Trying for vaginal birth or C-section with possible big baby
Hi, 34 weeks currently and meeting my midwife in a few days to start discussing birth plan so I've been trying to get my head together on preferences.
Since the start of my pregnancy I've been quite set on trying for an unmedicated vaginal birth. I would obviously prefer this to be spontaneous but I'm open to a sweep and induction if needed as I don't want to go too far overdue. I would prefer to avoid the IV induction as I don't like the sound of it and would also want to avoid labouring for hours and then having an emergency c-section anyway.
Baby is measuring on about the 65th percentile, just from fundal measurements though so I know this could be inaccurate. I was about 7.5lbs when I was born and my husband was 9.3lbs. I think if baby continues on this percentile he'll be somewhere around 8.5-9lbs?
In my antenatal classes the midwife kept telling us that we only grow babies we can birth and that we'll definitely be able to birth babies vaginally whatever the size. I also don't feel like he's gonna be that big if measurements are correct. However my mum keeps saying that the baby sounds massive and that I should ask for an elective c-section now, because I'll probably end up having an emergency one if I try for vaginal delivery.
I understand that a c-section would take a lot of the unknown out of it and also would mean that there's a definite end date and I won't go overdue (already very uncomfortable). But the potential worse recovery and potential to impact future pregnancies is what puts me off.
Does it sound like our baby will be that big, so much that I can't deliver vaginally? And how likely is an emergency c-section after labouring for hours?
I'm doing all the things - raspberry leaf tea, birth ball, walking, will start dates soon etc. Is there anything else I can be doing now, or should do once in labour, to avoid interventions or a c-section?
I was thinking unmedicated would make interventions less likely as I can stay mobile and more able to feel things and respond to my body naturally.
Or would I be better to just ask for an elective c-section now to take the risk out of it?
Has anyone else delivered a 9lb ish baby unmedicated and how was it?