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Original poster

Pushed for induction after growth scan

40 replies

FourOclock · 03/11/2022 04:27

Has anyone been in this situation and can offer some advice?

I'm pregnant with my third, had my third growth scan yesterday at 39 weeks which shows baby has dropped from 50th centile to 6th centile. Other than that, baby looks great, placental blood flow is great, fluid all good etc. No other concerns. I'm having growth scans as my first was born 4th centile but this was never picked up so I wasn't induced with him.

Anyway, straight after scan I was rushed off to be induced, it was all a bit overwhelming but in the end I eventually convinced them to do a sweep and let me come home for the night and be induced tomorrow instead. Except I really really really don't want to be induced if I don't have to.

I've had two vaginal births, second was a very quick and lovely home birth. First we were in hospital for a week as I got sepsis during labour and it was hell on earth being in there. I'm stressed as soon as I'm in there, I really want to avoid birthing there.

Has anyone been in this situation and declined induction? I understand why they are recommending it but I also feel as though growth scans aren't always that accurate, the lady scanning me herself said it could be she under estimated the measurements this time and the last person over estimated them.

I just don't know what to do, I'm so tempted to just get baby out but I feel as soon as the induction process is started, I'm stuck in there and it all spirals out of my control. Am I more likely to have to stay in longer after an induced birth? I would want to just have baby and leave ASAP

OP posts:

WooWooWinnie · 03/11/2022 04:34

If you have a vaginal birth (which is very likely when you’ve had two before) then you won’t have to stay in any longer than usual just because you’ve been induced.

However, people do decline induction and that is your choice. They will want you to be vigilant about baby’s movements and maybe agree to regular monitoring of baby’s heart rate, so you can all be reassured that everything seems ok, but you can opt not to be induced if you want.

grey12 · 03/11/2022 04:42

"Overdue" pregnancies so J was pushed into induction.

I remember with DC 2 I was told they were measuring big in the US and they were born bang on the 50th percentile, exactly like DC1 🤷🏻‍♀️ these measurements aren't accurate but you do have the previous experience.... I don't really knows what it means to have a baby measuring low

So inductions. Sweeps don't work 🤷🏻‍♀️ otherwise all my babies wouldn't have been born at nearly 42 weeks. BS idea that it works.

Dc1 was with pessary and ir was horrible! Heard bad experiences from other mothers as well

I've had better luck with breaking waters but it does put you on a countdown to CS. Also a ObGyn I saw once told me she chose elective CS instead of induction. After DC1 I totally understand her position.

Depending on your experience with your previous child see if you are willing to wait it out of not. If yes, then be strong!!! You're going to need it...... my experience is of bullying doctors and midwives pushing me for induction when I didn't want to.....

Good luck

Original poster

FourOclock · 03/11/2022 04:49

Yes already felt quite bullied last night when I was in, and I know they are more informed than me, so it's hard to keep saying no. But this all feels so rushed (and yet at the same time, I was sat for hours with no monitoring etc so is it urgent or not? I live literally opposite the hospital and would happily go for daily monitoring)

OP posts:

WooWooWinnie · 03/11/2022 04:54

FourOclock · 03/11/2022 04:49

I’m sorry you felt bullied. They shouldn’t be more informed than you, in the sense that they should be giving you all the information so that you are also informed and can make the best decision for you. It’s fine to say you don’t want the induction and you want to speak to the obstetrician to make an alternative plan. When making medical/pregnancy decisions it can be really useful to use the BRAIN acronym as a basis for discussion:

what are the Benefits?
what are the Risks?
what are the Alternatives?
what does your Intuition tell you?
what will happen if you do Nothing?

Loungingstevens · 03/11/2022 04:55

Hi Op. I really feel for you. It’s very hard to not feel so disappointed and worried/scared when suddenly it feels like you are going to have to head down a path you really wanted to avoid. I have been there, more than once. And I had not had an experience like you with the first labour. so I can only imagine how you feel.

i was home 24hrs after having both induced babies. I opted for monitoring for a while but after 3-5 days went for the induction. Both times I had had my doubts as to the reasons for the recommendation for an induction and found what I was comfortable with.
can you ask for another growth scan, at least? Explain your concerns given your first experience.

