Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
Apr
17
Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
“Try To Lay Off The Carbs & Let’s Shoot For A Baby In The 7lb Range.”
“Try to lay off the carbs and let’s shoot for a baby in the 7lb range.” – OB to mother who was planning a vaginal birth after cesarean.
There are 59 comments to this post.
my VBAC was 7lb 14oz… he was born at 39 weeks his brother by csection 39+1 was 8lb 1 oz… im sure that 3oz made all the difference in the success of my VBAC. NOT!!! considering the c section was for breech presentation not size and their head measurements were the same (36cm)
btw i ate tonnes of carbs through my pregnancy so the jokes on you doc! i hope the op comes to tell us she had a 10lb baby just to spite this idiot 
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I had a client whose first baby was less than 8 pounds – c/section for “failure to wait”. With her second, she was committed to doing everything possible to VBAC. Got in with the best VBAC-friendly OB in town, hired me, educated herself. She wound up with a wonky labor that took over two days to establish, mostly due to a baby that was completely OP (despite practicing optimal fetal positioning exercises) and was 9 pounds 15 ounces.
Size doesn’t matter as much as patience and support.
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And what exactly do CARBS have to do with the weight of a baby in a normal pregnancy? NOTHING. Not even overall caloric intake will guarantee a large or small baby!! The excess calories you eat (above and beyond what the fetus needs for growth) generally becomes extra weight in the mother…not the baby!
The only time this kind of comment would even come close to being reasonably accurate would be if the mother had GD…in which case she’d be limiting her carb intake anyway! And even then you’re not guaranteed a 7lb baby!
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SuzyHomemaker Reply:
April 17th, 2012 at 11:05 pm (Quote)
^^^ this, this, a thousand times THIS ^^^
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vanessa Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 5:36 am (Quote)
Yes, thank you! My first pregnancy, I was eating carbs like crazy! I was craving ice cream and bagels all the time. Gained 45lb, baby was 7lb 2oz born at 39+3. Second pregnancy, ate healthier, baby was 7lb 5oz born at 38+3, but I only gained 35lb. Oh, and no GD both times. So go figure
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I didn’t know there was a weight limit for VBAC’s. No one told me so all of my VBAC babies that were born at home were 8-10 pounds!
#1 C/S – 9lbs 2oz (breech)
#2 hosp VBAC – 7lbs 10oz
#3 UWBAC – 9lbs 8oz
#4 UBAC – 8lbs
#5 UWBAC – 7lbs 15oz
#6 UWBAC – 10lbs 9oz
#7 UWBAC – 7lbs 15oz
#8 UWBAC – 8lbs 4oz
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Stephanie had this to say,
Apr 17, 2012 @ 11:32 pm (Quote)
Sephia you are my inspiration. I had an emergency c section for crashed heartrate and I plan to do everything in my power to have a vbac with my next one even if it means string arming my husband into agreeing to a birthing center with a midwife or driving 45 minutes to the only hospital near me that encourages vbac.
Btw my dr to me not to eat carbs at all while I was pregnant bcuz I would gain too much and my baby would be too big. I gained 65lbs eating healthy, my son was born at 31w 6d and weighed a whopping 7lb 7oz.
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Does anyone have any statistical info or studies about this? My OB said this to me yesterday saying “He wants me to have the best chance at my VBAC so I shouldn’t gain as much next appointment”. I had gained 6lbs since my appointment 4 weeks ago, and I had a full stomach and bladder, and we had the Easter holiday in between appointments… It really really hurt, I have self esteem issues enough with my weight (not heavy, I’m a petite person, but I have a hard time staying in my BMI, I usually hover right over the “normal” range). My midwife told me to not look at the numbers so much and just look at the kind of foods I’m eating, she also said some women just HAVE to gain a lot to make healthy babies (I gained 50lbs with my DD and the OB is dead set for me not to gain that much this time). She even told me to turn around so I don’t see the numbers when they weigh me, which I do, but it doesn’t help because he always brings it up whether it’s good or bad (I’m doing co care with this OB, but I’ll be at home, and he knows it) I thought I was doing pretty well too, I’ve been eating really healthy foods, I’m 18 weeks, and I’ve only gained 10lbs total…
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Gaevren Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 6:04 am (Quote)
Well I went looking for research/studies, confident that there would be no link between maternal weight gain and infant birth weight…but so far every study I’ve found says otherwise!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7617344
http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2010/08/excess-maternal-weight-gain-increases-birth-weight-study-finds/
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111213110521.htm
Looks like the more weight you gain in pregnancy the higher your chances of having a “larger” baby than a woman who gained less throughout her pregnancy, but even still, one study listed “large” babies as 8.5 lbs or higher! Yeesh.
