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XP: Induction - Facing one and would appreciate advice/tips

germanpicklegermanpickle member
in Natural Birth

Hi ladies,

I've never posted on this group but in my month group it was suggested that I cross post here. The original post is here: https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/comment/77224223#Comment_77224223

The full text is:

Just need to get this out... my little girl remains "small", the amniotic fluid is "low", and my placenta is "tired". Yet my little girl has a great heartbeat and is growing, just slowly. But my son was also small at birth and frankly, they TOTALLY messed up his size estimation, saying he was almost 2.5 pounds heavier than he actually was! After weeks of talking about induction and me pushing back based on the fact that she continues to do well, the doctors are now pushing for an induction this thursday, my due date. The thing is though I'm not getting actual data like she is X% or the water is X too low or whatever, mostly because in Germany it works so different (in short and super simplified, they tend to delay giving something an official diagnosis since we have universal health care and it just isn't needed to get to a specalist & doctors are still seen in many areas as THE decision makers, just not by me)

I'm not against induction; I had one with my first that was fast and furious. I'm just a bit of a naturalist and would like my little girl to chose as long as her life isn't in danger...and since I don't feel like I have data - just medical opinons - I don't believe her life is in danger. I would also like to have that whole labor starting experience that I didn't have with my first.

Just frustrated and REALLY hoping that she starts labor this wek before Thursday! Any advice or thoughts ladies?

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Re: XP: Induction - Facing one and would appreciate advice/tips

  • lalaith50lalaith50 member
    I would think the doctors would want her to stay in there as long as possible if she's small? I dont know about the risks of low amniotic fluid or whatever...
    You might be interested in this article-
    While it's talking about big babies, it demonstrates the notoriously inaccurate estimations for the size of babies prior to birth.
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  • jess9802jess9802 member
    edited October 2013
    A small baby plus low fluid could mean that the placenta is no longer supplying enough nutrients to the baby. Leaving baby in longer will not allow baby to get bigger; in fact, it could increase the risk of stillbirth.

    I can't really imagine not getting specific numbers, but at 39 weeks if I were being told baby had IUGR and the placenta was tired I'd agree to an induction. I was induced with my son and understand the longing for a "labor starting naturally experience," but not at the expense of my baby's health. IMO IUGR is a situation that warrants interventions like induction.

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  • germanpicklegermanpickle member

    jess9802 : thank you for sharing your experience!

    Yeah, it works differently in Germany. I love living here but sometimes I miss how we do things sometimes.

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  • aylafsu88aylafsu88 member
    jess9802 said:
    A small baby plus low fluid could mean that the placenta is no longer supplying enough nutrients to the baby. Leaving baby in longer will not allow baby to get bigger; in fact, it could increase the risk of stillbirth.

    I can't really imagine not getting specific numbers, but at 39 weeks if I were being told baby had IUGR and the placenta was tired I'd agree to an induction. I was induced with my son and understand the longing for a "labor starting naturally experience," but not at the expense of my baby's health. IMO IUGR is a situation that warrants interventions like induction.
    I am no expert but I agree with this.  The fact that they are discussing the placenta and your low fluid would worry me.  I know that you want LO to stay inside as long as possible but since you are 39+ I would think the potential health risks to LO outweigh the risks of induction.
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  • germanpicklegermanpickle member

    aylafsu88

    Sometimes I just need to write and read to work through my emotions. I'm slowing feeling more confident with the induction recommendation .... as disappointed as I still feel.

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  • mb314mb314 member
    I also was told at 39 weeks that my baby was on the small side, my fluid levels were low, and my placenta looked strained. My blood pressure was also creeping up. I don't think I was given a lot of data either about how low the fluids were - just that they were low.  Even though I did Bradley classes, I felt really confused as to whether or not the induction was warranted.    

    My husband and I discussed it ad nauseum with my midwife, and did agree to an induction on my due date because we felt that there was enough concern and it was the best thing for the baby.  There comes a time when the baby is better off on the outside than on the inside, and in our case, we felt that DS would be better off being born.

    FWIW, I actually went into labor two days before my induction, so I avoided the induction and had a natural birth.  DS was small at 6 lbs, 3 oz, but healthy, if scrawny.  My placenta, however, was only about 1/2 the size it should have been.  That  made me feel that the midwives recommendation for an induction was warranted. 
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  • germanpicklegermanpickle member
    mb314 : thank you very much for sharing your story. I really appreciate your comment about how at some point baby is healthier in than out. I do however hope to start labor naturally too!

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  • mb314mb314 member
    Good luck!  Remember that the most important thing is having a healthy baby.  Even if your birth doesn't go according to plan, if you have a healthy baby, that's what counts! 
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  • vvolekvvolek member
    edited October 2013
    jess9802 said:
    A small baby plus low fluid could mean that the placenta is no longer supplying enough nutrients to the baby. Leaving baby in longer will not allow baby to get bigger; in fact, it could increase the risk of stillbirth. .
    I 100% agree with this. My baby was diagnosed IUGR when I was about 26 weeks. I remember going to a specialist every 2 weeks. By 36 weeks She was only 3# 10oz. I was induced at 37 1/2 weeks and she came out 3# 14oz and was absolutely amazing. My placenta didn't stop supplying nutrients but my daughter wasn't getting as much as she needed to grow to full term, plus I was diagnosed with a DVT about a month after conception. .. I would've loved to have had the 'natural birthing feeling' but at the same time my daughter's life was more important then what I wanted. I went to my specialist on a Thurs, followed up with my OB that same Thurs, went into the hospital on father's day and gave birth to my small but mighty baby Monday morning! I also got steroid shots about 2 weeks before being induced to make sure her lungs were ready. we were blessed/lucky to not have our baby in the NICU or transferred to another hospital. Looking back now I am SO glad to have been induced otherwise my bundle wouldn't be here today!

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  • germanpicklegermanpickle member
    @vvolek : whoa, thank you for sharing - how scary! My little girl is estimated at 5 pounds, thank goodness. And you are right the healthy baby with a healthy mommy is the most important aspect of all of this.

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  • vvolekvvolek member

    @ntrick-yes it is!

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  • ash484ash484 member
    I had to induce with my 2nd. I did it with no pain meds and it was great! I did have a panic attack the night before, what if my baby really isn't ready even though the Dr. says she is?? What if this, what if that. I made myself sick. Bottom line, I just reminded myself that I trust this doctor. Tons of women are induced every day, and although that's not what I wanted, it WOULD be ok. Once I told myself "I can do this" and had a little chat with my baby telling her "WE can do this!" Everything went great. I really think it went so well because of my mind set too. I kept my heart rate down with my breathing, baby was healthy the whole time and came out perfect! No heart rate problems or traumatization like I was picturing! If she decides to not come on her own between now and the induction date, then you can do this =-)
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  • tjkdlhbtjkdlhb member
    I was induced with my first before my due date (pre-e).  She was small (5 lbs) but the dr was really happy that she was born when she was because of the shape my placenta was in.  She said that there was no way she was getting the nutrition that she needed anymore and that she was much better off on the outside.



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  • LOVEmyLUTZSLOVEmyLUTZS member
    Did you ask about membrane stripping or nipple stimulation to get contractions started? Those are more natural ways to induce labor. Ask your care provider about taking blue Cohosh as well. These are all natural induction ideas, see if your OB WILL go for any of them. It never hurts to try. Good luck and God bless you!
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