Fetal Heart rate keeps dropping - please hold my hand..

[allibaba]

Evening,

Am 39+4 (2nd pg), booked for a home water birth, had a small bloody discharge today which could be start of a show. However had routine MW appointment this afternoon and fetal heart rate dropped from 128 to 108 so MW sent me to hospital to be monitored.

MW at hospital put me on fetal montior and was very happy with movements heart rate etc apart from half way through baby heart rate dropped again from 133 to 104 but then bounced straight back.

I have to go in again tomorrow morning to have the monitor again. They can't tell me what is causing this and I don't know what to ask. Feeling very scared. Particularly as this happened a week and a half ago at my last MW appointment but she told me then it was nothing to worry about. What if my baby has been deprived oxygen for the last few weeks. May have to be induced (was first time round as well) but am worried. Can someone please reassure me this has happened to them and that this will all be ok?

Oh

Don't want to leave you unanswered.

How you feeling?

Sure some one clever will be along xx

Feeling either really low and very concerned about baby dying in womb (sorry to sound melodramtic) and resigned to induction and getting baby out with no problems.

Just want to get to hospital tomorrow morning and be told baby heart rate still there. Can feel him kicking now but prone to worrying...

Thanks for the concerned post though

I had something similar towards the end of my 1st pg with the heart rate deccelerating and the variability being decreased too (apparently important). I spent about 4 days in hospital while they monitored me, but all was fine. Can't remember what the decrease in rate was though. How's your baby's movement/kick count been going?

This happened to me continued all the way through labour to was really scary but the mw said they only worry when it drops and stays down for 2-3 mins it's better they pick it up now because then they can monitor it , I didn't get my homebirth in the end but I am holding my lovely 6 day old dd who I delivered normally with no real problems in the end. I hope the same will be true for you.

If they were really really worried they would have kept you in?

If you are worried, just call them and go in and ask to be admitted and monitored (that's probably what I would do)

X posted - gah...I know how stressful and worrying it all is. You just want to know they're Ok. But the movement is a good thing. Any chance you could ring your maternity unit at the hospital just for a bit of reassurance - I know its late, but there'll be someone around. I would think that if they'd sent you home overnight then its not a cause for immediate concern.

If you are worried, phone them up and explain your concerns. Don't be afraid to be a bit pushy/neurotic. I didn't have the decreasing heartbeat but he did stop moving around so ended up getting taken in for monitoring, but that might have been 'cos I was a neurotic first time mum so kept phoning them up hassling them!

Hope it all goes well and take care.

In fairness to the MW I saw at the hospital this afternoon she said that my monitor chart was "text book" and that apart from this one dip in heart rate, she wouldn't be concerned.

I went to NCT classes first time round and one of the ladies there had very high blood pressure and lost her baby at 38 weeks. Everytime something doesn't feel right I start thinking what if that happens to me which is riduculously unproductive. If they were really worried they would've kept me in I guess and movements have been ok.

If the baby hasn't got much room can pressure be put on them by the way you sit or with the position they are in?

If the heart rate dropped for a few seconds then picked up again that is not usually a problem, it is only a problem if it drops for longer than about 15 seconds or if the variability is poor. They would not have sent you home if they were seriously worried about your baby. Healthy babies move, so it sounds like your little one is ok right now

Try and relax, I'm sure they are only asking you to come back tomorrow as a precaution. This time tomorrow hopefully you will be back to planning your homebirth.

My DS heart rate dropped a few times while being monitored, consultant 1 panicked and began injecting me with steriods for "possible imminent delivery". Consultant 2 said "hes probably just squeezed his cord" and let me home . Oh and a MW sent me in for monitoring after a home visit when DS heart rate 160 despite me telling her how active he was being. Dont worry too much unless the change is prolonged, my DS is fine!

My DD's heart rate kept dipping through 19 hours of labour, I was monitored up the whole time - she was born normally at 39 wks and is fine.
Good luck for today- let us know x

It can be something as simple as baby holding onto the cord, or laying on it at a funny angle.

Hello Everyone! Thank you all for your messages - it did help to have the reassurance.

William George Allibaba was born last night at 11.10pm weighing in at 7lbs 5oz. He was born at the birthing centre after I was admitted by the registar so I didn't get my home birth but it was a very intense labour lasting 2 hours so I was in the best place to be monitored properly and still got to get in the pool.

The doctors have no idea why the heart rate kept dropping and the MW's all think he was just pulling on the cord but little William is doing well and is very hungry

YAY congrats!!

How lovely congratulations!

What wonderful news. Congratulations!

Ah how wonderful thanks for letting us know, and enjoy lots of festive newborn snuggles with your new boy x

Great news,congratulations,happy cuddling