I need encouragement...

Ninnie1204 · January 2015

Hello there, I would really appreciate your encouragement and/or insight. Let me give you a quick recap. I have been measuring small (3.5 cm smaller than the average) my entire pregnancy- but gaining weight and growing steadily). A growth check ultrasound at 28 weeks showed baby was thriving- right on target if not a bit above average in size. So we chalked it up to my height (6'2- so long torso gives baby plenty of room!). Well, at 37 weeks my doc wanted to check again. Once again, baby is right on track for 37 weeks, strong heartbeat and I reported strong and regular fetal movement. However, my amniotic fluid was at a 7.6. I was told normal was between 6-22. 2 days later my levels went to 7.2.

So my doctor wanted to meet with me- and informed me that she felt we should schedule an induction when I hit 39 weeks. Her reasoning is that while the baby (and I) are not showing any signs of distress, the risks could increase and at that point things could get more dangerous. So I went from this low risk happy pregnancy (yes, I am one of those ones who has been feeling fantastic and only gained about 21 pounds so far) to having an induction scheduled in less than a week. Of course I don't want to wait for my baby to be in distress, but having this scheduled when things are going fine is also hard for me. An induction sounds distressing for mom and baby...and from what I have read, it sounds more intense than natural childbirth. I feel sad to give up that dream of going into labor on my own and experiencing it without an intervention (which it seems one intervention leads to others....). We are going to get my levels checked again on Monday (induction scheduled for Thursday). So we will see what that shows.

I feel like I have been preparing for a natural childbirth and now I need to change gears and prepare for an induction. My doc wants to put me on a cervix ripening drug for a day before Pitocen. Last week I was 50% effaced and 1 cm dilated, baby in station -2. So we will see what happens. I just don't feel mentally prepared for this, I feel like my confidence in being able to handle childbirth has been greatly impacted by this because I honestly have just mostly heard really negative things about induction. The top priority is to keep my little baby girl safe, and I would do anything to ensure that. I am just trying to wrap my mind around this new news that we just got yesterday. Thank you for reading.

mandi195 · January 2015

I think you should vocalise this all to your OB. Induction seems a littlr drastic to me whem you and baby are both doing great. If induction is the route you choose, know that what matters most is happy and healthy baby, and while it may not be the birth you wanted or imagined, the end result is the same. Hang in there.

lexyraejay · January 2015

FWIW, for my last pregnancy I measured 6cm behind for the last 11 weeks and it ended up being because I'm tall. Baby measured right on schedule in ultrasounds and was born the day after my due date at 7lbs 3oz, 20.5" - normal sized. Also, I just finished reading Expecting Better by Emily Oster (she has a PhD in economics so statistical analysis is her life). I highly recommend it! She did meta-analysis of a lot of studies on pregnancy and presents the facts clearly. Anyhow, she looked at studies of low fluid measurements as the only issue in an otherwise healthy pregnancy and came to 2 conclusions: stay hydrated (like 2 liters before the ultrasound!) and ask doctor to measure the deepest vertical pocket rather than only total fluid volume. (Deepest vertical pocket captures the same number of truly problematic situations, but helps eliminate cases were nothing is actually wrong.) She also pointed out that for women diagnosed with this (low fluid, but zero other issues) who chose not to induce, their babies were born just as healthy as those with normal fluid levels. Good luck!

thechickencoop · January 2015

I don't have any experience with low fluid, but I was induced at 38w 1d with DS due to some cord issues, so best I can do is share - an induction does NOT always mean additional interventions. I think it raises the rate for a csection, but I'm not sure by how much.

I had cervidil placed in the evening, replaced the next a.m. Pitocin was started sometime late morning. DH and I hung out all day with no real progress until 4pm when the nurses FINALLY got the remote monitors working so I could walk (because of the cord issues, I had to be attached to the monitors at all times).

So we walked for an hour, my water broke at exactly 5pm, epidural started like, an hour after that, and DS was born at 10:24 pm after an hour of pushing. So, really, it wasn't the horror story I was expecting after hearing other's induction stories too.

I would definitely wait and see what the ultrasound shows on Monday though, maybe your levels will be back up and they'll cancel your induction? Either way, good luck!

SanRemo · January 2015

I would not want to deal with low amniotic fluid. It is worth having an additional discussion with your ob.

bluelotus13 · January 2015

I would definitely vocalize your concerns with your OB. Even just to get on the same page since that will help alleviate at least some of the stress that this has caused. I was induced at 39 weeks and though it took a while, it wasn't too bad (my main complaint was not being allowed to eat or drink anything for almost 24 hours).
I really hope things work out the best for you and your baby!

Amstreagle · January 2015

If you do end up getting induced it really isn't all that bad.
They nurses watch over you very carefully and know what to do if baby isn't handling pitocin well or BP drops. While I'd like to labor naturally next time my induction was a complete success and I was induced a week before you. Good luck mama!

Whitfry · January 2015

Some studies have shown that swimming/immersion in water can help with low amniotic fluid. It's not evidence based, but you might try getting in a pool once or twice a week and seeing if it helps at all, along with increasing your water intake.

megorlando · January 2015

Go over to www.theskepticalob.com and search around. I kind of love her. Thanks to her, I went from being totally sold on the natural birthing stuff to 180 in the opposite direction. I'll still double check things docs say, but I trust first. Low fluid is a serious issue, and yes, induction can be tough on the body, but don't kid yourself - so can spontaneous labor. Plus, all the "natural" birthing dogma about babies being born when they need to be and mom's bodies knowing what to do is b.s....I mean, sure, in many, if not most cases, it's fine, but nature is a fickle lady, and left alone she will kill moms and babies. Pre-modern technology was a bad time for us ladies.

I'll add that I had my first 100% drug free, in a freestanding birth center, and WHOA will not do that again unless my labor goes so quickly again that there's no time for an epidural - and then, I'll probably ask for gas! It took me nearly three hours to push because the pain took me so out of my mind that I couldn't process JUST PUSH and it's all over. Plus, now I understand the value of a neonatal resuscitation team on hand in a hospital, but that's another story. There's a real possibility that spontaneous labor this time will take about three hours - my first labor followed in my mother's footsteps, and my mother's second was three hours, with a fourth degree tear - as the date approaches, I'm talking to my OB about inductions, any reason for a section? because pelvic floor issues are NOTHING to joke about either...all that to say, I've been through drug-free natural, and IMHO it's not all that.

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