Any midwives about? Anxious -Need advice re asynclitic baby, and Im running out of time

[Markandkark]

Very grateful for any advice. I'm 40 +10. Have been booked for an induction on Thurs. I have questions re the midwife' s notes, as I don't feel reassured and would like to speak to a someone before going straight for induction.
On Sun, the midwife noted down that the baby was asynclitic, not engaged, -2 to spines, LOP. Cx posterior.
Googling this, it all seems to lead to very long labour, failure to progress, and either Keillands forceps or EMCS. If this is the case, wouldn't it be better to just ask to go straight to CS? I'm going to see the midwife later, but they are very short staffed and don't have a lot of time to explain things. I'm feeling very anxious that this induction is not going to go well.
Thanks

here?

Sorry - meant to say, there may be some info on shifting poorly positioned baby here.

Hello

am not a MW but a doula so a little experience but worth waiting for a MW to respond!

Yes good link above for foetal positioning - certainly worth a try.

But probably most important thing is to remember that just because baby was asynclitic on Sun doesn't mean s/he is now or will be when you go in to labour. Often the pre-labour/early labour is working to get your baby in to the best possible position too. The contractions help to get that baby in a good position if s/he hasn't done so before labour.

Being mobile during labour, following your body's instincts in terms of your position will also help encourage your baby in to a good position.

If you aren't 100% sure whether you want the induction it's worth knowing you can ask for monitoring instead and wait for labour to start under its own steam, thus giving the baby more time to get well positioned and make his/her entry when he's ready. This is all about weighing up the risks and benefits of induction and the risks and benefits of waiting and seeing what you are comfortable with. It is 100% your choice whatever your hospital's policy and the NICE guidelines on induction remind doctors/MWs that it's your choice to decline induction and they must offer you regular monitoring and respect your wishes.

You can get some great info on induction pros and cons by paying a v small fee for the AIMS induction pdf available in the publications section on their website www.aims.org.uk.

Do mention your concerns to your MW and, if you go ahead with the induction, it might be worth talking to them about whether you want your waters broken as part of the process unless absolutely necessary. There's a school of thought that if the baby has the waters around them during labour they can shift position more easily and that once the waters are broken the baby can come down in to the pelvis in a poor position and be a bit stuck...

Trust your body, your instincts and your baby - I reckon they'll know what todo!

You can refuse induction!!! I went to 40 + 19 and went into labour naturally. Yes, they will bully you & put you on expectant management but if the results are reassuring, there is no actual evidence for placenta degrading. The French "allow" to 40+21! Also you can be very assertive about keeping induction slow; read around for ideas. you'll need your DP to be assertive too.

It's a sad truth but the more you worry, the more you'll hang onto your baby.

Babies can move right up until the last minute so dont worry. Besides LOP is much better than ROA. Not so far for baby to turn - and anyway, they can be born face to pubes. Spinning babies website is a good read. And ive read about mums on here having better births with posterior babies than anterior ones. My two pregnancies seem to loved being ROA.

Keep off the sofa, bounce on your ball, walk up the stairs sideways lots and lots, sit leaning forward over the back of a dining room chair or kneel over ball / footstool to watch telly. Don't labour on your back if you can possibly help it as keeping off your back helps the spines move out the way. Don't call the delivery suite too early when you go into labour coz that's when the clock starts ticking. Your little one may just need longer to line up for exit. The fact that hasnt dropped yet is actually on your favour for now as its easier for babe to get into the ideal LOA position.

Cool flannel on my lower back was bliss for me in labour with my Back to back. Some people prefer heat. Firm massage also very popular for posterior births. It need not be more painful - I was ok on just TENS then G&A. Good luck.

Thank you all for your advice, I'm taking a look at the website now. I think the difficulty I have is that I've had a traumatic birth experience before, which left me with long term PND, and I can feel the anxiety rising at the thought of a long difficult labour. They want me to go in on Thurs eve for induction, so my husband will be sent home by 9pm. I can't bear the thought of doing this on my own, as that is what I had to do before, and it was awful. But when I mention it, I get vey upset and tearful, so I don't think they then take any of my other concerns seriously, as they think I'm just another hormonal crying preg woman. How do I get them to take me seriously?

mark - I have no experience of what you have said, but firstly wanted to send you hugs as I know that feeling of fear and uncertainty. You have reached the end of the road and are no doubt exhausted and then with the imminent prospects of labour, everything can feel very overwhelming. But you will be fine.

I am in the same boat about trying to be taken seriously for an ELCS and my appointment is next week. However, I am taking DH with me as I know I will crumble into a hormonal, teary blob and be ushered out the room. Can you take your DH or Mum or anyone who is assertive to be your advocate?

Refuse induction until they write in your notes that DH can stay? Don't have to be antagonistic, just politely decline to let them
touch you.

One friend I know checked herself out as soon as her ARM had been done & had a first set of readings that were reassuring so she could labour at home. Obviously she didn't let on that this was her plan. She's my birthing heroine. Admittedly She was only 15min drive from hospital. We went for a lovely walk and ice cream on the common while she waited for things to get going post ARM. A lot nicer than being couped up in a delivery room.

Our hospital does inductions for multips in the morning as they tend not to need so much assistance to get things going.

i'm not a midwife either but if i'd had an experience like yours and if baby is not in a good position then i would not want a repeat experience. mother's are always being told to trust your instincts and i would put your foot down with this instinct. if you have had a traumatic birth and baby isn't in a good position then tell them you don't want an induction, tell them you want a c-section. don't ask, tell them you don't want to discuss it, you have made your decision.

good luck!

Thank you everyone so much for your help, it means a lot to me. My DH is being incredibly supportive, and I have just seen a very nice community MW who has contacted the hospital and put the induction date back to next Sun, so I have a little more time.

She thinks the head has moved into a more favorable position, and gave me a rather enthusiastic sweep, where she said she could feel the top of the head. She reassured me that if I did not want to be induced I could go along and just be monitored instead.
Ive walked the dog, and am now going to MN on all fours with the iPad, hopefully that will help this baby find its way out.

Has baby made an appearance yet? Hope all went/goes well!