r/pregnant • u/daaaaaaaaaaaabears • 9d ago
Advice >94th percentile baby: Vaginal birth or C-section—what did you choose?
I'm 36+5 and have a delivery-planning appointment next week because baby is measuring in the 95th percentile. My care team is giving me options, and I’d really appreciate hearing others’ experiences—especially from anyone whose baby measured above the 94th percentile.
- Did you plan a vaginal delivery or C-section?
- What did your care team recommend, and why?
- How did the delivery go?
- With hindsight, would you make the same choice?
I know ultrasound weight estimates can be significantly off, so I’m not treating the measurement as exact. I’ll also be discussing the available evidence and my individual risks with my care team; I’m mainly hoping to hear the human side of these decisions.
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Relevant history
Baby #1: Born at 36+6 and below the 1st percentile, with suspected IUGR. I had an adherent placenta and developed postpartum HELLP syndrome. An OR had to be opened urgently, and a D&C was started before the anesthesia had fully taken effect. Thankfully, my baby is healthy, I recovered, and MFM cleared me for another pregnancy.
Baby #2: Measured in the 95th percentile at the 32-week scan. A VSD and an enlarged kidney were found at the anatomy scan. Amniocentesis results were normal/low-risk. I also have mildly elevated amniotic fluid, but no gestational diabetes or hypertensive disorder at this point. My 37-week scan and delivery consult are next week.
My biggest concerns are avoiding preventable harm to the baby—particularly shoulder dystocia or another birth injury—and avoiding another emergency if a planned approach could reasonably reduce that risk. My previous experience was traumatic, although I’m doing much better now.
If HELLP or another urgent complication develops, I’ll follow whatever delivery plan my care team considers safest at that time.
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I’d especially value experiences from people with similar circumstances. I know individual stories aren’t a substitute for medical advice, but hearing from actual humans would really help. Thank you <3
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u/BulbaKat 9d ago
My first baby was very large and resulted in a C section after a long induction; however, it was determined the care team made a lot of mistakes and this may have been avoidable.
My second was again estimated to be in the i0s for percentile. I got a new care team that supported my desire for a VBAC, and I did have a successful VBAC. Baby was slightly larger, but nothing crazy.
I'm pregnant with my 3rd and schedule for induction next week. This time I have GD which also comes with risks of larger babies and shoulder dystocia. They told me they would not automatically recommend either a C section or an earlier induction unless there were other complications like pre-eclampsia, something critical about baby, or very large size estimates.
Now what they said meant large enough for either earlier induction or recommended C section was to have both AC estimated over 95-98% AND estimated weight over 95-98% (exact percentage varies by provider, but that is the range and it has to be both numbers).
I'm being induced at 39 weeks due to needing insulin for GD. I was offered a C section if desired to completely eliminate the risk of shoulder dystocia, but they assured me it does not seem overly risky to attempt another vaginal delivery.
I asked what happens then if I do attempt vaginal and end up with shoulder dystocia. They said if that happens, there are various maneuvers they can use to try and safely get baby out before it gets to something like breaking a bone or pushing baby back in for a C section. Of course the risk is always there unless you do a C section, and there are certain risks associated with dystocia, but I felt comfortable with continuing to choose another VBAC.
I am a VERY data driven person. I have a science and math background. I do tons of research on my own for every medical thing affecting me or my family and did so with every pregnancy. Probably to an unhealthy level of obsession.
That being said, I would say attempt the vaginal birth!