Is my baby too big for me?

[babyz]

Hi ladies -

I am to give birth at a birthing center that has 5 midwives at it that rotate. 2 of the five have basically told me that my baby is big. One of them, the head midwife, says that even though this is my first baby, even though I am 39 weeks 2 days and not overdue yet, that my baby, who she estimates to be at 8 lbs 6 oz now, is a "tight fit". I was willing to accept that.

Today, the second one told me that basically, we have a real possibility of a hospital c-section birth now because my baby is to big. I am being very concise, her words were much more discouraging...

I am 5'4", I was a healthy weight before the pregnancy and have gained 38 lbs. I am fit. I walked 2 miles a day up until last week and did yoga at least once a week.

This second midwife totally freaked me out today and really broke me down.

Any comments? Anyone think this is bogus? Should I be concerned or should I just brush this woman off as a young, inexperienced, unsympathetic b+@#&???

Getting worried.
Z

[grace's voice]

First of all, baby weight predictions are usually way off. Second, even if your baby IS the weight she's suggesting, that is NOT a big baby! You're body can handle any size baby it grows, babies do not grow too big to be able to come out. I, personally, don't consider a baby under 10 pounds to be "big" by any means. My first was 9 pounds 4 ounces and was born after only 3 hours of labor, AND she had her arm against the side of her face so I had some extra girth to work with there... I'm not an amzon sized woman! I know a woman who is 5' and VERY dainty. Both of her babies were born naturally, and both were over 11 pounds. Please don't let anyone bully you into a section. You'll do fine, you're body was built to birth this baby. The few exceptions to this are women with fused tail bones or pelvic cavity deformities. Sounds to me like these are MEDwives, not midwives, and they are sorely misinformed.

[StacyL]

This is totally bogus. Don't let them bully or scare you into a c-section. I am 5'5", 125 and gained 40 lbs. in both my pg's and I delivered a 8 lb. 9oz. baby and this time a 10 lb. 2 oz. baby vaginally. You can do it!

[chinacat]

whne i was pregnany with my first, my doctor said the smae thing. That my baby was huge and that she would have to induce me if i didn't go by 40 weeks. Thank god he was a week early, He only weighed 7lbs and was 18inches long..he was small!!! My second son was 9lbs 2oz and he was no problem to birth, and i am a small framed woman to begin with!

[TortelliniMama]

I totally agree with the PPs. I'm 5'2, and not large-framed, and my ds was 10 lb 3 oz, born vaginally. Your body knows what it's doing! My midwives (who are considered by some, ironically enough, to be "medwives" in a number of ways) told me that they believe the average woman can vaginally deliver a 12 pound baby, given optimal birth support. You can do it!

[Turtlemum]

THe joints in your pelvis are more loose than when you are not pregnant due to hormones, your tissues are made to move and stretch...how can anyone predict how they will move to accomodate your baby? They can't! Just like they can't predict how big your baby will be with any accuracy (even ultrasound can be way off) ITA with all PPs. You grow 'em as big as you can birth 'em .

***Gasp. I just realized I am hijacking a DDC. Sorry****

Okay only two more things. First, In Ina May's newest book there is a birth story of a woman whose mantra in labour was "I'm gonna get HUGE". This might be useful for you in labour if you find your midwives doubting words entering your brain. Second, I was just at a labour where the woman gave birth to an 11 pound 4 ounce baby - with NO tears! You can do anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take care,

kelli

[ckhagen]

Something to consider...

My 10lb8oz DS was born by c-section because I spent my entire labor laying flat out on my back hooked up to pitocin and an epidural. Once he was out they blamed the section on his size...

24 hours later, my best friend had her baby in another hospital about an hour away. She went into labor on her own which made the contractions manageable, so she had no epidural. Her son was born weighing 7lbs7oz...

Here's the catch... my sons head circumference was 14.5 inches. Her sons head circumference was 14.75 inches! So... her three pound lighter baby had a head bigger than my 10lb baby. Now, this time I'm not letting anyone tell me that weight has anything to do with this situation. If she can birth a baby with a 14.75 in head with no tears... there's no reason why I can't do the same, no matter what he weighs.

