Hospital want to induce me, but I don't really want to.

[Lafoosa]

I had a scan that shows baby is measuring small for how far along I am, although they don't have any previous measurements to compare against as they wouldn't let me attend other appointment with my kids with me and wouldn't let me book it over when I have childcare.

Everything else is great, heartbeat is perfect, my placenta is doing what it should, fluid levels are good, the cord blood is good and baby's movements are very regular.
Considering they can only estimate from a scan and they're not that accurate I'm a bit hesitant to go to be induced (what will be next week) when I'm 37 weeks anyway and baby is perfectly healthy right where she is.

At the hospital they spoke to me like I don't have any choice, made me think there were issues that aren't actually there because they were just saying all of the what ifs that aren't actually the case as if they were how things are already.

The community midwife I saw after that appointment was basically just trying to scare me out of a home birth by saying that all small babies die in home births which is just a blatant lie, my last baby was absolutely tiny and at 2yo she's still tiny.

I'm thinking maybe they're just saying all of this stuff now because they don't want to have to send a midwife out to me since there's a shortage at the moment. I'm more than happy to birth with a paramedic there instead anyway, I've done this twice, both times at home, both small babies (but lovely weight, just tiny everywhere else).

Surely they shouldn't be wanting to get her out just because she's little when everything else is absolutely perfect? They won't listen to me about having small babies previously either, because they were 7lbs10 and 7lbs7 which isn't considered small weight they won't take into account that their height, head circumstances, etc were all tiny. Both wore clothes for premature babies when they were first born because they were rinky dinky little things, but health wise they were great and didn't need to go into hospital at all.

I'm not making the wrong choice by refusing the induction am I? Because the way everyone is talking to me is like I'm about to kill myself and my baby despite us both being in perfect health.

Honestly it is impossible to tell.
But if you believe it is an unnecessary induction then you can always decline.
I don't think they would scare you just to not send a midwife for a home birth. But rather want to avoid taking any risks and the only way is to induce you?
Perhaps you could give birth in a MLU instead?
Or say that you will accept another scan next week and see then how baby/placenta are doing?
Or consider a later induction if it is still necessary?

I get that you are reluctant to be induced so early. But again I don't think they would do it at 37w if there was absolutely no good reason. Or maybe I am very naive...

Could you get a second opinion?

I was induced 4 days ago op. It really wasn't the big scary thing I thought it would be. All I needed was the gel so no need for a pessary or drip. When I was in the latent phase I was able to relax in the hospital garden. Then I had all my home comforts in the room and they dimmed the lights so the room was barely lit and quite a relaxing environment. I know all hospitals are different though.

My dh is a paramedic and the service is incredibly stretched. It's not really designed for what you say in your op. It really is more for if you've followed all medical advice and something still goes wrong.

I hope it all works out for you.

Honestly if both the hospital and the community midwife have recommended it I would strongly consider your options and think about having the induction or, at the very least, giving birth in hospital.

Are you wanting a home birth because of the childcare issue?

They won't try and induce you at 37 weeks if they don't think it's in baby's best interests.

I can’t understand why you would take the risk with your baby’s life when they are so adamant, what do you think their agenda is? They don’t do these things lightly, especially at 37weeks with a midwife shortage. Honestly OP getting the birth experience you want is just a bonus, getting the baby out safely is what matters, and the best way to do that is to follow medical advice.

Can you have another scan at 37 weeks instead? That’s what I asked for when they thought there was a placenta problem and I got it.

They are very quick to jump to inducing you - you are within your rights to decide whatever you want and ask them for the risks of both being induced and not being induced so you can make an informed decision

@Unsureaboutit9 couldn't agree more

@Unsureaboutit9
But they're being adamant based on one scan, when absolutely everything on the scan was perfect apart from she looked a little small. Surely if everything is working as it should having an extra 3 weeks to grow would be beneficial.

