small baby induction - positive stories?

[crazy4cats]

I'm just over 38 weeks pregnant, I had my 38 week appointment yesterday and the midwife wanted to send me for a growth scan as my bump hasn't grown. I had an extra scan just after Christmas too and that one was fine, baby was small but in normal ranges

Anyway, yesterday at my scan baby was showing at 9.7 centile. I do think that part of the reason for such a low score was that the sonographer couldn't really get a good head measurement, she tried about 10 times and then just went with what she had - head was so low it was difficult.

Because of this, I had to speak to a consultant who said they reccomend being induced at 39 weeks. I cried because although I had an open mind as to what might happen when I was in labour, I had my heart set on the midwife led birthing unit and a water birth - or at least to attempt that.

I felt put on the spot so said I need to think about it, so they are booking me in for a scan next week, where hopefully the outlook is better.

Regardless, I am gearing myself to be induced as I'm now getting paranoid about movements and getting into my head that if I wait something will happen to baby

I just feel like my birth choices have been taken away from me - regardless of whether I am induced or not I will have to go to the delivery suite and if I am induced I know this is likely to be more intense and painful and I will most likely end up having an epidural. Also if I am induced I won't be able to go in water at all. The delivery suite has one room with a pool

I'm really hoping I will just go into labour soon - even if I have to be monitered the wireless ones can go in the pool and even if I cannot give birth in the pool I'm hopefull I can at least labour in the water for a bit

So I'm really hoping someone has had a similar situation? I feel so muddled and of course googling isn't really helping. I'm scared and emotional and really don't know what to do

Based on the above I would refuse induction.

I have for now - got a scan booked in next week instead

The consultant mentioned increased stillbirth risk if I don't induce based on baby's size which of course of terrifying and clouds my judgement

I'm really hoping I won't need one, but it would be reassuring to hear other people's experiences if anyone here has had a similar experience

Did they drop centile or have they followed the line?’

both mine measured small at 3rd centile but followed that line and were small when born. But it was never suggested to me for an induction - which is why I’m asking if the centile has changed?

he has dipped below his line yes - at last scan at the end of December (approx 34 weeks) he was about 14th centile, now showing 9.7 - although I do think the dfficulty in measuring the head contributed to this

At present they are not worried about placenta function and bloodflow to baby looks normal, which is a comfort

My induction was a breeze. Hour and a half from start to finish, no epidural and no pain relief (not through choice!!!!). You only tend to hear horror stories about it but for me it was a great experience.

Second one came naturally, took two and three quarter hours as she was back to back. I desperately wanted a water birth but the two pools were busy so that choice was taken away.

Even without an induction your choices aren’t always available.

I’d go to the next scan and take it from there.

I did have an induction with my first due to my waters breaking and my labour then stopped. I was also scared of an induction but it was fine, I didn’t have a epidural, didn’t have continual monitoring etc. obviously may be different between trusts but is it worth having a conversation about what an induction would actually mean so you have all the information?

Iv been induced twice due to babies weights being on the 1st centile at 37w.

Both inductions were fine, first 2 hour labour 2nd 1 hour labour. I preferred the second as I had the drip and it was quicker.

I had a scan at 37 + 4 to find that baby had dropped to 9th centile. Offered induction for 39w which i accepted but went into spontaneous labour at 37+6 and baby arrived at 38w exactly. So you might find you dont need the induction anyway.

DD was 5lbs 12oz when she was born so not quite as tiny as they were expecting so still very little. I had continuous monitoring (so no water birth) and was glad to do so as she started to struggle but at least the early notice meant we could crack on and get her out!

Is this your first? I don’t want to poop the party but it may help to look at it like a smooth water birth for a FTM is quite rare anyway. As a FTM your chances of CS, instrumental and spontaneous VB are a third each. And a lot of the first time mums who have spontaneous VBs don’t get their preferences for one reason or another - induction, transfer to labour ward, monitoring etc. Thats not to say you shouldn’t start off aiming for the water birth, but I’m just trying to put some perspective in so you don’t feel you’ve ‘lost’ something concrete.

I was induced at 37 weeks as a FTM as I’m type 1 diabetes, 10 hours from putting the drip in to baby being born. I’m happy I made the right decision and overall it was a positive experience. I’m about to do the same again (30 weeks at the moment).

It’s up to you whether you accept the induction, 9th centile to me isn’t really really tiny I would be more concerned if under 3rd, but I’m also inclined to take medical advice because god forbid if anything went wrong I wouldn’t want to blame myself.

thanks everyone

I'll see how the next scan goes and take it from there!

I was induced at 37 weeks. I knew my son was measuring small (2nd centile) and had dropped down the centiles. I had a pessary induction and after hours of nothing I dilated quickly. Established labour was just over an hour. I had wireless monitoring once they realised I was fully dilated and delivered in the pool.

Are you sure you can’t use the pool? The unit I delivered at only had one pool on the labour ward but it was available as the midwives didn’t like to use that room as the pool took a lot of space. The pool was rarely used as a lot of mums on the delivery suite were there for epidurals or riskier deliveries.

My son was the exact weight predicted on the my scan the week before, so small. We had a tricky start with jaundice and slow to get the hang of feeding, but it resolved quickly and he’s now one of the tallest in his class.

I totally get your apprehension about the induction process. For me it felt like they were taking all of the decisions away from me about my delivery. But I was monitored closely and I gained a lot of comfort from that.

