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.

I'd ask about the possibility of a second scan 2 weeks from the initial so the consultant can assess if your baby is growing along a standard growth line.
If this hasn't been suggested, there must reasons behind it - this is the conversation needed with consultant imo.
My DD was very very tiny but followed a standard growth line and everything else looked fine so no need for induction. She was born 39+6 at 5lb 4, and is still a teeny tiny 5 year old in age 3-4 clothes. But me and DH aren't the tallest! Despite the fact she came healthy, tiny but perfectly formed, if the professionals had said I needed am induction and explained the reasons why, I would have followed their advice

Of course, it’s your choice, but if a medical professional explained to me that to be induced would be in my and my baby’s best interests, I would be foolish to not take that advice. Good luck OP.

My induction should be at 38+O but has actually been booked for the day before this. Specifically because my consultant didn't want me to be induced on a bank holiday. And she was very open that was the reason for changing the date. So it does come into their decision making.

My induction is for no clinical reason other than the fact it's twins, so based on population data alone. They are great sizes, dopplers all fine, fluid levels equal and deep. I'm also really reluctant to have one and feel coerced into it.

There's a lot going on here and a lot of different issues, opinions, etc.

OP my advice would be to ask for an appointment with the consultant midwife if there is one, or another senior midwife e.g. midwifery matron if there isn't. It might be best to have a joint appointment with them plus consultant obstetrician to cover all the bases.

Then go along with an open mind, take a list of questions, ask them to clarify anything they say that doesn't make sense to you or you feel could be wrong.

Then you'll be in a good position to understand why they are recommending this and to make an informed decision.

I was induced at 37+4 due to SGA and she was born 5lb 3oz 2 hours after my
Waters were broken.
Im 14 weeks pregnant and tbh I am hoping for a similar experience this time 37 weeks is long enough for me to be pregnant 🤣

I had that. They were adamant they were going to induce me (waters broke the day before) but I was convinced I was progressing and refused which caused a bit of a stir. The consultant was an arse and had a face like thunder when DD arrived, with no intervention or pain relief 55 minutes later. You know your body. If they're saying there's risks then make them break it down. What are the risks? How likely is each scenario? Use your brain:

Benefits - what are the positives of what is being proposed
Risks
Alternatives - what else could be considered
Instinct - what do you feel is right?
Nothing - what happens if you do nothing?

Why did you have the growth scan in the first place? Its not standard to offer scans past 20 weeks in the UK without other risk factors.

Glad I trusted myself and went with what I felt was right in the end. I sought a second opinion after every appointment in the end, and it turns out the midwives and consultant had been lying to me the entire time to try and pressure me into a hospital birth. Baby was never iugr or sga, there was never a placenta problem, and actually there was never any problems at all. Just them needlessly trying to scare me into induction.

Well baby was born yesterday, a healthy 7lbs 11oz and at home, with no midwives because there were none available. The birth went perfectly, everyone is healthy and perfect ❤️

So glad I didn't fall for their scare tactics and I got a second opinion, because otherwise baby would've been born 3 weeks early for no good reason.