URGENT- having baby tomorrow in confusing circumstances, need help.

[TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied]

My consultant (who is fab) said two weeks ago that today i would have a growth scan, then a sweep and if I hadn't gone into labour 48-72 hours later I'd have to be induced but he'd try to steer clear of this as I had such bad prostin pains last time. This is because the baby is very big and I have a lot of amniotic fluid. She also has an irregular heartbeat but he said that wouldn't be a problem.

Then he went on holiday.

Today I went to the appointment. Scan said 9lb 6ozs, the water was 32-33 and it's supposed to be between 19-26.

Saw a doctor who said that as baby is still free and there's too much water, they couldn't do a sweep as the cord could come first so they need to take me into hospital tomorrow night and induce me and break my waters. If the cord comes first they need to knock me out and get baby out within 5 minutes.

So on my front I'm worried that I've got to struggle with prostin pains (which were horrific last time) through the night, on my own as DH is not allowed to be with me until I'm 4cms dilated.

On baby's front I'm worried that:

1. if my waters go randomly, they're not going to know if the cord's come through or not. It's a busy ward which is understaffed If I call for them it takes them a while to get there.

2. if she's not even engaged yet, which she's not, surely it's going to take forever for her to move down- I will be having prostin pains for ages.

3. they said it is likely to end in c-section. I asked if they could just do one instead of inducing and they said no.

4)I was refused an epidural last time as it was 'out of working hours'. I asked if this would happen this time and the doctor said that's nonsence and an epidural is available any time... so why wasn't I given one last time?

5. they said I might have to have a section with her being too big or if the prostin doesn't work and this would be with an epidural so I would be a awake which is better than being knocked out but doesn't give me much faith that the induction is going to work or that my body can handle it.

I'm very anxious about the whole thing and all the uncertainty which is obviously not the best way to go into labour.

What the hell's going on??

I cannot imagine how she's going to get out safely.

if you are on the antenatal ward it is unlikely you will get any stronger painkiller than gas and air or maybe pethidine etc.

if you are induced on labour ward, due to the polyhdramnios them you should be able to have whatever pain relief you need and to have your DH with you

do not leave this until tomorrow

call teh ward tonight, ask to speak to the consultant midwife or someone high up!

have no real advice to give you,but had to say,whatever happens..good luck,ans enjoy your lovely baby however it ends up arriving!

Although I am not discounting your fears about this situation in any way, it does sound like a normal plan for polyhydramnious in my experience. As Lulu says, if you are on the labour ward your pain relief options are different as it is not safe to give you diamorphine or an epidural on the antenatal ward where you won't be able to get one to one care.
They can only give you a section based on clinical need, and the doctor may judge there is no clinical need at the moment.

If you refuse an induction you may be more likely to get a section if thats what you want. They can't induce you against your wishes.

Most times with inductions the baby will move down and engage before the waters go. So hopefully that will happen and then there won't be the worry of the cord coming down.

Try and speak to a Dr tomorrow before going ahead with anything.

Good luck

reikizen, in these circs, would waters be broken in theatre? what differs in a controlled rupture for polyhdramnios? have not had experience of this ta x

No advice to offer, just wanted to send you my support totally - I'm sure it'll all work out fine. Good luck for tomorrow.

I really would be insisting on a section if this was me. I have my section booked after a discussion with my very sensitive and nice consultant, and he was happy for me to have one and I have nothing like as big a need for one as you have!

I would talk to them, cry, ay you can't face it and are terrified, beg for a CS. Honestly I would.

Not that I think you can't manage it otherwise - but why should you have to go through all these risks and fear?

Can you ask for another consultant to step in?

Unless they insist and there's a pressing reason, don't agree to go in over the weekend. If you do have to go in over the weekend, get assurances about who will be supervising your delivery and that this person or team knows everything you talk about tomorrow with the powers that be.

BTW I was diagnosed with polyhydrom until after my son was born.

I've rung labour ward and instead of going in tomorrow evening they said to go in tomorrow morning so that they can get a doctor to talk to me before the induction.

Still don't really know what's what.

Just can't face it all.

Oh you poor poor love.

It is horrible feeling like you're out of the loop, and being very pregnant makes it even harder.
Have you got anyone with you who understands and can be your advocate...come with you perhaps...sorry if this has already been asked. You sound like you could use some RL support right now, or just a second pair of ears when you meet the dr.

Lulu, they would do a controlled ARM where the doctor would stabilise baby's position (after confirming the cord was not presenting)and break the waters, holding the baby in position to ensure the head engages. (All the while monitoring the FH).This would be done by a registrar or consultant and they would do it while theatre was free just in case.
Totally, please don't worry, but do make it clear to whoever is looking after you how scared and upset you are. Ask as many questions as you need to get your head around it. I know it is an everyday occurence for midwives and doctors but it isn't for you.

than kyou reikizen

totallyandutterly. is your Dh going to be with you tomorrow morning? make sure you make a list of questions and don;t be afraid to get answers you are happy with before you agree to a care plan

DH has got to work or they'll start his paternity leave and the labour ward said if they agree to a section they'll give me a date rather than doing it tomorrow.

Mum's going to come with me to ask questions- she's good like that.

They're not getting a doctor to do the induction, they're just doing it at the normal time- 8pm.

Can't see me getting much sleep tonight and just had a mega row with the MIL which is not good when I'm already rather doolally with the a mix of post and ante natal depression. Good thing is they're putting me back on my tablets as soon as baby comes out. Phew.

total

I have been induced twice dut to Polyhydramnios, and had controlled water break in delivery suite.

baby was also big, (9lb 5 17 days pr term) I had prostin pains all of the previous day and was taken to the delivery for the water break

You can have gas and air during the procedure if it will help you to relax. This is how it went for me.

2 mw's and doctor present, mw's in charge, doc there in case. Baby was also free as she was 4th dc so not much chance of engaging

Mw #1 held baby very firmly, (hence g&a if you need) in place quite high up in my abdomen, whilst mw#2 broke waters and sat next to me on bed, literally stemming the flow with her hand. I mean she was actually putting her hand over and letting the water trickle out little by little. Took quite a while cos there was alot of water and mw#1 had to reposition baby and hold onto her more than once.

Once they were satisfied there was no gushing left, they scanned me to ascertain baby still happy (don't know if this is always what happens but they seemed happy) and then I was free to labour as normal.

they had told me if waters go, get down on all 4's and call emergency help.

with dc5, also poly baby and big, went into labour naturally also preterm and waters went whilst lying down so ok. baby did come down a bit quick after that and got a bit stuck but fantastic lady doctor managed to manouver her internally and she was born naturally.

Hope it's ok for you, it doesn't have to be terryfying, just so long as you are infromed. My hosp were great as i'd been seeing them over a period of time and there was noting i didn't know about what may or may not happen.

Good luck.

Can you ask why a doctor will not be doing the induction? There will be one supervising, right?

I like GothDetectives plan - you can't force them to do a CS but you can refuse induction and say you are happy to consider a CS if they feel a standard VB is unsafe.

I tried for VBAC with DS and my plan was a straightforward VB or CS, I didn't want to be interfered with(nasty crash section under GA first time so I had a good plan to avoid a repeat)

So when they got arsey trying to persuade me to have epidural and waters broken for FTP I just refused. They did the CS Turned out his position was so crap it was always going to be CS or nasty forceps job so a good result IMO.

Good luck with it all