They wanted to induce my sister for a small baby and her baby was 9lbs12oz! So they were just very very wrong.
Considering everything is healthy and I've got absolutely no health conditions, my pregnancy has been 0 risk the whole time and both me and my OH are small people it just doesn't sit right with me inducing with no medical issues for them to back themselves with.
They were saying they don't like home births anyway and they don't recommend them at all in any situation so it just seems like this is an easier and more convenient time for them.

They tried pushing for induction with my last baby who was also small just because she was due very close to Christmas and they wanted her out before then 🙃

My second scan (2 days later) was with a different woman and she was happy for me to not be induced if I just keep having regular scans to check fluid which I've agreed to. She said everything on the scan was perfect and how they want it to be, obviously bar the small baby.

But I also have a friend who they wanted to induce because they said her baby was already 11lbs at 37 weeks and that baby was born 6lbs. So they just aren't very accurate and I feel like I'm risking my baby's life more by forcing her to be born early and in stressful manner when their scans aren't accurate in the first place.

I'm due Easter weekend, so they are probably just wanting me to give birth before half term like they did last time.

The only reason they said to why I should be induced is "because your placenta could stop working". Which is just a could, at the moment it's working perfectly and there's been no indication for the entire pregnancy that there's anything that's going to stop it working, especially in the next 3 weeks. I've got another scan booked on the 31st, which is what I agreed to doing instead of being induced on Monday.

It's your decision OP not the hospital's or the midwives.

I have experienced midwifery staff and an obstetrician telling me outright lies (that I only knew to be so because I have a close friend who is a midwife and who had pointed me to some resources earlier on). That doesn't mean that's what's happening to you.

If your previous babies have been small but heavy then you have knowledge that should be taken account of.

Induction isn't risk free. You could opt for monitoring appointments instead. You don't have to have them if you don't want them though.

It's your choice.
You just have to be prepared to live with whatever choice you make.
Neither option is risk free.

Do they think you have IUGR?

Personally I'd want to base a decision on more than just one scan.

What’s wrong with having an induction?

@Mmmmmmbop90 from everything they said at the first hospital, and everything they said at the second hospital when I went for a second opinion the only risks to me not getting induced are at the moment hypothetical because so far everything is healthy and as it should be except for them measuring baby small, which isn't usually that accurate anyway.
I'm still getting betting this baby is going to be in the 7lbs range like my other two, also very short babies were.

I’m not a medical professional, when it comes to my baby, I would want a professional to make the decision as I know all they want is to deliver a healthy baby. That would be my goal too. The same way I would prefer them to take my decision regarding structural/architectural advice rather than do that themselves.

What made them decide to do the scan in the first place?

Hospitals don't promote inductions because of staffing. They promote inductions because they fucking hate stillbirths, and will happily induce quite a number of women to prevent one stillbirth. Each women, however, gets to choose her own attitude to risk.

How small do they think baby is? Like what percentile? Why did they send you for a growth scan in the first place, was it because your bump measured small? It seems a bit extreme to jump to induction at 37 weeks unless the baby is looking very small and they think your placenta isn’t working properly… what have they actually said is the reason?

I don’t think it has anything to do with them wanting you to give birth before the school holidays though, that’s a strange assumption to make. Babies are born every day! They make decisions and recommendations based on risk and safety, I would always listen to their advice but it’s ok to question it as well. I personally wouldn’t risk a home birth if it was advised against medically- what if baby needs urgent medical attention when delivered? It’s just not worth the risk imo, if there are factors there to be concerned about (like a small baby).

What centile is this baby plotting according to scan weight? What was the birth weight centile of your previous children? Ask for a scan in 2 weeks to check growth.

If they are recommending immediate induction they are concerned that your baby may be compromised so I'm not sure why you would want a homebirth with a potentially growth restricted baby - they typically don't cope well in labour and if baby is being monitored intermittently at home then this is not appropriate

I’d find it hard too because I don’t think it’s necessarily great for a baby to be born at 37 weeks of its not necessary but if you’ve had 2 opinions and they know all the facts eg about your previous small babies then I would be inclined to take medical advice

You can refuse OP, hospitals do use scaremongering to get you to give birth when it’s convenient to them- I had the same but because my baby was big (she was 8lb 4) but I refused because they wanted to do it at 37 weeks which is too early for a healthy pregnancy IMO. When I finally got to speak to a consultant she said I was right to refuse. (To cut a long story short)
Everyone will tell you you’re being selfish on here but it sounds as though you are aware of possible complications so don’t let them bully you into it without a valid reason.

