Need To Hear Some Positive 'Big Baby' Birth Stories...

Hi all,

I'm just at the 30 week mark with bubs # 2 and am starting to worry about birthing another large bub.

DD was 9lb 120z with a 37.5cm head circumference. Birth was 2hrs 50 and was a positive experience, apart from the stitching up of the 3rd degree tearing.

This one is apparently a boy and I have already put on 16kg's, so I'm a bit worried he's going to be around the 10lb or more mark. Ob has suggested perenial massage, which I'm not too keen on and a different labour position - I was leaning over a bean bag with DD.

I'm not a small person at 6ft tall and seem to have child bearing hips. I guess I'm worried about the tearing or possible episiotomy the most.

Anyone have any stories?

Hi.

I'm just on 6ft tall too.

DS was 10lb 4oz, 55cm long and 38cm head circumference. He wasnt a chubby bub though, was long and lean.

I only had a first degree tear with him though and that happened right at the end, when his shoulders came out.

The amount of weight you put on id really not relevant to how big your baby will be, but given you're not exactly tiny and you DD was a nice weight, I can see why you'd think you'll have a similar sized baby.

The perineal massage your dr suggested is actually supposed to be pretty good i am thinking of trying it this time to see if I can get away with no tearing.

Also the more upright your birthing position the more room you have and more gravity assistance so that can help reduce/avoid tearing as well.

I have heard that tearing is less comon for subsequent births too, so maybe see if you can find some research, but from what I read (I'll try to tack it down as it was good, lots of data) the likliehood of tearing was reduced.

Thanks rayray,

What position where you in when you delivered DS?

I was thinking the quick birth and over the bean bag position (fairly upright and plenty of gravity) may have been a contributing factor?

My Ob has suggested laying on my side with some support.

mine was on my back unfortunatley. After a really active labour i ended up with leg cramps, and a midwife who didnt think to remind me I wanted to birth in any position other than the one I was in. I reckon I could have done a bean bag easily.

My midwife reckons if you are on your side left is better than right, not sure why.

How was the pain for you and how long in labour? Hope you don't mind me asking :)

Just posting quickly and haven't got time to write a long post.

But have a look at this website:

Big Baby

Also this article on the main site.

Perineal massage is really worthwhile doing, but you have to start it within a reasonable time frame (around 34 weeks) and make a commitment to do it religiously, every day. It can't work if you only do it once or twice a week ;)

Birthing positions are also important, upright positions generally result in less tearing. Also get a hold of a copy of the Pink Kit. It has loads of information on birthing positions and avoiding tearing.

The biggest deciding factor in whether or not you will end up with an episiotomy is, believe or not, nothing to do with the size of your baby. It's the practices of your OB. Some OB's have ridiculously high epi rates and all the peri massage and active labour in the world probably won't protect you if yours is one of them. But since yours is recommending peri massage etc that is a good sign that he/she isn't too "snip" happy ;)

Thanks Tobily!

I was wondering about the snip happy thing! This is my first time private and know of a few people who have been private and had episiotomies.

Yes, she seems pretty good and has also mentioned active labour and knowing my history, has only mentioned c-section as an option that is there (at one of my first visits, but not since) but otherwise encourages natural labour and knows that's what I would like. Fingers crossed all goes well.

Thans also for the advice on perenial massage. I think I will at least try it.

Oooh, the Big Baby site looks good!! I had trouble with BF too and there's a topic on that as well! Thanks so much :)

My labour was induced (again something we want to try to avoid this time) but active labour was about 6.5 hours, lots of pushing with DS' boof head though.
The pain in my legs from the cramping outstripped the contractions, but was just beaten by the pushing pain.
I ended up having gas though, which was amazing for me.

My last two were a good size, DD2 was 9lb 8.5ozs and 57cm (only a small head at 34cm) and DS2 was 10lb1ozs, 59cm and 37cm head. I actually didn't tear with him, only a small graze that didn't need stitching, so after having 1 epi and 2 tears it was so nice not to have stitches. I was on my back for both of them, but semi reclined. Both were also posterior babies and I did have some mild shoulder dystocia with both of them, but they were overall great births. Gravity is so important to help baby move down, so keep upright as much as you can. You've already had one decent sized bub with minimal trouble so I think you're more than capable of doing it again. You can't let the *fear* of a big baby crowd your thoughts - so much of it is mind over matter. If you had absolutely no idea of the possible size of your baby then you would go into your birth with a clear mind and just go about the business of giving birth, but once you let thoughts of a big baby in, then you really need to push them aside. Giving birth to a big baby is no different to giving birth to a small one.

I didnt tear with my first DD but did with my DD2 2nd degree and sutured, DS i had another 2nd degree tear but left it to heal naturally. Birth times were 6hrs, 2hrs then just a 10min one. I did the peri massage thing but i can tell you when a baby is coming quickly you just dont care. The thiing iwould say is that a tear is so so so much better than an epi. The body knows how to heal itself better this way as it is natural. That is why when you watch an c/section the only bit they cut is the first bit, most other layers are torn! sounds gross but is better.......

