URGENT advice needed: Induction

[SHHHH]

I am 40 weeks tomorrow and reluctant to go over 40 weeks due to possible problems with the placenta etc as well as the fact I am uncomfortable and in discomfort due to spd & sciatica.

This is my 2nd and dd was 9lb 4oz's, im only 4ft 11in so imo she was quite a big baby for my body frame BUT as the mw's this time around have repeated: I coped with the birth of dd well....TBH I had no choice.!!!!!!! With dd I constantly seeked reasurrance over dd's weight prior to the birth and just wanted the mw's to be honest and to give me their opinion on dd's expected weight. All I got was: average. Till she was born and then the comments flowed..: Oh we thought she would be a big baby. . I know mw's are not god iykwim BUT surely they have a good idea..?

Well after expecting a possible sweep today (not had)etc the mw explained that they would let me go until ds2b was born although they would not allow me over 41+5 (against what vwe wanted) After checking me over, she replied that she feels ds2b is also going to be large..around 8lb7oz PLUS... Thats atm and obviously will be bigger if I go nearly 2 weeks over.She has referred me tona consultant and a 2nd opinion.

SO....................I need to know peoples views and opinions. I am booked to see a consultant tomorrow to discuss a possible induction and if they feel its necessary.
Anyone answer me these questions:

1.Would you opt for an induction if you were me. Has anyone in the same situation as me opted for one..?

2.If dd was delivered naturally does this mean that the possibilty of problems happening with an induction are low..? ie ecs needed..

Will come back if I can remember any other question..atm my head is spinning and Im quite scared and worried.....

TIA. xx

Do you have any reason to think there is a problem with your placenta?

When did your first arrive? on time?

oooh..hjave dinner guests coming in 2 minutes !!!!!! don;t be scared!

No reason to worry about the placenta but due to my own thoughts and feelings neither dh or I want to go over term by so long as obviously the placenta could become less effective. My mw a few weeks ago assured me that an eye would be kept to the mother and baby in this situation BUT I don't like the fact that they would rely on me to ensure so many movements are felt in a certain timescale. I personally don't want to be responsable for such a big thing iywkim.

DD was bang on time. Went into labour 1 hour after my due date (1am) and had her by 3pm that day. I know the same could happen with this one but .....I just like to be prepared. Suppose I can look on the negative side..

Have a good meal lm...xx

You may be able to get a scan which would give a rough estimate of size and they can also check the functioning of your placenta

Have you tried any of the usual things to start labour off naturally?
I'm sure there was a thread on DIY sweeps recently or perhaps I imagined it

Personally I wouldn't have an induction - but only you know ow much pain you're in with the spd.

Inductions are more painful than going into labour by yourself. It leads to a cascade of monitoring and intervention and you are far more likely to end up with a c-sec.

You birthed a 9lbs4oz baby last time which is fantastic and shows that your pelvis is quite capable of passing a larger than average size baby. If its done it once it will do it again (and even easier this time).

Placentas do not start deteriorting until 42 weeks. tHERE is no reason why your placenta would be any different. Its quite normal and ok to go over your due dates. As for monitoring baby's movements - you do that every day. If you thought baby wasn't moving as much you would ring your m/w whether you were 38 or 41 weeks. Listen to your body and have faith in it.

Estimating weight by palpatoin is hard, even by a scan it is inaccurate to a pound either way (sometimes more than a pound).

not sure what will happen tomorow and if they will do a growth scan. TBH my mw agreed to one 3 weeks ago but when I went to the regular appoinmtnet and asked about the promised scan she went to check the size and ended up referring me for a scan as she believed ds2b was breech....turns out he wasn't BUT the growth scan got left to one side.

Tried the usual labour starting things....sex,pineapple,rlt.....

I understand that its hard to estimate size by palpertation (sp) and scans BUT it jut worries me about ds2b's size...its me who has to birth a larger size and its me who has to cope with the possibility that something may go wrong..its this that worries me...BUT ds2b is apparently engaged so surely this is a good sign that he's geting ready and that his head will fit my pelvis...??

Are you fine boned or quite large boned? Do you have quite large hands and feet for your height? Maybe it is an old wives tale, I know a woman who is your height and all her babys were around 10 lbs, she managed ok...she has broad feet!

I am due in 6 weeks and hoping like mad not to be induced. So I would definately prefer to keep a kick chart and be closely monitered so I can go into labour myself when my body and baby are ready if possible.
I bet you'll go soon, any signs at all yet?

how did it go today?

I'm considering hiding in a cupboard next baby to AVOID induction because for me it was kinda like being filled up with pain and then poked with hot knives (but just my humble opinion .

It's normal to be nervous but I'd go for anything (reflexology)rather than induction.

good luck

Rachel

Ive had 2, one ending in Csection. I wouldn't personally opt for one again.

