I have just declined an induction

[crazybutkind]

Just had a growth scan due to my first baby weighing 6lbs, this baby is weighing approx 6.7lbs and they wanted to induce me to which I said no.

I am 39+3 I have had 3 growth scans now, first 2 they weren't concerned this time they said they are concerned about babies weight.

My reasons for declining are due to the fact I haven't yet reached 40 weeks so not over due, my daughter was small, lol family babies have been small, I can still feel baby moving a lot and I don't want to be in a hospital with medical help on my own for potentially 3 days.
I said I would rather wait until next Monday (when I am overdue) then if they still feel the need to I will go ahead with induction.

After speaking to family I have been made to feel stupid and they have all said I should have agreed and I am being selfish and that I am potentially threatening the life of our baby.

I asked the doctor if it was what she would strongly advise and if there is any threat to myself or baby, she said no but would offer induction to women who are over due in any circumstance.

I phoned midwife when I got home to get another perspective really and she basically said I'm fine to decline until I am overdue and if nothing has happened by next week then go ahead with induction.

Basically I want someone to either be really blunt with me.

Have I been stupid?

Now o have come away and

crazybutkind, a 6lb birth weight is perfectly normal. It's the lower limits of normal, that's all. Your currant bun is over 6lbs a few days before due date! I've known a few people who had babies weighing 5-5.5lbs and they brought them home next day, nothing wrong with them at all. My cousin had three and the biggest was 5.5lbs. In the cases I mentioned all the parents were skinny.

You go with your instincts. At the moment your baby is happy where it is and you haven't said you are having any problems.

Why on earth are they wanting to induce you when baby is just below the middle line with no other health concerns?! I’d 100% have declined. The UK is so so quick to induce women, no wonder the figures if intervention are so high here. I wouldn’t even be induced next Monday personally, you’ll only be 40+3 so plenty of time to have a natural labour. All sounds very odd.

I believe the reason they offer induction for smaller babies, babies whose growth seems to slow, and for over-due women is the same. In all cases there is an increased risk of still birth. The risk is still very very small, but increased nonetheless.

I think it is very hard to know what an individual mother is to do, because each pregnancy is unique and each mother feels differently. And the actual risk to a single baby is tiny. You should do what feels right for you, however just be aware of the risk.

In my experience they always worry because they know that weighing by scans is not an accurate way to weigh a baby. Baby's are usually under the weight they predict.
Their concern may stem from them seeing one weight eg. Baby hasn't gained weight. But knowing that they could even be further wrong and baby may have lost weight or be a lower than predicted weight.

I would have taken the induction because placentas can calcify.

I would have also taken the induction because by the time you notice a limit to movements, or no movements it may already be too late.

I may even be tempted to request a C section. However that's biased as I had a C section previously, and was out 24 hours later and had a really easy recovery. Imo it's quicker and lower risk for things like covid as you're in and out, and not waiting around for days on end though again that's personal.

Obviously the medical professionals have said there's no cause for concern, but they also have to respect your bodily autonomy. It's your choice.

If it were me I'd have the baby sooner rather than later.

It doesn't matter what your family think. All that matters in these scenarios is what you think and what your doctor thinks.

I was after an induction as soon as I passed my due date. They let me go to 41+5 and then he took an extra day to be born so I almost went to 42weeks.

I dont know why they recommend induction for some ladies quickly but they wanted to wait with me.

I'm a bit of a wuss with medical stuff so I just did what I was told.

I did the same and god it was hard to keep refusing time after time. I truly believed I was doing the right thing, we had twice weekly scans and everything showed baby was fine. She was just small. I just have small babies, but they wanted me to be induced from early on. It never made any sense, let her 'cook' more! But I was treated like shit and they acted like I wanted her to die, the HCP I spoke to were so horrible and condescending to me. I've never really got over it actually, I still have such anger about the way I was treated. My daughter was eventually born at 39 weeks, quick labour and absolutely no problems. As long as you are aware of the risks in your particular circumstances, keep making the decisions that feel right for you.

It has made me a little more cautious in regards to monitoring movement. I just came away with my head all over the place really because the doctor I spoke to at first said she was concerned then she went to speak to another doctor then came back and said she wasn't too concerned so I pulled her up on that, then the nurse that was also in the room kept having to interrupt and put her spin on things. As soon as I sat down she mentioned induction to which I said I would rather wait and then she left the room to speak to somebody and when she came back she had a change of opinion and I felt pressure to make a decision and I couldn't do that without phoning my OH and gather as much info as I could.

I asked the doctor if it was what she would strongly advise and if there is any threat to myself or baby, she said no

Then you are fine. Yanbu at all.

