Two questions about baby births!!

[Marta]

I am expecting my first baby in 7 1/2 weeks and I have one very silly question to ask and a serious question to ask.

I am curious as to whether a large belly generally means a big baby and vice versa. A lady told me that she thought I was not very big for how far along I was but she also said that her daughter was very small and ended up having a big baby. (silly question :D )

Also.........

What do you all think of the Vitamin K and Hep B shots given at birth to newborns? I know that Vitamin K is quite essential, but Know that for every pro there is a con and don't know that Hep B right at birth is necessary as it may upset the baby for a few days?????

Your thoughts and opinions greatly appreciated :) :) :)

[pinkandblue]

Hi
I'm not sure about the big belly/big baby question. I got pretty big (I put on 20kgs) and my daughter was 3.665kg and 50cm long.

As for the shots, my daughter had them all and we never had any problems with her having any reactions or being unsettled.

Natalie

[draught]

Your "silly" question first (not really very silly at all!) - I had relatively small bellies with both my girls (although I felt like I was huge I only put on 11 kgs), but they were not tiny babies - they were both 3.5 kgs and 53 cms long, so above average. Other friends with large bellies have had average or smaller babies - but then of course some have had huge babies - so I think the short answer is that there is nothing in the size of the belly to indicate the baby! Your midwife or doctor would probably be the best to work out size by palpating - both times my doctors were spot on with size predictions in both length and weight.

Second one - I had both injections for my girls. As for upsetting them - the whole birth process is pretty upsetting for them anyway - the tiny needle they are given is pretty inconsequential in the scheme of things - I think it would be more upsetting later on when they are settling into life outside the womb. As for whether they are good or not - I haven't done huge amounts of research on them, but did have a lactation consultant who said that she believes that there has been an increase in children with allergies etc since the hep B injection was introduced. Maybe an internet search would help you work out whether this is a researched event or not?!

[Lallas' Mum]

In regards to belly size - it can vary a lot with different people. Some people carry a lot of extra fluid with only a small/average baby. And some do the opposite. It also depends on the baby's position. I was HUGE with my first child. There was no denying it. With eight weeks still to go a lady at the local council office told me I was "HUGE" for only 32 weeks and then she turned to the lady serving in the next cubicle and said "isn't she HUGE?". I had put on extra weight in other places but it was overshadowed by the size of my bump. I could feel every ounce of my baby though. I could easily locate the back of his head, run my hand down his back and bum and then show you exactly where his feet were. I was sure I was having a decent size bub because of this - and I did 4.77kgs. I am expecting in a couple of weeks (c/s booked for 03/05). Freinds and family think I look smaller this time (but still large compared to most). Scans show that this bub at 37 weeks is only 1 ounce smaller than my last one when he was born!! I can feel that I have less room than last time but people insist I look smaller. I'll be able to tell you in a couple of weeks how accurate the scans are as opposed to what people think by looking at the size of my bump.

As for the injections - The good that comes from Vitamin K injections FAR outweighs the possible side affects. I personally believe the same for hep B shots. I think the best thing you can do is to ask your doctor the pros & cons. My son had both shots when he was born and I don't regret it. My one bit of extra advice would be that if they ask whether you want to be present when your bub gets these shots say "no". By all means be nearby so you can comfort bub, but the emotions you will go through if your newborn has to have needles or lord forbid any sort of blood tests and you're there to witness it - you'll nearly be sick in the stomach from it. My son had to undergo X-rays, blood tests and later a kidney die test (he developed an infection that turned out to be a urinary infection). The X-rays alone made me feel uneasy in the stomach let alone the rest of the tests.

[xkwzit]

Hi Marta
I don't have any real knowledge re big belly / big baby but I don't think there's a strong correlation.

About the vit K injection, its just the vitamins and not a vaccine, but it does protect baby against a serious disease (that I can't remember now - its been too long since my research :p ). Within a few months your baby will start making their own vit K, this just protects them until that kicks in.

About hep B, hubby and I had decided not to get it at birth, but we were quite happy to take our babies back for it in a few weeks, after breast feeding was established (how do you give extra fluids to a baby who isn't attaching or before your milk comes in :confused: ). However, when we spoke to our pead about it, he told us that the first injection wasn't required for full protection and that our babies would be fully immunised against hep B by following the rest of the program WITHOUT it. His view was that there is only a real benefit in immunisation of a newborn if the child is returning to a high risk household (but it is seen as politically incorrect to only suggest it to percieved high risk parents, so it is suggested to everyone :( ). We decided not to get that first shot, but both our children have followed the rest of the immunisation schedule (plus a few extras) and never had any problem with it.

