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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Has anyone had experience of refusing an induction?

58 replies

hackneyzoo · 15/01/2011 19:46

I am currently 40+6 with DC3 and have never gone this overdue before. I am hoping for another home birth. MW came today and said she had to book me in for an induction on Thursday, when I will be 40+11.

There are a number of reasons I want to avoid an induction:
i) This baby was planned, my cycle dates are 28 days, I know when I concieved and my EDD date, if I go by LMP is 12th Jan, it was the scan that bought it forward. SO technically I don't think I will be all that overdue.

ii) From what I have read, as long as the baby is healthy there are no massive risks to letting nature take it's course. Could I ask the hospital to monitor me instead of being induced?

iii) It is DC2's second birthday on Friday and so I would rather not have him share it. (I shared a birthday with an older sibling and it was a PITA at times)

iv) I have had two active births, one of them a water birth, and they were positive experiences that I would like to repeat. I am anxious about being confined to a bed and monitored and am worried this will lead to unnecessary intervention.

v) If the baby is in distress, I will of course go along with induction.

I would really like to hear if anyone has refused induction and if they came up against much opposition. I would also like any opinions on whether my points seem valid.

Has anybody managed to still have a HB wen they have gone over 40+12?

OP posts:

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Oneof4 · 15/01/2011 19:53

I asked the same question of a mw, who told me that no one can make you accept an induction. I haven't had first hand experience though.

trixie123 · 15/01/2011 19:54

Given that this is your third I would think they would pay some attention to your reasons (though possibly not the birthday one . I have refused induction for my 2nd after a miserable experience last time but that was due to GD and them not letting me go overdue at all. This time, if they insist on not letting me go over it will be another CS as I found the whole thing very unpleasant and medicalised - the whole strapped to the bed thing is really horrible.I had to be fairly adamant with the consultant about it but they have signed off on it now. Ultimately you can refuse anything but they will talk to you about failing placentas etc.

redshoes · 15/01/2011 19:54

I went over with my third child - I held off on the induction front by agreeing to go up to the hospital each day - I finally went into labour at 40+15, on the morning I was due to finally be induced. I had natural birth, no drugs or intervention, but wasn't at home. The medical staff did make a point of telling me every time they saw me that I was of course putting my unborn child's life at risk...

Flisspaps · 15/01/2011 19:55

You certainly can can ask to be monitored instead of being induced.

The MW does NOT have to book you in for an induction - although you can let her book it and just not go in.

I don't think there has been a recorded case of a woman reaching 40+28 so baby HAS to come sometime

I wish that I had had the balls to stick to my guns and had followed my own advice there, and had at least given myself a chance of having a homebirth.

jollyma · 15/01/2011 20:14

I had ds2 after being induced at 40+15. I was booked for a home birth and they would have delivered him at home right up to when i went into hospital at +14. I tried to put it off but the hospital midwives wouldn't entertain the idea. They were all against allowing 14 days and supported the 10 day induction policy at the other local hospitals.

I still feel disappointed but can see now that I was starting to struggle emotionally with the waiting. I had a short labour, only gas and air despite a 9lb 11 baby and came home 5 hours later the same day.

I was very clear with the staff that I wouldn't lie on the bed to be monitored and stood with the belt attached most of the time. If this is one of the things that concerns you sure you explain this to your birth partner as you will probably need backing up.

CrapBag · 15/01/2011 20:18

My friend went 16 days over. She was being pushed into being induced but was adamant she wanted to wait and have a HB. She went to the hospital one day and they said she wasn't even near to giving birth, she went into natural labour that day and had her HB like she wanted.

Original poster

hackneyzoo · 15/01/2011 20:43

Thanks for all the replies, good to hear some stories of people sticking to thier guns and avoiding induction.

Trixie, sorry oyu had a crap experience, that's what I am trying to avoid, the idea of being confined to a bed just fills me with horror! Good luck with your next birth.

Redshoes, I think I am going to try and get them to hold off until 40+14 too, and hope it all happens naturally. I don't mind so much being in hospital as long as I can do it the way I want IYSWIM!

Flisspaps, I am worried I won't stick to my guns and will buckle at some off hand consultant!

Jolllyma, thanks for sharing your story, I think I will actually have to write down a bit of a birthplan if it comes down to induction to make sure I am clear.

Crapbag, thanks for that story, it gives mehope!

OP posts:

Loopymumsy · 15/01/2011 20:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Eglu · 15/01/2011 20:55

When I was pg with DS2 the mws were on call for a home birth until I was 40+14. After that they said it would have to be hospital. I'm not sure on the laws of that tbh, and was never an issue for me.

Flisspaps · 15/01/2011 20:59

Eglu - they wouldn't have been able to force you to go to hospital at any time after 40 weeks

maresedotes · 15/01/2011 21:00

I was induced with DD1 as I was 10 days overdue (not according to my dates but these were ignored) and it was awful. I absolutely refused to be induced (and refused a sweep) with DD2 and the consultant at the hospital said that I could after my last experience. You can do it but expect a bit of tutting!

Eglu · 15/01/2011 21:04

Flisspaps I thought that may be the case from things I have read previously on MN.

