My frist baby and I am 5'4 -should I have a vaginal or c-section delivery for a big baby?

I am 38 weeks pregnant and according to the ultrasound the baby weights 9.7 lbs. The doc says that he will most likely be 10 lbs. if not over. We all know that ultrasounds may be off one pound or more, but just in case I am sticking to what it says.


Doc said I can have a vag birth but there is a chance of fetal distress since he is a big baby. It may take a while for me to give birth. If I take a c section, I run the risks of infection since I am overweight and it may take to longer to heal.





I have been reading and researching on both options, and find pros and cons on both procedures. My main concern is the health of my baby, I do not want him to have any distress, lack of oxygen or his shoulders to get stuck. With a c section the only risk he has is respiratory infection. I will have to recover but that is not a problem for me.


If you were in my shoes and had the same concerns, would you still have the baby vaginally? or a csection?, pls state why. Thank you very much!

My frist baby and I am 5'4 -should I have a vaginal or c-section delivery for a big baby?
Some small women can push a large baby out without any problems.





I am about your size, 5'4 and a about 175lbs (closer to 190lbs when I delivered), I had a long labor and the baby was in distress, her heart rate started to drop dramatically so they did an emergency section. My daughter was fine from that deliver (her score was 9 out of 10) and my healing was fine also.





My advise, talk it over with your doctor. There is no reason why you can't try to deliver naturally and if something happens, have a section then. Chances are you and your baby will both be fine...no matter how you deliver.





You should also consider that if you have a section the 1st time, you probably can't deliever naturally the next time you have a baby.





Good luck!
Reply:You should try for a vaginal delivery. I had a 9lb baby and I am 5'4". I didn't even tear. Here is the secret: Get in tub at the hospital and don't get out until they make you. The water softens your parts and you'll stretch easier. They can do an emergency c-section if necessary but it may not be. My tiny tiny grandma had two ten lb babies and she's five feet!!
Reply:Many woman smaller then you have birthed large babies. I would recommend a vaginal birth without an epidural that way you are free to change birthing positions that would almost eliminate the possibility if his shoulders getting stuck. I would not ever ever recommend a C-section for a large baby. Your babies health is your #1 priority and a natural, birth is what is in his best interest.
Reply:I am 5'2" and vaginally delivered my son who was at birth 8lb.2oz. I also did not have any pain killers or anything! This was my first baby and it only took me 5-10 min. of pushing! Just try to have yours vaginally because c-section do pose a lot more risks!
Reply:when i had my first baby i was 5ft 3 and got told he was 9lb odd but i had a vaginal birth everything was fine and he turned out to be 7lb 10 i would go for the vaginal birth as you are back to yourself and able to look after baby faster and if probs do occur there is always a team ready to help.


Crongrats and hope everything is fine.
Reply:I am 5'4 and I've had 2 vaginal deliveries. My first son(9lbs. 20in) literally, slipped right out! My epidural worked one hell of a miracle! I couldn't feel the lower half of my body. My second son(6lbs 15oz. 20in) was quick and painful! You'll do great, trust me. I'll pray for you and your baby. Bathing in warm water does help. Your baby will be monitored throughout so if he becomes distressed, your doctor will advise a c section. Vaginal delivery may be painful but believe me, it will be one of your greatest experiences! Good luck with your new family!
Reply:If I were you I would deliver vaginally. You doctor cannot know without a doubt that your baby is ten lbs. Size has nothing to do with it. I am four ft 11 and 1/2, and I have never had a c-section. If anything gravity works for you during the deliver of a big baby. Ultra sounds are only an estimate, and not truly accurate for measuring weight. Look up ultrasound accuracy for weight measurement in utero and see what google spits out.
Reply:If you are not worried about the healing part of the c-section, then I would go with that, especially if the doc says that the baby is going to get bigger, and there is a chance, because he is so big, there could be fetal distress if you had him vaginally. You said the main concern was your baby's health, I would definitely go with the scheduled c-section.





My first baby was in distress and they had her out of me in 2 minutes...literally!!! The only thing with that is my next two daughters also had to be c-sections because this particular OB, did not do VBACs. (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean)





