Induction booked in tomorrow because of big baby - any positive experiences?!

[Cheery1]

I'm a bit in shock as after midwife apt I've been booked in for an induction tomorrow morning as baby is really big. They think he's over 9lb at 40 weeks and they don't want him to get any bigger! Any shared experiences?! Feeling a bit nervous as was all prepped for lovely birth centre and now will most likely be on a ward waiting for gel to work. Heard lots of bad things about inductions so keen to hear about any first hand experiences.

[BertrandRussell]

Really?

Have they given any reason except size? Are you particularly small,nor have you had difficult births previously?

Did you get w chance to ask about alternatives,mor were you too shell shocked?

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

I don't understand this. How many days over 40 weeks are you? How old are you and are there any underlying conditions - eg diabetes?

Have you had growth scans? They are notoriously unreliable.

My 7 month old was well over 9lbs when she was born and there was no discussion of induction. I had her naturally and very quickly. 9lbs is a perfectly average size.

[BertrandRussell]

Have you been tested for gestational diabetes?

[chocfireguard]

Firstly, congratulations!! You will meet your little (big!) one soon!! My baby was weighing in at nearly 6lb at 34 weeks, and I was induced at 40+1, due to this and my bmi!

I had a sweep 2 days beforehand, and although I didn't know it, this had partially broken my waters. I therefore bypassed the pessary. The first step for me was the rest of my waters being broken. This was no more uncomfortable than the sweeps...relax, and it will be easier, and I found it pain free. The drip was then given, and they begin on a low dose, which is increased every 2 hrs, iirc. My veins are awful, so that was a bugger to get in, but once in, it was a gradual process.

Contractions were very strong and I was pushing hard. They adjusted the drip to account for this. I wont lie, they call it labour for a reason!! But I was reluctant to be induced, and they were absolutely fantastic with me. I have no tips, other than to keep moving....the midwives should happily let you do this in spite of the wires and monitoring.

My baby was back to back and very low, and although the aftermath wasn't great, my labour was 7 hrs.

All the very best!!

[Highlove]

That's weird. Mine is predicted to be over 9lbs at 40 weeks (based on a series of scans - I'm under consultant-led care with additional scans for entirely unrelated reasons) and when I mentioned size, the consultant said 9lbs was "pretty average." I'm surprised it's deemed big enough to evict early!

[BertrandRussell]

You don't actually have to agree to an induction, you know. I'm obviously not suggesting that you refuse, but I would certainly want more information than you seem to have been given.

For reference, mine were 9.9 and 10.6- I was 37 and 42 and nobody suggested induction, even though my blood pressure went up both times. I was carefully monitored though, and I don't know what they would have suggested if I had gone more than a week over. But they were both born at 40+6 with no intervention and just gas and air. The 10.6 one was a 4 hour labour, start to finish. I had a couple of stitches, but I know a lot of women with much smaller babies who tore much worse.

[SteveArnottsLoverPlease]

I'm also amazed by this. I BEGGED for an induction based on the baby's size and was refused repeatedly. I was told big babies can be delivered naturally, growth scans are inaccurate etc etc, and to be fair both of those statements are true! Eventually I was induced at 39+6 for other reasons but the induction failed. Baby arrived by emergency section 2 days after induction started and was 11lbs. The surgeon said there was no way in hell the baby was coming out naturally (I'm quite a small build). In saying that, I never dilated past 7cms so it's possible that it wouldn't have mattered whether the baby was 6lbs or 12lbs!

Anyway, don't worry, plenty of inductions work very well and quickly and hopefully you'll be one of the lucky ones it works for. Go in with an open mind and a positive attitude, that's all you can regardless of how you plan to give birth. I would say be open minded to pain relief options as my 'drug free water birth' quickly became 'hard drugs and plenty of them' as the syntocinon drip can make contractions very painful very quickly and I found them utterly unbearable pretty early on. If I was ever induced again I would be asking for an epidural as early as possible. See how it goes for you though.

Size-wise, loads of babies around the 9lb mark are born naturally and safely, I would see that as just a normal healthy sized full-term baby. Even babies the size of mine could be born naturally to right person in the right circumstances.

Good luck and fingers crossed you see your lovely baby very soon.

[Cheery1]

Gosh thanks all! I'm 37 and I am quite small - I also think it's how much he's grown over last 2 weeks that's a concern. Over 3cm and I've gained 1.5 kg....not all icecream apparently! I'm still a bit in shock but I do trust the antenatal care at the hospital, they've been great all along.

It does indeed mean I get to meet the baby sooner so I'm focusing on that.

[Cheery1]

Also no gestational diabetes - I'd gained totally normal amount of weight til these last 2 weeks.

[BertrandRussell]

If you're happy then that's fine- but I really would ask some more questions....inductions often lead to other interventions, and 9lbs is not huge at all.

[Cheery1]

bertrand I did ask about reasons and basically they're worried if he's left to get bigger there would be no option but a c section.

[crje]

My 4 were all induced for various reasons. I had gel, waters broken & syntocinon drip.

It's hard to predict how your body & baby will react. I had a very positive experience of induction.
I had an epidural at about 4cm but asked for it to be turned off when I got to 10cm.
I was told by a midwife friend not to start pushing too early. I did the breathing until the head was well down . I'd say I only gave 10 pushes on each.I had no stitches or tears.

Good luck

[Cheery1]

Yeah, I have just spoken to the midwife, and I'm totally aware of the domino effect of induction, but I think it's the best option for me

[Cheery1]

Thanks for positive experiences - really helps to hear those x

[chocfireguard]

Definitely, you can refuse an induction of you want, as pp said. But not all inductions lead to further intervention... I had g&a only, with no forceps/ventuse etc

[BertrandRussell]

Gosh- I am absolutely amazed that they are classing a 9lb baby as huge and c section worthy.

[cece]

I didn't agree to an induction for my second. I'd had a growth scan and he was predicted to be 10lbs.

I did however, agree to daily monitoring. 2 days later I went into labour naturally. He was 11lbs 4oz.

Enjoy big babies are gorgeous.

BTW my third was a tiny 9lb 15oz

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

This seems bananas and contrary to best practice and NICE guidelines unless there is some very unusual underlying
circumstances. Is this your first baby?

Good luck in any event

[Scarydinosaurs]

I had a brilliant induction, only had to have the gel (as soon as it was in I went for a mammoth walk all around the hospital, had a power nap, then back on the walking- like a crab up and down the stairs!) and I laboured as I wanted- on my knees and facing the back of the bed. It was brilliant- I only had gas and air and had no tearing.

Best of luck, I hope you have an equally brilliant experience.

[Cheery1]

Thanks all for your support - very much appreciated x