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Pregnancy ?: Does a lb or 2 make a difference?


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N was 6.3 via c-sect (didnt really notice anything)

C was 5.8 via c-sect (again didnt notice anything). PP was better than with N. I wasnt as tired and groggy and could walk sooner.

L was 7.0 via VBA2C (i didnt notice delivery wise) My post partum was MUCH better with her as well.

 

I know you wanted natural delivery, but i just thought id offer my 2c. :)

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I've had 7 babies ranging from 6lb. 3oz to 8lb. 12oz. I noticed no difference in the recovery based on weight of the baby.

 

FWIW - my most difficult recovery was my first baby which was 6lbs. 10oz. It was my only epidural. IMHO - I think epidurals allow you to push when you are not ready so the skin does not have enough time to stretch naturally.

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I've had 7 babies ranging from 6lb. 3oz to 8lb. 12oz. I noticed no difference in the recovery based on weight of the baby.

 

FWIW - my most difficult recovery was my first baby which was 6lbs. 10oz. It was my only epidural. IMHO - I think epidurals allow you to push when you are not ready so the skin does not have enough time to stretch naturally.

 

Yep, my first was the worst as well, and the only one with the epidural.

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If you have had babies who were more than a pound different (natural deliveries), did you notice any difference in your delivery and/or post-partum recovery?

 

Unfortunately, not really, for me.

 

I do think first babies are generally harder than subsequent babies, but one doesn't really get the contractions for the next few days the first time, which is common, and increases, in later births. Also some babies' positions make birth more difficult, so that can throw things off.

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N was 6.3 via c-sect (didnt really notice anything)

C was 5.8 via c-sect (again didnt notice anything). PP was better than with N. I wasnt as tired and groggy and could walk sooner.

L was 7.0 via VBA2C (i didnt notice delivery wise) My post partum was MUCH better with her as well.

 

I know you wanted natural delivery, but i just thought id offer my 2c. :)

 

C-section recoveries must be soooo hard!!

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My 2nd and 3rd deliveries were my 1st and 2nd natural deliveries. My 1st baby was a c/s. My 2nd DD was 7lb 14oz. I seriously questioned if the physical recovery was actually easier than my recovery (my mental clarity was definitely way better) from my c/s. My 3rd DD was over 10lb and the recovery was significantly easier. Her head was also 2" bigger. I think once your body has done it more than once a bigger baby is not an issue.

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my 5.5 lb baby was WAY harder than my bigger babes. (6.5, 7.5 and 7.5) Those tiny ones need to eat constantly! But as far as recovery, I never had any stitches with any of my babies, and I had normal deliveries with 3-4 pushes to get them out.

 

So much has to do with the size of your pelvis and the way that the baby is presenting.

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My first was 8 lbs 9 oz and my second was 7 lbs 1 oz, both born at home. The second was a much easier recovery--as in I felt like I had not even had a baby at all. But labor was shorter and easier overall, so that might have made the difference. I also think that after your first baby, subsequent births can be easier.

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I had a 3lb, 4lb 12oz and a 5lb 11oz with the last two being c-section. I have no idea how it would have been had I been able to deliver them all vaginally but I can tell you I expect that it would have been a whole heck of a lot easier than recovering from the c-sections. With my vaginal delivery (and I had a 4th degree tear) I was fully recovered after about 6 weeks. It took me a full year with both of my c-sections to feel completely human again.

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I've had 7 babies ranging from 6lb. 3oz to 8lb. 12oz. I noticed no difference in the recovery based on weight of the baby.

 

FWIW - my most difficult recovery was my first baby which was 6lbs. 10oz. It was my only epidural. IMHO - I think epidurals allow you to push when you are not ready so the skin does not have enough time to stretch naturally.

 

:iagree: I only had an epidural with my first. She was 7lbs2oz and I needed a stitch. Baby 2 was 8lbs4oz, not epi, no tearing. Baby 3 was 8lbs5oz, all natural, teeny tiny tear.