And NONE of that has anything to do with whether or not a VBAC will be successful.
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Rebecca Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 6:19 am (Quote)
BMI is just a screening tool, it is not enough to even say you’re overweight. If you’re athletic, you’ll be classed as overweight, and its more evident with people who aren’t as tall. Breast size can also be a huge factor- I was a size six and still considered overweight by BMI the doctor I was seeing for other reasons said it was most likely due to my (DD) cup size.
Please don’t base your opinion on yourself on BMI. According to BMI “The Rock” is obese. So is Tom Cruise. http://themiddlemanager.wordpress.com/2006/12/05/quick-hit-the-problem-with-bmi/
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Details Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 6:52 am (Quote)
Sarah, your doctor does not support VBAC and is looking for a reason to risk you out. Smile and nod, but be ready to walk away. Don’t have an ultrasound at the end “just to check.” This kind of doctor finds something to not like. Low fluid that is still in the normal range but on the low side of normal. Baby’s estimated wieght which can be off by 2 lbs. but damn if they don’t drag you in for induction to prevent a big baby c-section and end up with a fail induction c-section or a rupture by pit. Or they just go nuts when you are 41 weeks and 3 days. I repeat your co-care doctor is not supportive and does not deserve your time, your money or your trust! Just see the midwife and drop the doctor!
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Sarah Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 9:32 am (Quote)
The reason I’m doing co care with him is so insurance will pay for my bloodwork and ultrasounds, otherwise, yes, I would only be seeing my midwife. I have to save as much money as I can, we don’t have a lot to work with…
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Lora Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:42 pm (Quote)
I second what Details just said. Doc doesn’t support VBAC and is trying to scare you/cut your confidence/or just risk you out. You can refuse the late-term ultrasound to “check” the weight. I did. My VBAC baby was 8lbs 9oz at 40 weeks, 3 days. My babies test big on ultrasound because they are born tall (and skinny). Example? My csection baby was “definitely 7 pounds at least” right before they did the surgery at 36.5 weeks. He was 5lbs 13oz, but that 19 inches long threw the algorithm off. Ultrasound are so often off and so often used to scare mom/make things easier for docs.
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I should clarify, studies & statistics showing that maternal weight in normal pregnancies DOESN’T affect baby’s weight
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Gaevren Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 5:45 am (Quote)
I don’t have any studies for you, but here’s my anecdotal evidence:
#1- gained 55 lbs. Baby 8lbs 8oz.
#2- gained 45 lbs. Baby 8lbs 13oz.
#3- gained 35 lbs. Baby 8lbs 3oz.
#4 (due May 3rd)- gained 10lbs. so far, baby measuring at about 7.5lbs right now. I have gestational diabetes this time around (first time for that!) so it’s been very different in terms of weight gain (I actually started losing weight after being diagnosed with GD) and all that.
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… um… restricting mom’s calories really has no effect on baby. mom’s body will give her baby the nutrients it wants regardless of if its stealing them from mom or not. kinda like breastmilk- i know a couple moms who nurse and enter dangerously low weights even though they eat all the time, high-calorie stuff. bacon does not go straight through to the milk, and neither does it do straight to the baby in utero!
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Ellen Reply:
April 21st, 2012 at 7:48 pm (Quote)
I’m not quite clear on where you think the baby is getting nutrients, if not from the mom’s food intake. And yes, restricting calories — as was typical in the Fifties and Sixties — does lead to underweight babies. That’s why doctors of the era encouraged it.
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jenni Reply:
April 22nd, 2012 at 9:51 am (Quote)
oh, i thought the Dr wanted her to have a healthy baby and was telling her to eat a balanced diet and accusing the mom of not eating healthy in the first place.
i had no idea they actually meant “starve yourself and your baby despite complications that might ensue from that just to make our job easier by having a smaller baby instead of a healthier one that might be bigger”
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Baby #1: Ate CRAP and didn’t exercise. Gained 55lbs, baby weighed 7lb 15oz and was 21in (38 wks)
Baby #2: Ate healthy and walked frequently. Gained 30lbs, baby weighed 7lb 12oz and was 22.25in (37wks)
Ahem. I’m sure that 20lb difference is what made baby number 2 weigh SO MUCH LESS *eye roll*
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Hey girls. This is my submission. my first son was 8lbs 14oz.
