When the dreded "C" word is mentioned...

So the "Big Baby" saga continues - this maybe all over the place - sorry just need to download...

So had my OB appointment this morning. I saw the resident as my OB is the head of OBs and was teaching so couldnt see him - thats cool - she is a lovely lady.

Sit down and she asks the usual q's - all good. Then she looks up the growth scan that I had last week - here it comes. Bub is measuring in the 97th percentile already )scan was at 35 weeks) ok - no biggie - explain the DH is 6' 7" and Bella has always been off the charts (102cms @ 2yo) and she was only 8pd 2 oz when born at 42 weeks.

Then the OB takes my BP - its higher than she would like (165 / 110) Ok well I was rushing and you have just told me Im going to have a big baby - go figure! All my other rreading have been 120/90 so she sends me to the WM's to sit in the recliner and see if my BP goes down - it does to 135/90 sweet! Then she talks to the that I have a big baby and I am hoping for a VBAC - Hmmmm says MW - you will need to call head OB and see if I can continue or if I am now classed as "High Risk" and may need to be booked for a "C Section"..... WTF!

Anyway I burst into tears and the OB calls the head OB and he is happy for me to continue as a VBAC candidate BUT I have to have another growth scan in 2 weeks and then see the OB the next day and they will go form there..

I talk to the MW and she is lovely - she says that bub just maybe tall and that I can go onto have a VBAC - but If they deem me High Risk then I have no choice - There is no other hossy for me to go to.

Im just bummed - now I feel in limbo. I will still be fighting for my VBAC - or at least a chance to have one.... but I just dont know If I am fighting a loosing battle!

Thanks for reading - just trying to get my brain around it all...

Kate xox

:( oh hunni :hug:

:hug:
I know how you feel with the big tall bubba- and I hope you get the VBAC you're after. Fingers crossed and good luck
K x

Ask them exactly why they think that a 'big' baby makes you high risk?? Whatever the size of your baby, your body is made to give birth to it and a VBAC doesn't change that :hug:

Personally I would be refusing another growth scan, what is the point? So they can put more pressure on you and make you doubt yourself?

:hug: Can you tell them you don't want the scan?? Or acidentally don't turn up for the scan. Might p!ss them off but it may give you a bit of time to talk them into not classing you as high risk. Take you DH with you to the next appointment and let them see how tall he is and then take your DD's record book with you too and show them her growth chart. Do what you can to argue your case if you have to.

Don't have the scan. And don't book in for a cs, if there is no other hospital they can't refuse you treatment.
Am FAKing but will be back :) :hug:

Oh Kate! How upsetting! I was supposed to have a big baby too but was luck enough to find some MW's that found the idea laughable - I am 5 10 and DH is 6 ft and solid. Hang on there and don't doubt yourself. xxx

They can't force you to have a medical procedure without your consent, they also cannot turn away a labouring woman.

:hug:

Agreed. Don't doubt yourself. YOU are the pregnant one so YOU have the power. DON'T let medical ****heads push you around.

My DD was apparently - according to the hospital - going to me a giant sized monster baby. I am 5'10" and DH is 6'4". I too had insane high blood pressure during that pregnancy.

DD was born vaginally (with a bit of help due to reasons unrelated to her size) and was 8lb 2oz. Totally normal. And this was AFTER I flatly refused a C-sect during labour. They didn't ask if I wanted a C-sect, they *told* me they were taking me to theatre to get one. I flatly refused to give my consent, and that was that.

They cannot book you in for a CS if you don't want one. Don't let that KnOB push you around! You're a stong, well-informed, educated and aware woman. You do what you want!

And before there were KnOBs, big babies came out exactly the same way as small babies - via vagina. If I were in your position I would gather myself up and tell the OB in the nicest possible, but assertive way, to F off.

:hug: I know its hard when you get to our stage in pregnancy and you start having doubts yourself, and then your medical people start putting other doubts in your head as well :hug:

Ok, well the thing that gets me - your baby won't be big. It won't be. Look at Bella - 8 pound 2 at 42 weeks. Not a big baby. Not a big baby AT ALL. It is normal for subsequent babies to be a little bigger, but usually not by much. My first was 8 pound 2 at 39 weeks, second was 8 pound 11 at 42 weeks, and third was 8 pound 10 at 41 + 5. So, she would have been around 8 pound 11 as well at 42 weeks. not huge considering the gestation, women out there have 8 pounders/9 pounders on their due date, and we've cooked ours longer than they have, of course what else are they going to do but get fatter?

However, I don't really get the whole big baby = c-section. Why? Especially for a VBAC? It doesn't make sense. I mean, its the intensity of the contractions that can lead to rupture (hence why induced first time mothers rupture too) so WHY would they think that the contractions would be more intense with a big baby? Wouldn't logic say that the contractions for a smaller baby would be more intense because bigger babies are heavier, so have gravity on their side helping them out a little? Meh, I dunno, I just don't get it.