 

I hate how doctors scare women into thinking they can't naturally birth a big baby. I've known tiny little Asian women who gave birth to monster babies (and walked out of the hospital with their pre-pregnancy jeans:glare:).

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I don't know, but both my kids were exactly the same weight. So I just wanted to say that because I think it's cool :lol:

 

They were both 6 pounds 12 ounces.

 

Love that :D

 

#1 and #3 were 9lbs10oz

#2 and #4 were 9lbs7oz

 

So using the whole ABAB pattern, looks like this baby will be 9lbs10oz......

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Our oldest was 10 pounds. I had a horrible labor, hemorrhaged, the works. Recovery was difficult, to say the least.

 

Next oldest was 8 lbs, 13 oz. Relatively easy labor and recovery.

 

Next was 8 lbs 6 oz. Relatively easy labor and recovery.

 

Last was 9 lbs 11 oz. Labor was easy, but I hemorrhaged and they had a lot of difficulty getting it under control. Recovery was prolonged due to all the blood loss.

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Ok, kinda hijacking my own thread here, but I have been extremely worried lately. Worried about labour & delivery. I've done this 4 times!!!!! No issues at all. None. So what the heck??? Why am I suddenly so freaked out that I won't be able to do it or that something will go wrong??

I was the same way with all 4 of mine!

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Ok, kinda hijacking my own thread here, but I have been extremely worried lately. Worried about labour & delivery. I've done this 4 times!!!!! No issues at all. None. So what the heck??? Why am I suddenly so freaked out that I won't be able to do it or that something will go wrong??

 

:grouphug: Because you are pregnant and hormonal. :grouphug:

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I think there are many factors. Ds (first 8-10oz) was sooo not fun to push but recovery wasn't too bad, other than my tailbone, which I think I broke. Dd 1 (7-7) was as easy as can be to get out and recovery couldn't have been easier. Dd2 (7-9) was again hard to push out BUT her head an inch bigger than dd1 and she had an elbow by her head. My recovery was the worst with her. No big tear but I was uncomfortable for a good while.

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Ok, kinda hijacking my own thread here, but I have been extremely worried lately. Worried about labour & delivery. I've done this 4 times!!!!! No issues at all. None. So what the heck??? Why am I suddenly so freaked out that I won't be able to do it or that something will go wrong??

 

Because even though there were no issues, natural labor and delivery is still difficult and painful. It's normal to be anxious! But you're going to be fine. You can do it. :grouphug:

 

By the way, I've had babies at four different poundages (6 something, 7 something, 8 something, 9 something). I'll admit, the 9 something was intense, but I think that was more because it was very, very fast. The worst was an 8 something because the attending midwife was clueless (a newbie). The easiest was the other of my 8 somethings (my fifth!) because I was relaxed and confident and knew what I wanted. And my midwife rocked. Point being... I think other circumstances have more to do with how things go than size.

Edited by Janie Grace
ETA: personal size experiences
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I definitely felt the difference in pushing with my double digit baby, but I didn't tear or need stitches and the recovery was easy. The labor was also extremely similar (I have crazy fast labors); just in pushing where I noticed those extra pounds (and gargantuan head and linebacker shoulders)!

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#1 weighed 6# 13 oz. I pushed for 2 1/2 hours and couldn't walk for a week after because my pelvic bone was bruised so badly.

 

#4 weighed in at 9# 12 oz. and her birth was 3 1/2 hours total. She literally pushed herself out.

 

I only had the walking issue after #1. I've torn about the same amount with all of them, but that has never bothered me much.

 

The most painful delivery was my 8 # 2 oz. son. But I think part of that had to to do with the fact that I was on my back on a hospital bed pushing him out while my midwife had her hand up there trying to check me. It was all such a nightmarish blur of pain.

 

The big girl was born in the water with not a midwife in sight. So much nicer.

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First was my most difficult 8#1. - Recovery was awful.

Second was easy (easiest?) 7#11 - went home that same day.

Third - my biggest - was 9#1 - hard labor, not too bad recovery.

Fourth - my smallest - was 7#2 - hard labor, okay recovery.

