Overdue and hating doctors....

[grey12]

rant warning!

Just came back from the hospital feeling completely disappointed and let down....

It's my 3rd pregnancy and all have gone beyond the due date. I have talked in a different post how I have been bullied/lied/.....wtv into numerous sweeps and induction. And my experience with the first induction was terrible.

That was in a different country, very trigger happy for medical procedures. From what I read, the UK seemed much more forward thinking. But I have just been through the same bullsh**......

My previous experiences have left me with anxiety issues towards the end of the pregnancy. Last night it felt like the baby's movements were less strong (baby changed position?!). I decided to wake up DH and go to the hospital for monitoring. I was expecting reassurance, baby is fine, this is your anxiety talking, go home! Oh no!..... That's not what happened! Doctor said I was a risk pregnancy because of going 5 days beyond the due date, and any other concern, however minor or imagined, immediately pushes for an induction (disclaimer: I am very healthy, no other problems whatsoever). It's like my health is being determined by some 18th century guy who said pregnancy is "10 moon cycles plus a few days"!!!! (Honestly! Look it up) What kind of mambo jambo is this??!!!! Not only do I have previous experience with overdue pregnancies, I also have family history. And doctors are completely dismissing everything.

I sat in that room and a part of me wished I hadn't gone into the hospital!!! And that is BAD! It goes completely against what I believe and what I studied at university even!! (I'm a biomedical engineer with focus in patient monitoring)

So it seems that I'm being induced on monday..... with drugs?!!! (Never heard of a tape?! Doctor refused to say anymore) Wtf?!!! When did I fall down Alice's rabbit hole?! And how do I get out??!!!

I don't understand... You've gone in for monitoring for reduced movements but now because they are worried for the safety of your baby you've changed your mind and said actually it's fine? Please listen to doctors and midwives, of course it's your body and you have every right to do what you want but you'd never forgive yourself if something were to go wrong! I really hope you have a lovely birth and happy baby OP but please listen to medical professionals... take care x

I went in to make sure the baby was fine and she is!!

That talk of "a live baby is the best" completely dismisses the huge risks I went through with the induction of DD1. 3 days before her birth BBC had news of a child who got severely disabled or died (don't remember) because of ventouse. You should see DH describe the way the doctor was forcefully pushing the ventouse.... These procedures are risky! Soooo maybe waiting a couple of days, while closely monitoring the baby, could lead to a much safer birth.

I have explained before that the baby WAS moving normally, I just felt anxious about everything and feel that probably I overreacted in this instance

@grey12 don't worry, you did the best for your baby. And you are still looking after yourself and your child by not allowing unnecessary interventions.
You're not "past" anything until you're past 42 weeks, and then incremental risks of waiting further are relatively small. The due date is approximate, babies develop at slightly different rates. Make sure you monitor the baby closely, but if all is well - don't fix what's not broken.
The way most women think in the UK is in line with medicalised birth practice / active management of labour.
I've been scaremongered many times by all sorts of "professionals", often with recommendations not based on scientific evidence, so I know how you feel.

Update!!

Looks like I'm being induced tonight instead of tomorrow. Wish us luck!

Big difference is I'm cool with it! Can you imagine? Came to the hospital for my daily monitoring and saw an amazing midwife. She was surprised I was going for induction with my history and decided to book me an ultrasound (remember the previous doctor didn't even consider such a thing) and got me talking to a lovely doctor. Doctor actually listened to me and understood me. She was going to delay the induction by a few days but when she did the ultrasound it seemed the amniotic fluid wasn't a lot. So I'm staying (there was roast dinner at home!!!! DH and me are missing it! ).

Also talked to this doctor about my experience with the induction drugs and we decided to try using the balloon instead.

It just takes 5 minutes and some care to completely change your patient's perspective. I felt empty and alone agains the world after talking to the other doctor. Now I'm feeling reassured and listened to. Scratch that: contractions are on the horizon!!! I'm starting to feel scared!

@grey12 great news! Feeling positive is very important. Wishing you a very smooth experience! Let me know how you get on and 41 weeks and stressing out about prospects of induction!

@Coronet08, you sound very jaded and unfortunately very ignorant too. Unless you're an obstetrician or midwife, I suggest you stop spouting crap. Yes, of course hospitals try to keep down their stillbirth rates- why wouldn't they? - and guidance for inductions are evidence based. It's clear you've got deep misgivings over the medical profession in this area but how about you stop trying to project these on to the OP?

And good luck, OP! Fingers crossed for a smooth delivery.

