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I was induced at 40 + 6 ( I was 1 cm dialated at 39 weeks until then ) I laboured at home from 11 am ish until 2 am when I checked into the hospital and was 5 cm at this point. I had an epidural at around 5 am ish. I started pushing around noon and three hours later my little girl made her appareance. She did get wedged for a moment but a quick shift in postion fixed that. She was 8lbs 13 oz when she was born, not huge but big. I delivered her without any "assistance" in terms of vacuum or forceps.

Good luck with your little one, your body can do amazing things

I had an 8+lb-er vaginally with vacuum & episiotomy. (I'm a smaller gal, too).
As long as the baby is low and you're both healthy, I'd want to delay an induction based on size. I was induced because of preeclampsia, had an ultrasound at 40 weeks and they guessed that DS was quite a bit smaller than he actually was.

I had GD and my baby always measured 2-3 weeks ahead. At a 35 week ultrasound, he was estimated at 7.5 lbs already. Because I have medical concerns that would make an emergency c-section/failed induction dangerous, we made the decision to do a planned c-section. He was born at 8lb 13oz and his head was in the 96th percentile. During the c-section, they had to vacuum him out because he was so stuck. My OB was certain that had I tried vaginally, I would have ended up with a c-section anyway.

That said, I knew several women personally who have had 9lb+ babies vaginally with absolutely no problems! It just didn't work out for me that way.

DD was 10 lb 9 oz and I delivered her naturally at 40+2. They wanted to induce if I made it to 41. My last ultrasound was at 20 weeks, but she measured normal on fundal height all along. We knew she would be big, but had no idea she'd be that big! I had a 2nd degree tear, but other than that she came out without any fuss after 40 mins of pushing. I do think a lot of it depends on your body and what it wants to do and is willing to do (e.g. I've heard a lot depends on the pelvis, no matter the size of the mama).

I was in a very similar position a few months ago when my baby measured 9.5 lbs on my due date. At that point I was scheduled for an induction in a few days and warned about shoulder dystocia and the risk of increased intervention.

If you'd asked me before, I'd have told you I cared not at all how the baby got here as long as he was safe. Being in that position made me realize how badly I wanted to go into labor on my own and deliver vaginally if possible.

It was a really stressful few days for me even though I knew nothing was seriously wrong. I did a lot of research and planned to ask my doctors to push back my induction (to 41+1 as originally expected) at my next appointment.... Which I never had because I went into labor and was In the hospital. He was a full pound less than they'd estimated.

So I didn't really end up delivering a bigger baby but my estimated big baby was less big and it worked out ok. Hoping everything works out how you'd like; it's definitely a stressful feeling.

I was induced at 41 weeks and the morning of my induction my midwife guessed that the baby was around 8 or 8.5 lbs. I ended up pushing for three hours because her head was stuck behind my pelvis, but I pushed her out on my own (no vacuum or forceps). She ended up being 9lb, 2.7oz, and everyone in the room was shocked she was so big!

I asked a doctor about how much she weighed at my 40 week appointment and he said "Well, I always tell my patients 7lbs, plus or minus two pounds." There's really no way to know!

Delivered my 10lb8oz daughter vaginally via forceps. I would have pushed her out the all natural way, but her head was crooked in the birth canal, so she needed some coaxing. My family has a history of big babies too. The scheduled induction for 42 weeks but my water broke at 40+4. I ended up induced because labor didnt start after my water broke.

My baby was 8lbs 15oz and I gave birth to her with no problems. Nobody had any idea she would be big though, I had an ultrasound because I was measuring a few weeks behind and they said she would be 7lbs.

I was 9 days overdue and delivered a 9 lb 2 oz baby vaginally, and without any complications. I was only 1 cm dilated for the entire month before her birth. You can do this!

We were over the 97% for size and my OB offered a c-section. Since I was a first time mom, at least trying for a vaginal birth was important to me, even if it meant an induction and probably medication (pitocin/epidural). To me, I had to weigh what was more important, an induction and pain meds, but a week earlier with the hopes that she would be a bit smaller and less likely to get stuck. Or, wait until I was more favorable or labor came naturally and try it when she was larger but have a chance she would get stuck and I would need a c-section.

I chose the first option (to induce at 39 weeks). The induction went really well and my body responded very well to just the cervidil. She was over 9.5 lbs but came out naturally after a lot of pushing.

We are faced with the same situation with this pregnancy and we are probably going to go the same route.

My first was almost 2 weeks late and they were going to induce but I went into labor on my own the night before. I wanted to try to do it naturally and my Dr. was comfortable with waiting. I did end up with a c-section because she wouldn't drop, she was sunny side up and 9 lbs 11 oz. My 2nd was 8 lbs 9 oz. but I had a repeat c-section at about 39 weeks, 4 days.

I was induced at 39wks because my baby was measuring large (my fundal measurement at that point was "44 weeks" lol and she was estimated 9lbs 3oz and that was exactly how big she was when she was born, and 21" long with a 99th percentile head @_@ I was huge.. to put it in perspective, my profile photo was taken over 2 months before my daughter was born! haha) I was in labor for 20hrs but my body never really took over, it was pure pitocin and the contractions were crazy. I stopped dilating at 7cm and had to have a c-section. I was more concerned about her getting stuck in my pelvis than a c-section so I was sort-of relieved. I am a very short and small-frame gal and so I think c-section was the safest route for me & my baby. I am glad that we at least tried the induction and did all we could to facilitate vaginal birth, but I am also glad that my body didn't cooperate..lol

Though my OB was only willing to do the induction because my body was already ripening for it - I had dilated 3cm and was effacing too before the induction. He said that if my cervix wasn't ripe, they would either prefer me to wait or get a c-section because induction would have very low chance of success.

Similar to what Anandam said, I think that the way things were handled after birth really helped my positive experience. After my baby was born, she never left the same room and they cleaned/weighed her right away while they closed me up and then gave her right to me and wheeled me out to recovery. She had no trouble nursing or bonding and never left my sight! Those little things made a big difference.

@princessandthebee: the hospital should have size 1s! Mine did

I went into labor in the early morning of my scheduled induction. Labored at home for about 2 hours before heading to the hospital. This was my second and I wanted an epidural again, and by the time I got it, I was an 8! Baby boy was sunny side up and didn't want to drop into position (I was a 10 for almost 4 hours with him at +1 station).

He finally did and I delivered a 10 lb 12 oz baby vaginally with only 2nd degree tears! I did hemorrhage after delivery and lost about 1/4 of my blood. That was scary but everything is all good now. He's a monster! About 18 lbs at 2 months now and wearing 6 month clothes. We only brought newborn outfits to the hospital so he looked like a sausage coming home! We also had to exchange all of the newborn diapers I stocked up on.

@princessandthebee: We brought NB and 3 mo. Going home outfits and had to use the 3 mo. Even though she was over 10.5 lbs she was still ok in NB diapers for a week or so, but honestly she probably should have been in 1s!

At 9.5 lbs we still used a newborn coming home outfit but not many NB clothes thereafter.

The hospital put her straight in size 1 diapers. We had some NB diapers at home that we made work/fit just because we didn't want to waste them.