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How she birthed 3 'Big' Babies

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This is part 2 of a two part blog on 'big babies' please CLICK HERE for part 1.
So What are Your Birth Options with a Big Baby?
Having birthed four big babies myself and through my involvement in the birthing scene ever since, I have come to conclude that if you are carrying a suspected large baby then you need to put a bit of extra planning into planning the birth. I like to use the acronym ACE IT to help plan a big baby's birth.
Active
Remaining active throughout labour is important for all mums, but even moreso for mums expecting a big baby. Why is this? it's a well known fact that being in a recumbant or semi recumbant (laying down/sitting back) position can reduce the pelvic capacity by up to 30% by preventing the sacrum from moving properly - that 30% is especially valuable when you have a larger than average sized baby on board. If a woman is left to birth actively, free from monitors keeping her confined to the bed, free from drips in her hands and free from an epidural leaving her confined to her back in bed, then she will instinctively move into positions that help her pelvis to open up and help her baby to rotate into the perfect position for birth. Many mums of larger babies will instinctively birth in a squatting or all fours position, also known as the Gaskin Maneuver - named after the inspirational American Midwife Ina May Gaskin.

Also consider using water to labour and/or birth in. Relaxing in a birthing pool can help you move into amazing positions that you may not ordinarily be able to remain in on dry land, the water helps you to relax, helps labour to progress more quickly and importantly helps you to remain active and keep your pelvis open.
Confidence
This is all about what happens during labour if you are anxious. The major hormone released during labour, oxytocin, is incredibly fragile. If a woman feels scared during labour she will release catecholamines, the most well known of these being adrenaline. The release of adrenaline during labour causes two things to happen, firstly it inhibits the release of oxytocin, this causes the uterus to stop contracting effectively and can cause the labour to become erratic and slow, secondly when we release adrenaline we cannot release beta endorphins, nature's own natural anaesthesia and feel good chemical. The contracting uterus also becomes starved of oxygenated blood which leads to a build up of lactic acid and thus pain (ever experienced severe muscle cramp?) and combined with the lack of release of our own natural pain killers labour becomes harder, longer and more painful (often known as "failure to progress"). By ensuring that the birthing mother releases as little adrenaline as possible we can help the birth to progress easily, safely and comfortably. By ensuring that she is confident about her body's ability we can help her to experience the easiest birth possible.

One way to feel confident again is to read lots of inspirational books such as Ina May Gaskin's "Spiritual Midwifery" . Marie Mongan's "HypnoBirthing - A Celebration of Life" and Michel Odent's "Birth Reborn" or by reading positive birth stories of women who have had easy births with larger than average babies. Perhaps your local NCT branch has a "big baby" mum on its experience register who may be happy to talk to you or perhaps you could consider classes such as http://www.hypnobirthing.co.uk/.

It may also be worthwhile looking into hiring a Doula. Doulas are non- medically qualified women who have experienced the ease and joys of natural childbirth. They view childbirth as normal, not a disease or sickness or something that a woman needs artificial help to achieve. A doula believes in a woman's own innate ability to birth her own baby, she doesn't so much support the birthing mother (as that would indicate that a woman needs more than her own wonderful body to birth her baby) rather she ensures that the woman can feel as at ease and undisturbed as possible so that the amazing act of childbirth can be, free from outside influences and therefore as easy and as safe as possible, she also helps antenatally by ensuring that the mother and father to be feel as confident as possible. You can find a qualified doula in your area by visiting http://www.doula.org.uk/.
Environment
All birthing women should think about the environment they will give birth in, often it's a decision made very lightly without proper research. For mothers of big babies it is even more important that you choose the right environment for you - one where you feel safe, secure and above all else - relaxed. For some the close proximity of medical equipment in the hospital makes them feel at ease, for others they chose to remain in the safe environment they have nested in for so many months - their own home. In fact one could argue that if you are expecting a large baby, then the safest place for you to deliver is the place where you are least likely to be induced, constantly monitored, prodded and poked by registrars, timed and stuck on the bed with an epidural and also the place where you feel most comfortable of all - where would that place be? you guessed it - HOME!

I always swear that if my third baby (who weighed 11lb 3oz and had "sticky shoulders") had been born in hospital, his birth would have resulted in a C-Section. I firmly believe choosing to birth at home with him (against my consultant's wishes) gave me - and him - the best chance of a normal - and safe! - birth.