@felulageller they never said they think I have IGUR, they just said baby is small.
I've had two scans now that both show baby is small but healthy and that everything is working as it should.

The staff at the hospital I'd have to be induced at aren't very nice either, I just don't want to have to deal with them if it's not 100% necessary. The woman that said she'd be taking over my care when I come in said she would induce me 3 different ways, and if that didn't work she'd break my waters and give me an episiotomy 🤢 and then she said if that didn't work they'd give me an emergency C-section. I don't particularly like to be threatened with an episiotomy if their induction methods don't work l, especially so matter of factly as if I have no say in what they do to me from the minute I step through the door. I wouldn't be allowed anyone with me either.

I'm having regular scans, so far they've all been good and healthy. Obviously I'd go for the induction if that changed, but while everything is working perfectly and baby is somersaulting around all day long I feel like it's not really necessary.

If there was adequate growth between the two scans, then maybe you could have another scan before deciding. If there wasn't adequate growth between the scans, then placenta isn't working properly.

@user0610134049 they won't listen to me about my other babies being small, they'll only look at their weight which was average and not height or head circumference.
Both of the scans I had were very different tones, the first one the man who did it said absolutely nothing the entire time and after I saw a consultant who said baby is small, but didn't let me know if baby was okay, if the placenta was working, blood flow, fluid level, etc. That consultant didn't let me know any of what was actually going on, just said they are booking me for an induction within the week and that baby is small and then proceeded to list off a bunch of things that could happen if certain things stop working. I was pretty freaked out during that whole conversation because I didn't know if everything was healthy and they wouldn't tell me.
The next scan I had (which I had to book myself), the sonographer was very helpful and said everything she was doing as she was doing it. Showed me where everything was and that everything is working as it should and that baby is healthy, but small. She said she would only recommend an induction just to be on the extra safe side, but that baby is healthy and so is everything else so it is my choice.
I said I'd come back for monitoring weekly instead as if everything is healthy then I don't feel comfortable delivering at 37 weeks.
Especially with all of the risks that come with induction, and the impending doom of the episiotomy that the midwife who'd be doing my induction threatened me with.

Had the baby grown as expected between the 2 scans?

@Nomad916 there was only 2 days between the first 2 scans, I've got another in 5 days which will shed more light on that. But the scan did show my placenta is healthy at the last scan. I might suggest they try a sweep instead of an induction at 38 weeks as I don't much like the risks that come with induction and considering I gave birth early last time a sweep might do the job.

So a Consultant obstetrician has agreed that she is happy to continue going forward with regular growth scans and as long as all scans are normal no induction is required? If this is the case and youre happy with this then proceed with this plan... be careful and mindful.of babys movements. If you feel they have reduced or changed please seek immediate midwifery advice. If you have any other concerns about yourself or baby please seek medical or midwifery advice. I hope the scan goes well and you get the birth you want but most importantly I wish u and baby to remain in good health.

@Lafoosa could you give us an indication as to what percentile baby is on and what the growth was like between your two scans? What is their estimated weight?

Also there was clearly a reason you’ve been referred for growth scans to begin with?

That’s what anything should be based upon. Yes hospitals are very risk averse but also it is important to consider the above. I’m probably going to be induced at 37 weeks (I would be happy to get there!) as baby is measuring small. I was told clearly that they would not intervene solely on the basis of having a small baby but measuring growth between scans and drops in percentile. This may indicate placenta issues that tend to get worse as the pregnancy progresses. It isn’t 100% clear in these circumstances whether people like us tend to have smaller babies or whether there’s underlying issues occurring. No doctor can say for certain either way. However, the risk of their being a placental issue far outweighs anything else.

At 37 weeks baby would be absolutely fine out and the outcomes are not that much different from babies born 2 weeks later. Ultimately it’s your choice.