SweetPeaPods · 03/11/2022 05:02

Have a look for some positive induction stories, there are lots.

Midwife pip on Insta has shared a few things recently about induction, and why she doesn't believe it should be recommended sometimes so might be worth a look there too.

Good luck with what ever you decide, but please don't feel forced into anything as either way I'm sure that won't help.

MayMi · 03/11/2022 05:19

As this is your third baby, your labour should be fairly quick whether you get induced or not. I can see why you feel uncomfortable at the thought of an induction and a hospital birth because of how your first birth went, but things should be much better as this is your third now. Also they don't keep you in hospital if it's not your first baby and no problems arise, you can literally go home the day you deliver. I think I would go ahead with the induction if it was me.

If you wanted a home birth, did you put it in your birth plan? Can this still go ahead if you wish?

Monkeyrules · 03/11/2022 05:55

I was in your position 6 weeks ago and now have a lovely baby boy. I felt pushed into the induction due to them being unable to reliably measure the baby due to his position, but he turned in the last few weeks. The midwife agreed the growth scan is only an estimate, but there is an acceptable margin of error. The % drop in your case is quite a bit from 50th centile to 6th centile. Have you been advised how far over the margin of error this is?

This is my second child, I too was nervous about the pessary taking ages to work but 12 hours later I delivered a healthy baby boy and it was all fine.

No one has a crystal ball but if you've given birth before I think the odds of the pessary working are in your favour and you may go into active labour quite a bit quicker than a first time mum.

Original poster

FourOclock · 03/11/2022 06:04

Monkeyrules · 03/11/2022 05:55

This is my second child, I too was nervous about the pessary taking ages to work but 12 hours later I delivered a healthy baby boy and it was all fine.

No one has a crystal ball but if you've given birth before I think the odds of the pessary working are in your favour and you may go into active labour quite a bit quicker than a first time mum.

She just kept saying it's within normal range, but they're more concerned if it keeps dropping. It's just so confusing, in one breath they are telling me I'm at risk of still birth and baby needs to be out ASAP, and the next breath they are saying there is a waiting list, I could be in for a week waiting etc etc - well if I can wait a week why can't I do that at home? I assumed an induction would be quick once it got going (second labour was only an hour long) but they just kept saying over and over it will be a 3-5 days process

OP posts:

Raindancer411 · 03/11/2022 06:13

I had a induction for reduced movement and was going over 40 weeks. Whole process was fast and active birth was 2hrs (all the midwives said how fast it was!). I was home within 24hrs!

PinkButtercups · 03/11/2022 06:23

I had an induction with my DS.
He was born at 17:46 home at 9:30am the next day and that was only because I had to wait for his blood sugars.

Geranium1984 · 03/11/2022 06:23

I'm 40 weeks tomorrow and was picked up for growth issues when my belly was measuring small at 28 week midwife appointment. They had also recorded and incorrectly small birth weight for my first which also put me on the watch list.
My first scan the baby's tummy was small but the three last ones it has consistently been around the same centile (15/16th).
Following the last scan the consultant was keen to have me induced, i only agreed to book this in for after my due date. I'm no expert but I think if there was clearly a drop in weight then I'd be more inclined to be induced earlier.

I have an induction booked for 40+4. I'm hoping things will have started by then or my body will be more ready
There is an option at my hospital of having a balloon inserted to stretch the cervix, it means you can go home.
Or the peasary
I'm not sure what to do. Balloon would be less 'fast and furious' but I could end up as you say waiting to have waters broken. Given it's my second, a pessary beyond my due date might have things moving quickly and I'd be in and out of there.

Fizzybubblegumbottles · 03/11/2022 06:35

When you had your sweep did they say if you was dilated at all? When I had my 3rd baby 4 months ago I had about 3 sweeps which didn’t work, my bp was getting too high for their liking so I wasn’t allowed to leave the hospital after my bp check one day, said I would have to be induced but they gave me another sweep, I was 3cms so they said I will miss the induction process and go straight to labour ward to have my waters broken. Waters broken at about 1.30pm baby delivered just before 7pm.

romdowa · 03/11/2022 06:40

Personally I'd ask for another scan on a different machine. Was your scan preformed by the sonographer or the Dr on a mobile machine? Those mobile machines aren't great and of course the drs are less skilled at taking measurements than the sonographer

Original poster

FourOclock · 03/11/2022 06:48

The scan was done by a proper sonographer, it was a planned routine growth scan but she just kept saying baby was in an awkward position, it was hard to get the measurements, she was possibly underestimating etc.

