Hi there,
I was wondering if anyone had any experience of this please, and what steps were taken in future pregnancies if any.
For background:
First birth my waters went at 34 weeks. I didn’t go into labour so was put onto antibiotics, given steroids and I was induced at 36 weeks. She was born with the early stages of sepsis but thankfully we were able to treat it very quickly and she made a full recovery. We were told a few more days and she likely wouldn’t have.
Second pregnancy, perfectly normal textbook pregnancy until 36 weeks when overnight movements went from completely normal to practically nothing. I went in to be monitored and told all was fine. They did a scan, they estimated she was 6lb 6oz and said blood flow looked perfect etc and sent me home. Over the next two weeks I was in and out the hospital constantly with reduced movements. They never improved, and each time I was discharged I barely felt any better than when I arrived. They were seeing movement on the monitors but did say she was ‘sleepy’ or ‘having a rest’ too much for my liking. Either way, her movements were drastically less than they had been. Because of this, I was eventually induced at 38 weeks. She was born weighing 6lb 6, so the same weight they’d estimated she was 2 weeks previously but more worryingly my placenta was completely deteriorated. It came out in several parts and the rest had to be manually removed as it was just falling apart when they tried to get it out. Again, I was told it likely wouldn’t have sustained her for more than a few days and she was very lucky to be perfectly fine.
I’m now pregnant again, and honestly I’m terrified of going to full term. My inductions were positive, enjoyable experiences and worked incredibly well (one pessary and labour started on its own, baby here within 4-8 hours both times). With both pregnancies I noticed reduced movements in the days/weeks leading up to induction despite no previous worries during the entire pregnancy. But with both pregnancies I felt like I had to fight to be heard and even with my second daughter when I was induced at 38 weeks, I had been in a total of 5 times across 1 week before it was even discussed, then I had to wait another week until they deemed it a safe enough gestation.
I asked my midwife at my booking appointment what was likely to happen in this pregnancy given my history and she seemed very non committal, largely because it was different things that led to induction with both pregnancies I think. I don’t even know what I necessarily want, I don’t want to be induced if it isn’t necessary and I’d love to experience a natural labour, but I suppose I want to know that when and if I do have concerns with this pregnancy I’ll be listened to immediately. I do understand that inductions come with risks, but I think given my clinical background (and the success of previous births) the risk of continuing a pregnancy past early term is far greater.
Has anyone experienced similar? Was an induction at 37 weeks considered after a deteriorated placenta in a previous pregnancy? I hope you’ve gotten this far!