How do we know the baby is large?
Why babies fit!
Baby getting 'stuck'?
Strategies to help
Two women's stories with 'large babies'
Being told that the baby is 'big' or 'large' can immediately undermine a woman's confidence in her body's ability to give birth. Such comments or suggestions often come from caregivers or friends and relatives making judgements about the size of the pregnant woman's belly. Thoughts can start to emerge around "How will I ever get this baby out?" In some cases this could lead to serious considerations about being induced early (so that the baby won't be as large), or having a Caesarean birth.
Most women will produce babies that their bodies are able to give birth to. The predicted weight of babies in the uterus can be frequently overestimated. There are some genuine health circumstances that can lead to a woman producing an unusually large baby in pregnancy. These can include diabetes or abnormalities in the baby.
An unusually large baby is often referred to as 'large for gestational age' (LGA or 'macrosomic'). A macrosomic baby is one that is considered to be 4,500 grams or larger (about 10lb or more). In Australia in 1999, only 1.5% of all babies born were over 4,500 grams.
Last revised: Saturday, 15 December 2012
This article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.