Stalled growth - induction.

Hello,
I was induced on my 39 weeks and I had a great experience. I got to the hospital at 6am and you have to fill out paperwork and they check how many cm you have dilated to see which method they are using and they used pitocin. Around 9am I was all plug in and giving me the pitocin and I gave birth to my son at 8:06pm

I found out at exactly 38 weeks that baby stopped growing at 34 weeks and I was told I wasn’t leaving and had to be induced immediately.. which was my worst nightmare!

The whole thing was structured which I liked, I knew exactly when I’d be checked and what to expect at set times in the day. The only thing I had to wait for was for them to break my waters as they had some emergency labours come in. Other than that everything went smoothly - uncomfortable when they put the balloon in and broke my waters but just as uncomfy as you expect and the pain doesn’t last.

Looking back I’m glad I had an induction and would definitely choose it again if I get the choice. The idea of having contractions for god knows how long and potentially having to stay at home until they get unbearable sounds awful to me.

Good luck, everything will be fine just go with your gut and make the choices you feel are right! X

Currently 29 weeks and baby dropped to the 7th percentile so I'm on watch for this as well! I hope all goes well!

My son was very comfy and didn’t want to come out. I got induced and honestly no big deal. Yea it sucks i didn’t know what contractions were but it worked out. I went in late Thursday night. They weren’t ready for us right away so we didn’t get started till 9/10pm. The put this string thing in me which got lost in my vagina 😂😂😂🤦🏻‍♀️ then they started the pitocin on Friday around 12pm. I went with the epidural and our son was born Saturday at 5am. He got a little too much fluids in his mouth, poor little guy but he is perfect and thriving in every way. I should mention that I didn’t know at the time but found out later in the day Friday that he wasn’t happy with the pitocin so they had to turn it on n off a few times. Ultimately I had a vaginal birth. I know it sucks that things aren’t going according to plan, but the main thing you can hope for is that both baby and you come out of this health and well. It will work out for the best!!!

I was induced at 37 weeks for the same reason. I went in Wednesday afternoon, started my induction Wednesday evening (I had the balloon fitted). Had it in for 24 hours and then my waters broken naturally Friday morning. I started having proper contractions in the morning before they started slowing. I was waiting around most of Friday for a room on the delivery unit as I wasn’t in active labour. Got moved early Friday evening and was then I was just waiting until the contractions kicked in again at about 11:30 that night. Baby was born at 2:36am on Saturday. The pain was bad but I just used gas and air and was able to labour naturally. Had we not needed to stay in for observation (due to some medication I’m on) we would’ve been let out Saturday late morning/early afternoon.

If I can I’d pick it all again. It can be a long process but I know it’s all happening in hospital so if anything was to happen I’m in the right place

My 3rd was a planned induction went in the morning got looked at filled papers out and then they decided to do the cervical tape got that in then was monitored for a half hour then I was aloud going home tell I felt the need to go back in the contractions were horrible I will say that way different then when I went into labor on my own. And they were constant for me i got literally got no break in between them It was so bad we I went back to the hospital within 2 hours of leaving. I absolutely got there and asked for the epidural ahaha so they checked me and got me all set up once I was 4 or 5 cm they broke my water and with in 30 minutes of that I had him.
I was also induced with my 4th but for that I was so dilated they just broke my water. Again went in I said I wanted the epidural before hand so did that then broke my water and within maybe a hour I was fully really to go and we had him.
Everyone's experience will be different just trust your gut with what you feel you need.

I was induced on Saturday after my waters broke on Friday and labour didn’t start on its own.

I was dreading it thinking it could take days. When I was checked I was 3cm dilated so they decided to break my front waters and then leave be for two hours before using the drip if needed. Nothing happened in those two hours so I was put on the drip at 7:30pm. Around 9:15 I asked for an epidural as the contractions were coming thick and fast, it went in at 9:45 but I still felt the need to push. He was born at 11pm.

I previously had a spontaneous labour that lasted over 24 hours so for me induction was a better option and I would choose that over a spontaneous labour anytime

I was induced at 38 weeks pregnant due to maternal ITP. I loved knowing I was being induced so we could prep dog care and have myself all prepped and ready. The midwives were really busy with emergency cases coming into the hospital on that day so nobody was available to break my waters for about 30 hours from arriving. I paced for hours around the hospital!
once my waters were broken (5pm) it was really smooth for me. I went on the oxytocin drip at 7pm, started pushing at 21:50 and gave birth at 22:10

I was induced at 38+2, went in on Sunday and was 1cm which high cervix but baby’s head low. Given gel then Monday morning was checked and was now 1-2cms and cervix was lower and more stretchy so the ‘pulled it down’ a bit but was told they could break my waters so just needed a spot on labor ward. I started getting contractions every 6 mins. Emergencies/fast progressions kept coming in, my contractions spaced out to 11mins apart and 24hrs+ later I was still waiting to get my waters broke and my contractions had stopped all together. Then at about 11am a nurse said there was a spot on a labor ward in a hospital 30 mins away if we wanted it as they didn’t know how much longer it would take for us to get one where we were so we accepted. Got there about 12:30, had my waters broke at 1:30pm and I was about 4cms dilated. Contractions picked up again but after 2 hours I still wasn’t quite in ‘active’ labor so they put me on the drip at 3:30pm…

Contractions increased in time and intensity, and my little girl was born 7:20pm.