The sweep showed I was only 1cm dilated but I did have more contractions overnight and lost my plug this morning.

OP posts:

Loungingstevens · 03/11/2022 06:51

Given what you said in your update that the baby was in an awkward position then surely all the more reason to request another scan?

QuebecBagnet · 03/11/2022 06:52

A growth scan would be done on a proper machine, not a mobile one so asking for a different machine would make no difference.

when the orig8nal research was done on personalised growth charts and induction for those infants dropping down the centiles they retrospectively looked at all the unexplained stillbirths in the West Midlands over the last 15 years. For those they had the information for they plotted their weight on growth charts and found that about 90% of them would have these days being picked up for IUGR and if induction had been recommended probably lived. In real numbers around the U.K. this equates to saving over 1000 babies a year.

personally I’d have the induction. The alternative is to wait and hope you’re ok. Guess you could ask for daily/regular ctg monitoring but it’s still a risk.

QuebecBagnet · 03/11/2022 06:52

Oh agree if she said she was struggling then request another scan.

Babyenroute · 03/11/2022 06:53

I was induced at 38.5 weeks as my baby had dropped to the 5th percentile according to the scan. He ended up being born on the 1st percentile. Was your scan with fetal medicine as I think their machines are more accurate?

Thankfully my son is perfectly healthy but struggled with the contractions during labour so he had to be watched like a hawk and they had paediatricians waiting as a precaution. Because the induction process is in stages it can take a few days but it honestly wasn't bad at all.

Raindancer411 · 03/11/2022 07:03

I should add my daughter was always measuring small on the 6th, but when she was born, she was on the 50th!!

BigSidLittleSid · 03/11/2022 07:27

I'm in a similar position, although only 36 weeks so I have time for another scan. And I haven't actually seen a doctor yet so not had a formal discussion about induction, but the midwife warned me it was likely to come up when I do see them.

I just feel like induction ends up on a pathway to more and more intervention I'm terrified.

Had a so-so experience first time round, and had wanted to labour by myself as long as possible.

Good luck OP

MsCactus · 03/11/2022 07:35

Personally, I'd go for the induction. I know someone who didn't get induced and ended up with baby dying in the womb.

I know that's probably rare, but if you know baby is healthy now and will be born healthy, and medical professionals are getting concerned, my reasoning would be - why take that risk?

I met a woman who was two weeks overdue and refusing an induction because she wanted a natural labour at one of my hospital appointments - her baby was becoming high risk, she had to go under a consultant etc, but she still refused it because she wanted a natural labour. Thought that was a bit mad personally, surely the health of your baby comes first

SunshineAndFizz · 03/11/2022 07:48

If the medical professionals are recommending it, I'm not sure why you'd hesitate?

Might be uncomfortable for you temporarily but if it makes a positive difference to the baby overall then surely that's the most important thing?

HalibutJacksson · 03/11/2022 08:12

Honestly, a drop in percentiles like that is likely to mean the placenta isn’t functioning optimally anymore. At 39 wks, I’d definitely take the induction over the risk of stillbirth.

grey12 · 03/11/2022 08:58

MsCactus · 03/11/2022 07:35

Personally, I'd go for the induction. I know someone who didn't get induced and ended up with baby dying in the womb.

I know that's probably rare, but if you know baby is healthy now and will be born healthy, and medical professionals are getting concerned, my reasoning would be - why take that risk?

I was one of those ladies 🤷🏻‍♀️ incredibly healthy and with a family history of overdue pregnancies

I was bullied into induction and had an horrendous birth: numerous sweeps, 2 pessaries, 48 hr labour and at the end not even the ventouse was managing to get the baby out! My baby was ok.... And then slept for 2 days straight.... So I don't think it went very well..........

Yes monitoring, yes being careful of past/present issues. But induction is not always the best way or the ONLY way possible as advertised by doctors 🤷🏻‍♀️

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