Things You Need to Know to Avoid Delivering Large Babies

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A lot of things are taken into consideration as you approach the final weeks of your pregnancy. You and your obstetrician will most probably talk about your laboratories and your baby’s condition through routine ultrasounds. And in the ultrasound result, one of the things your doctor will monitor is your baby’s weight and size.

In Canada, the average birth weight for newborn babies is 3.5 kilos. But as a general rule, your doctor might say that if your baby weighs anywhere between 2.5 kilos to 4.5 kilos, he or she is still within normal weight boundaries. Also, males tend to become bigger than girls. And if you are born four kilos or above, chances are your baby is going to weigh the same.

So when is a baby considered a large one?

Your doctor will inform you if your baby is getting quite big in the last weeks of your pregnancy. Your ultrasound will reveal a rough estimate of the size and weight of your baby but at the end of your term,  it usually does not give accurate measurements. For example, if according to the ultrasound your baby is at 3 kilos on your 35th week, your sonologist will advise that your baby’s actual weight will be 300 grams more or less than what is reflected on the ultrasound.

The baby will generally be considered large if he or she nears the 4 kilograms (8 pounds) mark. But, if your baby goes beyond 4 kilos, your doctor may diagnose him or her with macrosomia.

Macrosomia is a condition that happens when the infant delivered is bigger than the normal gestational age. These babies usually weigh 4 kilos or more when they come out of the womb.

Around nine percent of babies born around the world have macrosomia. You will usually have a higher risk of delivering a big baby if you:

· Are overweight before you got pregnant;

· Have put-on a lot of weight during your pregnancy;

· Have diabetes even before pregnancy;

· Developed gestational diabetes;

· Have a history of delivering babies with macrosomia;

· Are 36 years old or above; and,

· Are way past your due date;

The most serious risk to a baby with macrosomia is shoulder dystocia. Shoulder dystocia happens when the baby’s head comes out during delivery but the shoulder area becomes stuck in the pelvis, thereby delaying the delivery of the rest of the body. This will bring great distress to the fetus and also the birth mother. Other complications of delivering a big baby include severe tearing to the vagina, hemorrhage, uterine rupture, and undergoing a caesarian operation.

If you want to avoid these complications, there are some strategies that you can do to manage the size of your baby while he or she is still in your womb. You may not be able to completely prevent macrosomia but you can make sure that you are having a healthy pregnancy. Here are some things you can do:

1. Choose a balanced and nutritious diet. What you eat is what you feed to the growing fetus inside your womb. If you are consuming dishes that are high in sugar or refined carbohydrates, your child will more likely gain weight faster. Load up on whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and fish. Drink water instead of juices, sodas, coffee, or milk tea. Faithfully drink your prenatal vitamins. To be sure, check the nutritional value of the products that you are buying. Diligently check the sodium, sugar content, and calories of what you are eating. During the third trimester, you should strictly monitor your food consumption to avoid adding any unnecessary weight to the baby inside you.

2. Stay active. Get the approval of your doctor if you can do physical activities. Engaging in an everyday routine is crucial to maintain your managing your weight and keeping yourself healthy – that is if your pregnancy does not have complications and if you are cleared to do so. Keeping an active lifestyle before and during your pregnancy will make your body adjust and easily manage contractions and labor and may even help you deliver a large baby without severe tearing. Check out different exercise videos on Youtube suitable for each trimester and choose the ones you are most comfortable doing.

3. Monitor your weight and your baby’s weight. The whole pregnancy journey typically lasts for 40 weeks. Sometimes, it is very easy to give in to cravings, but it is recommended that you regularly monitor your weight especially if you have a higher risk of having a large baby. You can download a phone application that can help you track your gains every week. A weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds or 11 to 16 kilos is recommended. Ask your doctor to determine your body mass index and the advised number of pounds or kilos that you should gain during the duration of your pregnancy.Never forget to coordinate with a trusted Canadian physician if you are having a baby. If you have not yet chosen one, you can try to consult an online doctor Canada who will guide you throughout your pregnancy journey.