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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Measuring 33cm at 38+6 weeks :(

38 replies

electra · 07/04/2009 23:23

So, just when I thought my home birth would go ahead they have started talking about induction.

I'm not happy with the situation I'm now in and just wondering what others would do. My baby has 'felt' small every time I've had a palpitation since 29 weeks. I then had three scans, the last at 34 weeks which showed the baby's growth was normal - fluid ok and placenta function. No further scans were suggested. Today, I have had an anti-natal appointment with a midwife I don't know (which is how it has been throughout my pregnancy - different people every time). Within seconds she was on the phone shrieking about not wanting to 'get called out' to a baby who has IUGR (which has never yet been suggested!) and also mentioning the fact I have bipolar disorder (how is that relevant?).

I went to the hospital where they did a CTG which was fine. The doctor came and saw me and said that the scanning department refuses to do growth scans after 38 weeks and that since that means she can't know whether the growth is ok or not I can't have a home birth because the baby might not be able to breathe when it comes out. She is even talking about induction.

I think this is very unfair because they will not be able to make an informed diagnosis and I need to be at home, away from bright lights and a bustling work environment which will stress me out and make me hyperactive when I am in labour.

I don't want to put my baby at risk of course, but I'm not convinced there is a real risk here and I'm now being told there is no way to diagnose one. I feel totally bullied and want to find a resolution that is not all about fitting me into a box because other people are not comfortable with a decision I have made carefully, and one which I feel will help me recover more quickly after I have this baby. Which I need to do because I have two older children who need me.

I was wondering whether anyone has measured small with the tape measure and then had a decent sized baby? By the way, I also do not quite trust the doctor today as she told me at the beginning of this pregnancy that I had had a miscarriage, which is now this bump!

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Original poster

electra · 08/04/2009 16:14

mersmam - most people I speak to seem to be of the opinion that even with a scan it's impossible to tell exactly how big a baby will be.

OP posts:

mears · 08/04/2009 16:22

Electra - you have the right to choose the place of birth that you want. I am linking you to the Supervisor of Midwives information leaflet. She is there to support you in your choices whatever they are.

As a midife I don't understand why a further scan cannot be arranged if the midwife has growth concerns. They certainly are less accurate weight wise but are still useful. She should refer you to a consultant for review, however you are still able to make your own choices based on the information you are given.

info leaflet

Original poster

electra · 08/04/2009 16:32

Thanks mears - I appreciate your input. I suppose I am afraid that when I go into labour I will end up phoning for a midwife and will encounter resistance. All the doctors I have come across seem to think that they have the power to actually stop a woman having a home birth.

OP posts:

mears · 08/04/2009 16:40

They certainly do but that is where your supervisor of midwives comes in. The best person to contact is the LSA MIdwifery Officer whose number is on the leaflet (is it the correct one for your area?)

She can chat to you about what to do and to give you support. You can also tell her about your lack of continuity of care.

Original poster

electra · 09/04/2009 19:16

Well today the hospital are putting me under a lot of pressure to be induced. I had another scan - the baby seems to be plotting on the same curve as it was at 34 weeks. They are however, concerned about the fluid around the baby. It is not low but 'borderline'. Placenta function looks ok but they are concerned about the blip several weeks ago when the blood flow looked high. This left me wondering why they didn't do something about that then

I don't know, now what to do for the best. They are saying they have concerns that the baby may be still born if it stays in. I don't want to do anything that would harm the baby but I'm not sure induction would be best for the baby either.

In my situation would people agree to be induced? The delivery suite is chocka, and there were women today wailing on the anti-natal ward. It's not the nicest place to be.

OP posts:

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 09/04/2009 19:25

If the baby is on the same plot that it was at 34 weeks, it means it is growing at a steady rate, no?

Surely it's the bigger picture that counts? One scan doesn't really tell you much at all, it's what a series of scans tell you.

bigbang · 09/04/2009 20:20

Oh gosh what a really hard situation for you

Did they tell you why there was a risk, I mean what the reason for 'it could be stillborn' was? I really don't know what the medical ins and outs are so I don't think I could advise if you should agree to induction or not.

All I can say is my experience, I was pressured into having an induction despite a planned hb with ds. It was not ideal and the night before I was quite upset about it, was dreading hospital etc. But it actually turned out to be fine, it wasn't as bad as I had envisioned at all. Once in labour I barely even noticed it was hospital and not home. I guess I'm trying to say that if you do go in it doesn't have to be the end of the world, although disappointing is an understatement. This time I am planning a hb again and I have said I'm not going in to hospital unless something really goes wrong.

You need to trust that the doctors know what they are talking about and really do have serious concerns for the baby... But you don't seem convinced that they do, or at least that they don't have enough information yet. Is there any chance that you can have regular scans or something to keep an eye on the growth and fluid level? Personally, I would probe the doctors for all the information I could and maybe ask for a second opinion on the situation before making a decision. But I would prob start mentally preparing for the idea that I might end up in hospital if that really is the safest option.

All the best I hope this works out smoothly for you.

Original poster

electra · 09/04/2009 20:39

Yes, it does seem to be growing on the same plot. The doctor said that historically, she had seen that women who had had a still birth very often had in their notes, niggly past concerns like those in mine and that it makes her want to pre-empt anything. She also said the longer the baby is left, if it is not doing great in there the more likely I would end up having a crash section, which I felt is a fair point.

It is difficult, especially as the hospital is a nightmare at the moment...

OP posts:

mears · 11/04/2009 01:20

I think you have to be guided by what the medical concerns are. It would be better to be monitored in hospital to ensure the baby copes with labour than be at home and have a baby getting into difficulty.
The delivery suite changes workload constantly. My own delivery suite was chocka today too, but we manage to look after the women in labour. Don't worry yourself about that.

LeninGrad · 12/04/2009 08:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Blackduck · 12/04/2009 08:55

Your bump is bigger than mine was, and admitted ds was a dink (4 11), BUT he was perfecly healthy and perfectly fine....so this whole size thing does my head in..

peppapighastakenovermylife · 14/04/2009 20:03

I measured 33 weeks at 39 weeks but had a consultant who didnt seem bothered. Incidentaly she was also back to back as others have mentioned. Consultant believed she would be around 6 pounds but was fine for my home birth. I also had hyperemesis and was 5 ft 6 and a size 12 - 14.

She was born on her due date weighing 8 lb 12.5oz and fat lol!

lisar83 · 16/04/2009 20:53

i have been having monthly scans due to my afp blood test coming back high when i was called in for a scan at 19 weeks 2 days the consultant said that there were no sighns for spina bifata and it may be connected to iugr so i have been monitord monthly with scans checking to babys growth every thing seemed great until my 31 plus 2 day scan when i was told the baby was messuring small below th 10th centile he was weighing 3 pounds so i have been told by my consultant to come into hospital twice a week to be monitord and have scans to check my waters and blood flow to the baby witch has been fine so far im due back in next week for another groth scan to see if the baby has put more weight on if he hasnt they have to decide when to deliver him i will be 33 weeks plus next week im so worried has any one else been though this i feel silly cus this is my fourth child but iv never had this problem with any other of my pregnacys and need advice

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