Best of luck with everything OP. I was all for the most natural childbirth possible I was fit and healthy everything was going great until my blood pressure started to rise all of a sudden and I ended up in hospital with potential pre eclampsia. I wasn't favourable for an induction so I had a section and ended up in high dependency and in hospital for a fortnight. Honestly I'm not saying this to scare you that's absolutely not my intention but over ten years on from that worrying time and I can say the fact that I had nothing like the birth I wanted doesn't bother me at all. It's all just part of my life story and I'm lucky that the problems were spotted when they were even though at that time I was so upset about my choices being gone.

thank you, your story is reassuring! I know if the pessary doesn't work and I have to have a drip then water is out completely but will cross everything that I either go into labour spontaneously or the pessary works

To be honest, it was a consultant I spoke to and not a midwife so hopefully as long as I don't have a drip and the pool room is free I will have that option with the wireless monitor - the widmife at my antenatal class seems to agree too

I do feel better now some time has passed

Yes whatever happens I know done the line it won't weigh on me. Like you I'm also fit and healthy and everything in my pregnancy was going so smoothly and I was able to carry on working out, eating well etc and had very few symptoms so for it to start unravelling in the last 2 weeks was a shock. But what will happen will happen and I just need to accept that

Op the pessary might be enough to get you going. Don't give up hope of a waterbirth yet.

It sounds like they have concerns about your baby dropping centiles. I'd go with their advice. The important thing is getting your baby safely into your arms.

DSD was pressurised for weeks to go for induction as baby was small and not growing. Eventually she agreed. Induction failed and she ended up with EMCS, delivered a 3kg baby! It's not an exact science

Honestly I'd be slow to refuse induction . My third baby measured small all the way along and I was advised to induce at 37 weeks which I did. He was born a healthy 5ish but I remember the midwife commenting on my placenta and saying that I was lucky enough I be induced as she felt that it looked 'almost done'

I'd always take medical advise over birth preferences

I just had an induction 2 weeks ago due to baby measuring 5 pounds at 37 weeks. I was very hesitant but I'm glad I went through with it as he had the cord wrapped round his neck twice.
I went in on Monday morning, they gave me the shoelace one first, waited 24 hours to let it prep the cervix and then the gel. Instantly (as in a few minutes after) after the gel my labour started instantly. Contractions came on very quick and strong but I put this down to due giving birth before so my body knew what it was doing. I managed them well with breathing.
An hour after I got sent into the delivery room, but they were very delayed as only 2 members off staff were on duty so had to wait for the room to be free. I was very stubborn about what position I wanted to be in, because I knew all fours worked well for me last time. They wouldn't let me off the bed so I had to make do with laying flat on my back as they couldn't monitor me when I was on all fours. They were literally touching and poking at me the entire time, but I didn't notice as I was so caught up in the moment and too busy focusing on getting baby out. I also asked for the mobile monitoring but she said no as would mean having to undo it again to put the other one on. So if you want to be mobile definitely ask for that one beforehand.
I didn't have any pain relief but apparently they injected something in my leg (according to my partner) after baby was out, but I never knew what it was until I saw on my notes a few days later. Something to do with reducing the bleeding. But I wish they could've told me about it first as I asked for no injections/needles.
The labour start to finish lasted from 9pm to 11pm so was very quick and easy. It was a positive experience. I just wish I could've stood my ground a bit more, or asked my partner to but he was pretty useless and fell asleep mid labour. But other than that I would do it all over again and I felt it went alot smoother than my natural water birth and I liked how I knew when it was all going to happen.

Just to add, he turned out to be a 6 pounder so the scans can be very inaccurate. If I got told I had another baby on low centiles I would refuse an induction purely because they're measuring small

Scans were completely inaccurate. Refuse the induction if that's what you truly feel is best. With no serious signs of any health issues for you or baby, it'll be best to at least try and go for the birth you want. Rather than entering the experience being terrified and feeling out of control, someone else making the decisions for you and your baby, your body

Almost done? That's not even a thing

I had exactly the same at 37 weeks as growth dropped below the 10th centile and I felt very pressured for the induction, was induced at 39 weeks and was terrified as it wasn’t what I wanted at all. Actually it all went fine and baby born very quickly after the first pessary (a few hours). Baby was a little on the small side (just below the threshold considered “normal”) but healthy and everything seemed fine. I would see my induction as mostly positive, and the birth was fine (just gas and air, not out of choice 😂 but it was doable). I would add that I’m a massive wimp and was terrified but it was honestly fine. Good luck with your next scan :)

@Crazycrazylady I had the same with my placenta but due for n my case to pre eclampsia. I read it in my notes and I googled it while I was in hospital

@Bakedpotatos congrats on baby! Thanks for sharing, will definitely insist on a mobile monitor from the start, I know our unit has plenty of them so shouldn't be an issue. Even if water ends up being out of the question, I want to be as mobile as possible (which is another reason I had been wanting to avoid an epidural if posisble, our hospital does 'walking epidurals' but I'm not 100% convinced by them!)

It's reassuring that actually you felt it went smoother overall!

@Balletshoes2022 thank you - the thought does still scare me but reading everyone's stories is helping me feel better about it all. I'll have the scan and may well get booked in for an induction, but having the ectra week to think about it and read other people's stories really helps!

Oh bless you, well done for saying you need time to consider. I had the opposite in that they thought my little one was going to be big so really felt pressured ino induction. I’d definitely take time to consider it next time around as it was a big shock and upsetting feeling pressured last time. I also cried as was planning a MLU and water birth.

As it happens I had the pessary, refused the gel and they broke my waters. Had the drip but they monitored wirelessly so I could still move around and use a birthing ball (not the same as a water birth but at least not stuck in a bed). No pain relief and little one arrived quickly. It wasn’t what I’d planned but I guess you never can plan for these things.