Good luck in your decision.
Reply:Babies are usually proportional to their mother (and father's size at birth). Was your husband a large baby? Were you a large baby? Did you have maternal diabetes that may have contributed to an extra large infant? There are factors besides what the ultrasound says that your Dr. should be weighing. Did your Dr. do a thorough external examination manually to find out if your child is large? Also cephalo-pelvic disproportion (baby has big head, mom has small pelvis) is pretty rare. It is more common that an ultrasound is off by a lb. or more. I was told that my first daughter was 8 1/2 lbs. at my 34 wk ultrasound and that I too would have a large baby. I at first wanted a C-section but decided against it when I read further on the topic. It turned out that when my daughter was born (vaginally) she was just 7lbs. 4oz! The ultrasound was WRONG! So it is quite possible that they are mis-estimating the size of your child. I would definitely attempt a vaginal delivery because a C-section is major abdominal surgery. My Mom had one with me and she said she really couldn't enjoy having me at first because of the pain and down time. A vaginal delivery is hard enough to recover from for a first time Mom. You'll want to use a sitz bath, with warm water, a spray called Dermoplast on your sore areas which provides some numbing and even cold packs for the first day or so. You will still need Motrin every four hours for the first week or so as well. If the baby is indeed large as they say then an emergency C-section can definitely be performed at the last minute and complications can be avoided. Don't worry, try to have faith in your body's ability to birth a baby of any size and just wait and see what happens. You will probably be surprised that your baby is an average size infant and the vaginal delivery goes easier than you thought.
Reply:I am 5'4 also and have had two deliveries. My oldest was quick and easy at 7lbs 13oz, my second was also quick but very painful at 9 lbs. I had no major complications with either.


I am sure the first sign of fetal distress the docs will rush you in for a c section. I say try a vag birth and see how it progresses and then decide.


The recovery of a vag birth is easier on you and that is important so you can be there to care for your baby those first days.
Reply:I have a 2 1/2 week old little girl right now, and the first words out of the doctor's mouth when she came in to check me during labor was, "This is a big baby, we may have to do a C-section". Well the doctor was right about her being big, she was 10 lbs, 6 oz at birth, but I did it vaginally (somehow!!). I really didn't want a C-section if I could avoid it, its major abdominal surgery that really puts a kink in your recovery time. Its hard to pick up the baby and cuddle with her when you have a big healing cut in your abdomen. **Plus, if you plan on having more children later, it increases your chance of needing a C-section for them too. It doesn't guarantee that you will need one, it just increases the chances of it.





But anyway, with me they had me "labor down" for 14 hours. They let the contractions push her as far as they could on their own, and then had me push for 2 hours. If she wasn't far enough down after those 14 hours of laboring down, they would have had to do the C-section. But, she came down far enough and I pushed her out myself.





My suggestion is to try to go that route. Try laboring down and see if you can do it vaginally up until the point they say it's not possible (if it turns out its not possible). They will have a monitor hooked up to the baby's head the whole time before his born, so they can monitor his health. If you can labor down without him getting in distress, you should. That way you would only be getting the C-section if its ABSOLUTELY necessary. Why add that extra stress to your body if you don't need to?





Good luck with it!! I know exactly how you're feeling right now. I was just there 2 1/2 weeks ago.
Reply:i was really over weight when i gave birth to my first child. and even worst i had preeclampsia and that causes swelling throughout ur body and baby. i'm 5'3" and i had a vaginal even dough my baby weighted 7lbs 15oz he was very swollen. and they had to cut my vigina in order for the baby to pass through so yes i had stiches. well i think u should try the viginal, but first try to practice some excercises as opening ur legs, eagle spread to help ur joints flex once u r delivering.
Reply:My best friend is 5' 3 and just had a 9 lb 4 oz baby on wed. she did great and so did the baby, they are both great. Personally, I would choose the vaginal birth. I myself have had two C-sec and would not recomend it for anyone who doesn't have to have one...( My first was an emergency c-sec) The recovery time for a C-sec is soo much longer and it is so hard to take care of a newborn baby with the pain from your incision. Good Luck.
Reply:Vaginal childbirth is so much easier on your body that C-section. If you tested negative for high glucose, I would take your doctor advise with a grain of salt. baby weight varies tremendously efore birth (my doctor was off by 1 pound) .


I see a tendency to encourage c-sections based on fetal distress. C-sections are major surgery and carries risk of infections for both of you and a loger recovery time (believe me it HURTS)


You are a young, healthy woman and you should attempt what you feel is the best for you, your baby %26amp; your body.


Don't rule out vaginal delivery for fear your baby is too big. You will be amazed at what your body is capable of doing. If you can get a doula to coach your through delivery (good luck at this point in your pregnancy you might not be able) you might be able to do it without surgery.


I went for an unsucessful VBAC after my first c-section but I was able to experience labor unmedicated and it was amazing, I was able to control my contractions so much better than the first time.


Childbith is natural to our body, make sure your doctor supports you to deliver vaginally and understand your fears %26amp; concerns, that's why they are there for, don't do what they tell you but do what you feel you can do.


