Midwives - in your experience, what causes "big babies"??? - Page 2

[blissful_maia]

Originally Posted by NavelgazingMidwife

In my 25 years of birth work, the shoulder dystocias I have seen - and in the shoulder dystocias I've had to help be born (6) - they have all been over 10 pounds, the largest being 11 pounds, 11 ounces. I have yet to seen these hypothetical under 4000 gram shoulder dystocias. I don't hear about them, either.

Barbara E. Herrera, LM, CPM
San Diego

I have seen a few shoulder dystocias in the couple of years since I've been going to births. Most, if not, all, were under 9 lbs. Often around 7, 7.5. I did have one 11lb 2oz baby be birthed easily by his 110lb mother, though.

I do find it common that big (like strong bones, tall, bulky) women have bigger babies and more petite women have smaller ones. But as the above illustrates, not always.

[babycatcher01]

Anne Frey in her second book says you will never know when a sd is going to happen, and that a true sd is rare. Size dose not seem to be a factor. I think that when you feel a baby that is on the bigger side the first thing we tend to think is a sd issue may be at hand durring labor. Do our thoughts or fears facilitate this? You never know whats going to happen untill it does.

[BirthFree]

Not a MW...

I measured 6w ahead from before 12w along until 34w along... where I 'slowed down' to measuring ahead by 4w instead of 6w. I stayed that way through 38+w when I delivered... he was 9lb 12oz (my biggest before him was 8.8). I ate very well with my biggest baby's pg and he was by far the EASIEST to push out and I pushed him in a modified squat (one leg up, other leg kneeling on birthtub floor). 10 min. pushing stage total.

I'm 5'4" and normally 120 so that's a pretty 'big' baby for me.

I say don't be afraid of what others have said... listen to YOUR heart. #s can decieve.

[BetsyS]

My son was what I consider a pretty big baby, at 11 lb, 14 oz. When I look back, it was my diet, I think. I ate a fairly balanced diet, lots of fruits nad vegetables, just too heavy on the carbohydrates. I also drank coke throughout my pregnancy (it made my nausea better).

I'm pregnant again, and after lots nad lots of reading, I am limiting my simple carbohydrates (all sugar, all "white" stuff), and I'm exercising 6 days a week. Enough to sweat.

It might not help. I might be genetically predisposed to 11 lb babies (I was over 9 lbs; dh was over 10), but I want to do my part, too.