[quote CannonCaboodle]@Coronet08, you sound very jaded and unfortunately very ignorant too. Unless you're an obstetrician or midwife, I suggest you stop spouting crap. Yes, of course hospitals try to keep down their stillbirth rates- why wouldn't they? - and guidance for inductions are evidence based. It's clear you've got deep misgivings over the medical profession in this area but how about you stop trying to project these on to the OP?[/quote]
Ha, well I do work in statistics and actually read medical journals and studying the research, so I can defend myself from the outdated NHS policy, and some recommendations of medical staff. And I recommend that all women arm up with research, because inducing hundreds and hundreds of women to save 1 baby is just making labour experience CRAP, and causes lack if bonding with the baby and mental health issues.
I also personally know obstetricians and midwives who support an opinion that a lot of maternity policy is not based on evidence, or is based on low quality research.

Speaking of low amniotic fluid: there is no evidence that induction for this alone is improving health outcomes for mother or baby! When you include women with eclampsia and post term pregnancies, there is some correlation (I take it not the case here). Fluid naturally reduces towards the very end of pregnancy, this is normal.

"In early studies on amniotic fluid and outcomes, researchers included babies with congenital defects , women with pre-eclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and women who were post-term (past 42 weeks) in their samples. These women and babies are more likely to have low amniotic fluid, and they are also much more likely to have poor outcomes. So although early researchers found that babies born to women with low amniotic fluid had higher perinatal mortality rates (Chamberlain, Manning et al. 1984), higher Cesarean rates for fetal distress, and lower Apgar scores (Chauhan, Sanderson et al. 1999), the poor outcomes were due to the complications - not the low amniotic fluid (Gilbert 2012)."

Oh, I hope baby comes soon!! Please keep us updated!!

@Coronet08 I read medical research as well.. well mostly the conclusion part. I wonder why stillbirth rates go up after 40w, I'm 41 weeks and find it all so nerve racking trying to balance risks of late spontaneous delivery ie expectant management with risks of induction... medical research does suggest that expectant management after 41 weeks is higher risk than induction. I'm IVF as well so due date is more accurate.

@viletta absolutely, it is a mental struggle and I will be there soon when I reach my due date. Would not want to go past 42 weeks, partially because of everyone else worried and also temporary/gestational diabetes (that miraculously "cured" itself without the meds ie medics agree that I'm not really a hardcore case and let me go to birth centre etc).
My baby is also IUI which is sort of "IVF lite" but I had a shot for ovulation also, so more certainty on conception date. one thing I discussed with my consultant - also bear in mind the date of Implantation of the fetus: if this happened after average time then baby is a few days younger still (not always easy to know when implantation happened, but some women have a little bleed or do hormonal tests for hCG days after which can shed some light - you may well have done these privately).
An average woman gives birth for the first time at 40+5.
Please can you share your sources re 41w+?
I've been focusing on gestational diabetic research where the latest is induction is no better than expectant management. And these are the women that are always classed as high risk.

@grey12

Update!!

Looks like I'm being induced tonight instead of tomorrow. Wish us luck!

Big difference is I'm cool with it! Can you imagine? Came to the hospital for my daily monitoring and saw an amazing midwife. She was surprised I was going for induction with my history and decided to book me an ultrasound (remember the previous doctor didn't even consider such a thing) and got me talking to a lovely doctor. Doctor actually listened to me and understood me. She was going to delay the induction by a few days but when she did the ultrasound it seemed the amniotic fluid wasn't a lot. So I'm staying (there was roast dinner at home!!!! DH and me are missing it! ).

Also talked to this doctor about my experience with the induction drugs and we decided to try using the balloon instead.

It just takes 5 minutes and some care to completely change your patient's perspective. I felt empty and alone agains the world after talking to the other doctor. Now I'm feeling reassured and listened to. Scratch that: contractions are on the horizon!!! I'm starting to feel scared!

Hope everything goes well and you are you holding your baby soon.

Still waiting for a bed to become available in the labour ward.... I'm obviously not a priority.

Midwife said I was dilated 2 cm yesterday, which isn't a lot, but she seemed very happy about it.

@Coronet08 has a point. Judging by personal experience, crossing the 41 weeks threshold means you don't have a naturally occurring labour. I'm being induced for the third time! And I have absolutely no other issues, no diabetes, no high blood pressure, no family history of complications. I'm another one adding to the statistics of epidural and instrumental delivery. Like I said before, we can't deny risks of all these drugs and procedures.

@grey12

Still waiting for a bed to become available in the labour ward.... I'm obviously not a priority.

Midwife said I was dilated 2 cm yesterday, which isn't a lot, but she seemed very happy about it.

