Hellobee Boards Topic: Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 17 May 2026 16:50:41 +0000 sometimesshesings on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2253779 Tue, 04 Aug 2015 00:41:10 +0000 sometimesshesings 2253779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My son's head has been in the 99th percentile since his first ultrasound (he's close to 3 now!) My husband comes from a family of big babies with big heads, and I was a little concerned. I'm fairly small, but I was able to push out my 8 lb, 10 ounce baby in about 30 minutes with only very moderate tearing. I wouldn't worry too much! sarac on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2253770 Tue, 04 Aug 2015 00:16:02 +0000 sarac 2253770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My first had a 95th percentile head, and I pushed her out without terrible tearing. She was small, and I have big hips for my frame, so that helped. Kemma on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2253740 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 22:49:58 +0000 Kemma 2253740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My wee guy was in the 95% for all his measurements when born (9lb 12oz) but generally it's big shoulders that are more of a concern than big heads. Providing baby is in a good position during labour then a big head isn't usually too much of a big deal (from what I've read!). Portboston on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2253731 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 22:31:25 +0000 Portboston 2253731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My sons head measured in the 94th percentile at 32 weeks. I delivered vaginally with no perineal tearing (I had one small internal tear). It took a little over 2 hours to push him out but I was exhausted from being in back labor for 36 hours. Rockies11 on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2253723 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 22:23:11 +0000 Rockies11 2253723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Mine was in the 95th percentile and a VBAC. I am petite and 5'2". 54 hours of labour, 3 hours of pushing, an episiotomy, a vacuum assist, 3rd degree tearing and a fractured tailbone! It was a very hard recovery - much, much, much worse than my c-section. ChelseaRose on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2253701 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 21:54:33 +0000 ChelseaRose 2253701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My son's head was 14.5 inches, which I believe is about 98th%. He was face up and didn't fit after two hours of pushing, so ended up with a csection. I'm currently 31w with LO2 and he's measuring at 33 weeks, so not sure about a repeat csection or trying for a VBAC. jlm22 on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247925 Tue, 28 Jul 2015 11:17:33 +0000 jlm22 2247925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @elljay: my LO's head was in the 97th percentile and her head always measured a few weeks ahead of the rest of her body. My OB wasn't concerned about it though. We ended up with a c-section because she was breech. Just had her 4month appt yesterday and head is in the 97th and body is in the 25th :) lilteacherbee on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247889 Tue, 28 Jul 2015 10:52:00 +0000 lilteacherbee 2247889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I had monthly ultrasounds because of GD and LO's head was always around the 90th percentile. I scheduled a c-section for several reasons, one being that they wanted to induce for GD and I didn't want a failed induction (his entire body was measuring 2-3 weeks ahead). I'm petite with a narrow pelvis and I really didn't want to go through labor and end up with a c-section anyway. Well, during the c-section they had to vacuum him out because he was wedged so tightly in there and my OB said I would've definitely had a c-section anyway. At 20 months, his head is still off the charts! This LO (due next week) is measuring smaller overall, but still has a big head, so I'm opting for a RCS. BelugaBean on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247867 Tue, 28 Jul 2015 10:40:20 +0000 BelugaBean 2247867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ LO had a head that was around 97% (she was in high percentiles for everything). I pushed for a while, about an hour to an hour and a half, but part of that had to do with an unhelpful nurse during the first 30 minutes. I had very minimal tearing and stitches and delivered her fairly easily with no epidural. I'm about 5'5 with a mediumish figure/build but I think the doctor also helped a lot by guiding her out. yoursilverlining on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247764 Tue, 28 Jul 2015 09:30:08 +0000 yoursilverlining 2247764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ LO had a large head (the late-term ultrasound measurements were quite accurate) and I had a scheduled c-section. Her head size wasn’t the biggest reason I had a c-section, but it did contribute, as I have a narrow pelvis and my OB said in her honest opinion, she thought LO was very likely to get stuck. So, I have no idea if I would have had difficulty vaginally birthing her, but I really didn’t want to labor forever only to have a c-section, so I just scheduled one and eliminated the problem all together. autumnlove on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247751 Tue, 28 Jul 2015 09:19:58 +0000 autumnlove 2247751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I didn't have any measurements but LO 1 had a 99% head and she got stuck in my canal during pushing. I ended up with a CS. LO 2 had a big head but was delivered by RCS. rachiecakes on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247746 Tue, 28 Jul 2015 09:15:55 +0000 rachiecakes 2247746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ an episiotomy and vacuum assisted birth :bummed: elljay on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247743 Tue, 28 Jul 2015 09:13:53 +0000 elljay 2247743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Thanks for sharing your stories! We'll see how this little melon-head develops and what my OB recommends. :happy: Matcha Latte on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247104 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:45:05 +0000 Matcha Latte 2247104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DS was also in the 95% for head size. I was able to deliver him naturally without any interventions ...the result was lots of tearing though :shocked: he came out with his arm by his head which definitely didn't help things :bummed: Bubbles on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247091 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:30:12 +0000 Bubbles 2247091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I didn't have any scans after 20 weeks, but my DS had a head on the 98th centile at birth (he was 8lbs 9oz so not huge in general). I am