Anyone been induced early for baby showing no signs of growth?

[Tyson86]

Hello, I have found out that my baby has shown no signs of growth since 28 weeks, I am 36 weeks now and mw's have only just started sorting it out. I have been referred to the consultant and they have said they will possibly induce me early, the man did not tell me what was poss wrong after he had scanned me, i have another consultant appointment on weds where they are going to tell me the plan of care. Has anyone been through this and be able to tell me what to expect please.

bump

No experience I'm afraid, but I see you have no replies so I'm sending you over a bit of support. Was everything else okay, heartbeat, placenta, babys movement etc...
I was under the impression that inducing pre-term rarely works, but I'm probably wrong.
I was induced at 40+10, I can share my experience of that if you like?

The heartbeat was ok, placenta was never mentioned to me and movements have been fine. If your induced and they put the monitors strapped to you, can you move around at all, ive had the monitoring before at 32 weeks as i was concerned about movements then, and laying on my back still, for 45 mins hurt my back let alone hours. How does the induction normally happen? Thanks for replying. Can you think of any extra bits that might come in handy for my hospital bag for an induce labour?

I was induced two weeks early as DS didn't seem to be growing (before then they'd been doing weekly checkups - scans, etc). In the end they thought he'd be better out early to make sure all OK. He was fine. After being induced I wasn't on monitors all the time. In fact I was induced early morning and DS didn't arrive until evening so just have lots to do during the day as I remember the waiting seeming to go on forever. Take someone with you to your next appointment and ask as many questions as you can think of if you're concerned with anything.

It seems a bit confusing what they're telling you. If there had been no growth for 8 weeks they'd be emcs'ing you I would've thought. I know my cousin was told at 27 weeks that there had been no growth for 2-3 weeks and they kept her in from that moment on constant monitoring with steroid injections and she had a cs 2 days later. But then she was told there was a problem with the placenta and he wouldn't survive if he stayed inside her.
I'm surprised they haven't said why your LO hasn't grown or what they think might be the reasons for it. I can only hope that they don't think it's serious enough to get too worried about yet. I hope you find more answers on wednesday. Good luck.

Thank you meanymum glad your ds was healthy, i have read alot of horror stories which is abit scary. I dont even know if im coming home next weds after my consultant appointment. Im taking my dh with me and think ill take a list of questions too.

If you have a drip to induce it is constant monitoring, stuck in uncomfortable position on the bed. If you are offered this I would ask for a section instead.

Hope all goes well

saoirse86 I find alot of what the consultant has said has been quite contradictory aswell. 8 weeks seems so long and reading my notes on what the consultant and mw have wrote it seems they think it is about the placenta but i can only guess by reading between the notes. I feel quite dumped and confused and weds seems so far away.

I was induced a week early as my baby wasn't putting on weight in the last few weeks and they thought she would be better out. They put me on a monitor and a drip to bring on labour. As soon as the drip was inserted my contractions came strong and fast and she was born within 2 hours. She weighed 4lb 15oz so was tiny but healthy. She didn't need any special care at all.

abouteve i like your story, im very glad your dd was healthy. They think my baby is 4lb 10oz atm.

That was my gut instinct to be honest, why aren't they giving you a c section, I've got it in my head that early inductions rarely work, but I don't know where I have got this from?
With regard to inducing I had a pessary inserted vaginally for 24 hours as an inpatient and then they decided I was dilated enough to gave my waters broken. I was monitored with a 2 Doppler probes strapped to my belly and moving effects the response loads so yes you have to stay quite still. They then started me on a drip to start off contractions, after 3 hours they started to get a little worried about my DS heartbeat and decided to monitor it in a slightly better way by inserting a something or other into me, they put it on my DSs head. I then had an epidural and they continued to express worry about his heartrate do whipped me in for an emergency c section.

Sorry for the typos, stupid iPhone. Anyway DS was 8lb 11oz and absolutely fine. I was good too and the c section recovery was absolutely okay, no problems whatsoever.

pebblejones I asked the consultant for a c-section and he said prob no as it is more dangerous for baby than induction, i dont agree with this as everything ive read up says induction is dangerous for babies that have what i think my baby has. IUGR. I am not just trying to get out of giving birth naturally as i was planning a homebirth which has now been declined for the babies health, being induced early is the total opposite of what i wanted. I think the consultant thought i wanted a c-section for other reasons than my lo's health.

