Big baby study

[buddhababy2019]

I'm just curious what everyone else's thoughts are. I got an email this morning from my NHS trust entitled "Big Baby Study". To give some context, I had a 36 week growth scan last week and baby is measuring 7lb 4oz (though dc1 was 7lb 9oz when born at 35 weeks so this one seems smaller). Basically they want me to take part in a study that would involve being induced at 38 weeks (even though no one has said their is a medical reason for this being necessary) and did point out that labour is likely to be "longer and more painful as a result (dc1 was 1 hr 45 mins start to end so can't say I'm keen on voluntarily making it a prolonged affair if I don't need to).

Am I being unreasonable to say I don't want to be part of this study and only want an induction if my consultant deems it to be a necessity and not just to be their guinea pig? 🤔

Yes of course YANBU - that's the whole point. You should only sign up if you actively want to be a "guinea pig" which has pros and cons (helping to make new medical knowledge that might be helpful to other women vs potentially suffering through a longer labour).

Well of course you can refuse. But I'm surprised your baby is considered big, mine measured over 8lbs then and was born at 37 weeks weighing 10lbs 4 (by section but we knew I was going to have one, though baby decided not to wait until 38 weeks).
The vast majority of people getting this email will ignore it or say no.

I wouldnt sign up to this study either OP!

I wouldn’t be doing that and I don’t think yabu by not wanting to either! They asked me something similar when I was 37 weeks with DS....I declined and it was never mentioned again. He was 10lb 15oz!

Just to clear things up, the study itself has two groups. You are randomly selected to either be a part of the group who are induced at 38 weeks or you are part of the group where you are left to go into labour naturally. There is no guarantee you will be a part of the group who will be induced as this is randomly selected by a computer.

I am taking part in the study and I have been selected to be a part of the group to go into labour naturally. Having said this, my consultant was clear that she doesn't want me to go overdue (due to issues with my BP recently). So I am going to be induced when I am 39+6 which I am fine with as I'm not keen on going over my due date either!

You can choose to leave the study at any point if you wish 😊 wishing you all the best with the rest of your pregnancy!

Thanks for all the responses. I'm definitely not going to take part as everyone I know who has been induced has said it's been a prolonged experience (I'm kinda hoping this one will be nice and quick like my first so don't really want to risk that if there's a chance). So unless there's a medical reason I'll let nature take its course!