Induction, sobbing in outpatients

[DogsandDungarees]

looking for a handhold here…

So I’ve been having routine growth scans the last two showed increased umbilical artery pressure and the last growth showed reduced growth. Because of this I have been having daily monitoring and a planned induction at 38 weeks ( tomorrow).

Todays growth scan just to see how small baby was shown the artery pressure was now normal and baby was back on the 50th centile.. after this the midwife said we don’t need to induce a healthy baby and asked how I felt I said I was anxious either way I didn’t want to risk a sicker baby by inducing early but also would be scared of still birth if wait ( I struggle to be confident in babies movements, whether I’m over thinking it). Anyway the midwife and me agreed a good plan would be to postpone induction until next week with daily monitoring.

She then rang the doctor who said no she still advices to induce ( but wouldn’t come down to speak to me ) so the midwife said it’s still up to me and I can go against medical advice and decline the induction. I said I couldn’t as even if something unrelated tragic happened after declining the induction I’d blame myself ( I also lost a pregnancy last year ). Basically I left sobbing saying it was too big a choice so I will follow the Doctors decision and are still booked for a induction tomorrow.

I hope your induction goes smoothly. I think I would be doing the same thing, in your shoes.

38 weeks is fully cooked so I wouldn't be worrying about a sicker baby because of a slightly early induction. Good luck!

I’m so sorry that you’re having to go through this but if it’s any consolation I would make exactly the same decision, for the same reasons you have.

Allow yourself to have a good cry and try and find a little calm before tomorrow 💐

Deep breath - you are going to meet your baby! You’ve got this.

I had two inductions, the fear makes it worse. Just let it all out! Second time around my birth was beautiful - I was calm, happy, I got to 10cm dilated on no painkillers listening to music and then bird and rain soundtracks on YouTube whilst practicing breathing and reciting “positive mantras”. It was amazing!

Oh then it was agony pushing but let’s skip that part because then there’s a baby - your baby, and that is magical.

Have a fabulous, painful, wonderful labour and don’t fret!

I would be making the same decision as you.

Just think, you’ll be meeting your baby in a couple of days!!

Like a PP, I had an induction which was perfectly fine.

You never know what would happen with the path you don’t take. You’re making a sensible decision based on medical advice, and in a year’s time it won’t matter how you got your baby out (speaking one year on from a birth that didn’t go anything like I imagined it!)

Thank you everyone, I’m glad I’m not alone in my thought process here. Sometimes it feels like the loneliest place to make the biggest decision. My end goal is just to finally have a healthy baby x

This sounds like a great experience but just to say that if you take all the painkillers and have a c section that can also be fine! So many factors that you can’t predict in advance and no one right way through.

My induction birth was for nicer than my non induction one. Baby was induced at 37 weeks and is now a strapping lad in mid 20s

You are following the best advice and I think also your instincts

38 weeks is full term lovely, baby will be fine coming a few weeks early. It’s so hard hearing any unexpected news about our precious babies but they will hopefully be here very soon xx

You poor thing, stressful and emotionally charged situation when you are probably exhausted after 38 weeks of growing baby and definitely hormonal as body preps for delivery. I've no experience of induction but my 1st arrived spontaneously at 37+4 and was perfectly healthy and his birth weight put him around the 50th centile. I think you're doing the right thing.

My daughter who is in secondary school was born at 37 and 3 and other than being a grumpy teen she’s fine! Right now is really scary and overwhelming, do you have anyone you can call who can reassure you?

Good luck OP, it's a worrying time, but I've had four babies, only the first one was an induction and I had a really lovely experience. The rest were more dramatic! Hopefully all goes well, keep us posted xx

just to reassure you i had a baby spontaneously at 37 weeks on the dot and he was strong, able to feed well etc. It really is full term! so don’t let that fear hold you back.

Good luck OP, and don't fear an induction. My first birth was an induction and a lovely experience.

I had a pessary, a few hours later contractions started gradually. They reached a painful point and I got an epidural. Then they broke my waters (pain free because of the epidural). I dilated to 10cm and pushed her out in a few pushes.

Lovely calm birth, healthy baby, healthy mum. Also an easy recovery.

Please don't fear an induction - I know everyone is different but my natural birth was my most traumatic!

I can imagine its stressful but I would not be worried about a 38 wk baby. I was in hospital at 27wks with bleeding for twins and prenatal specialist said these days treatment is so good she would not be worried if her own baby was born at 28wks ... 38wks is normal for lots of planned C sections. Your baby is fully cooked just smaller than 40wks. But still won't be that small.

The midwife actually sounds pretty irresponsible to me and I think you’ve made the right decision to follow the doctors advice. I had both mine at 38 weeks by planned c section, there was no medical reason but at 38 weeks they are basically full term and in my view the risk of stillbirth by staying inside after 38/39 weeks, however small, was greater than the risk of bringing them out ‘early’ and I wasn’t prepared to take that risk. In any case both mine were born completely healthy, 90th percentile and no issues feeding, breathing etc.

Sounds like the doctor is putting safety first, which is exactly what you want.

Maybe distract yourself today by giving yourself some practical tasks. Induction can be a long boring process so if you haven't done so already, get some Bluetooth headphones, download your favourite music/podcasts etc. A sleep mask / ear plugs in case the ward is noisy. Sweets/snacks to keep energy up either before (if you're allowed them) or after labour.

Wishing you all the very best! X

Sending good vibes for tomorrow! Very sensible to go along with medical advice. 38 weeks is ready to go.

I personally found midwives very reluctant to induce, in my case even well after the due date...

Good luck @DogsandDungarees
I 100% believe you are making the right decision. 38 weeks is full term so I wouldn't worry about any sickness etc. I would focus the rest of today on: Making sure that you / your home are 100% the way you want them when you get out of hospital. Silly things like make sure the nappies are closeby etc.

I'd also have a bath and get a takeaway because this is your last day of prioritising you!

Just think, you'll meet your beautiful baby over the weekend.

38 weeks is perfectly fine 👍🏻 my twins were born 37 weeks and only spent one night in neonatal, both healthy happy 10 year olds now xx

Good luck for tomorrow, I would have 100% made the same decision as you.

I think you're doing the right thing too. I had two inductions and they were totally fine. Good luck x

I had dd by c section at 38 weeks and she came out hale and hearty.

I would chose induction. My last was induced at week 39. I lost two pregnancies leading up to my last baby and due to my age the recommendation was to induce before week 40 to reduce risk of still born. My midwife a few times said maybe we should just let you go over which used to make me cry as all I wanted was my baby out safely.

good luck