This is not the same doc who delivered my first. I gained 37lbs with my first son which I don’t find to be a ton.
I’m short, 5’0 and that makes me “small” in the OBs eyes. He told me to ty not to gain as much weight and lay off the carbs and shoot for a 7lb baby. Yeah I’ll get right on that LOL.
I work in a newborn nursery and see many women who gain a lot of weight and have small babies and vice versa.
I have heard something about my weight from him every appt and I’m only 22 weeks. My pre pregnancy weight was 130 and I weigh 135 now and it’s NOT from his “advice”. Once I got over my nausea I ate everything in sight. I am very active with my 2.5 year old so I’m not trying to lose weight.
I know his advice is crap and I fully intend to tell him to shove any late pregnancy US weight “guesses” and will not be pushed into a section for a “large baby”. I’m more educated this time. 
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Sarah Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 9:42 am (Quote)
I’m in the exact same situation with my OB and I’m 18 weeks and I’ve gained 8lbs so far (according to weighing myself this morning). I’m glad I have my homebirth midwife to lean back on for encouragement when this guy tries to make me feel bad. I’m 5’2″ and “small” in his eyes as well. He told me to try to not gain as much at the next appointment…I’ve been eating a lot healthier this pregnancy, and have a 2 year old to chase around doc! I’m doing the best I can! I’m sorry this doctor is being an ass to you…I’m going to tell him to shove it as well if he gives me any grief at the end!
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OldMaman Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:52 pm (Quote)
I find it absurd that smaller height women are only “allowed” to gain less weight than a big b#$% such as myself (5’9.) My Midwives told me “eat to hunger” and I SO did.
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Lora Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:47 pm (Quote)
Deborah, this doc doesn’t sound very supportive of you or your VBAC. Sounds like you are determined, so you can still pull it off, but is it possible to change docs? Feeling annoyed/bad every appointment isn’t good for you, Mama! Keep reading. The best money I spent while prepping for my VBAC was for our doula. The best books I read were The Business of Being Born and Ina May Gaskin’s books. I felt so empowered after reading her natural childbirth stories.
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Deborah B Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 5:16 pm (Quote)
We live in rural Ohio and he is the only VBAC friendly doc in the valley. There is a hospital across the river but I get a bad feeling about it. We have hired a doula and I’m much more confident this time around in my ability to say “NO” and stand my ground. I will labor at home as long as I can stand and then go in. I am also reading Ina May and have watched Business. I try to read positive hospital vbac stories b/c that’s where I’ll be. I really wanted a homebirth but we live an hour away from a hospital and I don’t feel comfortable with that. Thanks for the suggestions
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Lora Reply:
April 25th, 2012 at 9:57 am (Quote)
In rereading my comment, I am concerned that I sounded defeatist and I’m sorry. A determined Mama can overcome anything, even rural Ohio! I joke because I grew up in rural OH and can say it with love.
I had a positive hospital VBAC, so it can definitely be done and you sound very prepared already. Keep reading and learning. Have you looked into delayed cord clamping? I found that near the end of my pregnancy, but I’m glad I did. My c-section baby struggles with anemia (cord clamped immediately), but my delayed clamped baby has amazing iron levels at 11 months. N=1 and all (I am not a scientific study), but it’s worth researching.
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Jenny Islander had this to say,
Apr 18, 2012 @ 8:30 am (Quote)
So let’s pick this apart. “Some pregnant people who develop or already have diabetes have extraordinarily large babies. A diet high in processed carbs has been linked to diabetes. Therefore, eating lots of processed carbs during pregnancy creates very large babies and not eating them creates smaller babies.”
Am I a member of the last graduating class to have been taught about false syllogisms, or what? Seriously, we were taught about syllogisms, analogies, and tautologies in primary school.
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The Deranged Housewife had this to say,
Apr 18, 2012 @ 8:43 am (Quote)
I think it depends on the person. I was at my heaviest with my last pregnancy and he was the biggest baby by about a pound. But still, he was only 8 lbs. 7 oz.
At any rate, I hate these “7 lb” references I keep hearing – it seems like every couple of years or so the desired “normal” weight goes down, which is troubling. Pretty soon we’ll hear them saying “A five or six pound baby is what we’re shooting for.”
