Being induced tomorrow, baby has stopped growing

[elm26]

Posting for traffic, I don't know if I need a handhold, to hear others stories of similar or just to offload my anxiety.

38 weeks and 2 days, went for a growth scan today and to my shock, they've asked me to go home and get stuff ready and be back in for 10am tomorrow for induction.

Reason for scans throughout is history of 13 miscarriages, covid in pregnancy and a previous low lying placenta (had moved up at 36 week scan).

Baby hasn't grown much if at all since 2 weeks ago, they sent me up to ward for monitoring and baby's movements and heart rate are fine, my fluid is fine but my placenta has more or less stopped working. Blood flow and oxygen okay.

I was due to be induced on due date, thought I'd have some time to prepare myself and relax but I'm in a tizz now. We've got everything and babies bag and mine is ready to go but I feel so rushed and unprepared now 😢

I'm worried about about her, they've put her estimated weight at 6lb but advised me to grab some tiny baby clothes if I hadn't already so we made a last minute trip to Asda tonight for those, just bought 8 vests and 8 babygrows in case she's bigger than expected.

They will be using the rods and see how I get on but I'm so scared all of a sudden.

Any words or wisdom or advice? Thank you x

I was induced last year at 37 weeks for similar reasons. They also tried the rods first and absolutely nothing happened. Cervix was still high and tucked behind baby's head. So disheartening!

They then tried the propess and that kicked things off. They inserted it at 1pm Sunday and DS was born at 4am Monday. He weighed 6lbs 12oz which was much bigger than they thought. He's now almost 1 and perfect ❤️ Good luck OP, your baby will be in your arms soon.

Ah op I've no experience with being induced but just wanted to send my best wishes to you, I understand you're worried but you'll have her in your arms soon, just hold on to that thought, it's so exciting getting ready to meet her! You'll forget all this anguish in a heartbeat once she's here.

I was induced for exactly the same thing last year.
I was having growth scans and baby had not grown between the 36 and 38 week scans. They estimated her at 6lb and she was 6lb 10oz and perfect.
I had to wait 3 days for a bed to start the induction because they were full.
The induction was fine, dc1 was an induction as well so I knew what to expect. I had a lovely birth and went home from labour ward after 8 hours.
She was born on 25th centile for weight and is now in 75th at 7 months and is a proper chunky monkey.

Good luck!

Iv been induced twice at 37 weeks due to IUGR and both my girls were born 5lb 3oz. I had pessary and ARM first time and a 2 hour active labour and ARM and drip and a 1 hour active labour the second time.
Hope things progress for you soon.

@elm26 Good luck OP. I had the pessary in a couple of weeks ago and after 24 hours it didn’t work, everyone else around me was in labour and I couldn’t sleep due to the noises and lights around me. I was so emotional and my mental health was affected so I asked for an elective c section and it was a really positive experience. Whatever the next steps are for your induction I send you love and in no time your baby will be here! Hopefully the next stage gets your labour going, and your little one will be in your arms so soon x

Thank you again everyone ☺️

Feel much better after eating breakfast and having a long hot shower, moisturised/self care etc.

The mental health midwife has been to see me and agreed that I should move on to the gel/pessary now as the rods are very intrusive and she thinks the hormones may start things better as my body is showing no signs of cooperating with manual opening of cervix!

I've got an eye mask and ear plugs and my own pillows but I think it was just the fact it was my first night on a ward with women around me panting and shouting in pain bless them.

I am shocked at some of their birthing partners though! One of them was playing TikTok's out loud at 3am whilst she was crying and breathing through a contraction, another one snored all night 🫣 I'm glad I insisted that DH went
home yesterday late afternoon to chill and get some sleep as I need him to be on the ball!

Sorry to read there is no update yet! Sure it will progress well.

My son stopped growing at 37 weeks, same as you - healthy blood flow etc it was just time to come out He's now a hulking lad wearing clothes 3-4 years above his age

Although he was my second so the induction was smoother.

Aww I'm sorry she is keeping you waiting. It does sometimes take a while to ripen the cervix and get things going especially as you're a tiny bit early
She will be with you soon, and labour will be a memory

She'll be absolutely fine, I was induced at 38 weeks and DD was 6lbs 15oz and absolutely perfect and home the next day.

Inductions are very draining emotionally, spending hours waiting for something to work to find out it hasn't is really disheartening but she'll be here soon. I had the pessary and then the gel and the gel worked for me but it was a very long couple of days waiting around.

38 weeks is fantastic, easier said than done but try not to stress too much.

Growth scans... as someone who works in obstetrics, take em with a big ole pinch of salt. My first daughter was estimated at around 8 lbs on GS at 37 weeks, born a week later by emergency section for placental abruption and weighed 4lbs 3oz. Son (14 months now) was estimated at 10lbs at 37 week gs, c section a week later and he was 7lbs 8oz. I'm 36 weeks now, had a gs on Monday and estimated at 6lbs so we'll see next week at the section what she pops out as haha. They are just an estimate so try not to fixate on the number... though again, its easier said than done.

Take a deep breath and try to enjoy your last day of all the kicks and wriggles, sending you positive thoughts, a hand hold and a hug.

You got this.

Well it's all kicking off, contractions are 4 mins apart max and I'm waiting on pethidine.

Thanks everyone x

Best of luck @elm26! I'm being induced on Saturday at 37weeks+1day due to baby measuring small. I'm absolutely shitting it but nice to read others experiences

Oooh, not long now!! Good luck.

Oh girls, my LO turned one last week and all the birth stories are making me want another 🤣

This was me in December. Was due middle of Jan went for a growth scan at 37+1 a couple of days after Christmas and he’d stopped growing, they told me to come in the next day for induction. My face was 😮 I thought I had weeks left and nothing was ready!! He ended up coming by em sec at 37+3, he was 5lb 6 and the most perfectly healthy dinky little thing.

You are full term, and as my consultant said they will grow bigger and better on the outside. You’ll get to meet your beautiful baby soon ❤️ everything is going to be fine.

Oh we haven't had a birth thread for ages.

Breathe OP!

Good luck OP.

I have an induced 38 weeker!

Oh and if they want to put you on the drip, get an epidural in first!

my DD stopped growing at similar time so was induced at 37 weeks she was 5lb 1oz , she is now 13 and busy doing homework and spending too much time on screens she was small for a while in 3-6 months clothes when she was 1 but she was walking then too, try not to worry but once stop growing better out than in

Good luck! The contractions are the worst part in my experience, just wait until you have your beautiful baby!

Can't thank you all enough for your kind words of encouragement and for sharing your own induction stories.

Had a pethidine injection which was/is amazing. I was crying to my DH that I don't think I can do this then suddenly I feel like I can but I know it's the painkillers talking 😂

They just don't want to take any risks after all you've been through, OP.

You're almost at the finish line now, not long until you will be holding your precious baby.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

Good luck, OP!

I often wish they would allow birth drugs when one flies economy.

Good luck OP, soon you will be a mummy!! ♥️