Due December 2023 Part 5

[Nclktnntt]

Starting Due December 2023 Part 5

@GingerJanee at my 36 week appointment my midwife advised me that if I was to go 10 days over I would be induced and explained why etc. I'm guessing the closer we get to the 40 week mark the more they would discuss it. I need to do more research on being induced and if I would want to switch to having a C-section if that was the case.m for me.

@Nclktnntt i got told I’ll be induced prior to 40 weeks due to gestational diabetes, when I asked if i could choose C-section over induction I was more or less told no lol. So went for a sweep last week at 37+6 but it didn’t do much except dislodge some mucus plus. I’m going for another one this week 38+6, I hope it works so I don’t need induced.

anyone else really starting to get scared of labour now? First time mum here and I’m more than a little nervous!!

@Nclktnntt I thought the same induction was usually used after the due date to bring on labour but my consultant was keen for me to be induced towards end of this week/start of next week only I refused. I’ll only be 39 weeks+ at this stage and with no medical reason besides a slightly larger baby (as he said) I’m very confused.

@99SR I expected this reaction too but when I asked if could have a caesarean instead of an induction my consultant said if I refuse the induction I would then be offered a caesarean. He also said if I went into labour spontaneously myself I could still request a caesarean, unsure how this would work in reality but I have had such conflicting advice. I wasn’t worried at all until today after a sweep and a mixture of different advice and now I’m left completely terrified and confused as to what to expect.

@GingerJanee If your only risk factor is a slightly bigger baby then I don’t know what your consultant is doing, talking about induction this early! Why are you under consultant care?

Last pregnancy I was measuring on the 75 percentile and was induced at 41+6 and nobody seemed to think it was a problem.

You can always refuse what they are offering. Consultants can be extremely risk adverse as they see all the births that go wrong, they never attend a “normal” birth which definitely colours their opinions. Have a look at some research and go to your next appointment armed with stats and questions!

@99sr just chiming in to let you know you can always choose a c section over an induction, I did. The NICE guidelines say you have the right to the birth you want and they can't refuse you. They may need to transfer you to a different consultant who is willing to do the c section but they can't say no. If it's what you want advocate for yourself. Getting a planned c section has worked out well for me and I'm glad I did it over an induction, even though I was scared going into theatre. I also had GD so delivered early at 38+6.

@99SR ive requested a c section over induction purely based on choice. They want her out by 40+6 because of the diabetes, so I’ve said let’s assess at 40 weeks, but my preference would be to book a c section for 40+6 (and I’ve got sweeps booked before that).

Theyre waiting until I’m 38 weeks to make a final call based on my scan (to make sure we don’t need anything earlier) but that’s all been recorded in my notes. They just want to have a talk with a senior midwife to make sure I understand the options, which I’m fine with.

Definitely push for a c section if you want one.

@Moriquendi This is my exact issue I don’t know what their medical reason is which I’ve asked several times. A slightly larger baby (nothing that I’m overally worried about) is the only reason they’re mentioning induction, I was under consultant care due to having asthma but it’s very well controlled with no hospital admissions but the midwives have always referred me back to the consultant because my fundal height measurements were so big.

However every time I’m scanned the consultant is fine with the measurements so they just never re-referred me back to the midwives. I’ve refused so far and I think I’m going too next week aswel, glad to review my options once I’m overdue but at the minute I’m hoping my body will go into labour itself. I also wondered is there such a push on this labour due to Christmas coming (I should be induced Christmas Eve per the hospital guidelines) and I’m wondering is the consultant keen to avoid this. Sorry for the rant everyone but my head has completely been melted over this the last while and really impacted how I’m viewing labour now.

@Mushroo thats good to know. My consultant basically spent 20 mins telling me everything that could go wrong (I know he has to) said that it increases placental issues & risk of stillbirth in future pregnancies which freaked me out. He said the best scenario for me would be to deliver vaginally. I asked if I got induced and it was taking 5/6 days (which is my fear, being in constant pain for that long) could I opt for a c section then and he said yes it would be classed as elective to I’d have to wait on a space? It’s just left me feeling really overwhelmed and frightened for birth.

@GingerJanee sorry just jumping on your comment! I also wondered this too (regarding time of year). I seen a different consultant a few weeks ago and he said ordinarily they induce 10 days over if you’re diabetic and diet controlled (which I am)… he then went onto say “but that would be Boxing Day and we will be short staffed so we would get you in around the 10th instead!! I was shocked that he actually said that.

@99SR that sounds so stressful and rubbish. For my midwife appointment to discuss, I’m planning to take a list of pros and cons for each option to show it’s not a decision I’ve made on a whim. Maybe something like that might help?

Similar to you, I don’t actively hate the idea of an induction per se, I just hate the idea of days on an induction ward, ending in an emergency c section anyway!

Has anyone else had no discussion of birth plan yet? I’m 38+3 today and it’s not even been mentioned really. I have been booked to give birth in the midwife led unit at my hospital which I think is just done automatically if you are low risk as nobody asked me about it. At my last appointment my midwife booked another for 40 weeks and just said if I'm still pregnant then she will discuss induction.

