Small baby, induction or c-section at 37 weeks?

DominicRaabsTravelAgent · 18/09/2021 07:47

Did the Doctor elaborate on how likely it was that DD would get into trouble during the birth?

BunnytheFriendlyDragon · 18/09/2021 08:04

I had a baby at 37+1 by CS but had to due to his position

Recovery from a c section was difficult snd I wouldn't recommend it unless you need one

Crazycatlady83 · 18/09/2021 08:16

I had my DS2 by c-section, due to him being small at 38 + 3. My recovery was very easy, driving at 2 weeks and started back post natal exercise classes at 6 weeks. Did the Drs provide any advice on the pros / cons of each? I had a c-section with my first which was an emergency so my elective was the right choice for me right from the start (obviously then the issues with growth came up later in the pregnancy)

lemongirl1985 · 18/09/2021 08:20

@Magenta82

Hiya, my baby isn't growing as much as she should be, its looking very likely that she will need to be delivered at 37 weeks, I'll find out more on Tuesday when I'll be 36 weeks and have a growth scan booked.

I spoke to the doctor this week who told me that the long term risks to a small baby come from having a compromised birth and that they would be monitoring me to make sure she didn't get into difficulty and if she did I would need a cesarean.

It looks like my choices are induction with close monitoring and the possibility of her getting into difficulty or an elective cesarean. If I go for the induction things will probably be fine, but could more easily go wrong, the cesarean will be harder on me, but easier on her.

I'm also thinking about all the covid rules and the fact that DP will only be able to visit for 2 hours a day so I will be spending either the time it takes to go into labour, or the recovery from the cesarean pretty much alone which is making me really anxious.

I guess there is also the chance that my baby will be kept in and I wouldn't want to leave her.

What would you do?

Hi @Magenta82 I'm in a pretty much the same situation. Currently waiting for my 36 week scan but it looks likely I will have to be induced as the baby is under 5th centile.

I was also told I will have a choice between induction and elective. Is it your first baby? I had two natural deliveries so like to think an induction would work for me and I could safely deliver this baby.
My consultant hasn't really talked to me about pros and cons, it's ultimately my decision what to do.

I've spent the last two days at the hospital and seen ladies struggle to walk after c-section. One cried at night in a bed next to me when turning :( it's really scary. On the other hand I read induction can be really painful too especially with the drip as contractions are so full on. My second birth was on gas and air only but I'm pretty sure that was the most painful experience of my life. Can't imagine the pain being worse than that 🤯

Sorry, I'm not helpful here, am I 🙄🤷‍♀️😅 I just wish our babies grow a bit and it's safe for them to stay in till things start naturally 🤞🥰

TheWayTheLightFalls · 18/09/2021 08:24

If your body is not ready for labour at all (cervix totally closed etc), which is realistic at 37 weeks, induction may be a very long and drawn-out process which tires you out and may end in an emergency section. In these circs I’d rather have an elective (I’m not speaking from the lofty heights - I’m expecting twins who need to come out at 37w). So in my case I’ve agreed to the first stage of an induction but if no progress after that then I think a section it is.

Nat6999 · 18/09/2021 08:46

I had ds at 36+5 by emcs after a failed induction due to pre eclampsia. If I had my time again I would have taken the Cs straight away instead of wasting two & a half days in induced labour to then be totally exhausted by the time ds was eventually born & would have probably not been as poorly as I was afterwards.

8dpwoah · 18/09/2021 08:48

I was induced at term with my first and my cervix wasn't ready so it took ages but we got there in the end- when they said about early induction with this one for SGA again my heart sank. I might be 37 weeks but seems like I might be ok to 39 as she is following her own little line at least.

Consultant hasn't mentioned c section to me but I think that's more because she's my second so induction should have more of a chance of working in theory. He did also say that they predict, a bit, how well a baby will cope with induction so he said a very very smal baby just wouldn't but mine is on 10th centile and he said as she has been steadily growing along that and very thing else seems fine it's likely she's just naturally small so potentially able to cope ok. First did get distressed by the drip-had meconium- so they didn't turn it all the way up for me but as I say we didn't get to the point of needing a section.

With the visiting I know I'd have managed my induction and afterwards with a two hour visit as DP was mainly bringing supplies, physically I was quite functional once the epidural wore off and my cannulas were out. That said they are looking at reviewing visiting here and antenatal is already 10-6 so would be worth asking if that's likely to change.

