Placenta starting to fail at 39 weeks - induction or monitoring, advice needed!

[LAH74]

Hi,

I had to have a growth scan today for reduced growth at 39 weeks, and while the baby is still growing they found that my placenta could be starting to fail early. I've been offered an induction in the next couple of days or another scan in a week on my due date and induction then if necessary, but the doctor didn't really explain anything, gave me 30 seconds to decide and just said its 6 of one and half a dozen of the other when I asked which option he thought best. Has anyone been in this situation themselves or can give me advice about inductions? Thanks in advance

How are things ?
Years ago I had my first early one evening ( a week past due date )
A midwife told me my placenta was failing and showed me it
She added that it was a very good thing that the baby had been born and not waited until the next day
Please make a fuss
Good luck

Hi all, just a quick update and thank you for all your advice. I spoke to a midwife in the antenatal clinic who explained my options a little more and booked me in to be induced (they had no slots for a week!!!). However the following night I went into triage as I hadn't felt movements for a while and was extra cautious, they induced me there and then and - long story short - 36 hours later was given an emergency c-section. I'm so happy to announce I have a healthy 6lb 15oz baby who I can't wait to bring home, and both myself and the wee baby are doing very well considering. Thank you all again, I really appreciate every one of your comments.

Congratulations LAH74 !!
Take it easy and hope you can come home soon

Congratulations! You 100% did the right thing. Hope you recover soon and have a wonderful Christmas with your baby

Congratulations! Hope you're home in time for Christmas.

@TheClausSeason thanks! I should be, they said tomorrow if all is looking good!

Congratulations, what lovely news!

Thanks for the update and rest well.

Amazing news!! Congrats

That's great news, well done to you both x

So glad you and baby are both ok. Hope you have a lovely xmas

Congratulations! I felt really nervous reading your post and so glad to hear there’s been a positive and swift outcome.

One of my twins growth was starting to slow at 28 weeks and was still slow at 32 weeks but they said my placenta was fine. At 35 weeks I felt unwell and went in for a check up, DT2 had a static heart rate and wasn’t moving. He only weighed 3.5lb, his twin was 4.5lb

He had IUGR, and this caused all sorts of problems including brain damage and a condition that causes severe hypoglycaemia. I’m still very angry about the fact they weren’t more proactive. Sounds like you did everything right when you realised movements were reduced and I’m so glad to hear your baby is okay.

I can't believe the NHS. In Denmark you not only would have been admitted and monitored at this information, as soon as something seemed wrong with the placenta you would be induced (while monitored with CTG). I watched a documentary on stillbirths in the UK and it's shocking how little there's done. I stayed at a hospital in Denmark for 3 weeks (before my twins were born, then 2 weeks) at a ward where midwives checked on me several times a day. Just grateful I wasn't ill in the UK.

Congratulations on your baby. I'm so happy to hear it ended well. Good on you for listening to your instincts.

Well done. it is never an easy issue. I had my twins (naturally) at 40 weeks probably because they were the 4th/5th children so not a first labour. I cuold have had them induced at 38 weeks but we agreed monitoring instead and there was no failure of placenta and their hearts were beating fine too. So for me that was the best choice. However after a 6 or 7 hour labour and twin 1 delivered number 2 didn't want to come out that day. I never thought I would have 2 full blown labours in one day for twins - I thought they just came out one after the other. In the end we had to put a drip in to speed up the contractions which had stopped and he was born 7 hours after his twin - vaginally and he was fine (and we went home the same night) but it certainly shows birth can be so different not even just between mothers but individual babies too.

Sink I am so sorry about your twins. I don't think it is very easy to know what is best to do. Taking twins out too early can cause problems in both of them but letting it go on too long when there is a problem is bad too. Hobson's choice at times.

Huge congratulations

Congratulations.

Sinkgirl I'm sorry to hear about your little boy.

100% get an induction. Get the baby out ASAP. 39 weeks is full term. Why would you risk waiting and something horrific could happen? Imagine if you wait to monitor and find out at the next scan your baby has died. I'm surprised they even gave you that option tbh.

Sorry, just seen your update. Congratulations! Right decision and so happy you and baby are well :)

I would want the baby out asap. However due to my personal experience of a failed induction because baby wasn't ready to come out I would ask them to check if your cervix is favourable and if not, ask about a c-section.

Many congratulations

Congratulations OP! I’m so relieved to see your update. I hope you and your little boy are home soon.

Congratulations..fabulous news💐

Congratulations, so glad everything is ok! Enjoy Christmas with your lovely new baby