Does the baby’s weight affect labor difficulty?

Question

I had a 9.2 pound baby, unmedicated (not my choice, epidural failed), and it was horrific. 
The worst pain I’ve ever felt, obviously. 
I had a 3rd degree tear and hemorrhaged immediately after. 
Now I’m pregnant again and my OB said “we’re not going to let that happen to you again.” 
She said we would monitor the baby’s weight more closely and induce if it gets too big. 
I don’t want to induce just for my own comfort, but I’m also terrified because of what happened last time.

Answer

This is kind of a no brained (sorry don’t mean it ugly). 
Wouldn’t you think there was a difference between pushing a giant seeded watermelon thru your vagina and pushing a seedless watermelon thru would be different? 
Just logistically it makes sense. A smaller baby less of a complication. Larger baby more of a risk. Why many moms who know they are having big babies have to get c-sections.

Answer

I'm not sure, I had a 3rd degree perineal tear, episiotomy and my daughter was only 7lbs 7 but she wouldn't budge her arm from her face and her heart rate was dropping, I also had an unmedicated labor. I think they want to induce you because of the hemorrhage more then the tearing side of it.

Answer

Not necessarily. My first baby was quite big, 9.9 lbs. I had an episiotomy but I believe that if I would’ve been on my knees I could have done it without the cut. 
My second was 8.10 lbs, was a bit easier but also I had done it before. 
My third was 10.8 lbs and was super easy to get out. By far my best labor and no tearing at all! 
I think most of the time it gets easier with every child.

Answer

Few things, you hemmoraged after, that’s a complication so inducing early for your second isn’t for you “ own comfort” it’s for your safety, and if you’re not safe either is baby 
Second, it’s also for the health of the baby, delivering a large baby ( every women is different) poses risk to the babe as well like becoming stuck, resulting in decrease of the baby’s heart rate or a broken clavicle to get the baby out. 
You have plenty of time to think about it but this decision should be based on your comfort it’s about your safety

Answer

Maybe! My daughter was 9 lbs and 21” and I just had very minor tearing, 2 or 3 stitches maybe. We had a super long labor which in the end I think helped us because I was able to stretch very gradually. 🤷🏻‍♀️who knows.

Answer

I’m sure there will be a difference but I also had an unmedicated labour and ended up with 3 internal tears (2nd/3rd degree) and my baby was only born at 7lbs 3oz. For me it was more to do with speed of delivery than his size 🙈

Answer

My second was only 8 pounds And shoulders got stuck my 6 pound and 7 pound babies were easy

Answer

I’m not sure. I’ve had a friend say her smallest baby at four lbs five oz was the worst pain out of her four children and also weighed the less. She also had second degree tearing. When my mom had me I was 9 lbs 8 oz and she said she didn’t have any tearing what so ever..

Answer

Definitely.. my baby was almost 9 pounds and she also had a lot of bruising. It was a tough/traumatic delivery for us!

Does the baby’s weight affect labor difficulty?

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