Induction cancelled 4 days in a row

[Helpingorhindering]

Im 39 weeks 5 days. I was told on weds I needed an induction due to reduced movements and the risk of still birth the longer baby stays in.

The induction was booked in for Thursday and has been cancelled everyday due to no beds. We are now on Sunday and it has been cancelled again for the same reason.

I understand there are priorities however my biggest concern is the risk of still birth for my baby and that I was pushed into an induction due to this risk. I was told monitoring alone wouldn’t be able to tell them enough, but I’m now being told monitoring is sufficient enough. My main priority is the best interests of my baby, but speaking to a doctor yesterday the only answer they had was they had no beds.

any advice?

That’s very stressful for you. You can give birth at any hospital, so if you want to have an induction you could push your midwife to enquire at other hospitals.

When you are next in for monitoring insist on speaking to the consultant obstetrician on call. Ask about the stillbirth rate for your circumstances versus the risks of a c section at this point. Induction may end in an emergency c section or instrumental delivery anyway which can be more stressful than a planned section.
What are the figures for SVD, instrumental delivery and section following induction in that hospital.

I'm so sorry, this happened to me and it's really hard to deal with. Could you look at another hospital? It's usually to do with bed space etc, they can't plan for how many women will come in in labour each day so may not be space/staff to induce you. Hope you get seen soon.

So now there's no risk? Are you personally at risk of stillbirth? Or is this a generic 'the longer it's in, the higher the risk.'? The think is if the baby was in danger they would give you a C section wouldn't they? Inductions can take days. How was the heartbeat during check ups? Do you feel there is less movement? I personally would be very wary of induction as it is way more painful and often unnecessary, but it depends on your individual circumstances.

@Hedgehogbrown
no the risk still remains the same. So because I’ve had over 3 episodes of reduced movements within my pregnancy (1 over 26 weeks and 1 at 39 weeks). Guidelines have now changed as they have found that women who have reduced movements at 39 weeks are statistically at a higher risk of still birth. Doctors said they can only see so much from monitoring and scans so it’s in baby’s best interest to bring him out earlier. Also the longer baby is left in, the higher the risk of still birth. I agreed on the induction because my biggest and main priority is delivering a healthy baby whatever form that looks like. To me any risk of still birth is absolutely not worth waiting for him to potentially come naturally and increasing the risk of still birth by doing nothing is also not a risk worth taking.
The doctor on Wednesday also agreed.

However since they have not been able to accommodate an induction due to being full to capacity, therefore contradicting all of the above. I am not being told monitoring each day tells them enough but that does not reduce the risk at all. It’s the only option as they have no other choice. I’d personally rather I personally go through more pain and my baby be okay, then put off an induction because of the pain and something happen.

My movements have picked up and monitoring so far has been fine, but this also doesn’t take away from the above risks that have been outlined. It’s a seriously flawed NHS system unfortunately, there are 10 other mothers on the waiting list for similar reasons. That means 10 babies all at risk as the delays continue.

@LeedsZebra90 it’s getting really stressful and I feel a bit hopeless at the moment. I have fought my own corner (non aggressively, but the simple and only answer that they can give is they have no beds). I completely understand the midwives are doing their absolute best and I don’t blame anyone as unfortunately they can only do what they can do. I have explored other hospitals but they have said they are also in a similar situation. Sounds like it’s just a wait and pray game at the moment.

I don’t have much advice but came to say this happened to me and it’s so frustrating. I didn’t want an induction but it was pushed as I was having a very small baby and I was told I was high risk for stillbirth. Then the induction date rolled around and there were no beds for a few days. It seems to only be a risk if there are beds available! I found it very stressful.

I actually had a sweep with my community midwife and it ruptured my waters so I fast tracked the queue. I would insist on the monitoring and to ask what the long term plan is.

@Practicallymagic6 thank you so much, don’t worry it’s good to know I’m not the only one. As I haven’t heard from many people who have had an induction roll over so many times. What you’ve said is exactly how it feels so it’s nice to have some reassurance, I almost had the feeling I was being awkward or a nuisance by raising my concerns yesterday.
Fortunately I am being monitored everyday. I had 2 sweeps so far so will try one last one tomorrow, my only concern with that was the risk of infection. I will definitely find out what the long term plan looks like because at the moment it doesn’t look like much is going to improve in the next few days bed wise.

Can you push for an ultrasound to check the placenta and amniotic fluid? If there is a problem it's more likely to be picked up on ultrasound than on CTG.
Could be reassuring or make you a higher priority.

Finally had 2 inductions, both failed which is unfortunate!
But looks like we will finally meet baby today via c-section
xx

Good luck OP XX