I have read the pink kit... i wouldnt waist my money but there are a lot of other people who love it....sorry that probably doesnt help you at all :)

hun I had an 11pound boy, 55cm long, 39cm head.
I had tearing, and lots of blood loss, but it wasn't so bad. I would say my first who was 8lbs 4oz, 53cm and 37cm head was worse!
I didn't put any weight one, only 6kg which when I took the 5kg baby out plus placenta and fluid, was nothing. He was still very big, no reason for it, just big. My 2nd was 9lbs 5oz so it was a big jump to 11.
You will be fine :)

missymoo! you're amazing!

I put on 30kgs whilst being pregnant. My baby boy was 9lb 13oz. Active labour was 11hrs. I gave birth to him standing up with my right foot perched up on the bed. No idea how women give birth lying down, it's just insane. I got a 3rd degree tear but that was only after he had to be rotated and pulled out a little because he was around the wrong way and had his hand up around his head. All in all I had a great 1st birth experience. Try not to worry too much as it will bring anxiety and heed the birthing process. Just accept that really when it comes down to it you have to let nature take its course and what happens will happen. You have to take every second as it comes. You will be fine. Women are very strong and we can handle just about anything!!!

Thanks everyone :) I feel a lot better now, after hearing all of your stories.

My mum had two 10lb 4oz babies with no pain relief. I think they did give her episiotomies, but I think that was the done thing then. Sorry, I'm not great on details, but I think she was lying down for all of her births. She's very positive about all of her births (there were 3, I came first at 7lb 6oz), says it was just like doing a huge poo lol

The size of my babies has borne no resemblance to the amount of weight I put on - my nearly 10lber was after a pregnancy when I put on the *least* weight :)

You have a proven pelvis, so that is in your favour. Positioning can help reduce stitches, as, I believe, can allowing the mother to push at her own pace rather than coaching pushing through the crowning phase.

My last delivery, I had no idea she was so big. I laboured upright, and delivered on my hands and knees. I had no tearing or stitches, and it was all very uneventful.

Ok so bodhi wasnt as large as some of the other bubby's mentioned. He was 9.5 pounds, which is pretty big for me seen as im only 5'2. I cant remember what his head circumfrence was, it was fairly big tho----he still has a boof head hehe.
The birth for him was great:D No pain relief(which im pretty proud of myself for!) He was born 2 hours after i got to the hospital. I stayed on all fours for a while but it just got way to painful. I was then put onto a birthing stool. I highly reccomend it! It was awesome. DF was able to sit behind me & massage my back & i could lean forwards or sit upstraight when ever i needed to.
I had very minimal grazing(so little that i never even noticed it till the swelling had gone down & by then it was pretty much gone.
Bodhi was born at 6:30pm & was left the hospital at lunch(about 12pm i think) the next day.
All in all it was a really positive experience for me. Like i said, i really really recomend the birthing stool!

A dear friend of mine birthed her bubbas with only gas. The first was 12lb2oz and 55.5cm and the second was 12lb9oz and 57cm. Don't know the heads.
She had a 2nd degree tear with the first and a small graze second time so no stitches.

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A dear friend of mine birthed her bubbas with only gas. The first was 12lb2oz and 55.5cm and the second was 12lb9oz and 57cm. Don't know the heads.

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Raven ur friend is amazing:clap:

Would you be interested in labouring and/or delivering in the water? Warm water is a wonderful thing for relaxing and helping the perineum stretch during birth. Water births have a much lower tear rate. Might be worth looking in to anyways! All the best for a lovely birth. :)

Just thought I would add mine in. My first two born were avearge sizes yet gained the most weight with the first.

1st dd 6lb 9oz, head 33cm gained 30+kilos, labour 17.5hrs, morphine, epi 3rd degree tear
2nd DD 7lb 6oz, head 33cm gained 25 kilos, labour 3hrs 45min, peth gas, 2nd degree tear
3rd dd 9lb 2oz, head 35cm gained 20 kilos labour 3hrs 30min. easist by far. peth for spd pain not contractions and gas. 1st degree tear two stiches.

So I found the biggest the esiest to birth.

One of my clients had a nearly 12 pound baby over an intact perineum. I heard a story from a USA doula whose client had a 14 pounder over an intact perineum.

What do you think about birthing in water to reduce/avoid tearing?

Also this study about perineal outcomes in a homebirth setting has some useful, evidence-based suggestions (regardless of where you plan to give birth).

DD was 8lb 13oz, had no drugs and 10 stitches (5 in and 5 out), think it was 2nd degree tear. didn't even feel the tear, was fine and had a quick 5 hour labour. was a very positive experience. i put on 19kgs with her. good luck with everything!