If I was in your position I would demand (in a very un-english highly-hormonal way)that they either do a growth scan immediately or they go back to your scan for the suspected breech and check the details because you are so scared and it is worrying you with your sciatica etc. You want all the information available to make the right decision. I was scanned for suspected breech at 38 weeks and they also measured size as a matter of course - they just chose to ignore the growth readings (off the chart) because "that's not what the scan was for". If they can scan now and baby really is big then I would go for induction sooner rather than later (even given my induction experience ending in ECS). I had SPD and back troubles also and those last two weeks going overdue with an enormous baby tipped me over the edge and it all ended in an ECS anyway as there was no way my LO was going to come out naturally due to his size. I wish I had been more assertive when I reached full term and had gone back to the size estimations and got him out sooner. I hope your midwives take notice of your worries, and all the best.

Anyone heard from SHHHH ?

yes, she has started a new thread x

Has she namechanged then??

ooops..no ! i am overtired ! sorry x

That is a different mner I think this person is only term the other term+10 already????

My 2nd was huge 10lb6oz and I'm 5'1" and then with 3rd I had very bad spd (couldn't walk), antenatal depressin it was the heatwave summer of 2003 so I got induced on my due date whereas the others were at T+14 - bad idea as the baby wasn't ready I ended up with an ARM at which point I stupidly asked the chance of success - only 50%!!!! BEing induced isn't all bad but it can be painful and long if the baby is not ready, however as your first came on time and it is your 2nd anyway I think it would work out ok.

Hopefully you are not around as you went into labour today and now have your baby

it is a different person buffy.. i am tired !!

bless everyone for asking after me...makes me feel loved !!!

Well I am still here along with..........................a bloody great big tummy .

I saw a registra yesterday and as exected have been made to feel like a mad pregnant women. She declined to do a growth scan as she felt it wasn't necessary. She checked me over and agreed that baby is on the large size atm BUT commented that they are only concerned with small babies and not large ones.! She again like others beforehand said I had coped with dd at 9lb 4oz's and that I would be fine with ds2b, if there were any concerns they would be dealt with at the del/birth . Looking at my notes she noticed the only problem I had with dd was in delivering her shoulders...neither dh or I remembered it and tbh wish she hadn't mentioned it iykwim...more worry.

She said I measured right but maybe baby appears bigger as Im small..??? BTW to answer a question below..I wouldn't say I am big or small boned..prob average..I am a size 4 shoes and have smallish hands..Enlighten me please..??!!

So basically they still would not induce me and would allow me to go to 41+5 before inducion although as I was not at my usual clinic yesterday I have been rebooked in for monday to speak direct to my consultant (who was brill with the pregnancy and birth with dd) about growth/size worries...tbh they don't want the pressure and want it to be dealt with by my consultant iykwim.

So..................I opted for a sweep which tbh I didn't find it to bad an experience. I was worried before BUT it was similar to a smear..uncomfortable but not enough for me to cling to the ceiling!! She admitted mw's can be rougher so didn't know what was best! There was blood loss and yesterday within 10 mins f the sweep I had vvvvvvv bad period pains. I now I should have encouraged labour by going home and walking etc BUT I personally found it uncomfortable but then I am not a period pai sufferer). So I went to bed...hence no posting yesterday. I needed my tens but today I feel no different. There is still slight blod loss (Old) but nowt else. I believe if it is to work it will do so within 24/48 hours. The fact I feel ok today compared to yesterday, does that mean its not worked.?

TBH I really didn't want an induction as I so hope for a water birth again. BTW we did tell the registra about sciatica and spd on the basis that the size of the baby is making it worse...she replied, itsnot a reason to induce . Obviously didn't listen to us! I replied I wasn't wanting an early induction due to that but due to the weight of baby.! Oh and she told us her baby was 6lb and it was better to have a large baby..oh right so she is in an ideal position to tell me that..seen as she has never birthed a whale.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good to hear from you!

Remember that it's not really the weight of the baby that matters but the size of the head

what about the size of the shoulders..? Seems with dd the head was no problem but the shoulders were..I always thought if you del the head the rest was a doddle so to speak...

Thanks theblonde. x

Shoulders probably depend on position more I think

ah right, not sure how dd was lay inside BUT ds2b apparently is back to back...so may be a problem again BUT they advised me that they will be aware following dd's birth so will be prepared hopefully with ds2b .

bigger babies can be easier to birth,as their weight sort of helps ! don;t torture yourself like this !!!! your baby is the right size for you..if you are worried, try labouring on your hands and knees or in another position that opens up the pelvis more.....

what did midwife say about your cervix? any action ?

thanks lm, think i forgot to say, yesterday apparently my cervix was soft and supple and they were able to stretch it iykwim..!!! Also able to easliy insert 2 fingers and possibly 3 but reluctant to .!!! Obviosuly I know this isn't a sign of being in labour and being 2-3 cms dialated esp as I have had a baby before so probably that already but think its all a good sign that baby is getting ready..?

your cervix is a little dilated from previous labour but if stretchy and 2-3 , then you are on your way ! think nice positive labour-y thoughts !