Getting a little scared about size!

[MamaHippo]

Had our 38 week midwife visit today.. I am dilated 2 cm, and effaced about 30%. the baby's head is so low in my pelvis that our MW had trouble even getting a handle on where she was, cus she was onyl feeling the back of her head from the outside. She figures she's at about -2 station. She did an ultrasound just to check and she looks great, good heartbeat and was sucking on her fingers for us .
But when our MW got the probe on her, first thing she said was, "Whoaaa big baby!" She is estimating her weight in the middle 8 lb range at 38 weeks. (keep in mind my DS was born at 38 weeks and was 5 lb 6 oz).

I'm getting a bit scared .

I'm a VBACer, and I never got past 6 cm before I got the emerg c-sect. I never did the pushing. I am now scared that I'm going to go another 2 weeks and be pushing out an absolutely enormous baby. My only experience with labor was a pitocin-induced nightmare that ended up in a crash csection.

Tell me i CAN do this! I'm getting a little freaked out here...:

[yogachick79]

Ah mama you can SO do this. My first was a 9lb 1oz-er and she was a far easier birth than my 7lb 14oz son. I'm looking at a bigger babe this time around too, guessing we will get close to if not at 9 again by the time s/he comes.

It will be okay, but I totally understand the fear

[mittendrin]

Please don't get scared by comments like that. There's no way they can pinpoint the size to an exact measurement. It makes me furious that providers scare mamas like that!
You can do it!!!

[GinaRae]

You CAN and WILL do this! Size doesn't matter

You'll be fine! If it is any help, I am 36/37 weeks and feeling like size is already an issue too. I just don't see me having a small baby.

[Pumpkin_Blythe]

My first birth was vaginal and she was 9 pounds. I pushed her out and so can you! I am only 5'5 I have no idea what your height is but my grandma is 5'2 and she had a 10 pounder just like I am about to have :0)

[JulieK]

Please don't worry about what the US says at this point. It's near impossible to get an accurate measurement so late in the pregnancy. With my son, they were telling me close to 9 lbs according to the US measurements by the time we were done and his birthweight was 6 lbs 14 oz. I have already decided that I won't let them tell me what the US says b/c I have tremendous anxiety related to weight - both mine and the baby's.

[Isaac'sMa]

Oh yes, mama, you can definitely do this! Even if the baby is big, you'll be fine! I'm sure I've posted this before, but it's relevant so I'll repeat the story. The first other mother I ever met in my MW's office was a woman who'd just had a HBAC and her baby was *eleven* pounds! So...you can do it too! I hope your babe is not quite that big, but even if she is you'll be fine. We were made to do this Be not afraid!

[Valerieg]

Yeah, ITA, don't worry about what the u/s weight estimate was. They are so inaccurate!

But as long as you're healthy without complications then your body won't grow a baby it cannot birth. Trust your body and your baby. You CAN do this!

[eurobin]

I got the "whoa, big baby!" at my 37 week u/s and appointment. They estimated she was about 8 lbs at 37 lbs and would just gain until delivery. She was born 10 days later at 7 lb 12 oz. And trust me, she did not lose weight in those 10 days!

Those weight guesses are so inaccurate. You'll be ok, please don't let this shake your confidence.

[Da WIC Lady]

Originally Posted by MamaHippo

Had our 38 week midwife visit today.. I am dilated 2 cm, and effaced about 30%. the baby's head is so low in my pelvis that our MW had trouble even getting a handle on where she was, cus she was onyl feeling the back of her head from the outside. She figures she's at about -2 station. She did an ultrasound just to check and she looks great, good heartbeat and was sucking on her fingers for us .
But when our MW got the probe on her, first thing she said was, "Whoaaa big baby!" She is estimating her weight in the middle 8 lb range at 38 weeks. (keep in mind my DS was born at 38 weeks and was 5 lb 6 oz).

I'm getting a bit scared .

I'm a VBACer, and I never got past 6 cm before I got the emerg c-sect. I never did the pushing. I am now scared that I'm going to go another 2 weeks and be pushing out an absolutely enormous baby. My only experience with labor was a pitocin-induced nightmare that ended up in a crash csection.

Tell me i CAN do this! I'm getting a little freaked out here...:

I'm somewhat scared myself for much the same reasons and I only ever got to dimpled and soft and no labor before I got told it was in my best interest to have a c-section. This time around I'm measuring the same as I did fundus wise as I did with DD. I've already put the word on them this time that I'm not having another c/s unless it's truly an emergency and it's like Domino's Pizza, 30 min or less. So far, I've progressed more than I did with DD, and I am much more prepared education wise as to the risks, possibilities, and how to deal with them. You can do this. We can do this! DD was 9# 12oz, and this one looks to be another whopper. Have faith in yourself that you can do everything possible to push this baby out the front door.

