Should I induce on my due date?

[TNN1510]

Hi all,

I have an appointment with my consultant on Wednesday to discuss next steps with regards to delivering my baby.

Every growth scan I go for, they keep saying she is on the upper 90th percentile. I had a growth scan a couple weeks ago and she measured 6lbs at 34 weeks. If she tracks along the graph, on my due date she will be around 9-9.7lbs.

I want to avoid having a c section, unless really necessary in an emergency.

So I was thinking that if she hasn't come by her due date that maybe I should induce her at 40 wks?

They have mentioned that shoulder dystopia is higher probability in bigger babies. I'm 36wks2days at the moment and praying that she comes naturally on her own. However I don't want her to get too big as only 5.2ft and quite small. I'm worried that 1. I wouldn't be able to get her out myself, 2. She gets stuck on the way out 3. It results in an emergency c section

What do you all think?

Thanks

I believe estimating size is notoriously difficult to do - and my question would be, if they hadn’t given you any numbers, or estimated this for you, would you be worried?

In the same way that getting the baby weighed when they are here can turn a confident parent into a panicking mess in minutes if the baby hasn’t tracked the ‘expected’ pattern - the suggestion is to look at the baby. If they hadn’t had a number put on them, would you have otherwise worried? It’s a good place to start.

I seem to remember that induction increases the likelihood of c-section, and emergency c-section. I would suggest paying attention not to the size of your baby, which isn’t easy to predict, either in numbers or in likelihood to cause issues, but to the position of your baby, which is much easier to assess, and something you can actually do, and make a difference with, now. Obviously have all the other discussions that you need to - but a few ounces or even a few pounds is neither here nor there sometimes - and not much to do with your size either, as you change size and shape internally and externally during labour. There is an argument that the baby’s position might be one of the factors in triggering labour, and it’s certainly a factor in accelerating it - so waiting for normal labour could potentially mean your baby is easier to give birth to.

No one knows, basically, but if my desire was to avoid a c section then avoiding induction would be second on my list because of how often one leads to the other.

Good luck!

Personally I wouldn’t. Growth scans aren’t an exact science and even if she is big, it doesn’t have to mean you’ll have a tough time.

DS was 10lb 3oz and I managed a very textbook water birth with only minor grazes and no tearing.

Am currently 37+3 with DS2 but my OB doesn’t seem remotely concerned by the prospect of another big baby - he’ll come when he’s ready!

Good luck

I'm 5' have teeny tiny hips DD2 was 10lb 6oz absolutely no problems delivering.

Growth scans have a huge margin of error. My second baby measured off the scale for abdomen and leg- arrived at 12 days overdue weighing 8lb 10. The only reason I needed an episiotomy is because she was back to back. I agreed to post dates induction but wasn't offered anything on my due date. I was under consultant care anyway and they said position is more important than size.

The biggest risk factor for shoulder dystocia is induction of labour, the evidence states that offering induction for large babies does not in anyway reduce the risk of shoulder dystocia and therefore NICE and RCOG guidelines do not recommend it. Growth scans can be out up to 2 pounds either way and still be considered ‘accurate’

DS was predicted over 9lbs too but was only 8 and popped out in no time. If you want to avoid a section then I would try and avoid induction. Big babies aren't necessarily more difficult, it's all about their position.

I'll give you my experience, as I was in the exact same situation as you with ds1. I induced on my due date as he was measuring large for dates. The induction failed - no contractions, no dilation, no nothing and I ended up having a 'non-emergency emcs' 3 days later. FWIW he was 10lbs on the nose and I would have struggled to get him out I think. He was born happy and healthy by c-section and although disappointed I couldn't give birth naturally, I would rather that than him suffer any kind of birth injury whatsoever.

Please don't rely on growth scans!!

I was told at 33 weeks that my baby was around 6lbs and by 40, he'd be 10+

I absolutely shit myself!

He was 6lb exactly at 37.3 weeks.

I think shoulder dystocia is an issue for big babies where the mum has GD. The GD makes the baby gain weight in different places. I have big babies and no GD and no one is ever worried about dystocia here - in fact I'm planning a home birth this time.m and no one is concerned.

I don't really have any useful advice, sorry, but another one here whose growth scans were off. Baby was measuring in the upper 5lbs at 32 weeks and we were told to expect him to be a large baby - I was terrified too! He was born at 39+3 at 7lbs, 14oz, which whilst wasn't exactly small was completely fine! Best of luck with your delivery