Am nearly 40 weeks with first baby. At 36 weeks a routine scan (due to a BMI of over 30) showed reduced amniotic fluid levels (oligohydramnios). They weren't dire - the smallest pool of fluid was 2.8cm - but consultant advised induction at 41 weeks and continual foetal monitoring (scalp monitor) throughout labour as well as to go in as soon as contractions are ten mins apart. I was dead set on using the midwife led unit at the hospital and this would rule that out. The consultant would still support me having a low key birth at the MLU as long as I was aware of the risks but he really put the frighteners on me about there being a small possibility of brain damage or still birth due to cord prolapse so I decided to go with his recommendation.
Fastforward three weeks and I had another scan as wanted them to check the baby's movement and this time fluid levels are back up to being completely normal. The consultant had told me there was no hope of this happening previously!
I'm meeting with him tomorrow to see what he says about the new results. Obviously the hope is he'll say 'all fine now, go with your natural birth in the pool, no monitoring, no induction etc', but in my experience consultants won't often admit they are wrong!
Any ideas on what I should ask him tomorrow or how to make the decision on whether to go with the consultant's recommendation and be on the safe side or go for the birth I always wanted now that the fluid looks fine?
I've read lots of stuff on the internet on oligohydramnios saying that unless there are other indicators such as poor growth in the baby etc, it is often a misdiagnosis. On the other hand, this is a much wanted baby after recurrent miscarriages. If there's any real risk involved I'm happy to bin my birth plan and let them do whatever is necessary... Anyone had any experience of this?