Terrified of stillbirth, ABIU to request induction?

[nervousmumtobe1987]

I'm lucky to have a very active baby but whenever she stops moving I panic. Two friends in the past two years have had stillbirths, completely unexplained , both babies born alive but died within 24 hours. And three other close mates with babies with rare disorders that are life threatening.

I'm 35 weeks on weekly scans as my baby has been measuring just a wee bit small but otherwise healthy. Will they induce me or give me a caesarean if I request for anxiety? I'm really starting to struggle and every day seem to work myself into a state.

I'm trying to focus on all of the other babies that I know that are healthy but it feels like disease and death are all around me.

An induction at what point?

If you're asking for an induction at 39 weeks for example, it's unlikely to happen. If the baby isn't ready then it can be very stressful for them and things can go south with fetal distress.

If you go overdue then it's perfect acceptable to ask for an induction.

Also sorry to hear about your friends babies with rare disorders. Unfortunately c-section or induction or spontaneous birth won't prevent a baby being born with a disorder if that's what they have.

Thank you, I just feel that if I could know my baby would be born alive and stay alive I would be less nervous. I reckon the anxiety isn't helping the baby right now.

I believe it is your choice but you may have to be insistent!

I sympathise as I was similar with my first pregnancy and it's a horrible place to be. Tell your midwife how anxious you are. It took me getting very upset in front of mine at 38 weeks, and visiting the MAU for the umpteenth time and again bursting into tears, but I saw a consultant midwife who agreed that I could have early sweeps and be considered for an induction soon after due date. I had one sweep at 38+4 and luckily that did it, DS was born at 39 weeks.

I'm very glad in hindsight I didn't have an induction, as they can be horrible, but at the time it was preferable to the mental torture I was enduring. I doubt you would be offered a c section, but hopefully something similar to what I've mentioned. Good luck.

Everyone gets anxious as birth draws near that things might go wrong so I can’t imagine that along would be grounds to induce you. If you feel you are unduly anxious may be worth a chat to your midwife. Maybe they can put in place extra monitoring and checks if they think you need it.

They won’t induce you at 35 weeks because that would be more risky for the baby than waiting. They might induce you at 39-40 weeks but induction can be a long and stressful process in itself and has risks. It’s horrible feeling anxious but the safest place for your baby at the moment is where he/she is.

Is there any possibility of your midwife referring you for counselling/MH support to help manage your anxiety?

Thank you, I will ask about MH support as I'm not sure how I will manage the next few weeks. I know 35 weeks is too early to induce but really don't feel I can wait another 5, do you think they will give me a caesarean if the inducement is too much risk for the baby?

They won't get baby out (either by section or induction) at 35 weeks unless there is a medical need as it would be too risky for baby.

I really sympathise with the anxiety as I felt very similar. Talk to your midwife and see if you can get a plan in place as that might help you to feel more in control. They might also be able to refer you to the perinatal mental health team to help you with your anxiety.

You will get there OP.

my sister was induced 12 days early because of her baby measuring small and her having a history of anxiety. she had a really long labour that resulted in an emergency c section though and she’s said that she wishes she’d had just waited to go into labour naturally as clearly neither she nor the baby were ready.

Sorry OP but I highly doubt they would offer you a section without cause (eg if baby was breach). My friend had horrible anxiety like I did (worse, as it was her own sister who'd had a stillbirth only months before) and she was induced a couple of days before her due date. There was no offer of a c section even in her case where there was direct family history (and where the hospital had arguably been negligent). A c section is a big op and expensive for the NHS so they don't hand them out without cause

How old are you OP? my trust will induce you at term if you are 40 or over so could that be an option?

I was given a sweep at 38 weeks exactly and I really wanted an induction but for the opposite reason to you - measuring massive but it worked and I went into labour. It's definitely worth asking your consultant. Xx

Sorry just seen your username - I'm guessing you're not over 40 😂

Thank you for the replies, @OneForTheRoadThen no I'm only 31, dont' think they'll do the induction for my age, did it take much convincing to for them to do an early sweep for you? Was told they won't sweep until I'm 40 weeks but perhaps with my anxiety and for my mental health they'll let it happen at 38 or 39 weeks?

It didn't take much convincing at all to do the sweep although they did warn that it might not work. I've heard they are painful if you are not dilated.

It was a bit different for me as it was my second baby and I had had a spontaneous labour at 36+6 with my first so they knew I had a tendency to go early. As it happened I was already 2-3cm dilated so I probably would have gone early naturally. The consultant did warn that they wouldn't consider induction if my cervix wasn't 'favourable' I.e. already open so I think it would be the same for you.

You can definitely request a series of sweeps, they booked me in for 3 so I'd do that. If you stress how anxious you are they'd probably agree.

