Sometimes those babies don't really care what you allow, they are just going to grow big regardless. Size certainly can be a factor, but many, many women do safely give birth to 10 or 11 pound babies. If it is not standard practice in Ireland, make sure your wife is tested for gestational diabetes, which is sometimes the cause of big babies. A vbac, by the way, is a vaginal birth after cesarean, or what your wife is hoping for.
I won't bore the forum members with my rants on obstetrical care in the US (and US practices may or may not apply to your situation), but if you're interested in my opinion on how to best avoid a c-section, you can PM me. I'm not sure how much of an expert I am, though. I have ended up with several in spite of my best efforts. I am well informed on the subject, though.