So, think about things that help you to relax and imagine the most relaxing environment you could be in to give birth, what is the lighting like? what noises can you hear? who is with you? what smells are there? what comfort measures do you have with you? Really work with the enviroment and on the day your work planning will pay off! You'll find lots of tips in THIS ARTICLE.

Research statistics from your local hospital here: Dr. Foster Guide and research the possibilities of homebirth at the fantastic site http://www.homebirth.org.uk/.
Induction
As mentioned in previous pages, an induction for *just* a big baby is ill advised, it is not in line with statistical data and is not based on evidence based practice. When a pregnant mother is induced it opens the door to a whole cascade of interventions, it is often more painful and thus the chance of having an instinctive natural birth - so important for smooth & easy progress and no limiting pelvic capacity - is dramatically diminished.

If an induction is being suggested to you - question it!! if it is only for a "suspected

big baby" just say no!!

Another useful acronym for helping you out in this situation is remembering to use your " brains ":

B enefits - e.g: "what are the benefits of an induction?"

R isks - e.g:: "what are the risks of an induction?"

A lternatives - e.g: "what are the alternatives to an induction?"

I nstinct - e.g: "what does your instinct tell you?"

N othing - e.g: "what happens if we do nothing and let nature take its course?"

S mile - e.g: Remeber to be polite - be confident & assertive not rude & aggresive!
Tests
Chances are, if you're reading this you've probably been subjected to extra tests "just in case", things such as growth scans and Glucose Tolerance Tests (GTT). These tests have not been shown to increase the survival rate of mother or baby, they have not been shown to increase the health of newly born mother and baby and they have not been shown to decrease birth trauma. One must ask then what is the point of them? what exactly *do* they do? If you have no other risk factors, if you just have a perfectly happy and healthy baby, ask your midwife or consultant exactly what these tests will add to the wellbeing of you and your baby? how will they use the results? what will it mean for you to be under consultant led care? and more importantly how will you feel? your pregnancy and birth is rapidly spiralling from the "normal" camp to "abnormal" and "high risk" - I refer you back to the "CONFIDENCE" point above. Don't just agree to a test - question what it's for, what the results will be used for and question if it is really needed or is just a matter of protocol and policy.

I'll leave you here with a picture of my son, who was born at home in a birthing pool after am easy 4 hour labour. I had no intervention at all and no need for any pain relief either. I enjoyed every moment of his birth. He weighed 11lb 3.5oz.

...and here is his sister who was born in a labour lasting less than an hour, again at home in a birthing pool, again no intervention, no pain relief and no perineal damage. She weighed 11lb 1oz.

Oh and by the way, I'm 5ft 1inches and wear a size 4-5 shoe.

Who said birthing big babies was hard?!

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Big Babies - Birthing a Macrosomic Infant - Part 2.

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This is part 2 of a two part blog on 'big babies' please CLICK HERE for part 1. So What are Your Birth Options with a Big Baby? Having birthed four big babies myself and through my involvement in the birthing scene ever since, I have come to conclude that if you are carrying a suspected...

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Why is Shoulder Dystocia a worry? What if it happens at a home birth? Should you have an induction or elective caesarean to avoid it?

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1.2.10 Suspected fetal macrosomia

1.2.10.1 In the absence of any other indications, induction of labour should not be carried out simply because a healthcare professional suspects a baby is large for gestational age (macrosomic).

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Inducing labour | Guidance and guidelines | NICE

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Evidence-based recommendations on inducing labour in a hospital-based maternity unit setting

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5 Reasons You Can Easily Birth a Big Baby

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5 Reasons You Can Easily Birth a Big Baby

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Belly Belly Blog Post

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In 2010 I gave birth to my third baby at home, after a 90 minute labour.

The speedy labour wasn't a surprise, as I'd previously experienced that with my second baby.

What was a surprise was my baby's weight.

After previously giving birth to average sized babies of 3.5kg (7.7lbs) and 3.2 kgs (7lbs) each, I was more than a little shocked to see the number on the scale creep up to 5kgs (11lbs) - I had given birth to a 'big baby'.

When you tell someone you've given birth to a baby of more than average size, you can pretty much guarantee the response.

There are winces, exclamations of 'ouch', and personal questions like 'does everything still work down there?'

But what people don't do is believe you when you say it actually didn't hurt more.

No really - it doesn't!

Why Bigger Babies Don't Necessarily Hurt More

Here are 5 reasons why a bigger baby doesn't have to mean more pain during childbirth.

#1: Ignorance Is Bliss

These days, it's not uncommon for women to be told by their healthcare provider that they are carrying a big baby.

In many cases, this results in women leaving their care provider's office, stressing about the impending birth of a baby elephant.

