40 weeks, biggest baby ever, dr. giving me one more week

[mom2happy]

I was up all night with contractions for the 3rd time in 3 weeks.
Ive been to the hospital twice with contractions 10 min apart for 24 hrs.
Now Im 40 weeks and the baby is tremendous.
I know this because its my third and I can feel that this one is much bigger than my other 2. The ultrasound says about 9lbs a few days ago, and with another week it will be more. Even though I know those are not accurate, I know what I have in my belly. My first one was almost a month early and was 7.1. My second one was only 39 weeks and was 8.12. My stomach is so big and the skin is stretched so tight that I can see and feel the baby.
The doctor is not happy with waiting another week, but gave me the option.
He said if I dont go into labor by Tuesday next week, he wants to gently induce me with breaking water and very carefully with pitocin.

I feel like another induction that leads to c/s is going to be to traumatizing for me. That was my first baby all over again.
Im terrified of pitocin on 2 c/s scars. Im actually starting to feel pressure around my scars that gets worse everyday from the weight of the baby.
I feel like Ive come so far and this dr. has been so supportive and has done everything I want. I even know that he will be disappointed if it doesnt work out for me. He even admits that intervention very possibly leads to c/s.
If he didnt have such a great vbac record I wouldnt trust him, but he does.

I asked him about the foley catheter method and he said it wouldnt help me at this stage because Im 2cm and 70% and because Im already regularly contracting.
Ive tried every way of getting things going myself to no avail.
Part of me just wants to give up and say if I have to be augmented or sliced open, lets just get it over with.
I feel like every day of this week is mentally excrutiating. That might sound dramatic, but I was very affected from having c sections.

I dont know if Im looking for advice, experience, or just to get my feelings out.

[LisaSedai]

Sorry you are going through this. It's a good sign that you are having contractions though, right? Your body is getting prepared. Try not to be too scared that the baby is going to be big...they say "baby fat squishes" and your body is not likely to make a baby so big it won't come out. This year on my local ICAN board these babies came out VBAC : 9 lb, 10 lb 1 oz, 9 lb 11 oz, 11 lb (home vbac), and 9lb 10 oz. Try to relax and be calm so your stress hormones aren't messing with the process. You can do it! Good luck.

[kltroy]

why not try a membrane sweep? You can probably call and get in for a quickie today, and repeat every day or two to see if things will move on their own?

[JamieCatheryn]

This is always the most anxious time. You grew a great baby an you'll birth that babe perfectly. The bones won't grow in the next couple weeks, it's really just the skull and shoulders that you need to fit out and those are made to work with your pelvis. If you and baby are doing fine, just be ready because anytime in the near future the birth is imminent (congratulations!).

Oh and watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roFVkDV45MM

[melanie_rabbitbarn]

Just some encouragement for you. I met a small woman at an ICAN meeting who VBAC'd a 10lb 1oz baby with no tears, so a huge baby is not a guarantee of failure. In fact, ACOG does not recommend intervention for (VBAC) large babies unless they are suspected to be over 11 pounds.

At 39 weeks, I am also anxious to get this baby moving before he/she gets much bigger, but my personal perspective is that large baby would be less likely to result in c-section than induction.

Have you tried accupuncture? It really gets some contractions going for a time, at least, and might help.

[AustinMom]

I would wonder about breaking the water for induction. Personally, I think no induction will work if your body isn't ready for labor and birth. I think that *IF* you are carrying a "big" baby, you would want to keep your water intact as LONG as possible, this way if the baby gets in a funny position in labor, it's easier to turn him/her. With the water broken, you loose that cushion.

Also, starting with water breaking puts you on the clock.

And, typically, after a water is broken, the labors are more intense, as again, you loose that cushion on the baby's head and the cervix, which can easily lead to epidural, which can slow labor, which.........etc.

I'd wait, if that is what you are comfortable with. I'd do belly mapping off spinning babies to make sure the baby is in the best position, and if so, do a lot of squatting during contractions and through the day to help bring the baby down. I had prodromal labor for weeks and weeks, had membranes swept, and went into labor, but baby was in a asynclitic position, and it ended with a cesarean. The off and on contractions could very well be a sign that your body is ready for labor, and trying to labor, just having trouble with getting baby in position. I'd also recommend seeing a chiropractor to open your pelvis up as much as possible, so baby can easily get in the right position, this very well may put you in labor within a 24 hrs.

[mom2happy]

[QUOTE=melanie_rabbitbarn;15327447]Just some encouragement for you. I met a small woman at an ICAN meeting who VBAC'd a 10lb 1oz baby with no tears, so a huge baby is not a guarantee of failure. In fact, ACOG does not recommend intervention for (VBAC) large babies unless they are suspected to be over 11 pounds.

You know what Im worried about? If heredity counts for anything. All of the women including myself in my family have had each subsequent baby be larger then the last. I feel that the reason for this is that the earlier babies pave the way for the bigger ones.
But.... my mother had 3 of us- 7,8,and 9 lbs no problem, but when my last brother came 11 lbs, it could have killed her and she ended up with a c/s.

So there is a reason they feel that the first vaginal birth is more difficult when huge and there are the rare times a woman can grow a baby too big to birth.
My brother is now 6 ft. 7 in.

This is why Im afraid to birth a 10 pounder for the first time after 2 c/s.
I wasnt scared really until now that I can feel the size of this baby.

[ktgrok]

you are only 40 weeks, WAIT! If it helps, my first baby was a c-section for a 7lb 13oz baby. A few months ago I gave birth at home to a 9lb baby, after only 8 hours of labor. That was at 41 weeks 5 days. Since them my two friends also had home VBAC's...one had a 10lb 1oz baby and the other was 10lbs 5oz!!! None of us had any problems.

[ktgrok]

I should add that I am only 5ft tall, and my 9lb baby was my first vaginal birth. My midwife said it was a blessing she was so big...that my c-section was partly because my baby wasn't positioned well, but this baby was big enough so she didn't have room to get out of alignment

[cathicog]

I have assisted mws at births where the baby was 12 lbs. Homebirth. Did fine, no tearing. Pelvises open up, they are not made of stone. An induction, even gently is not recommended by ICAN on a previous scar. The contractions you are now having are probably helping to tone the uterus and line the baby up correctly. I wouldn't go to the hospital til the ctx are 3 min apart or so, and 60-90 seconds long(just a thought). If you have a doula, she could stay with you at home and help you get comfortable til you are ready to leave. Most babies are born between 41 and 42 weeks. Sounds like your body is preparing itself just fine. You could go into serious labor pretty quickly, but it sounds like you aren't there just yet. it's coming...You can always get a NST, if they are worried about the baby...and you can tell, by how he/she is moving. Lots of little movements, etc....Best of luck, you CAN do this! I shouldn't think the baby will be 10 lbs....

[CookAMH]

I can imagine how you must feel. I know this may be repeated advice, but there IS still time. I think you know your instincts with a big baby. Big babies can be birthed quite well though . I also have a feeling that if you get a sense in labor (which will come!!) that things aren't right, you will make the best decision for you and baby if it leads to a c/s. Breaking waters to induce IS a better way to go that others, if it leads to that. I know you're worried and ready to be done, just stick in there a little longer.

Those contractions have been doing work. Yes you may only be 2cm now, but your body is getting ready, has been getting ready, and who knows, your labor will be quick because of all this pre-labor! I'm glad you have a supportive care giver with a track record. This baby will come when ready, and you never know how soon you might go into labor that will lead to birth. Hang in there, mama. You can do it. You can do it.