly doubt he is going to come naturally!"
I laboured for 10, then ended up having the csection, my boy was 9pd 11oz, yes he was big, but I do truly believe that I could have had him naturally, if I wasnt induced.
You do what is right for you, having a CS really screwed with my head, but I think this is because I was not prepared for it.
my best advice to you would be to research your options, find out about it as much as you can and be at peace with your decision, just remember that its your body, your baby, your choice.

[~Kaz~]

Just wanted to chip in to what the other girls have said. Obs are basically surgeons darl. That's what they do and are understandably biased because of their training (just the way it is). I can't stress enough that you do your own homework, your own research and make your own mind up. Whatever you decide to do is ok. It's your body and your baby. Just as long as it's your decision and based on facts and the best information you can get at the time. There's nothing wrong with discussing all of your options and all of the possible scenarios. This should occur to inform you prior to your labour, not to have some ob who only just met you, pre-determine how you're labour is going to go.

Good luck!

[Visitor3]

I am going against the grain here, but if I were you I would book in a CS. I went through pretty much every type of birth you can have except for forceps (started natural, had epi after 7 hours, pushed for 2 and a half hours no success, prepped for theater, tried suction, continued pushing, no success until c section got my baby out in 2 minutes).

I don't think anyone can really estimate how big your baby will be. Even how big you were at birth is not really a sure fire way of telling, (I was 5.5 pounds(or 2.5kg, tiiiny ! and my dd was 8.8 pounds (or 4.03kg), not so tiny )

Really it is such a personal choice and ultimately you will really have to weigh up how you feel, but for me I will be booking in for a c-section rather than possibly put my child and myself through that whole trauma again.

Good luck with whatever choice you make and remember that no one has the right to judge you on a decision you make for your body, which ever way you may go. We are here to support you

[Arimeh]

Prettybutterfly - I'm sorry you had an awful experience - it sounds very traumatic

I just wanted to point out that though that 8.8 pounds is under 4kg - cos Miss M wasn't over 4kg born and she was 8 pounds 11.5oz. I think she was around 3950/3980 grams (can't remember which, its been a year!). So I think someone told you a wrong conversion somewhere

[~Kaz~]

Yeah my DS was 8p7ounces or 3.84kg.

[Visitor3]

Prettybutterfly - I'm sorry you had an awful experience - it sounds very traumatic

I just wanted to point out that though that 8.8 pounds is under 4kg - cos Miss M wasn't over 4kg born and she was 8 pounds 11.5oz. I think she was around 3950/3980 grams (can't remember which, its been a year!). So I think someone told you a wrong conversion somewhere

Thanks Arimeh... Oops sorry I only really know kgs, so I googled for the conversion in pounds... Google you failed me !!

Ok to avoid confusion, I was born 2.5kg and my daughter was born 4.03kg. Point being, it's really hard to say how big your baby will be even by scan or mothers or fathers birth weight.
Arimeh would you know the correct conversion for 2.5kg and 4.035kg in pounds ?

[Arimeh]

8 pounds 14 oz Just a smidge under 9 pounds.

Oh and 2.5kg is approximately 5 pounds, 8.18 oz

[Visitor3]

8 pounds 14 oz Just a smidge under 9 pounds.

Oh and 2.5kg is approximately 5 pounds, 8.18 oz

Thanks hun

[CrazyLady]

Nature is amazing at growing babies to suit the mother's birth canal.

Honestly do whatever you feel most comfortable with, do your research and remember to not stress!

It is your body, your baby and your choice and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Good luck!