A long story of panic and libo, please help!!?

[MrsJ]

I hope I've done this right, apoloies if I havent but really need some advice.

Ok its a slightly long story, but I will try and keep it as compact as possible...

I'm due 11 Feb, so 37 weeks on Sunday. I have been having extra scans and been under the hospital as my fundal height (?) wasnt measurin correctly at first, this was at approx 28 weeks. went for a growth scan and although baby was slighly below average she was within range and ok for dates, had to go back two weeks later and baby had grown a perfect two weeks worth and I was now measuring correct for dates too. hospital wanted to see me at 36 weeks and everyone I spoke too agreed this was because once you're under the hospital they keep an eye on you.
So went to my appointment completely relaxed and complacent on wednesday as everything seemed fine, midwife seemed happy two weeks ago, nearly didnt even take my husband.
they measured me at clinic and then decided they wanted me to have a scan as fundal height was the same as it was 2 weeks ago, (again wasnt too worried as this is what happened last time) They squeazed me in for a scan. from where they discovered her growth had tailed off so did doppler (?) scan.
Went back to see the doctor who seemed very concerned. As according to chart she seems about 4 weeks behind for her and also the doppler showed that the bllod flow to her is only just borderline ok. Doctor instantly started talking about going to have her monitored and us coming back minday and discussing best time for delivery!! and says well atleast we know the problem and whats causing it. (Only now do I realise that I dont actually know for certain what these are!) then we're sent back out to waiting room while she speaks to the consultant.
By this point, i'm having kittens let alone a baby, and me and hubby are thinking ok looks like its going to be next week, so I start to get my head round this. after about half an hour she comes back, and now its ok come back next wednesday for clinic then a scan week after and we have to be very vigilant on baby movements as in 10 in 12 hours any less have to go straight in, but kept emphasising how straict we have to be at keeping track etc etc.
So now feel completely in limbo terribly paranoid and little confused and the chenge of mind seemingly inspired by someone that hadnt even seen or met me!
Well now I've been thinking if theres this much question and concern and its literally seems to be going day by day then why hold off? If theres any doubt or question whatsoever about the well being of baby then I want to go with caution. I'm classed as full term on sunday... Would I be wrong to say this? and ask for the induction they seem to be debating over? after all if theres doubt and shes not growing anymore? (they estimate her between 5 - 5 1/2lb's at the moment)
What do you think they would say?
Again sorry for thr mammoth post, just in a panic and as I say in limbo.
Help!!

Many, many thanks for reading, sorry if this is wrong.

in that much of a fret, I can't even spell and type!! Sorry for all the typo's etc!

Sorry I cant really help but i have heard that the size they get from scans can be way out.

When i had my 20 week they found a cyst that is a soft marker for edwards syndrome. We had to go back to see consultant first thing the next morning. Didnt actually see consultant but a dr or someone who said we would need scans every 4 weeks to check on it then went off to talk to consultant and came back and said no scans whatsoever, should be fine, low risk, just wait and see how it comes out! But i went back and am having scan on tues as everything should be fine by then. I know this is obviously very different to your situation but seemed similar response from first dr to put fear of god into you with how serious it is then after 5 mins with consultant come back completely relaxed about it. And consultants are meant to be the ones who know best. Think I would have to ring up and say look you've left me very confused can i talk it through with someone again please.
Sorry this isn't much help but didnt want you to go unanswered and this will at least have bumped it for you!!

I would ask to have the baby sooner rather tha later if I were you just because all this worry can't be good for you...

MrsJ - you are 2 days ahead of me (LO due on 13th Feb) - I know this is worrying but I think there are a few positives here that you need to hang on to - The blood supply measured on the doppler is low but still sufficient and the babies weight/size is good for 37 wks - They reckon babies put on 1oz a day from now on so in 3 weeks your baby should be 6.5-7lb that is a healthy weight. (My DS was only 6.5 when born 2 weeks overdue.) As long as baby is still moving well and blood supply is the right side of borderline I would think it is better for pregnancy to continue to give LO a chance to grow more. As you say LO has had growth spurts and stops before - I would think they need two low measurements before they can say that growth has stopped completely. Was the first doctor was a trainee, who needed to check your results with the consultant before saying what should be done? I doubt they would let you go if there were a definite problem with LOs growth. Keep counting the kicks and let us know how you get on next week

