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34 weeks PG, aiming for a VBAC, now found out am carrying alot of fluid, talks of induction at 38 weeks !!!

9 replies

mppaw · 10/12/2008 12:56

Just got back from a meeting with the consultant and it was horrible. All she talked about was cord prolapse due to the excess fluid, scar rupturing so come in as soon as labour starts for CFM, and the mose upsetting thing, if the amniotic fluid has increased at my next scan (22nd Dec) then they want to induce me at 38 weeks !!!
So was not expecting any of this today, was really hoping for a positive meeting.

Please, has anyone had something similar, still labour'd and had a VBAC ?
Or am I just really hoping for a miracle now ?

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MrsMattie · 10/12/2008 12:59

Sorry to hear about this. It's crap when things suddenyl change late in your pregnancy

I'm surprised that they are talking about induction if you have had a previous c-section, though. Many hospitals don't induce you under any circumstances if you have had a previous section because of the increased risk of scar rupture. Have they not discussed this with you?

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mppaw · 10/12/2008 13:05

That is exactly what I said to her, I dont want to be induced as I believe this to be more dangerous than waiting for natural, but she said if my cervix is favourable (Whatever that means) then they will induce me. Not happpy about being induced, and really not happy about it being done at 38 weeks. I was induced with DD and it was not pleasant.
So fed up, cant stop crying (That is my hormones though, as woke up feeling pretty shitty this morning).
Am going to raid the fridge and have a cup of tea and pull myself together.

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MrsMattie · 10/12/2008 13:30

You DO NOT have to do anything you don't want to. Can you ring the Consultant's secretary and say you need to speak to her urgently, can she ring you back etc? Then explain that you are very unhappy about being induced and need to discuss other options. You know, if she is unsympathetic or unwilling to discuss this with you at length, you can request to speak to another consultant (I did this when I felt the original Consultant I saw was quite negative about VBAC). I know it's hard to be assertive when you are feeling hormonal and not at your strongest - maybe your partner can get involved?

The NCT advise using the BRAIN acronym when you are unsure about what a doctor is telling you.

B - What are the BENEFITS (of induction)?

R - What are the RISKS?

...and how do these weigh up?

A - what are the ALTERNATIVES (to an induction at 38 weeks)? - could you have regular monitoring at the hospital instead, for instance?

I - what are my INSTINCTS telling me to do?

N - what would happen if I did NOTHING (ie. went full term, with no induction?) This may not be the best options, but you are entitled to know all the risks before you make a decision..

Good luck.

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hedgepig · 10/12/2008 13:46

Hi mppaw sorry you have had such a bad day. Whether or not a consultant will induce on a previous cs seems to depend very much on the consultant, but it is not excluded by the green top guidelines. If they do use a drip it is at a reduced rate to a induction on a un-scared uterus.

I had an induced VBAC 9 weeks ago, just using the drip not prostaglanid gel and it wasn't so bad. Much much better than my cs experiance and the recovery was better too.
It took a longish time (16hrs) and on advice of the mw I had a epidural pretty early on which made it bearable and I think was probably key for me, I couldn't have done it without the epidural. They also used a ventouse to get my DS out in the end but I still look back at it positively. Before this experiance I was very much like you dead set against the idea of an induction but I would do it again.

Hope you can find the right way for you to go with this, as Mrs Mattie says you can't be forced to have an induction but you need to look at the pros and cons for your particular circumstances

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mppaw · 10/12/2008 13:54

Thanks Mrs M...really helpful...and DP has just called and suggested going to see my midwife. I have got an appointment today at 3:30 to see her (She was the one last week who sent me for a scan as she thought I had too much fluid). Will go and see her and talk to her about this. The consultant was not interested in me or my feelings, she sounded like she was reading crap out of a text book.
BRAIN, this looks great, am going to write down what I want to know etc so hopefully I dont forget anything.

Aparently, the problem with doing nothing (going term) is cord prolapse. Due to to much fluid, the head might not be engaged, so when my waters break (which they problem will early as the uterus/womb can only hold so much)the cord could come down thru the crevix which according to the lovely consultant is life threatening for the baby !!

The tears have stopped, but am now feeling V angry , hopefully the midwife can give me some decent facts and figures and advice etc which will help me make sense of all this.

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mppaw · 10/12/2008 14:08

Hedgepig, thanks for your post, V encouraging.
Will run all this past the midwife today and get her opinion on it, which should help put my mind rest.
I think you are right, I should not rule out an induction but am a little concerned at it being done at 38 weeks. Just does not make sense to me.

Will let you know what happens at the midwife later on tonight.

Thanks for your support, really means alot.

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MrsMattie · 10/12/2008 14:57

Just to add, if you are unhappy with your consultant, you can ask to see the Head of Midwifery at your hospital for a second opinion. xx

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hedgepig · 10/12/2008 15:14

mppaw was it actually a consultant you saw? or was it a registrar? just the reading from the text book analogy seems more like a registrar too me?
good luck with the mw

oh and if your waters do go did they tell you to get on all 4 with your bum in the air until you can be checked for the cord? if it has prolapsed it takes the pressure off apparently.

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mppaw · 10/12/2008 21:04

Hiya. Had such a good chat with the MW, we went thru everything and I feel so much better now. She stressed that they can not make me do anything that I dont want to do etc. Am much calmer about it all now.

Hedgepig, no one has said anything about what to do re cord prolapse, so will start researching this now. Thanks.

MrsM, the MW said to speak to another consultant if not happy, so will see who I get when I go back on 31st Dec !!

Thanks for today, really helped.
Feel absolutely drained, looking forward to going to bed tonight.