To decline induction/c section for baby measuring small?

[imalreadythere]

40+2 today. Baby measuring small but also engaged so maybe that's why?

Midwives offered induction or c section but I want to wait.

Aibu? The midwife wasn't that pleased I don't think.

How small is baby measuring?

Just my little one had IUGR and baby was measuring small on scans.
Blood flow/Doppler scans were fine and fluid level were fine.

It wasnt until I delivered my baby at 37+6 that when they inspected the placenta, it had deteriorated and that was the reason she was born small.

I'm so glad I took their advice.
They don't like to take chances will babies

I would go with medical advice...intervention isn't a bad thing its just the way it is.

My baby was 5lb 7oz 2 weeks early

I don't think there is any way to know 100% but that is usually why they want to intervene with suspected small babies. I personally went for C-section and it was amazing.

I think in this situation I would take the professional advice. They don’t want unnecessary intervention, they just want to ensure the safety of you and your baby.

This

People forget they intervention is sometimes unnecessary and based on statistics (which will differ by trust) and can be traumatic for both the mother and child.

In our case the doppler scan showed that the baby was starting to divert blood flow away from other organs and to its brain. This is known as redistribution and is a clear sign that the placenta is failing. With that the consultant said baby needed to be out within 24-48h.

Have you had a Doppler scan?

Why are you asking the internet rather than listening to medics?!

Interesting wording.
When the information you have available to work on points to things that are risks to the baby, and it ends up not being as bad as first thought after having additional information once the baby is out of the womb I wouldn't class that as "unnecessary" particularly.

I’d just add, I do understand where OP is coming from. Giving birth is scary and being in control can give a lot of comfort. I had an elective c-section due to a health issue that could have made labour challenging so I wanted to shut that risk down altogether. I feel very in control of my birth plan. My NCT leader said the best thing with birth plans is to have plan A to Z because not everything will go the way you want it to. If your baby is measuring small and you’re overdue, I’d already suggest you are on plan B. Wishing you well with whatever you decide.

I was told my lo was measuring at 5lb 3 so they wanted to induce. I said no and he was born a week later at 6lb 7. Scans aren't always accurate

STTE

Ask for a bishop score, they will examine you and score you based on 5 (iirc) things such as cervix thickness, dilation etc. out of 15 max score. The lower the score the less likely an induction would go favourably, my dr said a score of 7 minimum would be a good indication of a likely favourable induction. I requested a bishop score when they wanted to induce me at 38 weeks with my eldest and only scored a 2 so I declined and opted for increased/regular monitoring instead. Obviously as bishop score should be used in conjunction with Drs advice and your situation to help you make a more informed decision, not to make a decision for you based on your result.

I’d just take it, there’s no medal for low intervention childbirth. And you’ll have a lifetime of regret and guilt if anything goes wrong.

Now is not the time to be stubborn.

My baby was measuring small for no obvious reason and induction was suggested at 39 weeks. Which I agreed to .
Nurse commented at the birth that the placenta looked very stressed.
I've always felt lucky that I didn't risk
It and the placenta failing.

I think you're nuts to be honest .

My first had IUGR and measured on the 6th centile. The scan thought she was 5lb 6oz but was born 4lb 10oz, and there were problems with the blood flow between the placenta and baby. At 36 weeks I was induced, and tbh it was fine (been induced twice now). Baby was born vaginally, and it turns out the placenta was very small. I can hardly remember the period immediately after the birth but everyone was glad she was born early.

Perfect Instagram earth mothers and NCT classes I think.

As a neonatal nurse please don't ignore midwives advice,

A few weeks ago I was crash called to a section, mum was 40 + 10 days. Didn't want any intervention.

Rushed in for a GA section, baby was so very poorly when they got him out, he went through a lot in his first week of life, actively keeping him cold to protect his brain, 6 needle probs in his scalp to check for seizures. On a ventilator because he was too poorly to breathe for himself.

The placenta starts to fail, hence baby measuring small because baby isn't getting the nutrients from said failing placenta,

Thankfully little one is ok, though did have small bleeds on his brain,

But I had seen worse.

I'm reporting this thread as there are some nasty replies to a woman asking for help to think things through.

OP, they’ll be here in no time! Engaged is great! Are you at the hospital??

Personally I'd trust the medical advice I'm given but if its completely safe to go against it, it's your body at the end of the day. I'd definitely listen to their reasons though. At the end of the day, a safe you and baby are the most important here, no matter how they arrive into this world.

I haven't seen any nasty replies? Just people sharing their own experiences

There's nothing nasty, just women giving their experiences like the Op asked.