I hope you get a good in depth conversation at your growth scan and you can develop a plan that suits you and your baby, I feel quite reassured now even though it's not what we'd choose of course

Booknooks · 18/09/2021 08:50

It's a really personal decision, there isn't really a right answer, just what's right for you. I'd write a list of questions you have or things you want to talk through, and speak to your midwife if you feel it would help. We get a lot of people who say I wish I'd asked this but it slipped my mind at the time.

NoWordForFluffy · 18/09/2021 08:53

@BunnytheFriendlyDragon

I had a baby at 37+1 by CS but had to due to his position

Recovery from a c section was difficult snd I wouldn't recommend it unless you need one

Whereas I had an ELCS at 37 weeks, also due to position, and my recovery was really quick. Far, far quicker than my EMCS recovery had been beforehand.

freshFortunes · 18/09/2021 09:25

I had an elective section and whilst the first 24 hours or so were very painful, recovery was quick. By day 5 I was pretty much back to normal and off all painkillers.

I suppose one way to look at it is that although the first part of CS recovery is painful, you would be spending those 24 hours or possibly more in labour/being induced which would also be painful. I opted for CS as due to covid I felt it was the option that gave me the most control, I didn't want to be induced without DP being able to be there for the whole thing.

AnxiousAbi · 18/09/2021 09:27

The difficulty with you being 37 weeks is that there is a greater risk of it being a failed induction. I would speak to your consultant about that.

20viona · 18/09/2021 09:56

I was induced at 37+4 due to small
Baby and once they broke my waters she was born 2 hours later. It doesn't always take forever and it's a much quicker recovery.

sarah13xx · 18/09/2021 10:50

C-section all the way! Just had one last month (obviously they’re not all the same but generally they seem to be a lot more similar to each other than vaginal births are) but I had the best day ever! Honestly it was amazing. So calm, virtually painless and just lovely 😊 I would do it all again tomorrow and not be worried this time. I had worked myself up so much about the operation, how awful the recovery would be and the fact I’d be on my own. It was totally fine. My partner only got an hour in the ward with me after but I was only in one night and the staff were so helpful, I just buzzed for anything I needed. The recovery when I got home was completely fine. I just took all the painkillers and really never felt pain as such. The first week is the hardest and the only really hard bit is when you’re lying in bed and need to get up because you can’t sit up and need to roll onto your side and push yourself up. By the end of the second week even that was okay. I was out walking by day 7 and went a walk every day after that. I felt completely normal by 2 weeks (although have still taken it easy).

It wouldn’t even be a question for me 🙈 I’m so pleased with my choice but do what’s right for you

DominicRaabsTravelAgent · 18/09/2021 13:11

Forgot to ask, will your DH get Paternity leave?

If you can plan a C-Section abs he take 2 weeks paternity maybe followed by some Annual Leave he would be around to do things like nappy changes and fetching you food and drinks

Alfxn · 18/09/2021 13:21

I had an ELCS at 39 weeks a few months ago and it was a fantastic experience. Calm, happy, lovely delivery and once the epidural wore off that night i was straight back on my feet. Although I probably moved at a granny's pace for a few days, eg slow when getting up from the bed, I did not feel in pain at any point of my recovery. I felt 100% normal by 2 weeks pp.
My husband took a few weeks off work to help out and although it was handy to have him, I didn't really even need him tbh.

Alfxn · 18/09/2021 13:25

Probably worth mentioning that was my first baby, so no heavy toddlers etc looking to be lifted up while I recovered, in case that's a consideration.... having said that though, if/when I do have a 2nd baby, I will 100% have another ELCS regardless - it was a dream!

notasillysausage · 18/09/2021 13:27

I was in this exact position. I opted for c section (this was after two natural births) because I thought induction was a hard process on the baby with prolonged labour in a lot of cases. My baby arrived and had to stay in for week, with me, as she needed a bit of assistance with being so small. My husband could only visit for 1 hour a day which was hard but we managed, the hardest bit was not being able to see my older two for a week.

In terms of recovery, my c section recovery was easier than my first labour which was induced and ended in forceps delivery.

It turned out that my baby had a knot in her umbilical cord so c section was definitely the right decision as she could have gotten into difficulties in labour.

My little girl is now a happy, healthy 1 year old. Wishing you the best of luck

DominicRaabsTravelAgent · 18/09/2021 13:33

I had an ELCS at 39 weeks a few months ago and it was a fantastic experience. Calm, happy, lovely delivery and once the epidural wore off that night i was straight back on my feet

It's so lovely to hear a positive c-section birth story

Original poster

Magenta82 · 18/09/2021 14:35

Thanks everyone for your messages.

