They said he would be 10lbs!
HelenandBump tells us of what it was like giving birth to an 11lb whopper!- I was the size of a house
- I was leaking constantly!
- I told the midwife to ignore my request for no epidural
- The midwife and my husband talked about Harley Davidsons
- His head measured 10 centimetres!
It all started on the Sunday evening of 2 February 2004, nearly two weeks after I was supposed to be induced. I had been told, at a 34-week scan, that I was carrying a big baby. I already knew this - boy did I know it! - I was the size of a house and could hardly walk, let alone drive or really do anything other than sit on the sofa. Getting off the sofa was another story. If only I knew what was to come …
On 20 January 2004, I went into hospital to be induced. I was so fed up as I was so incapacitated. However, I was then told they had changed their mind. A scan that day estimated he would be around 9-10lbs which the docs decided would not be big for a lady of my height (5ft 10in). What that has to do with the size of the hole he has to come out of I do not know! Anyway, my husband said he thought I was going to explode but I went home to wait for his natural arrival.
Nearly two weeks later, around 6.00pm on 2 February, I was having terrible bladder weakness! Each time I stood or bent I would leak. I started to have contractions but could not tell if they were Braxton Hicks or real ones as they were intermittent. I even slept through a couple. I did not tell my hubby as I wasn't sure if this was the real thing. He woke a couple of times with my tossing and turning and I mentioned I thought we would have a baby tonight and he went back to sleep. I don't think he believed me!
By 3.00am I went downstairs as I could not settle. I knew these were real contractions but they were still coming at odd times. I rang the labour suite at the hospital who said to wait until the contractions were 5 minutes apart. As soon as I put the phone down they came 5 minutes apart. I rang my mum at 3.15am, who came straight over to look after my two-year-old, Ollie.
I told the midwife to ignore my request for no epidural
By 3.30am we were leaving and I had lost my sense of humour, yelling at my husband to go slowly around bends! We got to the labour suite at around 4.00am and it was almost empty. Great! I was taken straight to a delivery suite and was told I was already 4cm dilated. Now, being told this was a big baby put me a little on edge so I asked for an epidural. The midwife said my notes stated I did not want an epidural, which I told her to ignore! All these people kept coming in feeling my huge belly and saying things like 'Hmm … it's all baby in there!'.
The epidural seemed to help, though it made me sick so they gave me an injection for this which was horrible. I was out of it for about an hour and did not like that. I discovered that I was only numb down one side and I had to be constantly monitored. Since they knew this was a big baby, I was assigned a doctor and registrar just in case of any complications but my midwife was determined I would have this baby naturally.
After the epidural my contractions seemed to stop so they talked about breaking my waters. However, at 8.30am I turned over and - POP! So that saved one job. By 10.30am I needed to push and was in a lot of pain. I asked why this was so as I was told I would not feel this. Lots of people dashed about but I was told I could not have a top-up as the epidural was working well one side but not the other. This I did not want to hear.
The midwife and my husband talked about Harley Davidsons
From here on in I felt EVERYTHING! After 13 hours of labour (already 5 hours longer than my first) I was really needing to push. I was allowed to do so and, after an hour, was very exhausted, with no sign of much movement. I was delirious, while the midwife and my hubby chatted about Harley Davidsons. Hubby was so good, he was very supportive and helped me no end, I was very surprised!
After 1.5 hours of pushing, the midwife 'Mel' said she would give me another half hour then they would take him out. I got myself together and thought the only way this is going to be over is for me is to give it all I've got. After another hour of pushing his head started to emerge, but I didn't know it. Mel said she wanted to deliver the head very slowly so as not to tear me. The head took 30 minutes to deliver and was hell. When he was born we knew why!
His head measured 10 centimetres!
At 12.32pm, and with a rugby catch, Kaelan made his appearance into the world weighing in at 11lbs 3oz with a 10cm head! No wonder it hurt! The midwife and her assistant were exhausted! I had every doctor and registrar coming to visit this big baby that was born naturally. I was so exhausted I could hardly hold him. Needless to say most the clothes we had bought did not fit! I did not have any stitches and cannot praise my midwife enough. I was home after six hours. This is a day that I will hold close to my heart forever.
Now, at 8 months, he weighs two stone and wears 18-24 month clothing, I have heard of big babies before but really could not imagine it until I had Kaelan.
Where to next?
- Read the full birth story
- Read accounts of different types of birth
- Read accounts of other big babies