hamiltiks10

nosoup4u · October 2012

Hey, just starting a new post for you, as your post got buried under all the crazy!

hamiltks10:
It's too bad the OP came off the way that she did, becasue she actually is bringing up a very valid point and something that I'm going to have to possibly confront tomorrow.

I'll be 40w2d and my OB/Midwife group requires that I have an ultrasound to determine how much amniotic fluid there is around the baby. My doula's last client, and only client to birth at the same hospital that I'm going to, was induced because her amniotic fluid was "too low". It was a long, painful process for her that ended in a c-section.

So we've been talking a lot about this and what we will do if I get the same diagnosis tomorrow. The midwife said at my last appointment that if it was found to be too low (under 5), they would send me directly to the hospital for an induction. But...our plan right now is to request another ultrasound after the weekend to see if there has been an increase in fluid levels.

From what I've heard and read, the ultrasound measurements can be off quite a bit depending on the position of the baby. I do not want to be induced just because of an invalid ultrasound reading.

I'm curious to what you all might have to say or your experiences with this same issue.

Nothing is required! I would flat-out refuse that ultrasound. *Even if* your AFI is low, that alone is NOT an indicator of a need for induction, especially if you're only 40w2d, are low-risk, and you and the baby are doing well.

I was pegged as having low AFI (it was around 6 or so), and it turned into this multi-day affair, in which I had to go back to the hospital on a weekend and have another u/s done. Long story short, my AFI was lower, my MW freaked and told me I had to be induced that night. We asked to quickly go home and get my stuff. When she checked with a high-risk OB about me leaving and coming back, *he* said to not induce, as DS and I were both perfectly fine.

The best part is, I knew I was in early labor at that point, but my MW didn't believe me. I woke up with contractions the next morning...the whole thing was such crap, and really soured my feelings towards my MW. She even pulled the dead baby card when she was advocating for the on-the-spot induction.

Seriously. Offer to do NSTs (minus the u/s portion) if they're that worried. If the baby's reacting well, then your placenta is good and that's all they need to know. Do they want you induced by a certain day?

I refused a late u/s with my second son (mainly bc of all the nonsense with my first!). They did want to know my reasoning and had me sign an AMA, but they were polite about it the whole time.

If you are still going to do the u/s, soak in the tub for as long as you can an hour or so before you go - it's supposed to help your body reabsorb water and up your AFI. Also drink a lot of electrolyte water, and schedule it for mid-day (as opposed to morning). Hope it works out for you tomorrow and good luck!

hamiltks10 · October 2012

Thank you for starting the new thread! Luckily for me, my water broke on Thursday and my baby boy was born just after midnight. I will post my birth story soon. : )