How big was your baby's head at birth? And did that factor in to the way you gave birth?
Just am curious! I had a friend whose daughter had a head circumference of 29 cm and she was 10 days overdue, but her baby was an average size of 7 pounds and a few ounces.
My daughter's was 36 cm and she was 14 days over, big, and I had a c-section because she got stuck. I think that's 98th percentile or something. I didn't realize how big her head actually was until talking with that friend. 
pomelo / 5084 posts
@Mrs. Goose: if im remembering right it was 32. Dr said that was average. He was 8 pounds 8 ounces and 4 days late!
pomegranate / 3516 posts
I don't remember actual numbers but LO1's head was around 97% and I had to push for almost two hours. LO2, I think, was more around 60-70% and I only pushed for like 3-5 minutes. Both were 8lb 5oz with LO1 being four days overdue and LO2 being 10 days overdue.
persimmon / 1114 posts
I just looked it up...My son's head was 38cm and we had a c-section due to its size. At nearly 3, his head continues to measure off the charts!
apricot / 343 posts
I can't remember numbers, but LO1 was around 75% and LO2 was around 50%. LO2 was a lot easier, but I have no idea how much that was a result of head size vs. being the second baby.
After having LO1, my husband and I kept saying to eachother that we didn't understand why people include height and weight in birth announcements but not head circumference. Because getting that head out is the hard part!
pear / 1737 posts
@bloved: must be his big brain!
@Ms maths: that's funny, and a good point. Maybe I'll do that when we have another baby, just for fun.
pear / 1586 posts
DS had a 38cm head at birth (he's consistently been off the charts in head size since birth) at 8 days overdue (induction). I had a a vaginal birth with fairly minimal tearing but I did break my tailbone in the process. I have a huge head too so I can't even blame DH!
eta: pushed for 2 hours but I think that's fairly common for a FTM.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
No idea on LO1, though her head is usually around 90% at her physicals. LO2 was 35 cm, just checked a photo. I pushed for like 15 minutes with her.
pineapple / 12793 posts
DD3 was 39.26cm. She was also 10lbs12oz at 38w4d. No way that one was coming down the chute!
Thank god for c-sections!
grapefruit / 4800 posts
Lo1 has a tiny head ~ 25%tile. Lo2 has a gigantic head - soared way above the 99%tile line. Both births were pretty similar as far as pushing - like 3 pushes. Maybe lo2 was a bit of a conehead at first though 
apricot / 343 posts
DS and DD were about 33cm, they were 7lb2oz and the other was 7lb1oz.
DS needed a vacuum delivery and I had 20mins to push DD out of we were going for a c-section. I think that was more of a reflection on my body (I have a twisted pelvis) than their head size.
pear / 1737 posts
@oliviaoblivia: I wonder what she would have been at term. Do they think you will have an even bigger baby next time?!
pear / 1737 posts
@jape14: Broken tailbone sounds scary. I pushed just over 2 hours I think before the OB came in and said she was stuck there.
pineapple / 12793 posts
@Mrs. Goose all three have been big, but she takes the cake. I'll probably have another big one, time will tell. If she kept growing at an ounce per day she'd have been 11lbs6oz. Crazy!
persimmon / 1281 posts
My DS was 2 weeks and 1 day early. He was 7lbs 10oz. Head circumference was 37.5cm (98%). I delivered vaginally with two small tears, only one requiring a couple stitches. BUT, I pushed for over two hours. So there's that....
At his last well visit (6 mo) it went down to the 93%. So it seems he is catching up slightly with his head. So funny to me because it really doesn't look that big on his body!!!
pomegranate / 3438 posts
I don't know the exact size but his head circumference was only in the 3rd percentile for the first 6-9 months. He was 7lbs 11oz so not tiny but not that big. I still had to push for three hours!
pear / 1770 posts
DD was 8 days overdue and her head was 35cm (85%), but only 7lbs. I pushed for 30 min and had bad second degree tears. 
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
34cm (54%) I fortunately had a very easy vaginal delivery. I pushed for 40 mins and had one small tear because her hand was by her face.
pomelo / 5258 posts
36 cm and 6lbs 10oz. I had a 51 hour unmedicated labor. The doula said LO's head didn't cone at all.
DS's was smaller and labor was much faster but he was also baby #2.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
14 inches here 98% I think? Big headed fam. Both kids too!
pomegranate / 3192 posts
My son's HC was 35.5cm, vaginal birth. He weighed 7lbs, born at 39 weeks. Pushed for 2 hours and had 2 stitches.
My daughter's HC was 33.5cm, vaginal birth. She weighed 6 1/2 lbs, born at 40+1. Didn't push at all!
apricot / 358 posts
Both my babies have huge heads (99% from birth.) I was able to deliver both with minimal tearing and quick pushing (1 hour with DS1 and 5 minutes with DS2), and I'm a fairly small person. I think their heads are pretty flexible during delivery!
pineapple / 12566 posts
My son's head was 35 cm and my daughter's was 34 cm. I had fairly easy vaginal births both times.
grapefruit / 4291 posts
My second had a 37.5cm head circumference (9lb 12oz) and I had a 3rd degree tear but he had to be "manoeuvred" out due to his fat shoulders out.
nectarine / 2436 posts
My son was late pre-term at 36w5d and he was 33cm. they said it was perfectly normal I guess. My labor and delivery was EASY. He was only 5lb 12 oz!
pomegranate / 3314 posts
I don't know exact measurements, but LO #2's head was big enough that based on its size, they thought he would be a 10 pounder. Nope, he was 7 lbs, 6 ozs with a giant head, off the charts, percentile-wise. I didn't have to have a c-section (it was never even discussed - not even when they thought he might be 10 lbs), BUT he was my second so that may have factored into the decision.
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