NormalityBites · 15/01/2011 21:05

I declined induction and had my home birth at 18 days over, but I had a lot of doubt on my dates, with good reason, which gave a degree of flexibility. I had scheduled induction for 22 days over, which was my personal limit.

me23 · 15/01/2011 21:17

Not sure if you've seen this or not but it could be helpful www.homebirth.org.uk/ it is under the "you can't have a homebirth if...page"

PacificDogwood · 15/01/2011 21:23

Gawd, yes, if I was you I'd stick to my guns.

Nobody can make any woman have an induction or any other intervention - they can advise you otherwise, hopefully backed up with evidence, but cannot make you.

FWIW, I turned down induction with DS1 at 40+10 and 40+13, but caved at 40+15 and was induced afterall. And it was fine. Not an active birth of course, but as he was my first (after 3 MCs), I was ok with that.

Good luck , I hope you get the birth you hope for.

PepperPotts · 15/01/2011 21:25

I was induced at 36 weeks due to PROM with DD and really disliked it compared to my natural birth with DS.

My friend who was due a few weeks later went overdue and refused to be induced at +10, she had similar reasons to you in that her scan altered her due date.

The hospital were happy too let her go on and she went in to labour naturally at +15

I'm expecting dc3 and will do what I can not to be induced!!!

HellinArcher · 15/01/2011 21:29

no experience of refusing but wish I had, or at least asked more questions about why the mws were so keen to induce me (38+2). It was very painful, I ended up with the monitor strap round me for 27 hours, on the bed for most of it and it got very painful very quickly, until I had an epidural which was the best bit of the whole thing.

so while I have no experience on going overdue, would definitely push back (ha!) and wait it out, with as Loopy says, staying sharp to the baby's movements. (SIL went overdue, was told would have big baby, ended up with emergency cs and baby weighed under 6lb.)

spidookly · 15/01/2011 21:34

I convinced the hcp to adjust my dates backward when pg with dd2. First scan they said a few days less pg than I was, weren't going to change dates, but I asked them to. Same happened at two other scans - their dates didn't quite tally with mine and I asked to have mine adjusted to fit. I bought myself an extra week.

I refused induction in favour of elcs which I had at 40+16 but officially it was 40+9

Original poster

hackneyzoo · 15/01/2011 21:44

Loopsy, thank you for your post, it is really helpful. I am planning to go in armed with as much info as possible and I think I will take my reasons in in written form too, so I don't get side lined.

me23, thanks for that link (I love that website) as I hadn't seen that section and it is extremely informative.

Thank you everyone else for sharing your stories. It makes me feel much more confident in sticking to my guns and doing what I feel is best for my baby and me and reassures me I'm not just being a stubborn loon! I feel my reasoning is valid and many of your replies help me to confirm that.

Right...now for some birth ball bouncing...

OP posts:

greenbeanie · 15/01/2011 21:47

Hackneyzoo, had to reply as I was in exactly the same position as you. 1st two dc born at 39 and 40wks so a real shock to go overdue. You can of course refuse an induction and you have every right to do so, in which case you will probably be offered extra monitoring.

All I wanted to say was I was terrified of induction having read all the horror stories of a cascade of intervention following induction, which after 2 normal deliveries was really not what I wanted. I went to 40+12 and was induced by rupture of membranes having tried everything possible to try and encourage things along!! The labour was fine 1hr40mins with no intervention, just a very big baby, 11lb11.5oz!!!

Good luck, I hope you get the birth that you want.

Original poster

hackneyzoo · 15/01/2011 21:54

Thanks Greenbeanie....and wow! That is a big baby! Glad you had a positive birth, it's all very reassuring to hear.

OP posts:

Eglu · 15/01/2011 21:58

Greenbeanie, you have freaked me out with that. I am pg with DC3. DS1 was born at 39 weeks, and DS2 at 40 weeks. I just assumed this oen won't be late. Now I'm worried.

TheSkiingGardener · 15/01/2011 22:01

I refused induction until 40 + 15. It caused the student doctor to have a paddy but I just politely said no and quoted the NHS guidelines at him until he found a superior who told him it was ok.

Keep calm, know the NHS guidelines (print them out if necessary) and stick to your guns. Monitoring is a good idea though to help keep them happy an eye on the situation.

Good luck

frankenfanny · 15/01/2011 23:30

hackney you have had some really good advice here, and I hope you don't actually need to use it- most babies arrive before 14 days and 42 weeks is entirely normal. The waiting sucks, though, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I am a bit of an old mare so I can remember when some hospitals still let women go naturally up to 3 weeks over. Nowadays guidelines have tightened due to various studies, if I had to wait past 14 days I would read up and make a very careful risk assessment, but I would not hesitate to refuse induction up to and including 14 days if there was no other medical need.If your dates are off it is more reassuring for you.

I am one of those odd bods who goes way post dates( by scan) but it is natural for me- I have had a few run ins with the NHS as a result of refusing induction especially with insisting on a home birth as well.TBH I am not sure if it is worth the emotional stress unless you are convinced induction would be so bad. However, I may be out on a limb but I am proof it can be done. Stats are 40 + 19- induction, 40 + 13- homebirth, 40 + 23 - homebirth, 40 + 20- homebirth. I asked my midwife this last time, frankly, if I went for induction would I be able to do things my way, refuse syntocin etc, and she said no, there would be an expected cascade of intervention. On that basis and the fact my cervix was not favourable I waited it out again. It is a very difficult choice. Good luck.

Oneof4 · 16/01/2011 08:47

Just wanted to say that I think you make your case very clearly, so definitely worth taking that with you.

Good luck, and let us know how it works out!

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