It is a complex issue and I'm sure that even doctor's opinions differ, but talk to a peadiatrician about it. You can always withhold your permission until you've spoken to one and then change your mind.

Cheers

[mamafelix]

About Vitamin K- you can choose to give this to your child orally rather than as a needle- which is what I did with Felix. It's three doses over a couple of weeks, from memory.

I didn't do Hep B at birth- Hep B is a blood/sexually transmitted disease and I knew there was no way Felix would be exposed to it so young. We waited until 6 months to start our vax (so he didn't get that shot until then).

It's totally up to you but probably worth doing some research/talking to your health professional about the options available.

Good luck with it all

[Marta]

Thank you all so much for sharing your thoughts, it has helped greatly!!

Wow, I guess size of belly really dosn't mean much at all.

As this is my first baby and since there is minimal risk, I feel like there is no need to get the Hep B right at birth. I only have a dog at home, is she a risk???

Thank you all again :)

[mummyb]

hi guys
i respect everyones choices and am always glad to read about them
my thoughts on any and all vaccines is this.
if you love your children and want to keep them safe then give them the kindest jab of all the jab of protection against preventable disease .
when your baby is sick your heart just brakes even if its just a cold ,i dont think i could ever forgive myself if my kids got something i could have protected them against .
im sure we do what ever we think is best for our kids and im sure we wont all agree with each other, but isnt it great we can share our thoughts and learn from one another.
anyway good luck enjoy your bubs :D

[shellbell]

hi ladies,

as for the big belly question, i don't think it makes a diff. everyone (doctors included) told me my first baby was going to be big (i was huge and had put on 21kg). but she was only 7lb8oz and 50cm. When they said the same thing for my second, i thought "no way, thats what they said the first time around!", plus, i only put on about 12 kg. anyway, 10lb4oz and 53 cm later :eek: i realised that your size has little to do with it.

as for the vax question, i can;t really comment because for us, there was never any doubt that our kids would get the full course of treatment.

[jarrahsmumma]

hi all,
i too had a very small belly when i was pregnant, at 36 weeks some people coldn't even tell i was having a bub :) but he came out at 7lb12oz (3.530kg) and 50.5cm long.

As far as immunisation it is your choice, when Jarrah had his 2 month shots i hated it. next week (4 month) i am getting my partner to hold him. I think next time i'll go for oral Hep B at birth.

The more painful thing is when they take the PKU test where they squeeze the blood from their heel. That was really terrible.

peace
Natalie
(mumma to Jarrah 6.1.05)

[xkwzit]

Hi Nel
I also had a terrible time with DD1's PKU (heel prick) test. I guess I should have known when the nurse offered to take her down to the nursery for it. But I was in "supermum" mode - anything that needed to be done to my baby could be done in front of me. Well all of us ended in tears: baby, DH and me :eek: and it took AGES (but she also had to have blood taken for a jaudice test).

However, I learnt from that experience and with DD2 had a lovely midwife who helped me to make her test MUCH BETTER (and I'd like to share the wisdom with all those future mums out there). I had no idea what was involved and therefore didn't prepare DD1 very well. There are two tips:

Try to keep baby's feet warm, the blood flows much more easily than if her feet are cold. I took my baby for her bath just before her test and kept her feet rugged up tight.
Keep baby upright. Hold her close to you with one foot sticking out for the test. She'll be comforted by your presence and again the blood flows easier than if she's lying down.


Hope this helps all the still to arrive babies out there (and it's important to know that Mum's and Dad's can do things to make that expereince better :) ).

Cheers

[Evo]

Great advice Xkwzit. We had an awful time with my DD's PKU test. Like your DD1, my DD also had to have a jaundice test. The nurse couldn't squeeze enough blood out so the poor little thing had three jabs in total and was completely disraught.

[AM]

I did not give my baby either of the vitamin K shot or the Hep B
The vitamin K I would have given if the birth had been traumatic and ds had come out bruised.
As for the Hep B, it is a sexually transmitted disease, and the shots are given at birth and very early on, to get the whole population.
So - I opted out of that one as well.

Angie