Dec 23

“…Big Babies Don’t Like To Breathe.”

“Sometimes big babies don’t like to breathe.” – OB explaining why a larger newborn had such low apgars and a rough start transitioning after birth.

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There are 11 comments to this post.

Jane had this to say, Dec 23, 2012 @ 4:46 am (Quote)

I hope this was said as a brush-off while the OB was actually in the act of resuscitating the baby, and the OB needed to concentrate, and not as an official explanation afterward while everything was calm and the mother was asking for a debriefing. :-b

What my midwife said? “Sometimes being born very quickly is a shock to the baby, and it takes a few moments for them to get going, so they need help.”

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Kix Reply:
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:14 am Kix(Quote)

My thoughts exactly. Like “Is that your medical diagnosis doc?”

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Angela Reply:
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:00 pm Angela(Quote)

That’s basically what my midwife said about my son too. His size had nothing to do with it.

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genniemom Reply:
December 23rd, 2012 at 6:25 pm genniemom(Quote)

I’ve heard that big babies are often born quickly. Maybe that was the logic?

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Jane Reply:
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:08 pm Jane(Quote)

I’m betting it’s more of a confirmation bias. Doctor doesn’t note all the big babies who breathe with no trouble and all the small babies who require assistance and only notices the big babies who have trouble beginning to breathe.

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Mama Wrench had this to say, Dec 23, 2012 @ 7:41 am (Quote)

I’m guessing (without the pink) that this doctor freaks out every time a baby is estimated over 6.5 pounds, then uses every intervention possible to “help the baby out,” then when baby doesn’t respond well he assumes it’s because bigger babies “don’t like to breathe.”

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ash had this to say, Dec 23, 2012 @ 8:32 am (Quote)

I thought everyone enjoyed breathing and babies sometimes need a little encouragement,especially if born early from being induced bc the doc is worried about size. Having never been to medical school I guess I’m a moron though.

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Sheva had this to say, Dec 23, 2012 @ 10:56 am (Quote)

I wonder if this is a self-fulfilling prophecy for this doc because he sections every mom with large babies for (pretend)CPD. And we all know that studies show that sectioned babies often have a harder time transitioning than vaginal babies.

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