Anna

[joannalovesyou]

i'm with everyone else. there's a good chance that their estimates are wrong, as many moms will tell you is the often the case, but even if they're dead on, you can totally do this! if at any point it became dangerous to your health or the baby's, your midwife would know what to do and everything would be fine.

i know how scary this is and how overwhelmed you must feel not knowing for sure what's going to happen and how it's going to turn out, but in a few weeks (or sooner!), you'll be holding your healthy baby in your arms and you won't care how you got there. try to focus on the end result and keep breathing.

good luck!

[Curlita]

First, I agree with everyone else about the lack of accuracy. Last time around, at 38 weeks my midwife guessed that Dylan was "about 8 pounds." The next week she thought he was "about 7 pounds."

Second, I'm a big believer in the premise that your body will not grow a baby you cannot birth. A friend of mine from high school, who is tiny with a really narrow pelvis, birthed an 8 lb 14 oz baby.

Third, even if a baby is a 10 lb whopper, doesn't that mean it most likely has lots of little fat rolls? The extra pounds don't go to the head circumference, right? Which, I would think, is the part that really hurts when coming out.

I'm a VBACer also, and they pulled the plug on my labor at 7 cm. What is really scary for me is the memory of what labor was like that far into it -- that's a bad place to leave off, almost at transition but not at the pushing stage. So I definitely hear you. But we made it that far before and we can make it again. You can do this!

[isosmom]

I wouldn't be scared, weight estimations are so random and vary so much. For example, a month ago my mw told me I was looking at another 9-10 lb baby (I was 34 weeks), yesterday the dr. told me about 7 lbs (at 38 weeks). I guess I'll know when it makes it's way into the world, but it made me realize I need to not freak out about size.

[GinaRae]

Originally Posted by Curlita

Third, even if a baby is a 10 lb whopper, doesn't that mean it most likely has lots of little fat rolls? The extra pounds don't go to the head circumference, right? Which, I would think, is the part that really hurts when coming out.

Maybe! But I was 12 pounds and had a HUGE head and normally spaced out fat. I was also quite tall (22+ inches).

Of course, my kids have huge heads even at 7+ pounds, so I shouldn't worry!

[adon]

i, also would not listen to an u/s they are usually off. my first was 10lb14oz and 24 in.....and he came out! very healthy try not to worry too much...your body knows what it's doing: if it helps you can try to avoid carbs and sugars this last week or so. i've done this the whole preg. hoping to at least have a babe same size or SMALLER this time around

[LittleLlama]

Weight of a baby is so deceptive. DS wasn't particularly fat, had an average head circumference and was pretty tall (21") but was just DENSE as all get out making him 9lb 3oz. I had one stitch worth of epi (which DH insists I didn't actually even need) no ring of fire and less than 45 minutes of pushing. The last u/s on him also put him close to 11 pounds and my OB didn't even flinch knowing that I wanted a natural birth, because:

A woman does not build a ship in her basement that she cannot get out the front door!

[dcgrl]

Originally Posted by Curlita

Third, even if a baby is a 10 lb whopper, doesn't that mean it most likely has lots of little fat rolls? The extra pounds don't go to the head circumference, right? Which, I would think, is the part that really hurts when coming out.

This is what I'm thinking. My last U/S (which I had to reassure us about polyhydramnios) indicated the boy was about 7 lbs (at34.5 weeks). But, his head was on the small side 45th percentile, and his legs were on the long side 95th percentile, and his belly was somewhere in between. So if the weight is in his freakishly long legs, that won't hurt to push out. (will it?)

[aylaanne]

Originally Posted by LittleLlama

A woman does not build a ship in her basement that she cannot get out the front door!

:
You will be able to get this baby out. I hate u/s for size estimates, especially if that's not what she was looking for. The fact that the baby is already engaged is a fantastic sign. I'll pray for you, but I'm sure you'll do just fine.

[LittleLlama]

Originally Posted by dcgrl

This is what I'm thinking. My last U/S (which I had to reassure us about polyhydramnios) indicated the boy was about 7 lbs (at34.5 weeks). But, his head was on the small side 45th percentile, and his legs were on the long side 95th percentile, and his belly was somewhere in between. So if the weight is in his freakishly long legs, that won't hurt to push out. (will it?)

From what I understand, most of the difficulty is in the head and shoulders because they come out as bulk, legs just keep sliding out like toothpaste . I just rechecked Titus's stats and his head measurement put him "above 95th percentile" and he came out jsut fine. Mind you, I am only 5'6" and wear a size 5/6 pants when not pregnant.