[babyz]

Thanks a lot for the support. I am actually going to call the center today and ask for this particular midwife not to be present at my birth. I completely believed I could do this until I met with her and now that I have gathered myself again, completely believe that I can do it!

[mommy2girlies]

you go girl!!! Im only 4'11" and 130lb before pregnancy and w/ my first dd they said she'd be 8lb or more and here comes my full term, 3 days late little 5lb 15 oz girlie.....they were way off!! so its all relative....and you CAN DO ANYTHING if you believe in yourself!!!!

[mum2tori]

Hi Zeina! I'm in Austin too. I wanted to birth at AABC but our insurance won't cover it. : I've heard good and bad with them. Some of the midwives are fabulous... the owner... not so much.

You will do FINE!

An 8+ pounder is NOT a big baby. I hate that obsession that happens with baby size towards the end of the pregnancy. As long as you don't have GD, you shouldn't be having any "size" issues with the baby. A healthy baby should be around 8 pounds but they obsess about it so much and induce early for "big babies" that many are in the 6+ pound range.

I have a friend who is barely 5' tall and her last baby was over 10+ pounds and the previous one was right up there too. She had them both naturally and without any problems. In fact her labor with her last one was under about 30+ minutes. She labors *fast*, good thing they planned a unassisted/home birth because she definitely go it.

I'm about 5'4" and I gain 50+ pounds with my pregnancies. I have 8 pounders. I do just fine. No problems with baby getting stuck, in fact once I start pushing, the OB has to be quick to catch the rocket.

It is so disappointing in such a progressive city as Austin that the medical community has gotten so messed up. Especially the birthing community. Its so Us v. Them. The OBs (most not all) and hospitals hate the midwives and the thought of a "home birth" is so radical. The midwives seem to be losing the faith a bit too. My saving grace here is that I've done it 3x, I've got a pretty good OB and my secret Ace is the L&D nurse at NW Seton Ed. I'm soooo hoping he is working when I go in to deliver. He fully supports a natural birth whenever possible, he often attends home births with several of the local midwives. So he truly understands the concept and the reasons why.

Are you on AustinMamas or AttachedAustinFamilies yahoo groups? If not GET ON THEM NOW!!! They are both a wealth of great info and support. And you will need that support after the baby is here. We'll make you get out and not become overwhelmed feeling housebound. What part of Austin are you in? I'm up in NW (Palmer & McNeil).

Keep strong girl! Won't be long now.

[eco_mama]

Originally Posted by grace's voice

First of all, baby weight predictions are usually way off. Second, even if your baby IS the weight she's suggesting, that is NOT a big baby! You're body can handle any size baby it grows, babies do not grow too big to be able to come out.

:

[GooeyRN]

You never know until you try! Give it a try! U/S can be so far off.

[Rowan Tree]

I was told I would have a very big baby from the 20 week measurements. At 32 weeks, they wanted another ultrasound done to check the size again--I was told my baby would be nearly 11 lbs at 40 weeks and I would either have to have a c-section or be induced no later than 38 weeks. I was freaked! My baby ended up being 4 weeks early and weighed 6lbs 14oz, under what they estimated his weight to be 2 weeks earlier!

[babyz]

Originally Posted by mum2tori

Are you on AustinMamas or AttachedAustinFamilies yahoo groups? If not GET ON THEM NOW!!! They are both a wealth of great info and support. And you will need that support after the baby is here. We'll make you get out and not become overwhelmed feeling housebound. What part of Austin are you in? I'm up in NW (Palmer & McNeil).

Keep strong girl! Won't be long now.

hi there -

thanks for the words of encouragement. i had a much better appointment today and am making real progress with some serious contractions...

i am on the austin attached families list group, but not active yet. have had too much on my plate. i plan to join austin mamas too. thanks for the input.

i am in the central austin area, just east of 35 on mlk... but i am sure we can make space and time to meet once my baby is here and i have had time to settle. again - thanks for the encouragement.

zeina

[Stephanie L.]

My MW said something to me that I hold on to. She said, "your body can not make a baby that it can not birth. Think about it. How would we, the human race, survive if our bodies did that?" I found her to have some wonderful, powerful inspirations and appreciate her everyday. (AND she had just graduated MW school and was in her mid-twenties!!)