Do I need a c section?

[deegomez85]

Hello ladies,  at my 35 week ultrasound my doctor said my baby's abdomen was measuring 36 1/2 weeeks.  All the other measurements were around 35 weeks.  My baby is also a little bigger in weight than he's supposed to be.  My doctor said that if my baby is still measuring "big" at my 38 week ultrasound then we have to consider a c section.  This is my first baby and I'd prefer a vaginal delivery.  Has anyone else experienced this dilemma?

[watermelon15]

With my first they considered him big. And I did not want a csection, so my doctor induced me at 39 weeks. Everything was great I wouldn't trade 13 hours of labor for a surgery.

[specialmom]

Hi there.  Really, this is something for women to discuss and work out with their own doctors.  Most doctors don't like to induce with first babies due to a higher rate of c section.  However, that is not true for babies after that first one.  I was induced with my second at 39 weeks and it was a good experience.  

Talk to your doctor who is responsible for your care.  good luck to all

[maw4389]

Ultrasounds aren't exact when it comes to measurements and size. They told me my baby would be between 7-8 lbs and she was barely over 6 when she was born. I would get another opinion. Women have birthed large babies naturally for years, so I think it's possible for you to have it vaginally.

[watermelon15]

Tell him you want to try to deliver on your own. Maybe consider being induced and give it a shot naturally. If you really can't push the baby out then emergency csection. But at least you tried.

[Pray4me2015]

If you disagree then get a second opinion. The worse care scenario you want is to push for 20+hrs only to have them rush you in for a C-section because there is a risk to you or your child's life. Like having your child's big head stuck in the birth canal like my coworker, followed by weeks in NICU.There is potentially nothing worse then to have a Emergency C-section.

The goal of your pregnancy is deliver a live baby,  how you get there via vaginal or c-section doesn't matter. They all carry their own risks and rewards.

Good luck with your delivery.

[lousie_1986]

Most common non-medical reason to usher women into a convenient csec is 'big baby' when it's not really that big. (my family just genetically has close to 10lb babies most of the time, we've all delivered naturally with no drugs.) It's really rare that a baby is too big. It's just common in U.S. because most women are hooked up to so much stuff that they have to be on their back for delivery. This reduces the pelvic opening by 25 to 30%.

It is absolutely possible to refuse a csec and go natural with no problems at all. Squatting, standing, kneeling or on all fours are much more effective positions to birth in, especially if the baby is a little bigger than average. Not to mention ultrasounds at such a late stage can be quite off. To have a csec because your baby *might* be classed as above average in size if the ultrasound was right, and the tiny chance that if it is, it *might* not fit or cause complications (VERY rare), and to then be subject to repeat csecs for every birth thereafter and have all the risks of a csec seems really dumb to me. Personally I would just give a big NO but I'm pretty big on natural birth so I'd refuse for any reason except for emergency.