@Coronet08 has a point. Judging by personal experience, crossing the 41 weeks threshold means you don't have a naturally occurring labour. I'm being induced for the third time! And I have absolutely no other issues, no diabetes, no high blood pressure, no family history of complications. I'm another one adding to the statistics of epidural and instrumental delivery. Like I said before, we can't deny risks of all these drugs and procedures.

Hope you get a bed soon 2 cms might be almost three by the time you get there and only 2cms to establishes labour so might not be too long? 🤞🏻

You might not need any interventions you might have the induction started and your baby comes of their own accord

This time three years ago I had just left hospital after yet another overnight stay for what they thought was labour starting for my third baby. I had another two episodes of this where they then sent me home with an induction date when he was evicted!

Very best of luck let us know how you get on.

@Coronet08 I think it was these two papers I read www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3719843/

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1028455914000606

My latent phase of labour started again last night and lasted about 12 hours with quite strong contractions 5-15 min apart, managed to have some sleep the next day and contractions almost stopped.. I am glad things started naturally but it's so exhausting! I wonder when contractions will start again.. I had similar but shorter experience about 8h of contractions at night 2 days ago. Called midwives, as I am with home birthing team and said I'd like to try to deliver naturally no one brings up induction again. I know it will be recommended at 41+5. I am 41+1 today.

@grey12 You'll meet your baby very soon! They are probably attending to people who has complications. Keep us updated! And also true that not everyone who receives induction ends up with epidural or instrumental delivery, hopefully you'll avoid these! Good luck and let's stay calm and positive!

@Viletta hopefully things happen soon for you without going to induction. All the best

I’ve had three inductions one at 41 weeks two at 39 and no assisted deliveries for any of them. I was home the same or next day of having each of them

@shesgonebatshitagain that's really nice to hear! We'll see where we'll end I try to be open minded although have planned home birth. Dreading when the real thing will kick in.. I though I'd be stronger than this in terms of pain tolerance.

[quote Viletta]@shesgonebatshitagain that's really nice to hear! We'll see where we'll end I try to be open minded although have planned home birth. Dreading when the real thing will kick in.. I though I'd be stronger than this in terms of pain tolerance. [/quote]
Try not to fear it. Easier said than done I know.
I know it is frightening, I remember with my first child as the contractions ranked up I did have a few moments where I felt a bit wild with fear. But I had a great midwife and I basically drank gas and air for about an hour then he was born.
Try to keep active and moving as much as you can it makes a huge difference.
If you having a home birth make the most of your own environment and use it to draw some comfort and confidence and security.

With all of mine I had a “I can’t do this” stage. But I did. If I can you can.

How are you feeling now?

Still waiting..... fine for me but I miss my babies

I had a really bad experience with induction the first. That's why I refused prostaglandin (pessary/gel/tape..... it comes in different presentations). Had to have epidural, didn't push properly, had ventouse and other weird stuff....

My second induction, they broke the waters, which is what I am waiting for right now at the hospital. I also had an hormone drip (oxytocin, I think). It ended up being a great labour!! 5 hours, my body was very responsive, doing its thing, was great! Between contractions I kind of.... turned off my body. It's super hard to explain, midwife freaked a little. I was very aware and awake, but I would have passed for a fainted/deeply assleep person.

@grey12 good luck, hope this time you'll have another great experience!

@shesgonebatshitagain We had our little boy at 41+2, latent phase lasted 12h, contractions stopped and resumed the following night, baby was born at 11am, long labour! Hypnobirthing helped a lot, I just tried to get over one thing and not thinking of the next step. Dozed off between contractions and found pushing and crowning not painful. No induction to begin with, only a bit of oxytocin at the end as I was pushing for 4 hours, no pain relief apart of gas and air, had episiotomy, but no instrumental delivery as planned. Laboured in the pool until we realized I had meconium in waters so had to be transferred to the labour ward. If not in there I don't think I would end up with episiotomy but whatever. We both are doing great, having lots of cuddles and start of sleepless nights! How are you?

@Viletta
Congratulations! Wonderful need and very well done. Enjoy the snuggles they are so precious.

I’m fine thanks. My three have been up and about for an hour now 😭 were getting ready for a rainy school run!

What did you call your little boy if you I don’t mind me asking ?

So pleased for you

@shesgonebatshitagain we're still choosing from our list to make sure the name fits :)

@shesgonebatshitagain thank you! Such a lifetime experience!

How are you doing @grey12
All is well I hope

@Viletta how are the early days of motherhood going? Hope you and your little boy are thriving and you found a name that fits him

@shesgonebatshitagain everything is settling down nicely. I found lack of sleep really hard, having people around to help us really useful. Midwives were brilliant at helping establish breastfeeding, we are euphoric and very happy. Just settling into routine especially as first time parents second guessing everything. Hope you all are doing well too!