This is my first baby, she was growing along the 10th centile, but at the 34 week scan she had dropped to the 3rd. The scan this week showed good blood flow through the placenta but I don't know how big she is. She was not quite 4lbs at 34 weeks.

I have a low protein level which I believe is causing the problem. But I also have really low blood sugar and am having to eat every 90 minutes at the moment to keep it up. Which I think doesn't help as she won't be able to get as much energy from me.

DP is self employed, he will take what time off he can, but it is a busy time for him. However my mum will probably come to stay nearby so she can help duringthe day.

I don't know what the specific dangers to her are, but she is very small so the induction would be hard on her.

I tend to heal pretty well, I've had surgery in the past and am generally up and about earlier than expected. I'm also pretty good with pain so that isn't much of a consideration for me, either for the birth or the recovery. I'm more worried about my ability to look after the baby when I get home. But will have DP and my mum.

I am writing down lots of questions, but think at the end of the day I will do what is safest for her, which I guess will be the cesarean.

It's all a bit different to the natural water birth with minimal intervention or drugs, which is what I really wanted!

Thanks again everyone, you've given me lots to think about.

OP posts:

Fawn68 · 21/09/2021 14:02

@Magenta82 how did you appointment go? I am 36 weeks and last week my consultant picked up on the scan that baby has dropped from 50th-10th centile. All scans previous were fine and one before last week was 31 weeks. I am worried sick. Have been 3 times since to have CTG and Doppler tests all of which have been fine. So so far placenta and cord all working as it should! I'm back tomorrow for another growth scan and really scared.

Original poster

Magenta82 · 21/09/2021 20:57

[quote Fawn68]@Magenta82 how did you appointment go? I am 36 weeks and last week my consultant picked up on the scan that baby has dropped from 50th-10th centile. All scans previous were fine and one before last week was 31 weeks. I am worried sick. Have been 3 times since to have CTG and Doppler tests all of which have been fine. So so far placenta and cord all working as it should! I'm back tomorrow for another growth scan and really scared.[/quote]

Hi @Fawn68 it went really well, she has put on almost a lb in the last 2 weeks so now weighs about 4lb 11oz she is above the 3rd centile now, looks like 4th or 5th on the graph. I'm having a doppler scan next week and we will decide what is happening then.

I spoke with the lady from the birth options clinic today so now I'm even less sure about what I want! Apparently if you have a cesarean before 39 weeks the baby's lungs aren't ready so she will need time in the special care unit and a steroid injection, there is no proven link, but there is a correlation between having the steroid injection and developmental delays. But contractions get the lungs ready so getting induced would prevent the need for that. She also said that with small babies they don't leave you for as long after the induction so if it isn't progressing they intervene earlier.

OP posts:

mrssunshinexxx · 22/09/2021 03:19

I wouldn't recommend a c section unless absolutely necessary

Nat6999 · 22/09/2021 04:36

In a way the midwife contradicted herself by saying all that about babies born by Cs before 39 weeks & then saying they don't leave you long for induction before going to Cs. My ds was born at 36+5 by emcs, he wasn't given steroids, had no problems & didn't need neonatal care. He was 6lb 4oz. If your cervix isn't favourable they could use dynamite & it wouldn't get things going. When you go in ask them to check & give you an honest answer to the chances of you going in to labour & the induction being successful, if it is less than 50% consider going straight to Cs. There is nothing worse than being exhausted from labour & then having to have a Cs.

SmellyOldOwls · 22/09/2021 11:32

I've had two failed inductions ending in EMCS - one at 37+5 and one at 38+5. In both cases I wasn't ready and as a PP says above if you're not ready nothing will get your baby going. Neither of mine had steroid injections, I don't think that's standard after 37 weeks?

Honestly just go for the ELCS. You have a baby who isn't particularly robust by the sounds of it so it's the safest option for your baby. And it saves you two days of faffing about in the induction bay in hospital. I didn't have much pain after mine - they do give you regular pain relief (I had morphine, sodium diclofenic and paracetamol) if you are in pain you don't have to sit around crying about it, just ask for something stronger. Plus it's not as if contractions, childbirth and the resulting stitches are pain free!

lemongirl1985 · 24/09/2021 20:55

@Magenta82 how did it go on Tuesday and what's the plan? Hope your baby has grown nicely :) I have my scan next Thursday and the decision will be made if I need to deliver my little one early too due to slow growth. Have you decided whether to have c-section or induction?