Question about due date and when baby arrives?

[ann_of_loxley]

Okay... so I realise there is no real way of telling... and I know it really does not matter either way....

My first baby was huge...near 11lbs. Despite I didnt have GD - I did eat a lot of sugary things (I worked in a small cafe that served cakes and tea....lets just say I ate a lot of cake lol)... So no wonder he was so big!

Well...we plan to TTC soon... I really am going to try for a smaller baby. I am going to lay off the sugar and I have some lovely tips for those currently pregnant on how to cure those sugar cravings - I am also pretty strong willed (usually lol) so I know I can do it....

DS was 3 days late according to their EDD configuration - I know now though that at the time my cycle was actually 30 days long (instead of the average 28 days that they go by when figuring EDD) - which suggests that perhaps my DS was actually 2 days early...

Now I also know that second babies comes a bit earlier than firsts...you know, statistically... But if I try for a smaller baby, do you think they will come earlier than my first - or do you think they might cook just a bit longer because of that? I mean - who knows, maybe my son would have come a bit later if he had more room in there lol

So what I woudl like to know from perhaps your knowledge and/or experience is that if I am going to be going slightly 'overdue' with a second who should hopefully be much smaller than my first - or if you think they will come slightly early regarless (as much as anyone can possibly tell you know - I am talking statistically here lol)

[MsBlack]

Like you said...there really is no way to know about birthdays! Not if you're planning to allow things to take their own course, anyway.

But however long the pregnancy, you can help grow a smaller baby by eating more protein and produce, and eating less sugar/refined carbs/fat. I know a mom doing just that right now....last babe was 11lb 9oz, this time, at 36.5 wks--tho it's impossible to know for sure--it seems this one will be more like 10+ (babies' rate of growth tends to slow down considerably from 38wks onward, meaning that we can reasonably--if not perfectly--extrapolate birth size from this week's size). And I know other women who have used the above dietary advice to grow a smaller baby. Now, if you just grow em big (and you stay healthy), your next baby is probably still going to be over 9lbs, maybe over 10.

good luck--with growing a smaller baby, as well as dealing with the uncertainties involved in due dates and such!

[stacyann21]

I think there's really no way to tell although it's likely that you will give birth earlier with your second child. I had my first child 3 days before my due date. I have no idea how dilated or effaced I was. I didn't have an internal exam until I was in labor. In any case, you will stretch to accomodate your baby

[SublimeBirthGirl]

I don't think you should try for any particular sized baby. 2nd labors are easier on average regardless (my 2nd was bigger than my first by a few ounces, but it was a much faster birth). Eat very healthy foods, get plenty of protein (which should help with sugar cravings), etc. Don't fixate on weight gain or worries about the baby's size.

[ann_of_loxley]

I know I shouldnt worry...but surely a big baby due to high sugar intake isnt good! hehe...and I will be trying for an HBAC...so I do have other worries as well!

[flapjack]

My first was 14lbs. 2 was 8lb 13, 3 was 8lb 5, 4 was 9 lb 1. I had a lot of sugar in my system because I spent half the pregnancy hooked up to drips for HG. DS2 was also my earliest baby, at 37+5, whereas DS1 was my latest at 43+5.
Have you talked to your local HB support group?