Induction, c-section or wait?

[SecretSloth99]

First pregnancy. Today was my third growth scan. For context, I am 37+1. Previous two growth scans have been completely fine, baby following the trend. Today, scan showed the rate of growth has dropped, so was referred into MAC to discuss options.

Basically, I was offered another scan in two weeks, or an induction in two weeks at 39 weeks. No mention of c-section until I asked if it was an option over an induction. Then the consultant kept asking me if c-section was my preference over induction and I said well
I think so but I’m not sure as I need time to digest and reflect - the consultation lasted all
of maybe five minutes?

I’ve always said I would prefer not to be induced due to the risk of additional interventions being more likely, and I don’t want to go through the induction to potentially end up in an emergency c-section anyway.

Basically, it’s completely thrown me. Despite asking about risks and benefits of each, I don’t feel I got a satisfactory explanation o of anything, the consultant swung from saying reduced growth could be dangerous, to saying that they can’t really say much with any certainty based on a single ‘off’ measurement from a growth chart. I’m also aware the growth scans can be very inaccurate.

Whilst it’s my body, my choice, I am now completely torn on what to choose, and for now have gone down the additional growth scan route with the hope my body spontaneously goes into labour so I don’t have to make the decision either way!

Would appreciate any thoughts or insights, or experiences! Thankyou!

Have you got a community midwife you can talk to? Or is there a Maternity Voices Partnership in your area? They really helped me with DC2 birth. Just thinking you could talk to one or both to help you make a decision.

Fwiw I had an induction at 40+5 with DC1 and I wish I'd know I could ask for a section, I ended up with a horrible emcs. I had a non emergency section with DC2 as he was unstable lie and it was a lovely experience.

Good luck 💜

How big was the growth drop and what centile is baby on now? With DD1, I was offered induction at 39w but she had been consistently dropping over several growth scans and was below 10th centile. (I didnt have induction in the end as I went into spontaneous labour).

With DD2, I had a meeting with a consultant midwife and she was amazing. It was called a birth options meeting and was over an hour long. She went through the risks and benefits of c section, induction and spontaneous labour very factually, all my concerns, my medical history. Really helped me to cement my thoughts. Maybe you could ask to do something similar?

As above, depends on the scale of the drop. I'd definitely want to rescan before committing to either an induction or c section. You could also say that you could do an induction but don't want the drip for instance, and if things aren't progressing with waters being broken you want a c section instead of a "heavier" induction.

Thankyou all! We went from scan 1 being 68th centipede, scan 2 61st centile and this most recent scan to 38th centile.

I’m going to call my community midwife tomorrow to ask some more questions and see what other resources are available!

I honestly think growth scans are the biggest bit of bullshit in maternity care.

With DD I was induced at 39w because we had a growth scan at 38w and they said she was less than 5lbs and she’d need to be delivered and go to NICU. She came out at 6lbs 7oz perfectly fine.

with DS (now 9mo) they told me he was on the 99th centile, measuring massive, I had too much fluid, was investigated for gestational diabetes (didn’t have it) it was all very scary. Recommended induction at 38w because “he’s likely to be close to or over 10lbs” and he came out at fucking 7lbs 4oz.

Whatever decision you make base it off of more than just the growth scans because my experience is that they are full of absolute shit.

I had regular growth scans, mainly due to my age (I was 40 having my little boy), pregnancy was IVF and my BMI was 32 so I was offered a c section or induction at 39 weeks, Apparently after 40 years the placenta doesn’t hold out well after 40 weeks, hence why a c section was offered.
I opted for an induction at 39 weeks. It didn’t go to plan.
They delayed my induction by 3 days due to the maternity ward being full. Finally started induction at 8.20pm on the Saturday, I spent the next few days having numerous procedures to induce labour. Finally 3 days later I was ready to have my waters broken. At midnight on the Tuesday they were broken, full labour started at 7am on the Wednesday but this was drip induced as my body wasn’t contracting itself, I managed to get to 9cm when things started to go wrong, i was rushed for an emergency c section due to fetal distress, this was caused by us both contracting sepsis.
We remained in hospital for 5 days afterwards.
Thankfully we were both fine and the baby is now a handsome, healthy 7 month old.
If I had my time again I would opt for a planned c section. I didn’t opt for this as I didn’t want the long recovery period, it turned out my recovery was quick and smooth, nothing as bad as what I’d heard.
I understand this is probably not the norm but I would have appreciated hearing both good and bad sides to an induction before I went ahead with my decision.
Only you can decide what is right for both you and your baby, you will make the best decision to suit you both. Dont be pressurised into doing anything you’re unsure of.
Good luck, the next few weeks will fly by. Your baby will be in your arms before you know it x