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abba12 Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:16 pm (Quote)
The funny thing is, as far as I can tell, a 6 to 7 pound baby was normal in our grandparents era and anything larger than 9 pounds even was considered huge!
I’d be nice if we had some REAL statistics. I do think a trend of larger mothers is leading to a trend of larger babies, but it’s all based on guesswork and who we know. All the new mums I know are slim and athletic, and I think the largest of the babies between us was 8 and a half. So that’s my normal, but it’s completely different to the normal for most people here.
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Dreamy Reply:
April 19th, 2012 at 8:17 am (Quote)
I’m not sure how old you are, but I’m 34 and my grandmothers were told not to gain more than 15 lbs and to smoke to maintain a low weight gain. I think that the 30s-70s were a blip on the screen of relatively low birth weights, but stats before then are in short supply, so it’s hard to say for certain.
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abba12 Reply:
April 19th, 2012 at 2:17 pm (Quote)
Indeed, I wish we had some decent stats before then. My grandma gave birth in the 60s, I know she gained a fair bit during her pregnancies though. I don’t think there was such a push to not gain as much weight in Australia.
On one hand, that time period could well be a blip of low birth weights, on the other hand we have never had the sort of diets we do now, those diets could play a part, but what element? Protein, fats, sugars, carbs? There needs to be some proper research on this, instead of doctors constantly using the terms low birth weight and high birth weight, with such variance between what the two mean. I was told I had to be careful of low birth weights because my last was 6lb 13oz at 37 weeks when she was induced, which is BS, she was perfectly healthy at a perfectly healthy weight as far as I’m concerned, but they almost never see babies under 7lb anymore, and if people are trying to say 10lb babies are a normal weight, then my bubs was tiny!
Outside of GD, we don’t know what makes big babies big, and small babies small, and if we could do some actual research on it, we could determine if it’s diet related, genetics, or a dozen other things.
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Ellen Reply:
April 21st, 2012 at 7:45 pm (Quote)
My father was born in 1938. Ten and a half pounds, which was considered on the large side but not remarkable.
(For the record, he’s a big guy — 6’4″ as an adult, on the upper side of two hundred pounds.)
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The Deranged Housewife Reply:
April 27th, 2012 at 12:19 pm (Quote)
I guess it depends on how old your grandparents are. Actually, both my mom and my uncle were in the seven pound range. I was 5 lbs 13 oz. I think more women tended to smoke, too, which could probably explain smaller birth weights, and I do believe I read somewhere that food restriction was big in order to avoid having a “large” baby. I suppose it might have depended on the doctor, too – my MIL, who gave birth to my husband in 1972, said her doctor didn’t really fuss about weight gain and thought she was doing just fine. (whatever that means LOL)
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I ate like a horse (vegetarian though) gained probably 50lbs (I retained water at the end though) my son was born right at 42 weeks and was only 7lbs 5oz! Unfortunately, he would not descend no matter what me or the CNM or DH did, I never dilated past 5CM either. In the end, I had to get a C/S but that was after 30+ hours of labour and I fought like a goddamn tiger trying to get him out. Oh well.
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This is ultimately what bothers me the most about the high c-section rate. Most doctors really only pay lip-service to being supportive of VBACs, so sectioning first-time moms sets a whole bunch of us up to have to fight tooth and nail for our VBACs.
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I think the dr needs to realize it depends on the woman.
DD1 – 9lb 13oz at 40+1 gained weight but don’t know how much.
DS1 – 10lb at 40+1(38cm head causing Ceasarean)had to eat to keep the nausea at bay and I know I gained a fair bit of weight but not sure how much.
DD2 – 7lb 13oz at 38+6(RCS)ate a LOT of raw food as that is what I craved, no weight gain even though no morning sickness.
DD3 – 8lb 12oz at 39+4(VBA2C)no morning sickness and ate more like the first 2 pregnancies but still with a lot of fresh food, put on a couple pounds.
So for me I’m pretty sure what I ate/gained is linked somewhat to the weight of my babies BUT that is me and I’m not every woman!
Ob, you could do a whole lot better to just encourage ALL your ‘patients’ to eat as healthily as possible and not pick on that ‘nuisance’ that wants a VBAC that you really don’t want to be bothered with!!!
OP, congratulations on your pregnancy and I sure hope you get your VBAC!!
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Wait… so… you want to put my unborn child on a diet? Um… no.
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