I asked what the procedure would be next week and if they would scan me the doctor told me no they wouldn't scan me it would just be a conversation on how I was feeling and how baby is moving and behaving. I questioned how they would monitor baby if they aren't going to scan me because I just found that abit bizarre. She has booked me in for a telephone appointment for next week, no time just said somebody will ring you Monday.

i had an induction 10 days early because of baby measuring small, and i really wish i hadn’t! the consultant told me an induction would be for the best because i suffer from anxiety and booked me in for one there and then so i didn’t really have a chance to think abut it. i was induced on monday afternoon and ended up having an emergency c-section on friday morning because i wasn’t progressing. baby was 4lb 12oz. i have naturally small babies too, my heaviest was 6lb on his due date.

The UK has historically had a high rate of stillbirth and the changes to how fetal growth is measured and how suspected sga babies are managed are attempts to address this. The changes are working - stillbirth rates have dropped since the protocol was implemented.

My last baby was born on the 7th centile (around 6lbs 10oz at 41w) which is why I've had growth scans this time. At the time, that weight was considered fine but now it's not which seemed strange to me when I was referred for obstetrician mgmt for an otherwise healthy pregnancy and booked for extra growth scans. I did a fair bit of research and I'm happy that the extra scans were necessary.

I was born weighing less than DD so I assume that is normal for me and is not indicative of a problem. However, the data show that sga babies are at risk for stillbirth so I'm still cautious.

The guidelines are fairly new (since 2013 for most NHS trusts although some implemented prior to this) so people who have given birth before this may not be aware. I gave birth in 2012 so it's all new to me.

Has your baby grown since the last scan if not or if growth has suddenly slowed this could be a sign that your placenta is failing, inductions are not just handed out for small babies usually the baby is small and growth has stopped or dramatically slowed.

You need to consider the growth and everything you have been told.

This was my first thought.

I would 100% of taken the induction. I was induced at 37 weeks due to SGA and they were expecting her to be 5lb 6oz. She was 5lb 3oz and the professional opinion was that she would grow better out of the womb which she did.

In terms of pressure for induction - I definitely experienced that last time and found it very uncomfortable to have to keep explaining my reasons for declining. HCPs often aren't very good at being told no and it's absolutely your prerogative to say no.

They don't normally recommend induction for small babies - they recommend induction for babies where the growth has tailed off. When Birmingham years ago trialed this in conjunction with better scanning and personalised growth charts they reduced their stillbirth rate by 70%.

Are you sure they said the growth has carried on along the same line? Just seems very odd that you say she's just below the middle line. They wouldn't offer induction for that because that's the average. If that really is the only reason then it seems bizarre. I'm worried you've misunderstood something.

In my experience... I would have gone for induction.
If baby isn't growing well, it is better to get them out.
My first pregnancy, I went in at 39 weeks with reduced movements, I was scanned, and he had stopped growing at 37 weeks, so I was induced that day.
I'm pregnant again, and having consultant led due to restricted fetal growth with first pregnancy.
It's a huge risk factor for still born.
I'm so so glad I followed my instinct and went in at 39 weeks even tho I kept being told by family I was just being anxious and Ott.
Imagine if I'd gone 2 weeks over due, that would have been 5 weeks with no growth, no nutrients etc getting to him, I dread to think if I would have delivered a still born baby.
I was induced at 39 weeks, he was born at 39+5, 6lb 14oz and perfect.

As much as it's your right to decline, they are professionals and wouldn't recommend an Induction for the sake of it.

I would have done the same.
If there’s no reason to induce then don’t.

I was induced just after EDD for GD, but it had to be abandoned as I reacted to the drugs and had a spontaneous labour.

If I was pregnant again I’d refuse induction (not sure they’d try again though) unless there was a definite need.

My baby was just over 6lb at 40+3 and that was with GD! And probably why she came out easily

It's your body and your choice, but I don't think they hand inductions out unless they really think baby would thrive better outside than in.

I was induced and hand on heart, I don't know if he would be here if I hadn't been induced. My cord snapped.

Maybe call the consultant and gather a bit more information on why they want to induce you. I thought if they followed the growth chart on or around the same percentile then that was ok. Regardless of where on the chart.

I was overdue and bullied (Family, Friends and Medical Staff) into induction with my first I ended up having a emergency c-section. I was still traumatised 4 years later when I fell pregnant with my second. From about 22 weeks I had a feeling something was wrong, I was so petrified at the thought off being bullied again that I ignored that feeling. Needless to say I lost Joseph 28 weeks (stillborn) he had hydrops and undiagnosed Down Syndrome. I became pregnant with my 3rd son soon after, I developed gestational diabetes late in the pregnancy but I still stuck to my birth plan. Which was a c-section at 40 weeks and if I went into labour before I would try to have a natural birth (he came 3 days early). My point is a mother knows best, if you have doubts go for the induction, If your happy to wait, wait (just make sure you keep an eye on movements).

I would have declined too.

I would be worried you may have misunderstood the reason for recommendation of induction.

There’s medical evidence that inducing at 39 weeks is better for the baby.

Most folk I know were just left to it until around 41 weeks before they were offered inductions.

A neighbour and 2 work colleagues all went overdue and all had still births.
Anecdotal evidence but enough for me not to refuse an induction.

@Paperyfish