pretty petite (5"5ish) and managed to deliver him vaginally with 30 mins of pushing and no tearing. I'm not sure what I would have done with prior knowledge of his head size, but just to let you know it can be ok! ladybee on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247086 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:27:08 +0000 ladybee 2247086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We were not aware that DS had such a large head but he did end up getting stuck in the birth canal and having heart rate sky rocket so they did an emergency c/s where it took them a long time and a lot of people to get him out since he was so stuck. This time around I'm going right to a c/s. mrsjyw on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247063 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:17:58 +0000 mrsjyw 2247063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I didn't have measurements before going into labor but Dh and I always joked we'd have big headed babies. Because we both have big heads. We did! Ds1 was 14 inches at birth, weighed 8.11 and it took two hours of pushing and an episiotomy for him to come out! Ds2 was two wks early and he was still 8 lbs w a 13.25inch head! My l&d was super fast and furious w him though and he came out after pushing for maybe ten min, unmedicated! Corduroy on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247061 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:17:28 +0000 Corduroy 2247061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I had a growth ultrasound at 37 weeks. LO didnt have a huge head for her bone size but based on that scan she should have been 9.5lbd when born. She was 6lb 10oz. Her head was 99th percentile like DH's huge head. I had a 51 hour labor but she arrived without medication. I never heard what role head size played. Conversely, DH and I just had #2 with a 50th percentile head. So can't go by DH's head alone, thankfully. Good luck with your decision! jape14 on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247049 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:11:36 +0000 jape14 2247049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I didn't have growth ultrasounds beyond the 20-week scan, but my LO had a 99th+ percentile head (15 inches!! ouch) at birth (as did/do I!) and I delivered him vaginally. He was pretty large in general - 8 lbs 5 oz / 21 inches - and I am pretty small (pre-preg 5'7"/115, narrow hips, definitely have a small frame). I did push for two hours (and fractured my tailbone in the process) but the tearing was minimal in spite of that, and my recovery wasn't terrible or anything. I was actually terrified of vaginal birth before I had him, and probably would have said that I would have preferred a c-section, and I would totally do another (medicated) vaginal birth again! ChiCalGoBee on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247044 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:07:48 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 2247044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Feel free to P.M. me if you'd like...we had this happen, and I did end up having a c-section after a really long labor. My son's head was in the 95th percentile and he couldn't fit, although we had some other stressful stuff happen in the labor that also contributed. The good news is both my son and I were (and are!) healthy, although I wish I'd known a little more going into the process. bloved on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247036 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:04:01 +0000 bloved 2247036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I did. Like you, my son started measuring 98% and the rest of his body was at 70something percent. They continued with the growth ultrasounds and eventually his head went off the charts and his body was still above average. My doctor got worried bc he was looking so large (they predicted 9lb10oz plus that head!) at 39 weeks so he recommended we schedule a c-section. I was really conflicted about it but ultimately agreed. Afterwards I am still torn about it. He was only 8lb13oz when he was born so I felt like I could have done that naturally and was kind of "scared" into a c-section. However, the head measurement was accurate, and at 2, his head is still off the charts large so I am not sure how easy of a birth it would have been. Also, I have to say, my c-section was extremely easy with a decent recovery. It is a really tough decision, so I say just go with your gut so that you are at peace with whatever you decide! mrs. wagon on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247035 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:03:21 +0000 mrs. wagon 2247035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My first also measured average but the head measurement was so high it was off the charts. The dot on the graph didn't even appear, it was so high. But we're asian, and asians have big heads and are short, so our doctor wasn't concerned. My husband has a giant head. As for delivery, I pushed for 3 hours and he never even crowned. The doctor was able to get the vacuum extractor inside me and helped to pull him out. So my recovery was a bit rough but I was able to deliver him vaginally. T.H.O.U. on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247028 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:00:48 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2247028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Intersting. My babies both measured large and they gave me the options for a c-section. They let me go ahead with a 39 week induction because they felt like my build might accommodate a larger baby (and it did). elljay on "Did your baby have a big head in utero? What was the outcome?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-baby-have-a-big-head-in-utero-what-was-the-outcome#post-2247023 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 12:57:56 +0000 elljay 2247023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm currently 33 weeks and just had a growth scan ultrasound. Our baby's head is measuring 5 weeks ahead and in the 98th percentile. He's only measuring in the 70th percentile for overall size. This wasn't really surprising to us as my DH has a very large head (like, he has to special order his hats). My OB is having me come back at 36 weeks for another ultrasound, so she's not really recommending a course of action yet. It's starting to worry me a bit, because I know my MIL went through a very long labor trying to push out my DH, and then needed an emergency c-section because his head was stuck. I feel like that would be the worst possible outcome - I'd rather schedule a c-section than have it be an emergency situation. But I also know late-term ultrasounds can be very inaccurate. And I'm also taller and built differently than my MIL, so who knows if I would have the same issues. Did anyone else experience this? What did your OB recommend, and what was the outcome?