I'm the meantime you can start drinking raspberry leaf tea and bouncing on a birthing ball , my midwife said to do an hour every evening, that might help get things moving xx

Whilst I sympathise with the anxiety induction and c sections carry risks to the baby, especially if they are preterm. Whilst I was being induced recently I was actually talking to my midwife conversationally about people requesting induction due to anxiety (she had a lady request induction at 28 weeks beacause she couldn’t cope with being pregnant anymore). She said they refer people for counselling before anything although I guess every trust is different.

Sorry you’re feeling so anxious, OP. It’s very normal to worry to some degree, but It sounds like the upsetting experiences around you are (understandably) stressing you quite a lot, so definitely talk to your midwife about how you’re feeling. Even just talking it through might help a little, but as someone else said there might be some extra support/monitoring they could offer to reassure you.

At this stage baby’s movements are really key in letting you know they’re ok. So if you have any concerns with reduced movement then seek support from your midwife.

Also, just wanted to say be wary of any ‘home induction tips’ ie clary sage, castor oil, as tempting as they sound, because they can be very dangerous.

At 35 weeks you’re low risk for placenta deterioration, which is why induction is offered from 40-42 weeks. But I completely understand your fears, so sorry to hear about all your friends losses.

Honestly, you don’t want an induction. I is riskier for your baby if nothing is wrong. I would reccomend you talk to your midwife about you anxiety and ask to give birth in hospital with feral heart monitors. And maybe avoid the hospital where your friends who lost babies gave birth if that is a possible trigger for your anxiety. Try not to worry too much.

I really suffered with anxiety in pregnancy so I hear you.
I had my twins at 36+4... they were supposed to be induced at 37w but was brought forward to 36+3 due to repeated reduced movement from one twin... believe me, they didn’t make the decision lightly to bring it forwards. I had steroids at 34w just in case things happened sooner, then was in and out of triage daily for monitoring.. even after induction was booked! They just didn’t want to push it any further.
We did have issues as although really my twins were almost term, they were still classed as pre-term, both lost too much weight, jaundice and low blood sugars were massive problems... jaundice is quite common in early babies.
Although I completely understand how hard it is.. I was terrified something horrific would happen and was monitoring movements so closely.. equally it is best for baby to stay in as long as possible.

I had the opposite problem in that I had lots of issues with my DS not moving much. But I had horrendous anxiety too about stillbirth and not being able to birth him properly. I started the induction process at 37+5 because of reduced movement but it didn't progress and I broke down in hospital and sobbed all night worrying about whether I'd be able to bring him into the world safe. Was a lot more complex than that but I met with my consultant who agreed to do a section on mental health grounds - I wasn't sleeping (4 days on a ward in 30c heat) and I was beginning to have panic attacks.
I clearly remember thinking at 35w that I couldn't go on anymore and the worry was tearing me apart, but I suspect had DS moved more I wouldn't have felt quite so anxious.

They can do a section on mental health grounds, but they wouldn't look to do it any earlier than 38w unless there was a problem with movement and anything else like poor growth or placental dysfunction.

Personally, I would be having a chat with a midwife tomorrow and expressing your concerns and anxieties, and look to see if they can put you in touch with a perinatal mental health nurse. I suffered from horrendous post natal anxiety and depression as a result of my experience with pregnancy (and was predisposed to it anyway we have a long history of anxiety related disorders) and the help and support was invaluable in those early weeks/months.

nervousmumtobe1987 don't know if you saw my post from yesterday but I had an early sweep solely due to anxiety - at 38+4. Was scheduled to have two more at 2 or 3 day intervals but luckily the first one worked.

Have you been to the MAU much to be assessed for movement? I'd been several times so clear evidence of my anxiety. If you haven't been at all I would start going now if you have any hope of earlier intervention due to anxiety.

I'm pregnant again and not anxious this time but I'm hoping to have a sweep on my due date this time as I don't want to risk getting too over due. I'm worried it'll be harder to get this time though as so far (I'm 24+5) I've not been anxious so no evidence that it's affecting me...!

At 35 weeks they are too early. Even late pre term babies have brains which are a 1/3 less developed than those at term. The neurological development in those last few weeks is critical. This is why they will not intervene unless the baby is in danger.
Not to be cruel, but if your friends’ babies were born and then passed away from SIDS there is very little an induction could have done to save them. The same with a rare genetic disorder. When my son was in NICU (he was v prem) there were 35, even 36 weekers needing a little oxygen support and being fed by NG tube for a week or two. I would contact your GP and ask for MH support at this time.

Please do NOT go to MAU and pretend to have reduced movement so you can be induced. This is not safe for your baby.

Completely understand your concerns OP but think about it this way. You want your baby born healthy and to stay healthy. Inducing pre-term could mean your baby has a number of health issues due to being premature. Your baby still has some developing to do. It's risking your baby's health to be induced pre-term unless it's medically the best option for you.

Also second PP, do not go in for reduced movements to get an induction. You may be taking up the space of a mother with a genuine concern/issue.

Really hope everything goes well for you