Great luck!
Reply:id at least try a vaginal.


im the same height as you, and although i had a 7pounder my doc swore up and down my son would be 10lbs+


i attempted a vaginal, but my sons heart rate kept dropping, so i ended up with a c-section.


let me tell you. its not fun.!!


so unless your son is under stress durring labor and delivery, id skip the c-section and try for a vaginal.
Reply:The ultrasound isn't an accurate means of finding out the weight of the baby. I was told that my son was over 8 pounds... he was born at 7lbs7oz.





Opt for the vaginal birth, since c/sections are major surgery. If things should happen and you require a c/section, then a c/section will be done.


I wish you all the best!
Reply:I would by no means go for a c-section. It is MAJOR SURGERY and takes a full 6 weeks for recovery. You can't lift anything heavier than your baby. You are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression and if you are planning on breastfeeding, having a c-section could make that more difficult.





I am 5'4" myself and have had a 8.6 and a 9 lb baby and both of them were vaginal births without drugs. Between those two kids, I only had ONE stitch because the doctors were patient and helped guide the baby out both times (I delivered in two different parts of the country--my second birth was a homebirth).





I have often said I would much rather have a 9 lber than a 6 lber that decides to play tricks like putting his hands up over his head and trying to come out that way.





Any time a woman asks c-section vs. vaginal, I think of the woman on the tape I watched in my childbirth class who tearfully says, "Nobody told me it would be MAJOR SURGERY." You have the resources....if you have youtube, you may want to look up the Anna Nicole Smith video where she talks about her c-section--how the doctors convinced her her baby would get stuck and was way too big to deliver vaginally (the baby weighed 6 or 7 lbs). Even though she's loopy, it really made me feel sorry for her plight as someone who got badly rooked by the medical community.
Reply:As you stated there are pros and cons for both procedures. From experience, I can tell you that having a c-section is not as awful as many people lead you to believe it is. The 2 most important things to remember after having a c-section are 1) do not be afraid to ask for your pain medication both in the hospital and after you go home, if you need a refill your doctor should give it to you no problem (too many people try to be "heroes" after having a c-section and just end up hurting themselves more by not taking the meds, even if breastfeeding, they are completely safe. 2) if you do have a c-section, it is very important to get up and move as much as you can. Yes it's uncomfortable at first, but just laying in bed not moving actually slows the healing process and can make recovery even more difficult.





That said, my advice is to talk to your doctor and see what he advises. If he thinks it's best to go with a c-section, then you should listen to his opinion. However, if he feels that you can deliver vaginally with no harm to your baby or you, then I would listen to his advice. As others have stated, you can op to try vaginally and if needed, an emergency c-section will be performed, however most doctors like to try and avoid that situation beforehand if they can due to possible danger to you or your child, and a harder recovery for you (a prolonged labor that ends in an emergency c-section makes the surgery more difficult to recover from).





My little boy was too big for me to deliver vaginally and he was only 7lbs 15 oz and I'm 5'6". His head never dropped into my pelvis so my doctor scheduled me a c-section once I was 40 weeks. The surgery and recovery were mildly uncomfortable, but not as bad as everyone tried to tell me it would be. I'm glad that my doctor was honest with me in her opinion that she didn't feel he was going to fit. Especially since my mother-in-law could tell you a horror story of how my husband got STUCK in the birth canal and could not even be pulled out with forceps so they had to do an emergency c-section anyways. He was almost 10lbs.





Best of luck to you with whatever you and your doctor decide is best!
Reply:try for vag. at least you can say you did try, and not regret that later. i had an emergency c-section and recovery was not as bad as you think. the important thing about recovering is to keep as (carefully) active as you can. stillness breeds soreness (ask any dr)


i wish i had contractions, and gotten to attempt to push, and would give anything to ba able to.
Reply:If your body made it, you can deliver it! Big baby is NOT a reason to risk a C-section. We are talking major abdominal surgery here. I am very petite, 5'1", and had 9lb8oz and 9lb4oz babies no problems.





And respiratory infection is NOT the only risk of c-section...where did you get your information? Please do a bit more research.





http://www.childbirth.org/section/risks....





Stay off your back, forgo the epi so you can change birthing positions.
Reply:Go w/ the vaginal delivery. If the baby becomes stressed, your doctor will do an emergency C-section. It's amazing what women's bodies can handle. We were built to have babies, both big and small. I'm sure you will do GREAT! Good luck.
Reply:If I were in your shoes I'd do a c-section. knowing it's a big baby and you're so small chances are that you may end up with a section anyhow. It's not the easy way out..trust me. Recovering from a section is harder than vaginal. But at least you wouldn't have to worry about baby getting stuck. good luck. Weigh your options and do what you think is best.



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