Baby's growth dropped off, induction questions. Any advice appreciated!

[CaseofEllen]

Hi everyone,

I'm 38+4 now (really wish labour would start!) anyway, I had a growth scan at 36+6 weeks and DS growth had stopped although he's still within normal range.

Consultant booked me in for another scan at 38+6 and if he hasn't picked up will talk about induction.

Has anyone experienced this before? I'm worried that his growth has stopped, why could this happen?

Can I ask to go straight to the hormone drip if I am induced? I have cervical erosion/endometriosis and am terrified at the thought of pessaries and a long stay in hospital.

Thanks in advance for any info!

Please don't panic. I'm sure if there were signs of serious problems they would have whisked you in immediately. Placentas can get a bit rubbish and deteriorate towards the end of pregnancy and this will slow growth. But you are at full term and everything important for baby (organs etc) will be present and correct, between 37-40 weeks essentially babies just get bigger, rather than developing.

I'm sure you can ask to go straight for drip but I would ask for an epidural as it can be quite full on.

For background, I had 2 babies without any pain relief. 3rd was tiny all through pregnancy (not even on the chart at 20 weeks so scanned every fortnight. No-one knew why so very stressful). Fluid reduced at 36 weeks so they induced him at 37 weeks. Pessary and waters broken to no effect. Then I went on the drip. Labour was very different to the 2 'natural' ones I had before. It shouldn't mean a long stay in hospital though - DS2 weighed only 4lbs but he was fine except for a bit of jaundice which they treated with a light blanket for a couple of days. Frankly with 2 other little ones at home I was happy to stay in! It's unlikely that you will need to though .

Good luck!

I had this. First scan at 37 weeks dropped my baby from 90th centile to 50th. Second scan dropped her below 50th, close to 40th? And they didn't induce me. I'm now 40+3 and they've just really hammered it into me that I should ring if movements reduce (which I've done once).

At the time, I was pretty freaked out by it. But it's actually ok for her in there, as long as she keeps wiggling away! I'm now a few days overdue but suspect it's going to kick off in the next couple days.

I had exactly the same, at 32 weeks growth velocity declined massively, at 34 weeks my babys growth cotinued to decline only a small amount, they booked me in again at 36 weeks & said if he continued to decline in the same pattern i would be given a steroid injection and induced at 37 weeks.

His growth velocity went back on track at 36 weeks, so they decided to book me in again at 38 weeks with the view to induce me at some point during that week.

However, today was my 38 week scan and I have not been given an appointment to induce! They will try and let you go as long as possible.

They have told me if I am induced then you get a pessory which can take 24hrs, if that doesn't work you get another one which last 6hours and this is repeated if it doesn't work, if after the 3rd still nothing a section is required. If it does work you go on the drip.

Good luck and hope it all goes well xx