Less than three weeks to go-- big baby!

Boomygrrl · 09-21-2011, 09:54 AM

Due to having had fibroid surgery five years ago...and gestational diabetes, I am scheduled for a c-section in 19 days.
They weighed my boy today. He is already 7 pounds 10 ounces. He's a big boy! Doctor doesn't seem too worried. He was 5 pounds 8 ounces three weeks ago when they weighed him. At the rate he's going, he'll be 9.5 pounds easily.

Oh, since last week, I have been feeling the weight. That's for sure. I'm slower than usual. My legs feel it the most.

I so can't wait until October 10th...can't wait, can't wait, can't wait.

I love my Nicholas!!

ruralcurls · 09-21-2011, 09:59 AM

Good luck. I hope everything goes wonderful for you.

RedCatWaves · 09-21-2011, 11:01 AM

They don't exactly weigh fetuses with an ultrasound. It's more like a guestimate. It can be plus or minus a pound, or two.

When was your original due date? How many weeks will you be on October 10?

Boomygrrl · 09-21-2011, 11:24 AM

Original due date was October 16th....I will be 39 weeks 1 day on Oct 10th.

inheritedcurls · 09-21-2011, 01:31 PM

Yeah, for a scheduled c-section they always do it at 39 weeks. Both of mine were. They estimated Chas to be around 9 pounds...and he was 8 pounds 7 ounces. Addison they estimated around 7 pounds...and she was 9 lbs 1 oz. LOL

RedCatWaves · 09-21-2011, 05:28 PM

Ok, 39 weeks is reasonable, and customary. I was getting concerned that they were sectioning you early for a big baby...when there is absolutely no reason to get a big baby out early unless there is some medical problem, especially when the delivery is going to be surgical...size matters not at all with c-sections.

ANYWAY...

I wish you good luck and hope everything goes smoothly and peacefully, and you have a healthy and happy mom and baby at the end of this long awaited pregnancy.

Boomygrrl · 09-22-2011, 11:07 AM

Thanks!
My curiosity...do big babies (in which gestational diabetes might've contributed to their size) grow up to be big kids and big adults? Will he have weight issues?
I know they have an increased chance of developing diabetes later in life. Diabetes runs in my family...so he and I have a chance of developing it anyways. Maybe more of a chance now. I'm not overly worried aboutlater in life...I just hope it doesn't increase the chance of Juvenile Diabetes (Type 1 Diabetes)...I don't think it does.
Diabetes has been a mild annoyance in my family mostly...my mother, my aunt, my paternal grandmother having to watch what they eat. My mother takes insulin now but its been controlled very well. My aunt only needed pills. My grandmother just had to watch her diet.
My maternal grandmother did have complications from diabetes but that was only because she didn't take care of herself.

Oh well...hopefully, that'll all be years and years away anyways (for both my baby and for me).
Meantime, I just hope he turns out to be healthy.

Can't wait...18 days away!!!

RedCatWaves · 09-22-2011, 12:36 PM

If you want to lower his risks for weight issues and diabetes, breastfeed him. For as long as possible.

abstractcurls · 09-22-2011, 01:09 PM

They said my son was going to be a 9-10 pound baby right before he was born... he wasn't even 8 pounds. They have no idea what they will weigh.

Jess the Mess · 09-22-2011, 01:31 PM

My son came 3 weeks early and was 7lbs 11ozs. He would've been over 9lbs had I gone full term. He is now 8 1/2 and has absolutely no problems with his weight. I wouldn't worry about it at all. Good luck. I hope everything goes well.

Boomygrrl · 09-22-2011, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedCatWaves

If you want to lower his risks for weight issues and diabetes, breastfeed him. For as long as possible.

Planning on breastfeeding him at least 6 months and maybe 12 months. I will have three months off for FMLA...then will have to do the breast pump thing. Will give that a good effort for at least three more months and if I feel like I can continue, I will.

Starmie · 09-22-2011, 08:32 PM

Wishing you well, hope all goes smoothly, your excitement is coming through these pages loud and clear!

RedCatWaves · 09-22-2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomygrrl

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedCatWaves

If you want to lower his risks for weight issues and diabetes, breastfeed him. For as long as possible.

Planning on breastfeeding him at least 6 months and maybe 12 months. I will have three months off for FMLA...then will have to do the breast pump thing. Will give that a good effort for at least three more months and if I feel like I can continue, I will.

The first couple months are the hardest (actually the first 2 weeks). It gets a lot easier after that. Breastfeeding doesn't come easy or naturally to a lot of women, so if you have difficulty, please seek assistance right away, either through the lacation consultant at the hospital, or a local Le Leche League leader. There are a lot of experienced breastfeeding women here on the board as well, and we'd all be happy to help if we can.

One good thing is that big babies are often better feeders than small babies. So, you've got that going for you. The obstacle you might encounter first is that since you're diabetic, they're going to be testing baby's blood sugar early-and-often and possibly giving him formula for the first hours, and that can throw off your initial milk production because he won't be sucking as much (because he'll be full of formula). Please let the hospital staff know at check-in that you are breastfeeding and you'd like to refrain from formula as much as possible, and remind them often.

Colostrum is better at maintaing BS than formula, so put him to breast ASAP after birth. Keep skin-to-skin contact as much as you can (unwrap him and keep him full-body against your skin), because that helps keep his BS up also. Try not to let the staff take him away to the nursery to be "watched". They can do BS checks in your room without removing him. He needs to be next to you all the time in those first hours.

Sorry...got off on a tangent. I'm not usually a breastfeeding-soldier, but I do think it's very important when a baby has a diabetic family history. I get a little righteous about it...probably because the only one of my babies I didn't breastfeed was the son who became T1 diabetic later on, and I wish I could go back and seek out better support, because I just didn't know what I was doing and I gave up too soon/easily.

Anyway...I'll be thinking of you and wishing you well.

iris427 · 09-23-2011, 03:41 PM

Good luck Boomy

rileyb · 09-26-2011, 02:00 PM

Good luck! Mine was 9 lb 12 oz and she was a good sleeper and eater from the very beginning, which I think was in part to her size.

No one mentioned to me that she might be a big baby until I was actually giving birth, and the delivering OB said, you have a good sized baby here! I was like, WHAT, I DO?

crimsonshedemon · 09-28-2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rileyb

Good luck! Mine was 9 lb 12 oz and she was a good sleeper and eater from the very beginning, which I think was in part to her size.

Mine were good eaters and sleepers too. I also contribute that to their size. Both were over 9lbs. I nursed both and co-slept which makes it so much easier and the baby sleeps so much more. We've always had a king sized bed so that helped.

Neither have weight issues or health issues at 14 and 16. They were never skinny..always been thick and muscular.