Thank you so much, I think they're going on what the previous scans have measured her at and I think most importantly the Doppler scan results.
Do you think I can request to be induced under the circumstances? should I wait until wednesday to speak with them? I'm seeing my midwife on tuesday but 4 days is seeming like an awful long time at the moment

thanks DrJo, the baby's growth from the scans has always been previously consistant, just my measurements that have been off some times.
The Clinic is run by the consultant and you see other doctors under him then I guess depending on findings they run it passed him??
Now on the charts the babies growth has really tailed off... So not sure what that means for future growth?
Just wish I knew, anyone have a crystal ball??
Thanks again xxx

We had something similar - concerns about a low growth rate. Apparently, it can suggest that there is a problem with the blood supply from the placente to the baby and, of course, until the baby is delivered, they are dependent on the blood supply not only for food, but for oxygen. Our consultant recommended we get delivered immediately (at 39+6) because he said that the risk was that the blood supply could just stop at any time.

I had a sweep and then we left it for a couple of days, went back for foetal heart monitoring and two days later, ds didn't move for the first couple of hours after I woke up which gave me a scare so I went back and booked up for an induction the next day.

I would ring up the clinic again and explain that their reaction has made you concerned, that you understand there are concerns about the blood supply and the growth rate and ask to be booked in for an induction. If you say that the doctor was previously talking in those terms, it is a brave person in today's litigious climate who says you cannot have an induction...

On the other hand, inductions are not risk free and I have seen stories on here about people ending up with C-sections after inductions. I didn't, but you have to be on a monitor constantly, so you can't use a birth pool, have to have the baby in hospital and are (possibly) slightly more restricted in the positions you can use...

HTH.

Thankyou mumpbump so so so much I could kiss you, I understand theres risks and to be honest previously when was expecting all to be 'normal' industion would have been something I wanted to avoid but its amazing isnt it how quickly things can make perspectives change? Now all I care about is that all will end well never mind the means that we all come out of it ok.
Thanks again so much. think I might be making a phone call, I'm usually quite shy and timid, another thing that can quickly change with circumstances I guess.

I hope it all goes okay and shall keep an eye out for the birth announcement...

PS - if they try to say no, I would point out that it was the doctor that raised the possibility of the induction and that if the consultant thinks differently, you want to hear it from him/her so can they give you an appointment with the consultant/get him/her to call you.

Hi, well called the midwife yesterday and she made me feel a little better, talked to me in human about what the hospital were most likely thinking and said to monitor until wednesday and take it from there, as midwife said that blood flow can improve.
Baby has been very active especially at 1.30 am this morning!!!
If we're still not happy with what they say I will talk to them then about possible induction.
Is this the right thing to do? Or should I be pushing for more sooner?

Hello MrsJ, just wanted to say that I have read your story and am thinking of you. I had lots of concerns over DD's growth (too big and no one knew why) and my consultant explained that they like to keep them inside for as long as possible as the lungs get so much stronger towards the end. Only once it became more dangerous to be in rather than out would they think about inducing me.

It was an extremely worrying time and you must be very anxious. Providing all is well with your kicking, I wouldn't do anything til monday and then would see how you felt. Waiting til Wed may be OK or may just be too stressful for you. don't feel bad about getting in touch with a view to seeing someone sooner. I went to the day assessment unit at the hospital regularly as I was anxious about my pg and no one seemed to mind. Take it one day at a time and keep us informed.

Take careXXXX

Hi Mrs McJ! Glad to hear that you got some reassurance, if not the induction. I think you just have to do what you feel is right and there are pro's and con's either way. I must say that ds was a pretty healthy 7lb 1oz when he was born and has been fighting fit for most of his life so far - except for viral tonsilitis in October and a gastro thing at the moment... So with hindsight, I think their concerns were foundless, but of course it could have been very different. Let us know how things go...

Thanks guys, sorry I havent replied sooner. had a apnic yesterday as baby was very quiet all morning so rang hospital to try and get them to monitor her, they insisted I waited another 2 hours. so by now I was very fed up and mad and muddled, rang my mum and ranted who said give it til my husband got home which would be less than an hour and if nothing had happened still to call back. So I sat down and low and behold baby woke up and hardly stopped moving! Felt a little foolish but sooner be foolish than anything worse. she's moving well today, struling to keep up with her on her kick chart! had her ten movements in a hour already.
I have the midwife tomorrow and hospital wednesday so focussing on that.
Almost wish they do decide to deliver her now, just so I know shes ok and well maybe lack of patience and wanting to get out of limbo! lol
Always knew last few weeks would be a waiting game etc but this is making it all worse.
Anyone have a crystal ball?

