Scan today and advised of induction tmr!

[jsc26]

Hi all.

We went in for 37.3 wk scan today after being consultant led due to high BMI at the booking in.
Expected to be signed off and be midwife led however have left the hospital with the expectation to attend induction tomorrow morning.
Baby is measuring 3rd percentile for weight, It’s 5lbs 5... It was around 10th percentile 5 weeks ago and 4lbs.

This has panicked me and really would like to know if I can push for a c-section.
It worries me the length of time to be in limbo on a pessary and also the stress on the baby, especially with it being so small.
Thanks.

Gosh, good luck! Were you expecting to have the baby now? Whatever way you have the baby you'd probably be panicking now, at 37 weeks my baby measured 5lb 4 and I was also told to come back to have her in the morning. Complete panic. I had a cesarean though, I was offered that or an induction and they actually pushed slightly for the section. I don't know though if that was due to a previous cesarean? I could be wrong but was told that if the mother had real concerns then a planned c-section will be done. I understand your worry, my consultant said that it's best to just get the baby out when they're small but it felt so sudden! Can you speak to them again and ask? I know they have to book the section in so maybe in your case it's the quickest option to have induction. Sorry, am not being much help, but if you can contact your consultant or midwife, I would, even just to talk it through again as every pregnancy is different and I only know my experience. Good luck, hope it all goes well and either way, you're going to meet your baby soon 💕

I was induced at 38 weeks, due to baby measuring small and was told it was best to get her out then whilst they knew she was doing okay. I went in on friday morning, waters started leaking friday night, went to labour suite around 12pm saturday lunch. My waters broke on their own fully then, was put on the drip and baby was born just after midnight.

I was told she would be around 5lb but she was 6lb 15oz. I wouldn't push for a C-Section if there's no need for one as its a longer and tougher recovery. They'll monitor baby throughout and will know how they're coping and if they decide you need a C-Section they will do it.

doubt induction will stress baby more than c-section. All else being equal, vaginal birth appears to offer some benefits to baby. They will monitor you and baby to make sure all is ok. I know it's utterly horrid to have it suddenly thrown upon you. I was stunned and detached from earth for the whole time. Baby was totally fine. . Hum 19 years later I can say Some things never change!

I was scanned at 41 weeks and they were adamant he measured 6 lbs, he came naturally at 43 weeks and weighed 10 lbs so I tend to take scan measurements with a pinch of salt

Personally I wouldn't turn up. I remember when I was pregnant being told by others who had been through it, "Don't let them mess you about", and I didn't.

If the baby and you are fine, wait a couple of weeks. It will probably arrive naturally then. The baby is not unnaturally large for term for goodness sakes!

I have to say my BMI must have been huge because I ate my way through pregnancy eating for three and put on loads of weight - but nobody noticed - thankfully.

If the baby and you are fine

but the baby clearly isn't 'fine' or they wouldn't be advising induction! They are worried baby isn't growing properly!

OP you can request a c section but on BEFORE they start the induction, once it's started you cannot request one and it'll be on clinical need.

Thankyou all so much for your stories!!
It was a shock, thought I’d be early but not in tomorrow!

Rebecca36
The baby has not grown much at all in 5 weeks so am not opposed to something happening at all.

Sandstormbrewing - I’m not good with thinking on my feet and I thought it would all be fine at the scan. Everything else has been, so on this one occassion my husband wasn’t there to ask the questions I probably wanted to... however I did ask about csection but was directed away from that as they ‘didn’t need to rush the baby out’... I just think that if there is a need to ‘rush’ me in within 24 hours of a scan then I could have options.

I will ask again in the morning when I ring the delivery suite for timings. Just don’t want to ‘bother’ them tonight.

My first born stopped moving so much at 38 weeks. Went to FMU and was scanned and there wasn't much fluid, deepest pool around her was 1.5cm. Wasn't even allowed to go home to collect belongings, my dad had to get them. Was taken straight to delivery and induced, was a low threshold caesarean depending on how my daughter coped with labour. She was fine, fortunately and was born (after 19 hours 😳) weighing 5lb 6oz. My placenta was delivered and looked shrivelled apparently so looks like I had placental failure. MW said best thing I ever did was going in to be checked as could have been very different..

You don't have to consent to an induction and you do have options. My only regret when I was rushed in with DC1 is that I didn't know this. Both delivery types have benefits and risks depending on your personal factors; they need to provide you with these so you can make an informed choice. As PP says, if you feel you want a CS you need to request it before they begin the induction. Good luck tomorrow

You may not be in limbo at all with an induction. When I had it explained to me I was told I would be having one pressary than a drip if nothing happened after 24 hours, however I reacted to the pessary immediately. In my case they had to take the pessary out after 90 minutes and I gave birth within 9 hours. Talking to a few other women who have had an induction some react like I did, others have to have the drip while others they allow to have 2 pessaries.

Pessary started. I am feeling comfortable at the moment as to what’s happening.
Apart from the examination and insertion, it was horrific.
Thankyou so much for your support.

Good luck OP!

Was just going to post and say if your BMI is raised you’d be better off avoiding a Csection as healing can be difficult and higher chance of breathing problems with an early c-section.

@jsc26 they didn't tell me until afterwards they were doing a stretch and sweep which pissed me off as it bloody hurt. Check whether they are doing the same to you before they examine you again.

If you prefer a c-section, push for it. You don't have a "right" to it but they need to hear you don't like the idea of induction at all and in this scenario your preference is for a caesarean.

My friend was overdue. She really wanted a vaginal delivery but she was 43 + had gone through multiple rounds of IVF. They started inducing with a first pessary and it failed. At that point she changed her mind and in that situation she felt she wanted a caesarean more than induction. She argued with them and her baby was delivered by caesarean. Keep pushing.