Can you ask for a second opinion?

I'm not sure, all I know is that I had an induction and ended up needing a c section, whether I needed the c section because of the induction or not, I don't know?
Is a c section dangerous for the baby, I don't know, I can't imagine so... dangerous for the Mother maybe? Baby is out so fast and there are obs and gynae doctors there, paediatrician there, anaesthetists there, midwife there... During my induction it was me, DH and midwife with an SpR popping in every now and then.
I'm really not sure, a c sections major surgery, but I'm really not sure it's more dangerous for the baby?

Luckily i have a different consultant seeing me on weds so basically a second opinion. I would be less worried for baby if i had c-section as it is less stress for baby.

Should add that I was already 3 cm dilated before they induced so I think she was coming out soon anyway. The birth was quick but aggresive and a bit of a shock as I thought I was going to be in agony for several hours. Only had time for gas and air at the pushing stage.

Good luck and fingers crossed that everything goes OK. I'm sure it will.

Yes Good Luck for Wednesday. Maybe write a list of your concerns and questions to discuss with the Doctor, that way you won't forget anything.

((((Tyson))))

We've been thinking about you on the antenatal thread.

I can't helpl with most of your post, but I have been told that I'll need constant fetal monitoring (VBAC), but that this won't stop me being mobile (to the extent of the leads) and I can certainly be upright on / by the bed, on all fours or on a birthing ball. hth x

Tyson,
I had an attempted induction at 34 weeks for my dd who hadn't grown since 32 weeks and she was small then. You'll find out what they plan to do on Wednesday but they'll probably admit you from the clinic so take a bag just in case. They will usually give you 2 days worth of steroids to help your baby's lungs and then induce you. From what I was told a natural birth is better than a cs so they will try to do this unless their is concern for your baby apart from the IUGR. The induction didn't work for me but you are further along than I was and I had a cs in the end. My dd was 3lbs 5 oz and spent 3 weeks in NICU but is now absolutely fine. Try not to worry too much, they have picked up the problem and will decide the best treatment for you and your baby.

abouteve and pebblejones thank you so much for your help andadvice. I will def take a list, ill write some of it tonight.

Moonstorm Hello (waves)
I hope i have the same sort of monitoring as youthen as i really want to be mobile. See you on the antenatal thread x

Milly Thanks for your post, How long do you think they will keep me in, i have a 2 yr old ds who i dont want to be apart from for too long.
Glad your baby is well now.

I was induced two weeks early because growth had slowed right down. They started the induction in the evening, but it took a second dose and a good 12 hours before anything happened and labour slowly kicked in. Then within an hour the baby's heartrate starting slowing dramatically and I was whizzed off for an emergency cs. DD was absolutely fine, on the small side at 5lb 7oz but didn't need special care. I honestly don't think she was ready to come out hence the distress - all my others were a week late.

Anyway, best of luck.

If you're 36 weeks then you shouldn't need steroids; these aren't routinely given after 34 weeks as far as I'm aware.

I had exactly the same problem; my baby was small for dates. I was signed off work at 34 weeks and had daily monitoring for a week. At my next clinic appointment I was admitted and the baby was induced (at 35 weeks). I too asked for a C section but was told that it was better for the baby to be born naturally. I just wanted to reassure you that in fact induction certainly wasn't awful for me. I had mobile monitoring so I could walk around (even up & down the corridor if I wanted). The whole process took 11 hours from start to finish, and my beautiful daughter was born weighing 4lb 12oz - so very tiny - but perfectly healthy.
I know it's difficult - but try not to worry too much - and good luck

I'm sure you'll get 2 days of steroids before they start the induction, depends whether that works, if you have a cs you can't go home immediately. I was in for 8 days but had fairly serious preclampsia, so if you are generally ok you'll be out much sooner. There are so many variables as you already know. I have a 2 year old as well so was desperate to be home...
They will also tell you that the growth scan isn't particularly accurate so your baby may be bigger or smaller than they are estimating.

Just read nah's post. I'm not sure whether you will get steroids. I was over 34 weeks and was given them. My baby was teeny so that may have had something to do with it, I'm sure you will be told on Wednesday. Good luck.