Overall the actual induction process (gels, waters and drip) were completely fine. I managed to get through on paracetamol, dihydrocodine and gas and air, and only came out with a 1st degree tears (no stitches). This was my second labor, first I went into spontaneous labor at 40+4 but needed pethadine and got a 2nd degree tear (with stitches). This time I felt so much more in control and although the last push was scary I felt so much better after for not being on pethadine.

If you plan to use hypnobirthing you can still do it! My labor felt ‘natural’ even with the interventions.

I was induced for that same reason and also had planned on using hypnobirthing techniques and labouring in water and was able to still continue with my plan and deliver without medication!
My biggest piece of advice would be to make sure the nurses commit to letting you in the tub and also advocate for yourself if they are giving you too much pitocin.
While one of the nurses said I wouldn’t be allowed in the tub if I was being induced because of the drip and the need for monitoring, I pushed them on it they said it wasn’t against their policy (it was just more work and I understand they are overworked already but you need to advocate for yourself) and eventually allowed me to labour in the tub which was really really helpful in managing the pain.
Secondly, they increased my pitocin 2unit every 30 mins. By the time they got to 8 units it was the max pain I could tolerate. I told them I didn’t want them to increase it anymore which they agreed to since I was dilating and progressing.

Can you see if they would do another growth scan? Only reason I say that is because I was told he was 95th centile at a growth scan and born 3 days later 43rd centile.

I’m in the same situation
I am 35 weeks and found out at 32 weeks baby is in the 7th precentile, we are inducing at 37 weeks. I’ve had growth scans every 3 weeks and BPP ultrasounds every week.
I was induced with my 1st at 39 weeks and it was an amazing experience, had no issues and was only in labor for 25 hours

I went in at 6pm, contractions started at 2am and my little girl was here by 4.30am. I had a really positive induction. Yes it was painful but i expected labour to be anyway and I’ve nothing to compare it to as she was my first. I still managed to use a lot of my hypnobirthing techniques but some went out the window as it all happened so fast lol x

I got induced at 39+3 days and it went amazing.
4 hour labour, intensely painful but I had no intervention, no hormone drip, birthed naturally with no pain relief. All they did was break my waters and away I went. Try not to get worked up about the horror stories. You can’t help whatever happens x

Here's the thing: if it's truly urgent to get your baby out, it would be induction or emergency c right now - not next week!

Ultrasounds in late pregnancy are notorious for being inaccurate 🙅‍♀️ I would say how do you feel? How does your baby feel?
Still plenty of movements ? Both still happy and healthy?

You absolutely can have the birth you want, and it's not too late to switch care providers if need be 🫶

You don't have to agree to induction if you don't want it. They will only tell you about the risks of leaving baby in, but the risks of induction are just as valid. And you as the mum get the final say as to whether you agree to any kind of medical intervention.

When you get induced you're on their timeline right from the start of "labour" (artificial labour really, as your baby didn't initiate the labour). There will always be positive and negative stories about any intervention, so it needs to come back to what feels right for you..

I got induced at 38+3 very late Wednesday night. Contractions were coming thick and fast after 3 hours of the pessary. My waters broke Thursday at 11am. Got taken to the labour ward on the Friday morning. I couldn’t dilate further than 4-5cm’s so ended up having a c-section and she was born at 6:40pm Friday evening

I was inducted at 38+3 due to reduced growth. I had a pessary inserted at 5:30am and she was born at 03:56am the following morning. I didn’t require the drip or gels etc my body seemed to take over and only the pessary was necessary for me. My waters never broke and I had them broken by my midwife when I got to 10cm. I will say I went from 0 to 100 very quickly. Id had pretty much nothing all day then at 11:30pm sudden really painful contractions. I was checked at 2am and 4cm then 30 minutes later I was 10cm. Waters were broke and I pushed for 46 minutes. They predicted her to be 5lb and she was 4lb 9oz bless her but perfectly healthy. She’s now 8 months and thriving x

I went to a routine exam at 37 weeks and they were afraid of a growth restriction as baby was measuring small. They sent me right to the hospital at that exact moment to be induced. Other than unexpected induction, everything else went great. I was ballooned that night and induced at 9:00 the next morning. Contractions started and I moved along quickly. I got the epidural and by the time they checked me again I was 9 cm. I started pushing at 12:00 baby was born at 12:34. Whole experience was so calm and everything went well. I have nothing bad to say.

Bonus- baby was bigger than they expected and healthy. She was perfect ❤️

Thank you all so much for your replies and stories 😊 xx I am going to go for a sweep on Friday and see if that starts anything “naturally” before the need to induction next week xx

I completely agree and when reading other people in the same situation as me have always thought the exact same but when it’s you and your baby the worries kick in!
I’m not going to be pushed into anything, and have a really good think over the never day or so.
They really guilt you, I was asking yesterday is it absolutely necessary and the way he replied just made me feel awful and I’d never forgive myself if anything happened.
I’m usually well informed and confident in any decisions I make but they made me really doubt myself. 😞 rubbish!

I'm so sorry they're using that verbiage with you, it's not fair of them to guilt trip you 🙅‍♀️

Again, I would say, if it's "absolutely necessary" you should be getting induced right now, not next week 🤷‍♀️
You're well within your rights to decline any form of induction (a stretch and sweep is a form of induction) without getting a second opinion on your scan, or any other test or info you need in order to make a decision..

Informed consent is your right.