Is it normal to get an amnio at 38 weeks to check for lung maturity before inducement?

Question

I'm being induced because the baby is getting too large. I have gestational diabetes and she is already 8lbs 2oz (considering they aren't off by a lb. or 2) and they think she will be too big for my body at my due date. I thought her lungs were fully mature by 37 weeks yet they say they have to do an amniocentesis to be sure. I really dont want one if I dont need one.

Answer 1

38 weeks is considered full term.
i honestly dont see why they would do that either....

my son was born at 38 weeks and he was just fine at 9 lbs

Answer 2

No usually they can only do amniocentises between a certain time frame, thats what my specialists told me, it might be different with everybody though, I was like 22 weeks pregnant with my last baby and the specialists told me that I only had like a week to decide on wether I wanted to get an amnio done. I refused because it is risky due to some complications, which your doctor should explain to you. It s really up to you wether or not you let them do this, if I were you I would just deliver now lungs should be mature enough and they can always put baby in NICU. My doctor is inducing my labor at 37 weeks due to high risk pregnancy, and I am totally ok with that. GOod luck.

Answer 3

You're right. The baby's lungs are usually mature by 37 weeks, but I guess they are trying to play it safe since technically you are being delivered "early."

You could refuse the amniocentesis, because like you I would feel very strongly that at 38 weeks and over 8 pounds your baby's lungs are most likely fully developed. And there are risks associated with amnio.

However, there is also a small possibility that your GD has hampered the development of the baby even thought the weight and age are good. I.E. excess sugar in the body sometimes slows the fetus' development but not necessarily the growth.

It's up to you, I guess. Just go with your mother's instinct.

Answer 4

The reason for this is that due to the excess sugars in the baby system it causes them to get very big but it slows their development. Which means that lung maturity takes longer then babies who mothers do not have diabetes. They're trying to make it as safe as possible for the baby since if it's lungs aren't mature they will know to have the artificial surfactant and NICU team on hand to help your baby breathe when it gets here.

Answer 5

its a good idea, 37 weeks is considered full term, but there may be additional complications from the GD. Get the amnio, the worst that could happen is it puts you into labor, which is what the inducement is for anyway!!!

Answer 6

I've never heard of that but anything is possible. If you feel strongly about not having it, see if there are any other options like an internal ultrasound or something. I had my first at 39 weeks-she was fine. My second at 37.5-she was fine. My last one was at 36w5d and she needed oxygen for 2 days because her lungs were immature.

Best wishes!

Answer 7

I had an amnio 8 years in the past.. gosh that became see you later.. yet besides I did have one.. no longer attempting to be rude or advise.. even nevertheless it freaked me out... it absoutly placed me on area... on the time i became 17 and as quickly as I went to the scientific expert i became freaked out... I had it achieved because of fact my kin has a historical past of down syndrome...certainly, my aunt had it and died whilst she became a new child.... My scientific expert in fact crammed me in on the full technique and that i did no longer choose to have it achieved yet interior the long-term i'm satisfied I did. That procdeudre tells all of it...what number X and Y chromsomes what the intercourse is... if the new child has any defects.. this is totally precise i became informed. The needle injury rather undesirable even nevertheless it in trouble-free terms took a jiffy and that i became achieved.... Afterwards i became in some minor pains no longer something serious... I had some recognizing no longer something serious and that i had to place down and relax... scientific expert informed me all of this may well be going on so i became ok i think of it took some weeks to get the outcomes and infant became advantageous! you would be advantageous stay nonetheless reason the needle is extremely skinny and you decide on the newborn to chill out so do no longer subject... it is going to likely be over very right now... I felt as though my mom and my scientific expert does no longer enable me have something achieved that wasn't interior the only right intrest of my unborn infant... have confidence interior the lord!!!solid success!

Answer 8

Never heard of an amnio for that. Usually they do a special kind of ultrasound to determine whether the baby is ready to be born for inducement.

Answer 9

I would refuse it personally. As you say, her lungs should be mature.

I had a scheduled c-section at 38.5 weeks due to a breech position. There was never any mention of checking for lung maturity at this late stage.
Baby was born healthy & happy at 8 lbs 7 oz.

Answer 10

Always better to be safe than sorry! I too was induced because they thought the baby was too large. She measured 10lbs, and was actually 9lbs 3oz. Pretty close!