Birthing my big baby

[fedupwaiting]

So baby is estimated to be in excess of 9lbs already and I'm still not in labour.

If she doesn't make a move by Monday I'll start the induction process with pitocin.

I would love to avoid a csection but I have always been tempted by an epidural.

However I know that with a big baby the chances of her getting stuck are higher if I'm paralyser on the bed.

My question for those of you who have vaginally birthed a big baby what combo of pain relief and birth position gave you a positive result?

Thanks in advance

 

[Kess]

I had a baby over 9lb 5oz, and I'm only 5'2" and 8 stone. I used a TENS machine, hypnobirthing, a birth pool, and a little gas and air at the end (which did bugger all for the pain, frankly, but it helped with the rectal pressure I was feeling). I laboured sat cross-legged in the early stages, concentrating on the self-hypnosis, then lay on my front in a heap of pillows over the arm of my settee, then reclined on my left side in the birth pool, then for the last bit I knelt up leaning into the side of the birth pool. It was a good position, I tried just before the end to turn over so I could lift him up myself, but that wasn't nearly as comfortable so I turned back round to kneel and MW caught him.

I will caution against trusting size predictions - they predicted (from a customised fundal height chart taking into account race, BMI, primipara, etc) somewhere between 7 and 1/2 and 8lb for my baby! I think even scans have a margin of error of a couple of pounds either way.

 

[fedupwaiting]

Your birth sounds so well controlled!!

I won't be able to use the pool due to being consultant led but I might investigate the use of TENS.

Have been Reading up on hypnobirthing techniques too!

Fingers crossed I can have a positive outcome too xx

 

[aaronsmum]

my daughter was 10lb 7oz born but i had no prewarning of a big baby and was 14 days overdue when she was born. I managed with gas & air and pethadine (sp?) I don't remember a great deal about being in labour but i do remember moving around a lot and the birthing ball helped loads!

 

[lozzy21]

I can tell you how not to do it if you want?

 

[fedupwaiting]

Lol lozzy go for it! I'm feeling brave!!!

@aaron's mum that must have been a bit of a shock!!
I'm
just so worried she gets stuck and I need a section but it is good to hear you got her out safe!!!

 

[lozzy21]

Dont have constant fetal monitoring unless its needed (ie baby is in distress)

Dont labour in positions that make it easier for them, if you want to walk about, kneel, squat you do it!

Dont stay laid on the bed on your back, if you want to have a lie down go on your side but keep upright as much as possible.

Dont let them use pitocin/syntocinon(sp) unless baby needs to be out quick ie baby is in distress. It increases your chances of things going tits up.

Dont have two slices of toast at half 8 and then have nothing else to eat all day and not realise until your 10cm and your contractions have stopped but since you now have the drip in you cant eat anything.

Dont push just because your 10cm, wait untill you feel the urge.

Dont push laid on your back on the bed

Because of the things iv mentioned my 8lb 15 baby girl was starting to go into distress and her shoulders got stuck. Not only is it not pleasant and painful to then have her free'd its extremely dangerous for both mother and baby.

 

[fedupwaiting]

Thanks lozzy. You have confirmed a lot of things that I already had concern about.

Keeping mobile is important to me more and more as the time gets closer.

Unfortunately because of gestational diabetes if she doesn't come on her own before Monday my consultant strongly advises a pitocin induction.

I just pray labour comes on it's own to give me more flexibility.

Thank you to all three of you for your detail and honesty xx

 

[OneFitMom]

One of my dear friends who has had four babies said that the big ones (9.5 and 10+ lbs respectively) came out easiest when she was on her hands and knees. She had a much harder time giving birth to her 7 lb baby because she was on her back. Also, I have read that being on hands and knees helps to prevent bigger babies from getting stuck.

 

[cabbagebaby]

i had a 10pounds 9oz baby i didnt know he'd be that big and managed on just gas and air and pethidine i was on my back the whole time after the pethidine i was away with the fairys lol

 

[amjon]

They told my cousin her baby was already 8lbs with 2 months more to go. He was born full term and 5LBS! They were WAY off on weight.

 

[xxEMZxx]

Liam was 9lb7, I had no idea he would be that big as midwife predicted 7 and a halflbs and was always measuring spot on. Anyways, I only had gas and air and he didn't get stuck or anything. I used a birthing stool for most of the later stages and pushing stage and was very active before that using a birthing ball and different positions, walking around etc.

 

[lynnikins]

my EJ was 10lb 12 oz and i was upright the entire labour ecept for 2 lots of monitoring caus i had been induced with prostoglandin gel, i gave birth on my side with my DH supporting my leg caus i had bad PGP and couldnt kneel and they wouldnt let me use the pool he flew out in like 7 pushes lol so much easier than my ds1 who was 9lb 10oz and i gave birth ventouse assisted on my back

 

[taffmam]

my last baby was 10lb 6oz and i used gas n air and used the kneeling over the bed position was the best. good luck chick xxx

 

[HungryHippo]

My doctor had predicted a 10 lb baby if we went to my due date and we were 2 days past when my water broke. I remember pushing and having my doctor tell me she still thought the baby would be over 9 lbs. My problem was I had it so set in my head that LO would be huge that I was scared to push should she get stuck or break something on the way out. I was panicked! What helped me was having my doc reassure me that she could indeed come out and also they put my legs into stirrups which helped enormously. In the end, she ended up being 8 lbs 8 oz.

 

[marley2580]

Is your GD well managed? if so there's no reason to expect your baby to be massive. Speak to your doc about your concerns and negotiate, you'd be surprised how much they'll agree to once you start refusing to do things their way.

 

[Cazza89]

I had an estimated babys weight of 6-7lb and he was 9lb 1 and only 4 1/2 hours late! Lol.

I had an epi, he got stuck but I never looked into all the birthing positions etc. I was on my back for the whole thing and he never dropped...so due to lack of knowledge I struggled but think it would of been easier if I hadn't of been going against gravity.

Not really a 'positive' big baby birth experience as such (well I didn't mind it but this time around know I'll be doing things differently!) But just a few tips

Good luck with the birth etc xx

 

[LockandKey]

If you have the build for it you can definitely have your baby via c section. I am a petite person, '5'3,' 115lbs before pregnancy, and have a boyish figure, and my baby was 8lbs 6oz and 23 inches long. I needed a lot of help. I needed an epidural, an episiotomy, and my baby was born with vacuum extraction and forceps, and ended up with a broken collar bone because she was too big for me

 

[v2007]

My 1st was 9lb 14 and my biggest mistake was laying on the bed and having an epi.

Stay as mobile as you can, ask for the mobile epi.

Bounce on the ball but whatever you do, try and stay mobile.

V xxx

 

[Radiance]

My daughter was 2 ounces away from being 9 pounds,
I had my labor all natural - and labor was quick, easy, and fun!!!