Thanks again for the replies, they are really helping me!

Went to see MW yesterday who put me a little more at ease and explained pros and cons for waiting, so feel a little more at ease. She did say that baby wasnt the smallest baby she'd ever felt but wasnt the biggest either.
Have a hospital appointment this afternoon and midwife has made me an appointment with her next week, if they didnt deliver me or the hospital don't want to see me! that all made it feel a bit real...
MW did say that one of the points of waiting is that the earlier you try to induce someone the more chance it wont take and a c section be needed. Anyone know how successful inductions are at 37 + weeks??

I know someone whose waters broke just before 37 weeks and she was induced 72 hours later - quick labour and no complications. However, if there are no concerns, I suspect she would probably say to hold out for 40 weeks, tbh, because she thinks that being born early has affected her ds' development because he was only just not premature, iyswim...

thanks mumpbump, just have to wait and see what they think and say today, will leave it in the hands of the experts, MW has assured me that I'm under a very good consultant.
Thanks again! xxx

How was it Mrs J?

You may know already, but you can always rock up at your hospital's day assessment unit or even the labour ward and explain about monitoring. If it puts your mind at rest it's worth it. Stress always makes my babies go quiet so reassurance was paramount. I spent ages in the day unit having DD monitored. SO if you are worried again, then I'd say turn up as it's harder to refuse you when you are standing in front of them.

Take care

Hi, well they didnt do a scan but the doctor was a lot more approachable and let ME tell him if you get what I mean? We are to continue the kick chart and go back for a scan next wednesday, (I'll be 38 +3 weeks then) as they said they wouldn't be able to see much difference in a week.
But he could tell we were anxious and we felt he really went out of his way to reassure us.
Also MW really helped the day before, so feeling a little better and baby is nice and active. But I wont hesitate to call if i'm worried again. I said to the doctor that I was most likely over paranoid with it all if anything but he really seemed to support that.
Decided best way for sanity is to take it day by day and have next wednesday as a focus and take it from there... No talk of induction yesterday though. not sure if they're waiting until next week or what?
Also said babies head was half way engaged now. It was down as 'free' last week, just can't wait to meet her now. feel like i'm being teased a bit! lol

Thanks so much for your reply!

Pleased to hear that you have been reassured. I think it is right to just take it one day at a time - you can't do much else anyway, can you? You never know, your baby might just arrive early anyway!!

thanks mumpbump! Its all a waiting game now you're right! never been very good at that either! lol
Thanks so much for our replies, you've no idea how much I appreciate it. xxx

Any news? How were your hospital appointments?

I have a scan tomorrow afternoon, baby is still moving well so will wait and see whats said tomorrow.
Trying to premeditate possible scenarios as DH has to work so i'm taking my mum with me.
DH is very level headed and laid back (even when he secretly isn't) So thats made me more nervous and we are going to talk tonight about possible outcomes for tomorrow.
Anyone any idea??

Sorry - off ill at the moment so only just saw your post... Hope that your scan went well yesterday and that your lo is happily growing inside you and getting ready for the big day. At least you're already full term now, so no extended stays in hospital hopefully!

All I would say, is that I should imagine you have fairly limited outcomes, either induce because of ongoing concerns or keep going - plus side of the latter is you get to listen to your baby's heart every couple of days and a couple of hours with your feet up on a hospital bed, reading some cr*ppy Mills & Boon novel... Enjoy those few hours of rest while you can!!

Will keep an eye out for your updates...

I had a nightmare day yesterday, Doctor simply seemed unable to answer my questions, infact she got a little flustered a couple of times.
They are now saying that she is the right size and the last measurements may have been a mistake, the back tracked away from the word mistake. but are saying that the blood flow remains the same as before, so borderline ok.
I have to go back next week for another scan and continue with kick chart. I just had absoloutely no confidence in her and was so angry and frustrated then spent the rest of the night crying or completely flat.
I feel utterly deflated today and numb and completely depressed. just wish i could be how everyone expects me to be, thinking ooh any day now is it today? but I can't its not really even occurring to me at all. waited all pg for the first day of feb and feel its all been ruined a bit and spoilt. Completely irrational i'm sure but have no confidence in them, feel they dont listen to me and i felt patronised.
She just kept saying baby fine, bbay fine don't worry. So why the F* am I going back next week then??? I go from being completely numb to wanting to brain someone over something trivial to sitting and sobbing.
Don't know what to do...