They may even be induced early, just in case, only to be shocked when their baby ends up average sized. Because guessing the weight of a baby is exactly that - a guess.

Instead of freaking out about the size of your baby, put your focus on learning about what boosts your potential for an enjoyable and positive natural birth.

A great book such as New Active Birth by Janet Balaskas or our other recommended birth books will get you off to a brilliant start.

Also, knowing what makes for an undisturbed labour can help you focus on how normal birth actually is.

#2: Babies Come In All Shapes And Sizes

A big baby doesn't necessarily mean a really big head - or even a big body!

Big babies can be long and skinny and smaller babies can have big heads.

Many women are told they will need to be induced earlier than their due date, because their baby might get too large and not fit through the pelvis, or even get stuck.

In the last few weeks of pregnancy, your baby is putting on weight in the form of fat, which helps to keep him warm after he is born. The average weight gain each week in the last trimester is about 230grams (1/2 pound).

This increase in fat layers is important to remember. It's not the bones of your baby's skull or their body which is growing larger. Nor will your baby's head gain a few pounds before birth, so you can breathe easy!

Bigger babies need time to mature and prepare for birth too - bigger doesn't mean more mature. They all need the same time to develop and be ready for birth.
There are more than a few reasons why babies can get 'stuck' during labour.
#3: The Same Process Happens Regardless Of Size

Your body goes through exactly the same process of labour regardless of your baby's size. In fact, the size of your baby has no influence whatsoever on the first stage of labour.

Your cervix doesn't know there's a 4.5kg (9.9lb) baby sitting on top of it. It has to fully dilate regardless! The head of your baby is the widest part, and no matter what size baby you are giving birth to, their heads are designed to mould and fit through your cervix.

Interestingly, mamas of larger babies report the second stage of labour is usually quite a lot easier than previous babies who were smaller. Some midwives say this is because the woman's muscles can get a better grip on a larger baby to help push them out.
You might like to learn about your baby's view of birth, and how they can actually help out during labour.
#4: Positioning Of Baby

Ensuring your baby's position is optimal for birth can make a big difference to how challenging it will be, regardless of size.

The optimal position for birth is if your baby is head is down, chin tucked, with their face pointing toward your back. This position (or presentation, as it's also called) creates the best fit, and the smallest diameter of skull leading through the birth canal.

A baby who isn't in a good position can mean a longer and more painful labour, especially if they are posterior, which is the baby's back against the mother's back.
Read more about how fetal positioning can affect labour.
#5: Birth Position

Ok so you might think this isn't really important, but the position you are in can make a major difference to how easy it is to give birth to a baby.

During the first stage of labour when your cervix is opening, you should be free to seek the positions and movements that help you during contractions.

If you stay in positions which allow gravity to help your baby moving downwards, your baby is more likely to stay in the optimal fetal position for birth. Being stuck in a bed, lying or semi-reclining, is counterproductive.

During the second stage, by being in a squatting position, your pelvic opening is able to shift an extra 30% (about 3cms). Your coccyx bone (the little tail bone on the end of your spine) is also pushed out of the way as your baby comes down.

Imagine how it might feel if you are lying on your back or sitting back on your bottom! You aren't able to move easily and your pelvis is effectively in a fixed position.

In an upright position, such as hands and knees, squatting or a lunge, your pelvis is more flexible and you are able to move as you need to during contractions.

You are also less likely to tear in a more upright position, especially if you are being supported to work with your body and not rush your baby out.
Giving birth in an upright position has a lot of benefits.
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So there you have it! Around 2% of babies in the United States and Australia have birthweights of over 4.5kgs (9.9lbs). Having a big baby doesn't have to be the scary and terrifying experience it is made out to be.

If you are well informed about the normal labour process and choose a care provider who will support you, it can be a really amazing experience - and definitely one to impress the crowds with!

PREGNANT and in MELBOURNE on April 7th? JOIN US at the BellyBelly Birth & Early Parenting Immersion. MAXIMISE your chances of getting the birth you want... MINIMISE your chances of a disappointing or traumatic birth experience. Come and hear from some of Australia's best educators.

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Giving Birth To A Big Baby - 5 Reasons Why It Doesn't Mean It Will Hurt More | BellyBelly

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In 2010 I gave birth to my third baby at home, after a 90 minute labour. The speedy labour wasn't a surprise, as I'd previously experienced that with my second baby. What was a surprise was my baby's weight.

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Were developed to pick up SMALL babies & reduce Stillbirth rate.