Fifth - second largest- (delivered by nurse/easiest?) 8#4 - quick labor, lost a lot of blood, so a slower recovery, but I felt okay physically just tired easily.

And my baby - 7#3 - not too bad labor, pretty easy recovery.

 

Honestly...it was harder recovering from my hernia repair than ANY of my children's deliveries. But of the deliveries my first one was the most difficult to recover from.

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The studies I've read all seem to indicate that, within normal birthweight ranges (which can be a difference of about 5lbs), it's *position* that matters more than weight. Other factors come into play -- first pregnancy vs later pregnancies, scar tissue, shoulder size (not directly related to weight), the mother's nutrition and hydration, stress levels -- but weight isn't all that important unless you're talking about the extremes.

 

The best one can do to prepare for delivery is to eat well (nutrient dense foods, not junk, with plenty of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals and plenty of protein), stay fit, get baby in good position (see spinningbabies.com), drink water, and manage stress. Weight alone? Just not much of an issue.

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I don't know, but both my kids were exactly the same weight. So I just wanted to say that because I think it's cool :lol:

 

They were both 6 pounds 12 ounces.

 

I have two that were 6lbs 11oz, and one who was 6lb 10oz. My midwife says she's not bothering to bring the scale next time :p

 

(I was 6lb 13 oz myself!)

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My easiest delivery by far was my biggest at 9 lbs 1 oz. he was a water birth and the only one I didn't tear with. My other kids ranged from 6.12 to 7.15 and one at 8.12. I have birthed 8. The easy one was #7 and #8 was my hardest because of poor positioning(military and nuchal arm) and she was 7.8. Postpartum was the worst the first time and much better with my five homebirths. But after pains stink.

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If you have had babies who were more than a pound different (natural deliveries), did you notice any difference in your delivery and/or post-partum recovery?

 

Just wondering if there is a big difference.

Yes, although the weight of the baby wasn't what made the difference, I think my body just got with the program. :tongue_smilie:

 

First baby was the smallest and most difficult delivery. 7lbs2oz preemie that spent 13 days in NICU. I delivered a blue baby (amnio-vernix aspiration) in the ER examining area. I tore clear through and there was no one at the hospital who felt confident that they could sew me up properly. They finally gave me meds when someone finally realized that I had had none while I waited for the specialist to arrive. Post-partum recovery stunk. No baby to hold for almost 2 weeks, I became infected at both ends, and I pumped round the clock to keep up milk production.

 

Second baby was full term, 8lbs14oz and much easier to delivery- no complications. However, after natural childbirth, a midwife, and a bad experience with the first I opted to have an epidural- bad choice. The resulting epidural headache was worse than labor, so recovery was still sort of stinky. However, the birth itself was fine and the baby was fine.

 

Last little man was 7lbs6oz. I told the hospital that no one was to come near my back with a needle. If there was a complication, I preferred to be bonked over the head. Anyway, third time is a charm- easy delivery, healthy baby, easy recovery. I went home the next day and did laundry.

 

So, it was my experience that each pregnancy, labor, delivery, and recovery was easier than the previous regardless of the size of the baby.

 

HTH-

Mandy

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My easiest was my largest 3rd baby. His delivery was perfect. After two horror story births,I prayed my whole pregnancy that I would have a birth story I could share. It was perfect! My fourth was nearly 2 lbs smaller and was a whirwind delivery. He started going into distress, so I pushed as hard as possible and he flew out! You don't mess with a mother that has nearly lost a baby in childbirth! The dr. barely caught him! I was ripped from the forceful delivery, but his breathing was fine by the time they got him to the nursery and they brought him right back.

 

I don't think weight has anything to do with ease of delivery. For me it was much more circumstancial!

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Mine were 8-4, 10-5 and 9-3. I was so uncomfortable (pain under the ribcage) with the larger two that I didn't sleep well from 5 months on. Physically and emotionally I wasn't in nearly as good of a place going into those deliveries.

