Help please! Advice on placenta insufficiency

[hullaballoo19]

Hi, just looking for some advice/to hear people's experiences please! Had a growth scan today (39+2) and consultant has said placenta insufficiency likely. Baby's growth has slowed over the past 3 weeks (was v.good before this). She's still measuring good (estimated weight today was 8lb3) and blow flow to placenta looks good. But they don't want me to go past 40 weeks so I've got to go back on Thursday and discuss induction (probably to be induced over the w/e). They sent me for a sweep today but midwife couldn't do it as she said my cervix was completely closed. Feeling pretty scared that my placenta is going to stop working 🙁 also really don't want to be induced, though of course if it's necessary for her to get here safely then I will. Would really appreciate hearing from others who've been through this before. And is there anything I can do to try to bring on labour before they induce, or is that very unlikely, especially given that my cervix is showing no signs of being ready??

And is there anything I can take/eat that might help my placenta?? Or is a failing placenta completely untreatable?

If your partner is willing, try sex. The prolactin in the sperm can bring on labour but I don't know how effective that's going to be if your cervix is closed. Worth a try though.

Thanks for response @Mattieandmummy unfortunately her father and I are no longer together so that particular method is not an option for me 🙁

Ah...I'm sorry.

I was induced for the same reasons. If they were drastically concerned they'd have you in to be induced now.

We had a final growth scan at 38+6, was booked for induction the following day and baby born at 39+1. Baby was small (which was expected) but perfectly with healthy, she's now nearly 11 weeks old and growing like a weed

Thanks @Dipsydoodlenoodle yes they did also say that to me (that if they were really concerned they'd be booking me in now). And one of the midwives did say to me that a different consultant might have a different view and I could ask for a second opinion. I felt like she was hinting that that might be a good idea but not certain.. Obviously it's also only just started not working properly so she's a good size already 👍 just worried of course! They didn't give any kind of idea of timeline, like when you might expect the placenta to fail, or whether there was no way to predict it etc. Just told me to be hyper vigilant about movement. So I guess I just don't know how imminently serious it is iykwim? How was induction for you??

Hi similar experience here. Placenta stopped working in both pregnancies. It was picked up by chance at 36 weeks with ds1. He was delivered at 36+5 after I was induced. 4lb 9oz and perfect, just small.

They looked out for it in second pregnancy and DS2 was delivered at 37 weeks, also 4lb 9oz, again healthy, just small.

Good luck let us know how you get on!

Also inductions both times were absolutely fine- I had an epidural with both and could have that quite early on. Natural births

Placentas do tend to be less sufficient closer to 40 weeks. It’s the reason midwives and doctors are reluctant to let women go more than 42 weeks.

If they are t too concerned then don’t worry. Keep a good eye on baby’s movements and go straight in for monitoring of the movements change from normal

Thanks both 😊 reading up on induction as much as possible and making a list of questions to ask at my appointment on Thursday 👍

Try not to panic. Induction can take a while to get going so when you go in, pack and expect to stay for a few days. Lots of snacks, plenty of the inhe to read, do watch etc. there are different methods of induction but they all aim to open your cervix enough to break your waters.
It can be sped up with the drip after your waters have gone but you could well labour spontaneously from the pessary or gel.

It can be more intense than natural labour but can also be completely tolerable. Just go with the flow and know you’ll get your beautiful baby at the end.

Hi OP, this happened to me. It was picked up at a routine 36 week scan, I was induced at 37+1. DS born at 6lb 8oz. He's 21 months now, still on the small side, but he's healthy and strong.

My induction took ages, but most of that was just waiting around. If you are induced then take things to keep yourself busy. I did my nails, listened to podcasts, read a lot, bounced on a birthing ball, did some journaling. Also take some nice food - I had loads of fresh fruit - hospital food isn't always that nourishing and you need to be fighting fit. Noise cancelling headphones useful too as you might be on a ward with others having sweeps etc.

When things finally got going it was really quick. Waters broke at 2am and DS was here at 7:25am.

I don't think anyone wants to be induced, but we're so fortunate to have these scans and interventions to keep us safe. Good luck and let us know how you get on!

Well I have nothing to compare it to. So based on that - the experience was fine.

I was induced using the gel, its a little like a smear test - so a little uncomfortable while they do it but otherwise ok.

Apparently it hurts more being induced as your body doesn't produce the natural pain relief. I did opt for an epidural in the end (was constantly monitored so moving around wasn't an option, and I had back labour pains which again are meant to be more painful - I wasn't surprised as period pain was always in my back). If you think you might want an epidural ask early, I had to wait 2 hours for the anesthetist - who then went straight back to emergency after seeing me.

We arrived at hospital at 10am on Wed, was checked in, monitored for an hour and then first gel inserted, 5 hours later a repeat of the monitoring and gel. Maybe an hour later I was having painful contractions, waters were manually broken (at maybe 6pm) - baby was born 6am on Thursday morning.

For me my contractions stopped (or severely slowed down at about 4am!) You can get a drip to help but the Dr on the ward said no to me having it (the midwife was furious haha) - anyway in the end the Dr helped deliver the baby and the midwife helped manually make contractions. I'm sure this is just me and not a 'normal' case.

The minute baby came out and made that first cry, I thought I'd go through it all again in an instant to hear the relief of that first cry.

Yes, I had this and ended up having a planned C - Section when DS was 37 weeks gestation. He's now 2.5 and is totally fine, he is on the small side but I don't know if that's related. I'm short too!