Big Babies! Can I Really Birth My Big Baby and How Big is Big!?

Have you been told your baby is measuring big from an ultrasound scan or that baby looks big based on your size? Are you feeling pressured, scared, uncertain, or told you're up against a lot of risks by waiting for spontaneous labor?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Well let's look at the data and stats around 'big babies' to give you something to compare or at least help give a better understanding of what you're being told.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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-First, have you had any previous births and what were the sizes of your previous babies? This will be a helpful determinate to what this baby could possibly be.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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-Do you know what size you and your partner were at birth? Knowing genetics can sometimes help be an indicator of what size baby you may have but not always either.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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-Ultrasound scans are either 50% right or 50% wrong.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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-Ultrasound scans are usually off by about 15%, either being 15% lower or higher in weight, that’s about a 2lb difference.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So how common are 'Big Babies’?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- 8.13lbs and less birth weight happen in 89.6% of babies⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- 8.13lbs-9.15lbs birth weight happen in 9.1% of babies⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- 9.15lbs and up birth weight happen in 1.3% of babies⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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(statistics from U.S.DHHS & CDC 2016,2017,2018)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Now the risks:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- 7-15% of babies have difficulty in the birth of their shoulders when at a larger size, also known as shoulder dystocia.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- 1 out of every 555 babies weighing 8.13lbs-9.15lbs have a chance of permanent nerve damage injury due to shoulder dystocia.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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- 1 out of every 175 babies weighing 9.15lbs+ have a chance of permanent nerve damage injury due to shoulder dystocia.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

How to help prevent shoulder dystocia and fear mongering of families:

-It's important health care providers do regular training to keep their skills up and current in preventing shoulder dystocia. Ask your provider about their experience delivering large babies and their training. It's ok to ask respectful, informed questions.

-Sometimes the thought from the care provider of a large baby is more harmful than the actual size of the baby. This is because the suspicion of a big baby could lead many care providers to manage labor in a way that increases the risk of cesarean and complications. Stay informed and continue to ask questions.

- This thought also encourages fear and doubt in both the birthing person and the provider which negatively impacts the labor overall. Do some relaxations, read some positive birth affirmations and remind yourself you are strong.

-If the care provider suspects the baby to be of a larger size, it's important you do some research, compare info, ask questions, and then go with your gut. You know your body, your baby, and what's best for you both.

Let us know if you're experiencing anything like this and we will do our best to help you navigate through this.

Have you had any experience with either being told you were having a big baby or birthing a large baby?
Please share with us. We would love to hear and our followers and students would greatly benefit too.