 

All three deliveries were different so it's hard comparing that aspect. First was natural with three hours of hard pushing, second was emergency C-section, and the third was a VBAC with epidural. My first 8-4 was the most difficult, but I think that was due to being a first baby through the chute more than baby weight. The 9-3 baby was a breeze in comparison.

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My biggest was the most difficult, pregnancy and recovery-wise. He was 9lbs 5oz, my previous two were 8.5 lbs each. I definitely felt a difference--my pelvis was all out of whack for a while and I couldn't run without extreme pain for months and months after he was born.

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#1-7 lbs 14 oz. Epidural birth. I tore a bit.

 

#2-9 lbs 10 oz No pain meds. Fairly fast birth, dr snuck in an episiotomy. grrrr. Worst recovery time(6 months before complete healing from the epi)

 

#3-8 lbs 11 oz waterbirth/no pain meds. Very fast recovery

 

#4-9 lbs 10 oz no pain meds-I felt terrible for a couple days

 

#5-11 lbs 3 oz no pain meds. Delivery went pretty fast. It seemed to take more effort in pushing and was such a RELIEF to be out!!

 

So, for me, a pound or 2 did not make much difference. But FWIW, I am very nervous to go through labor and delivery again. I am due in April and I have already had a panic attack thinking about it.:)

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If you have had babies who were more than a pound different (natural deliveries), did you notice any difference in your delivery and/or post-partum recovery?

 

Just wondering if there is a big difference.

 

Well my SILs mother had 5 babies, ranging in weight from 8 to almost 10 pounds. She says she hasn't felt labor pains.

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My older two were both 8lbs 4 oz. My third was 9 lbs.

 

My recovery was toughest for my first. I think part of that is that he was my first. I also asked for no coached pushing, but my mw went into med wife mode and I got coached pushing anyway. :glare: I think I would have been less sore, perhaps not torn at all, etc. if I could have followed my own urges, but who knows? I only pushed 20 mins so that probably helped make things easier. Overall, my recovery was easy, I had 2-3 stitches, and it was fine. My legs felt afterward like I ran a marathon and were my primary complaint the following day...very sore! I had a good bit of swelling down below as well. I think some of the soreness and swelling came from my legs being held back during coached pushing :glare: that wasn't necessary at all, but my mw insisted when I went over my birthplan with her that I "would want it" and she certainly gave it to me :001_huh: Afterward, I loved ice filled diapers for the swelling, loved my peri bottles, etc.

 

With my 2nd, I saw a different practice of MWs and reiterated that I was not happy w/ coached pushing and the way pushing went with my DD. With that birth, I pushed in sidelying. I was 10 cm dilated for over an hour with no urge to push until that point, as my membranes were still intact. I was allowed to follow my own urges, and it was 2 pushes for DD to be out. I had an easier recovery, no tearing, still used a peri bottle. No soreness in my legs as they weren't held back.

 

With my third, I had a HB waterbirth, and followed my own urges. I don't know how long I was dilated to a 10; I only had one check when my MW arrived. I got a little grunty and had a feeling I was getting close. In 2 pushes, my 9 pounder was out, no tearing at all. I felt great afterward. No noticeable swelling, never even needed a peri bottle after that birth, etc.

 

Both my 2nd and 3rd were very easy pushing phases and easy recoveries, but the 9 lber was probably the easiest of all. All three were unmedicated, and I used hypnosis (Hypnobirthing and or Hypnobabies) each time. Oh, and my transition with DS1 was more classic, and I had a lot of rectal pressure. Water broke at the onset of labor, which may have contributed to that rectal pressure? I didn't experience that pressure during my 2nd and 3d births. My transition was far less obvious with DD and DS2, and only made sense looking back after it was all over.

Edited by Momof3littles
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My first was 7 lbs, 2nd was 8+, and 3rd was nearly 9 lbs- the bigger ones were actually easier, no tearing with them at all, far better recovery. My Sil had a 7 lb first baby and a 10.5 lb 2nd baby, and while it took a fair bit of hard pushing ro get him out she didn't tear or get cut and had a pretty good recovery.

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