I know there are templates to fill in yourself but as I haven’t given birth before I don’t actually have a plan as I don’t know how I’ll cope or how it will go. I have researched and done the positive birthing company labour class so I’m not completely clueless and know about the options but since nobody has actually asked me about birth preferences I assume I will be able to just decide on the day and change to the labour ward if I decide I want an epidural. Is this the norm or should I be writing up a plan?

@Srs12 I'm low risk and with be in the birthing center that we have which is also a midwifery lead unit. My midwife spoke to us about my birthing plan at my 34 week appointment - she told us at the 32 week one our next one would be a double session to discuss it. Does your trust use an app?

Mine has a section where it asks a bunch of questions and for almost everything I ticked that I was unsure and wanted to discuss further - like you I had some idea but I really wanted to go through it all properly. She updated the notes but did say none of it's set in stone if I change my mind, even on the day, that's ok.

I haven't said no to any of the drugs side of pain relief, however I didn't tick any either, pethidine would be my least likely as I don't like feeling drunk and the effects it can have on baby, gas and air I will definitely try (don't see that as medical really as it's short lived). If I want an epidural she did advise I'd have to switch wards, I'd rather not but I haven't said no as I don't know how I'll feel on the day.

I'd call your midwife and ask if at your next appointment you can go through your birth plan. It is something they should do with you. I was surprised that when I was in triage a few weeks back (alls fine) I asked if going to get fetal movements checked could effect my low risk and move me into high even though baby's been fine - she answered honestly but had also obviously read my birth plan which was nice to hear.

I'm due to have my c section on the 12th (not long to go!). I hope everyone who had theirs today is recovering well. Good luck to everyone, we're on the home straight now.

@GingerJanee - at my last check up we're around the 70th percentile. (Pic attached), She's not mentioned exactly where we are just that she's happy with measurements. We did have a growth scan the week before that put us in the 60 something percentile but again they didn't get hung up on it. Even the fact their head and tummy on the scan measured at the 90th. They weren't bothered and these haven't come into discussion at all because on the whole they were within the 2 markers.

It's odd they seem so keen. Maybe it is to do with when your induction date would be , like you say, because I'm due the 27th so 10 days over would be in jan, 6th I believe, which is why they're not suggesting anything like that for me. I know all trusts are different but it's wild how different they can be from one to the next.

Which is maybe why they're not suggesting anything like that for me I mean.

@Nclktnntt @99SR This is my thoughts exactly I think my whole experience is being based around Christmas dates and staffing rather than necessarily my care. I’ve had no discussions with anyone regarding my birth plan yet they’re happy to talk about induction, the whole thing is wild 😄

Aslong as baby arrives safe and healthy I’m happy to take any advice I can get but I just didn’t expect any until post due date!

Hope everyone is doing well. Those who are wanting c-sections, you can defiantly request this, it's up to you how you deliver at the end of the day.
I had my pre-assessment earlier today with the midwife and anesthetist. Gave me meds that I need to take a day before the section and what happens on the day and the time I will have it etc. All seemed to get real and ended up in tears, not even sure why I go emotional. They took bloods as well. Section is booked for Friday morning so praying baby holds fire inside until the section.

@Srs12 Id definitely bring up the birth plan next time you talk to midwife. It’s not ideal that she hasn’t discussed it with you. Mine hasn’t with me but I assume it’s because I’m having a c-section and given birth before. On your app or notes there’s sometimes a template there to fill in.

I got a letter today. I’ve to go in on 22nd December for blood tests and to find out about section. The actual section is booked for the 27th (due date 29th). It’s good I know as I can plan things. It’s strange though that the letter says outpatient appointment but I’m hoping they’ll let me stay at least one night 😂

ELCS was a bit of a disaster ending in blood transfusion, but baby arrived safely in the end and was just shy of 10lb - so glad I opted for ELCS, for once their growth scans were spot on when they put him to 97th centile.

Congratulations @gingerbread55 sorry to hear about your experience, I hope you and baby are doing okay!

@Srs12 it was only last week that I had a chat with the midwife about my birth plan (at 36 weeks) and think it was only because I kept asking about when we'd discuss it. Induction was mentioned during my appointment with the consultant, no mention of any other birthing option just that they wouldn't be keen to let me go over 40 weeks due to my age (41), but otherwise I'm low risk.
As for writing up a birth plan, my midwife just made notes in my medical folder.

@gingerbread55 congratulations on the birth, glad baby is ok. Hope you recover well. Sorry things didn’t go smoothly.

Congratulations @gingerbread55 - glad you're both well, hope you recover quickly and sorry to hear about your experience.

This groups about to fill up so I've created part 6 - as it's only the start of the month I kept it in the pregnancy topics rather than birth announcements- hope that's right 🤷‍♀️

I'm hoping we'll all continue to share our stories, births, first days, weeks & months as we all navigate our next chapters in life.

Also if we're awake in the middle of the night - chances are someone else is, so we can just use the group at all hours as and when we need 😊

Due Dec 2023 - part 6 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/4957961-due-dec-2023-part-6

Following this post, im due the 29th and had my third sweep today, consultant lead due to a big ass baby! Had a show yesterday few cramps, rubbing the clary sage all over my bump and smelling it like silly ... still nothing. Anyone else had sweep's recently and if so what symptoms have they had from them. Love to you all xx