To kick up a fuss and demand an induction?

[tiredbutstillsmiling]

I'm am 36+2 days but at my last 2 midwife checks and a scan 2 weeks ago all showed slow growth. Yesterday I had another MW check and again I was measuring small so I asked if I could be re-scanned. MW wasn't happy and said she thought everything wa okay but eventually called scan dept.

Had scan today and sonographer agreed baby is measuring small but placenta appears to be normal. I have another scan in a week.

Would I be unreasonable to demand an induction? My DD was prem (actually gone passed number of weeks where she was born) and I'm so scared about still birth after suffering a miscarriage last year. No-one seems concerned but I can't shake this horrible feeling something could go wrong.

WWYD? Any advice welcome - have posted here for traffic btw.

[AnyFucker]

I wouldn't in those circumstances. Late scans are notoriously bad for predicting size of baby

I was induced (against my better judgement) for "poor growth" at 38 weeks. She was 7lb+ and took 3 days to arrive as she was simply not ready.

If the heartbeat and placenta are as they should be, baby is moving regularly and all else is well I think you should trust your care providers

< disclaimer...I am not a MW or an obstetrician >

[tiredbutstillsmiling]

Thanks. I'm torn between not wanting to uproot a perfectly healthy baby who could have another few weeks "cooking" & getting them out if my body is failing.

Think I'm just going to have to pay extra attention to movement and call if I feel worried and I thought it would be easier 2nd time around!

[AndHarry]

I would phone your midwife now and request an urgent meeting with the birth options midwife (may have different name locally) at your named hospital. This is a senior midwife who can review your history and your concerns and agree a deviation to the standard plan of care based on your individual needs. She won't automatically agree to everything you want but she will seriously consider all the options available, discuss the pros and cons and find something suitable.

[drivenbyyou]

I wouldn't either, for the exact same reasons as AF (minus the early induction).

If you can, insist on more checks to make you feel better (and more informed), but as long as everything else is ok, I personally would hang on in there.

I'm no MW or OB either, but been through a few pregnancies with differing outcomes.

[Finney2]

Just to reassure you a bit, I had scans for the same reason, with the added complication of high-blood pressure, at 36+ weeks. Every sonographer I saw said that scans were pretty unreliable at that stage. My baby was born at 42+6 at 9lb. Every scan I'd had said he was going to be below 7lb.

[tiredbutstillsmiling]

My midwife isn't very helpful. She didn't even want to send me for the scan today even though I had dropped percentiles. I just don't have a clue to call or ask for help from.

[FreeSpirit89]

Insist on more checks and closer monitoring.

[AndHarry]

You should have the delivery suite telephone number in your handheld notes. Give them a call and ask for the number for the supervisor of midwives for your named midwife. She will be able to help you.

[tiredbutstillsmiling]

Thanks driven and finney. I had a pretty horrendous year last year and this baby is kind of a "miracle". Sometimes I still can't believe I'm pregnant and I worry about every little thing. Wish I could relax!

[AnyFucker]

Do they still do kick-chart thingies ? I found that useful.

[AnyFucker]

I was also super anxious after two miscarriages and I am of course now speaking with 20/20 hindsight. More reassurance may be all that you need.

[tiredbutstillsmiling]

Never heard of them so guess not! What does it involve?

[AnyFucker]

count the kicks

This was recommended to me 20 years ago, so may be hopelessly discounted recently. And watch out it doesn't make your more anxious and fixated. I am happy to be told it's a bad idea by any pregnancy professionals.

[AnyFucker]

Ask your midwife what he/she thinks about it ?

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

Is your baby small but growing steadily or is it that he or she no longer appears to be growing?

If it is the former (small but growing steadily) then I would not be particularly worried, providing you are having regular appointments/check ups - which I am sure you are so close to 40 weeks.

If it is the latter (baby small & not growing), I would be much more concerned and want to know what the 'plan' is. i.e. will there be weekly growth scans? At what point will they plan to deliver the baby? etc. etc. In fact, in that scenario, I probably would be pushing for an induction TBH.

I have been induced with all three of my DCs for health reasons & the labours were fine - no interventions needed. I do know that inductions carry a higher risk of intervention, but just wanted to reassure you that this is not always the case, should it be necessary for you.

[tiredbutstillsmiling]

Thank you AF. I have a very active baby so I think if any movement slowed down it would concern me.

[AnyFucker]

The precise way of counting kicks can make it more objective rather than "yes, baby is very active" subjective feelings IYSWIM.

[tiredbutstillsmiling]

Thanks santas. It's more of latter. At 28 weeks I was measuring 30 weeks, next appointment I was spot on for measurements, then subsequent check ups it's becoming a week farther and farther behind to the point the baby doesn't seem to be progressing.

I've been booked in for another scan next week and week after. My concern is should I wait that long? And if I wait til next Weds should I press for an induction?

[summertimeandthelivingiseasy]

I remember counting kicks - DS had done all his before I got up in the morning. Good for seeing if there is any change.

They didn't give me one for the DTs . Needed an earthquake monitor.

[Iownafourinchporsche]

My bump didn't get huge either, so I measured v small and late scans showed small babies. The were born very very healthy with apgare scores of 10. Full marks both times.

I really would just let the pregnancy continue as normal as you have no real reason to worry.

Do you or DH have any small genes in the family?

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

I would wait for your next scan appointment (counting kicks along the way ). Hopefully, baby will have grown this week. If not, I would ask to speak to your consultant or a senior midwife and have a discussion about what happens from there.

TBH though, if baby has not grown at all they may advise you to deliver sooner rather than later anyway - without you actually needing to seek anyone out for a discussion.

A good friend of mine was told (about 12 months ago) "if baby hasn't grown by the scan next week, you will be admitted & induced that day - bring a bag." So she got everything ready at home, packed her suitcase, prepared childcare for her older DCs so that DH could stay with her - and then found that baby had grown & was actually measuring 1lb heavier than the week before! So she went home & ended up having the baby at 41 weeks .

[Iownafourinchporsche]

What do you measure now? What does the baby measure?

[Iownafourinchporsche]

Scans are not accurate I must add.

[tiredbutstillsmiling]

iowna, nope. No small genes. DH is 6' 2" and I'm 5' 6". DD was over 6lbs when born at 36 weeks.

Thanks santas, think I'll do that. Have already had my 10 kicks since posting so feel somewhat reassured.

To those of you who counted kicks do you do it just once a day or did you keep counting every 2 hour cycle?

[tiredbutstillsmiling]

I'm 36+2 and baby is measuring 34 weeks but as I was measuring 30 weeks when I was 28 weeks that means just a 4 week growth in 8 weeks.