Do they deliver big babies early?

Question

Hi

Been to see the consultant today, baby is already roughly 3lb3oz at 28 weeks, head down and with his legs in my rib cage.

Consultant says he is going to be a very big baby (he even said 10lb) as Im a big person (6ft) I have to see him again in 4 weeks, I dont have to have a growth scan yet as consultant was able to feel how big he is.

So onto the question do they deliver big babies early.

Consultant said anytime after 36 weeks a big one can come

thanks

Answer 1

First of all, I totally agree with the previous posters regarding size estimates.  While they might point out an extremely large or extremely small baby, they really aren't very precise or accurate, and a good doctor will take that into account. 

My doctor will not induce due to large size before 39 weeks.  He says insurance companies will not pay for an induction before 39 weeks unless there is a medical emergency, and size alone doesn't qualify.  Also, his philosophy is that induction alone puts a woman at higher risk to need a C-section, so giving birth to a bigger baby at full term isn't going to be any greater C-section risk than inducing early.  (Doesn't mean a C-section is guaranteed, just don't sleep through the C-section information in childbirth class, because you might end up needing it.) 

My son came on his own at 36 weeks weighing a whopping 8lbs 1oz (meaning he likely would have been more than 12 pounds if he had been born at 40 weeks).  My understanding is that labor is believed to be triggered by hormones released by the placenta (and, indirectly, the baby).  So in general, when a baby gets too big to grow safely anymore, he will often trigger labor to start and may come a bit early so that he can get out safely.

Depending on your body, a very large baby may put you at higher risk for shoulder distocia.  I was one of the unlucky ones that ended up with shoulder distocia with my son, who thankfully survived with no lasting problems.  The shoulder distocia was likely caused by my unique anatomy, as I'm short and have a very small pelvis.  Thankfully, most people would have had NO problem with a baby that size.