Decisions on birth plans

You don’t have to accept induction or C section it is still ultimately your choice. I would just try do as much research as you can and to make your own informed decision on what your preferences and boundaries are. Things can change so quickly so still important to be open minded to change, but atleast you’re more informed! I think I am going to be given the same recommended route due to big baby and for me the very slight increased risk of shoulder dystocia still outweighs the risks that come with induction & c-section. I’m very open to the fact that might change but I feel much better having done my own research and also understand the reasoning why it’s been recommended by the NHS 🙂 Not forgetting the scans aren’t 100% accurate either. Can you ask for any other alternatives i.e. try a few stretch and sweeps first?

Exactly same position as you. I've been offered sweeps from this week , 37 weeks and I'm planning to do it twice a week for two weeks. Baby is measuring at 7.9 pounds so in my head if it's 10% wrong, then on upside it could be up to 8.5ish? 1/2 half a pound a week so that gives me at least 2 weeks and if it doesn't work then I'm thinking elective c- section by 39 weeks. Induction can decrease risk of C-section or increase it, so I'd rather have a controlled environment :).

Hi, we had the same experience with my son a few years ago. He was measuring on the 97th and was actually born on the 99th. They offered me induction at 39 weeks as they said I couldn’t go passed my due date because of his size. I did a lot of research and opted to rather have a c-section exactly on his due date rather than have the section. From what my friends and other mums I’ve spoken to (and also after discussion with my midwife at the time), it seems as though if your body isn’t ready for vaginal birth then there is a strong possibility that the induction will be difficult. That’s why some women have positive induction stories and others have failed experiences that end up in emergency section. I did have 2 sweeps before the section in the hope of going into spontaneous labour but my body just wasn’t ready. We decided that rather than putting baby through days of induced labour and ending in an emergency section, we would rather go straight for elective.

It was a very calm and controlled environment and afterwards the consultant came to me to say that it was the right choice and that there was no way I would have been able to birth him vaginally. I would say to trust your instincts and see how your body is coping closer to the time - but get the section booked in as a backup. In what way have they changed the care for c-section mums at your hospital?

I had a c section and it was such a calm and quick birth! The pain after was totally bearable .. at no point was I in agony. I was driving and pushing bubba in the pram 3 weeks after xx

@MG No problem, this seems to be the same recovery process we had so looks quite normal, is there something about it you don’t like?

I think it's really important that you do your research, the whole "big baby" thing isn't a reason to induce early or C-section, there's plenty of evidence to show it doesn't help improve anything! Shoulder dystocia is actually an increased risk with induction due to the baby being forced out and not being in the most optimal position due to not being ready. It's incredibly rare for a woman to not be able to physically birth her baby naturally! It's really important to do your research and base your decision on what you think is best, not anyone else! Don't get swept up in the "they know best they are professionals" line because there is often a hidden agenda or hospital policy behind the advice! Also that was my previous hospital with my first but I was on midwife unit and it was such a lovely birth in that unit!

@Nicola a lot of the feedback have said that you don’t get that golden hour as a family as you’ll be in a ward straightaway rather than having a private time x

I was just about to mention this as well Hannah. Unless there is a medical problem such as diabetes, our bodies don't make babies too big for us to birth. And induction can cause higher risk of shoulder dystocia so it's always a strange this for the doctors to mention as a reason to have an induction to avoid one. I would do a lot of research and trust your body.

Also my sister just gave birth to a baby naturally, had mild shoulder dystocia that the midwives very quickly helped with during her home birth. Baby and mum were fine and she had a really positive birth. Midwives are very well trained to deal to deal with these situations and often interventions can be the cause rather than a solution. Just do lots of research about it x

@Kirsty I’ve been tested for diabetes twice and both came back negative. No pre-eclampsia either. They just said naturally a big baby. I have read and done my research but just wanted to hear more from people’s experiences as sometimes the stuff you read can cloud the judgement and make it worse :)

No that's true. It's a tough call. You just have to do what feels right. And questions the dr's and midwives asking them the benefits and risks of each options and what the alternatives are. Sometimes they can make you think you only have one or two options and actually if you question they may be able to help you come to a clear idea of what you want and what is best.

@MG I did find that with my first but we’ve asked this time around for baby to stay with me and for any reason then due to complications then to allow skin to skin with dad straight away. We’ve also asked for delayed cord clamping… you just need to speak to the consultant and midwife on the day and highlight what’s important to you. They should accommodate you. Like others have said, it’s entirely your choice and you have the right to refuse induction too and just wait for spontaneous labour. The section was right for us as he was a really big baby and initially the consultant disagreed with our choice, she changed her mind once she saw his size and position in the section. Just do what feels right for your situation Xx

Inductions have high rates of turning into an emergency ceserean anyway. I personally never would want to be induced but each to their own and you have to make the right decision for you xx I live in NZ and they don’t do cesereans based of scans/measurements predicting large babies as it’s not considered medically necessary here. We get told to go for it vaginally unless there are other factors making you need a ceserean like baby in breech etc. And if baby is in a bad position or gets stuck etc then they take us in quickly for an unplanned/emergency ceserean. That’s what happened to me, my first boy was predicted to be 95th percentile, I went into labour naturally at 39w and his position wasn’t the best so he got stuck (due to bad position not his size) so I had the ceserean. The ceserean went absolutely fine for us luckily. But I do wish I could have had him vaginally (personal choice)

Not quite the same as my bay is measuring 6lb 11oz on tbe 50th percentile but unahve rhe choice of VBAC or elective and I'm so torn at first I was all for VBAC but because I carry strep b and ny first labor I didn't have regular contractions and baby pooped inside I'm leaning more towards section just so I know it will all go to plan . You haven't got to accept induction or section. You can try natural and then put a plan in place that if it all gets too much you want to be able to call it for a section

I literally mean read the studies when I say do your research, look at the statistics/do the maths yourself to truly see the real information. Reading summaries etc can give false ideas and any wording like "doubles the risk" needs to be reviewed because double 0.2% risk is 0.4% risk... But sounds much more extreme!

This seems to be the opposite of everyone else but I have an induction 3 years ago cos my little man was in the 98th percentile, I went it at exactly 39 weeks and everything went perfectly I went into labour at midnight and he was born at 10.01pm, neither of us had any problems. I will say though he wasn't big at all he was only 8 pounds but he was super long so that's why they expected him to be big because they measure weirdly on the scans, also my niece had a 12 pound little girl naturally and everything was completely fine, so it really is completely your choice what you do ❣️

Personally I would go for an induction over a csection. I've had both and c section is major surgery its SO so painful. That said. There is just as much risk of shoulder distocia with a small baby as there is with a large baby and it is also a risk of induction. MY advice would be to really research all of your options (which include waiting to birth naturally) and weigh up the benefits and risks

Check the NICE guidelines as I don’t believe induction is even recommended for big babies