So you know you can ask why - just ask them to explain WHY they think its not do-able. Get the information from them, and then fire questions back at them. Why do they think this? Where are their statistics? Ask them to PROVE it to you that you NEED to have a c-section because of this supposed "big baby" thing. You don't have GD so you aren't at risk of having a big baby. Your other baby was a normal sized baby so you aren't at risk of "another" big baby.

Don't let it stress you out or put you off. Just ask questions.

And I have always found it better within myself when I make peace with the fact that this one might be born by c-section. Sure I don't want it, and I'm giving myself the best opportunity to avoid it, but babies will be born how they are supposed to be - we don't get much of a say. HOWEVER - let your BABY be the one to decide how its going to be born, not an OB who might be speaking out of his arse anyway.

Love you xxxx

Mel, Heaven, Lime and Angela have all given you some great advice Kate. I'll just give you some of these :hug: :hug: :hug:

Thinking of you!

More :hug:

Others have already said it all...but in the homebirthing community 8 pound isn't big... I have even heard of 14 pound babies being born (mainly because there isn't induction pressure and women gestate as long as they need, often going to 44 weeks).

Vaginas were made to birth babies, knObs just entitle themselves to interfere.

I hope you can find some clarity within all this and I'm sorry you have had to go through it.

I VBACed my 9 and a half pounder without issue and I think there is another lady on here (sorry, can't remember the name) whose baby was 10 and a half pound.

The only time size counts is when baby is put into the womb, not when it's coming out iykwim ;)

:hug: what a horrible appointment you have had. I won't repeat what others have said, but I agree wholeheartedly with them (in particular toomanyshoes' post which sums up what you need to remember).

Man I hate when they speak crap! Big babies do not mean c/s! From my calculations, your bub wouldn't appear to be "big" as such. When they do the growth scans, apparently it's done on the leg measurements... therefore that only indicates the length not the weight if I'm correct? According to my growth scan at around 35 wks... I think they told me Elijah was already around 7pound.... he was 8pound 8 at 39 + 3... not huge and he was a VBAC bub and I'm 5'2... obviously I'm not big! Don't let them bully you. You don't have to turn up for a c/s anyway ;) Maybe leave it too late at home so you have to birth at home with ambulance hehe.

The growth scans are based on a combination of femur length (FL), abdominal circumference (AC) and head circumference (HC). Ask them to print out the measurements and where they sit in on the range. When I was having growth scans for placental monitoring (and then GD) I was only concerned about AC because this was an indicator of a bigger bub who was more likely to have blood sugar issues post delivery. We kept the measurements within the mid range through good GD management and there were no "big" GD bubs and my VBAC went perfectly to plan.

Make them explain their reasons for the c-section. Make them justify their management plan. Question them on their reasoning. Ask them for their statistics and data and journal articles so you can review it yourself. It is after this discussion that you can make an informed decision looking at the pros and cons of what they propose. By being pro-active and informed and asking them to explain their management you demonstrate you are aware of the potential risks and what pathway you are wanting to take and why.

For the record. My OB was always supportive of a VBAC (and a vaginal breech delivery for my DS1) It was the registrar on the day that was a bit antsy but they get over it. My OB was happy to support me and my choice of a VBAC despite a history of stillbirth, GD and a clotting disorder. He was happy for me to be primarily under midwifery care for the pregnancy with DS2 and only see him for my high risk bits. We discussed research, current positions and limitations of what I wanted. I am forever grateful for that professional courtesy and common sense approach. He allowed me and my body to do everything it could and the only time he intervened was when there were (significant) issues that resulted in emergency c-sections for both DS1 and DS2. DD2 was my dream VBAC.

Thanks Ladies.

Im still precessing things now and I will be gathering info for my next appointment...

DH is out but when he gets home we will be discussing things and working through it.

Again thanks!

Hun what are you prepared to do?

You have the right to refuse the growth scan, and the right to refuse the booking in of a c/s. I'm facing the same thing of 'politely declining' too. Definately puts doubt in your head eh?

xoxox

Yes Leesa! Its sucks alot!

I am ok having another scan - and I am ok in going to the next OB appointment armed with knowledge and a list of questions and basically asking for proof.

The head OB who I have been seeing is still AOK with me having a VBAC - as is the MW I had today. It was only one OB that threw the spanner in the works.

So I will be fighting for my chance to try for my VBAC.

DH and I have had a chat - he is with 100% to get my chance to try.... then if it turns pear shaped I have tried my best.

At the end of the day I want a healthy bub and healthy mum. We will take one contraction at a time - thats all I can do.

I am ok with the thought that if all the evidance they supply (and I was evidence) in the end means I have to have a c-sect then thats what I have to do - I have made peace with that, But it has not taken away my passion to try for my VBAC.

Does that make sense??

:hug:
It is just no good to be feeling like you have to fight for the birth you want and know you are entitled to. Nothing worse than the threat of having choices taken away and having the sense of something forced on you, especially when you want to put all of your energy inward and into the birth.

You have done a fantastic job preparing up till now and that will hold you in good stead for whatever comes your way.

You also have some great advice in this thread and a well reasoned response posted above, so all I have to offer you words of support. Sending you strength. x