Petite Mums

[mandspice]

Saw the midwife today and she's generally lovely but starting to get on my nerves with her size comments - I'm 5 foot 1 and petite and OH is 6 foot 1 - she keeps saying that we want baby to be around 6 - 61/2lbs otherwise I might have trouble and have to have a forcep delivery or a C-section.........everything I've read says it's a myth that small mums have trouble delivering so am taking her comments with a pinch of salt but has anyone had similar comments / experience of this?

xx[/quote]

 

[fuffins1981]

In the ask a mum section, steelgoddess done a post about getting worried. I am sure that is the one anyway.

There are small moms in there who have had big babies (9lbers) and been fine. So, ignore her!!

I have been told that babies tend to be the size a mom can handle. Obviously God thinks I have a mahussive fangita then( but thats another story!)

Do not listen to the scare merchant!

 

[leckershell]

I am 5'3" was a size 8 beforehand, and had a 8lb 7oz'er with no forceps or intervention of any kind, and no tears or grazes 8)

It can be done. They never mentioned at all to me that I might have problems even though they knew Ryan was due to be a bit big and I went over by 10 days. Their estimates were that he'd be a 10lb'er if he was on time... so balls to that..!

 

[sarah113]

before i had my first (seems ages ago) i was a size 10, and im quite short 5'3 and i had no problem getting any of mine out, my first was 7lb 10oz

 

[HideiLu]

Hi hun

My brother and his fiancee are the same heights as you and your OH, and she's a tiny size 6/8.

They have 3 young boys, each labour was about 8-12 hours, and all weighed over 7lbs, think the first was almost 8lbs

She had no problems, and no forceps with any of them, and the youngest, born in December 07 was born at home.

 

[Sydneysmum]

I'm only 5'3" but I'm well built and I had difficulty giving birth to my son because my pelvis is the wrong shape. I have big hips and large feet and everyone thought I'd be fine but I wasn't and have landed myself with a c section this time.

Bring on the woman who I used to live next to a few years ago... Sylvie was little over 5' and elf-like to say the least. She had four sons, all of which were over 9 lbs when they were born. Her last labour started before Cononation Street and she said she was sitting up in bed enjoying a cuppa by the time the titles were rolling up.

From everything I've read on the subject, the size and shape of the apperture of the pelvis is the most important thing - they used to think that it was related to the size of the mother's feet but it's generally thought that you just can't really tell. I have size 6 feet btw.

It's best to be prepared, your midwife might be right but I'd do a bit more reading about the subject if I were you. Whatever you do don't let her worry you - get informed x

 

[Sherlock]

Apparently babies, even if the father is larger/taller tend to be a size that Mum can birth and make up the larger size of other parent once out of the womb, if that makes sense. They do their growing then

Take no notice of your MW Even if you do happen to have a bit bigger than average baby, many smaller women have given birth naturally to larger babies. My MW delivered a 9lb'er to a 5'4 lady not long ago

 

[Laura_James&Amber]

I'm 5ft and a size 8 or should I say WAS a size 8! my pre pregnancy weight was 7 stone. OH is 5ft 10. I've had a lot of people tell me that my body won't cope with a natural birth and that my baby will be too small but I asked my M/W and she said there is no reason why I can't do it naturally, she said I will be absolutely fine and we are made to carry and deliver babies, my baby is also growing normally. I'm sure this is the same for you and won't have any problems with a natural birth

 

[Minime]

Hunny there's a 15 year old round here had a baby last year, she's teeny tiny, got the body of a 10 year old. Normal weight baby, normal delivery so dont worry

 

[mandspice]

Thanks girls Here's hoping for a healthy but not too biff baby

 

[MissSara]

I think its a load of old cobblers to be honest,

I'm 5ft, when i was pregnant with harrison i weighed 7 and half stone and a size 6 would drop off me ( i was wearing New Looks 915 clothes)

He weighed 8lb 3.5oz and i did it naturally and without a tear, so from experiance i would say it doesnt matter about your size.

 

[Princess_Puddles]

Personally I think you should listen to your Midwife, shes there for a reason and is only thinking about you and your baby. A friend of mine is petite and she was adament on having a natural birth against her MWs wishes and she ended up getting a broken pelvis and having a c-section anyway, Im not saying thats going to happen to you but I think you should keep an open mind just in case because everyone is different.

 

[Becky]

I'm similar to you - I'm 5'1 and OH is 6'2 (ish)

I had an emergency section with Lucy who was 6lb14 but no-one has ever implied it was to do with size. It was because she was in distress and I was only 9cm dilated.

Not at any point in my pregnancies has anyone mentioned a size issue although when I had my de-brief about my labour with Lucy the consultant said that it may have been a size issue but that they couldn't say any more than that and that she didn't think anything about my labour would mean I couldn't try and have a natural delivery this time.

So, in my opinion its rubbish. I think its more to do with the size you and your OH were as babies - me and OH we both 6lb something, Lucy was 6lb something so the liklihood is that this baby will be a similar size.

 

[keli]

I'm 5ft2 and babies father is 6ft i was a size 6/8 pre pregnancy and weighted 7nhalf stone. Cooper was 8lb1 and i got away witha small tear on my labia which didn't even need stiching don't listen to people everyones different xx

 

[fuffins1981]

I am 6ft2.5, size 10 feet, more than a bit cuddly....My son was 8lb 1 and i needed 6 stitches.

Just shows, there is no set formula....So, please do not worry even when horror stories crop up now and again. Your MW at yur delivery will keep an eye on you. You just concentrate on relaxing