Induction at 37 weeks due to small baby - positive stories/handhold please

[BirdsDoIt]

Hello, I am lying awake fretting (i.e. quietly freaking out) because at my 36 week scan yesterday I was told the baby is measuring small and they have strongly recommended that I’m induced at 37 weeks. As I was actually 36 weeks 5 days for my scan, that means induction on Wednesday - tomorrow. I am so not ready for this. It’s baby no 3 (DCs are aged 4 and 6) and I was lucky enough to have both of them at home after uncomplicated labours. We still haven’t 100% decided in favour of induction but will reluctantly take that route if needed. I feel angry and sad that it will be a very different birth from the home birth I wanted and it all feels so sudden - but on the other hand am really anxious that if we leave baby in there too long then he/she will suffer and there is a risk of still birth. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should be asking the doctor when I go back to be monitored again today? Wondering about pushing for a second scan to get another opinion but I don’t know if this is a (potentially dangerous) waste of time.
The thought of a medicalised continuously monitored induction terrifies me to be honest. I am trying to reframe it and feel more positive but so far failing miserably! Does anyone have any positive induction stories to share?

Congratulations!! Induced birth can be very tough to come round to mentally, and it sounds like you had a rough time. I think the reason they’re keen on induction is that there has been a push in the past few years to identify and deliver small for gestational age (SGA) babies. This group of babies are statistically more likely to end in stillbirth if allowed to go to full term. It happened to a friend of mine, the day before induction was booked (for medical reasons, and at 39/40 weeks so not lateness) - baby died in utero and was very small. The thinking is that sometimes the placenta stops working properly in the 3rd trimester and baby just stops growing/getting enough oxygen. It’s so terribly sad. Though it sounds like your baby wasn’t so small after all! I’m glad all is well.

Congrats OP another good induction story, bar the waiting around! My vote is Jacob Henry. Enjoy the newborn days, they go too quickly!

I’m so sorry to hear about your friend’s baby. That must have been devastating for her.
And yes despite knowing rationally that it made sense to go ahead with induction, I really did find myself resisting the ‘conveyor belt’ approach of hospital care - made worse by the bureaucracy and delays - there were definitely moments when I considered making a break for freedom and running away to have the baby back home! Individual midwives have mostly been lovely though.

Thanks @BirdsDoIt - it was incredibly hard for both of them, but they’ve put a lot of energy into raising awareness, and that baby has a huge legacy. I only know about SGA babies because of him! (He would be 6 now - and a lot of the things we are now seeing, including individualised growth charts are because of a whole generation of bereaved parents and their activism in this area)

But I also had an induced birth for my first and it was brutal, mostly because I think I was fighting it mentally. I didn’t want to be induced, so my body didn’t cooperate.

Anyway, I only put the above to raise awareness for anyone who might be reading this thread (now and in the future). I’m really pleased everything went as well as it could have (hospital slowness aside) ❤️

And if anyone wants to find out about Henry and his amazing Dad Chris, who has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and to educate both the public and professionals, you can read his blog here:
pineconesandstudydays.co.uk/

Not going to lie OP. Had a induction for DD1 (41w 4d) and it was horrible! 2 days! They said I wasn't progressing but didn't really specify how much. Had to have epidural to sleep.

Also scans can be deceiving for size of baby. DD2 was measuring big and she ended up bang on 50th percentile, 3 grams difference to her sister!! I would maybe ask for another scan. It's not dangerous. It's something they don't advise you have too much (because you can buy home ultrasound!!!) but I'm sure you can count yours in the finger of one hand....

Hi I had an induction back in june as baby measured smaller throughout my whole pregnancy, she was born a very healthy 7lb 8oz so a really average weight! 😂

My friend had a baby at 37 weeks and she was 5lb but still perfectly healthy

Hope it goes well 🤞 xx

Ah congratulations OP! 🎉💙 So glad baby boy is here and perfect, despite the faff!

I’m 34 weeks today with DD2 (also SGA and cruising the 2nd centile currently) and have just had my induction date set for 37 weeks. Even though I’ve done it before, the inevitable nerves have already crept in... but your story has, in turn, reassured me! 😊

Anyway, enjoy your lovely newborn! Hope you’re home ASAP (if not already!) 💕

@milknapplayrepeat

Ah congratulations OP! 🎉💙 So glad baby boy is here and perfect, despite the faff!

I’m 34 weeks today with DD2 (also SGA and cruising the 2nd centile currently) and have just had my induction date set for 37 weeks. Even though I’ve done it before, the inevitable nerves have already crept in... but your story has, in turn, reassured me! 😊

Anyway, enjoy your lovely newborn! Hope you’re home ASAP (if not already!) 💕

Good luck! Hope your delivery goes smoothly too (ideally without the delays!) x

Bless you OP. Induced birth does often lead to ECS so I’m so happy that it didn’t come to that. I had my first with the aid of the ‘fucking agonising bastard drip’. The midwifes words were that it would make my contractions more energetic. Well by the time I’d finished everyone in the room had been called a cunt so it served them right for lying 🤣

Enjoy your gorgeous baby boy xx

Aah huge congratulations and I’m glad all was well in the end - your baby boy was a perfect weight! Your induction experience sounds very similar to mine, took 5 days and ended up moving to a different hospital as I was kept waiting around for so long. I don’t think the different stages to induction and how long it can take is well understood! Hope you get to go home soon. It’s been lovely to read your positive story, I’m 11 weeks pregnant with my second and have a while to wait to see if I’ll have the same outcome this time round but this is a good reminder that if it is, it will be ok!

Mine took 5 days as well. In a heatwave. On an antenatal ward with a woman who wouldn't stop having shouty conversations on her mobile at night, and had an endless trail of similar relatives coming in. On day 4 I ended up sobbing to my community midwife on the phone that I was going to walk out as I was exhausted and couldn't take any more. She kindly intervened and a space on the labour ward magically became available!