kozachka
12-09-2003, 11:33 PM
Just wanted to post an update on my baby for all of you who took time to share their birth stories with me a few weeks ago. My baby's head measured 40 weeks at the 36 weeks ultrasound and I was concerned that I'll have to have a C-section.
At 37 weeks and 6 days US his head measured 42 weeks on the view from above and 38.5 weeks on the 'frontal' view, which was in line with his stomach circumference. At that point the baby's weight was estimated to be 8.5 lbs. And I was 2-3 sm dilated. Considering all this, my doctor decided to schedule labor induction at 39 weeks but was pretty sure that it will start by itself before than.
And he was right, three days later, the morning of Thanksgiving I woke up because my water was leaking. Just 7 hours later, my baby boy was placed on my stomach after a VAGINAL delivery. I did not even have to have an episiotomy, got away with a tiny internal tear that required only one stitch. His head was indeed pretty big and got stuck on my pelvic bone on the way out so vacuum had to be used to assist his descent. Still, it was a pretty easy labor as they come and the baby was fine. He scored 9 out of 10 on both APGAR tests (and my hospital does not give 10 to anybody) and weighted 8.5 lbs. at full 38 weeks. I was lucky to have an experienced and caring doctor.
So if anyone out there is facing the same dilemma, do not despair. Your body knows when is the right time for your baby to come out and even if you have a large baby you can still deliver vaginally and feel good afterwords.
Once again, thank you to all the ladies who promptly responded to my original post. It was an encouragement to read all your stories.
Elena, mom to cranielly endowed baby boy Daniel
At 37 weeks and 6 days US his head measured 42 weeks on the view from above and 38.5 weeks on the 'frontal' view, which was in line with his stomach circumference. At that point the baby's weight was estimated to be 8.5 lbs. And I was 2-3 sm dilated. Considering all this, my doctor decided to schedule labor induction at 39 weeks but was pretty sure that it will start by itself before than.
And he was right, three days later, the morning of Thanksgiving I woke up because my water was leaking. Just 7 hours later, my baby boy was placed on my stomach after a VAGINAL delivery. I did not even have to have an episiotomy, got away with a tiny internal tear that required only one stitch. His head was indeed pretty big and got stuck on my pelvic bone on the way out so vacuum had to be used to assist his descent. Still, it was a pretty easy labor as they come and the baby was fine. He scored 9 out of 10 on both APGAR tests (and my hospital does not give 10 to anybody) and weighted 8.5 lbs. at full 38 weeks. I was lucky to have an experienced and caring doctor.
So if anyone out there is facing the same dilemma, do not despair. Your body knows when is the right time for your baby to come out and even if you have a large baby you can still deliver vaginally and feel good afterwords.
Once again, thank you to all the ladies who promptly responded to my original post. It was an encouragement to read all your stories.
Elena, mom to cranielly endowed baby boy Daniel