Hospital want to induce me, not happy

[Discopanda]

Hi all, DD2 was due on Wednesday, no signs of her arriving until last night when I had contraction type pains, no bleeding, waters breaking or anything else but went into triage on their advice because DD1 arrived so quickly. I spoke to the midwife there and mentioned I thought I had a UTI, they took a urine sample which had some protein in so I had to go back in today. I have had a completely healthy pregnancy, no protein or excess glucose in urine before, healthy low blood pressure, no risk factors of pre-eclampsia or GD and no family history of either, I'm under 30 and a healthy weight, baby has been moving and growing fine throughout. They took a blood sample which came back fine and another urine sample which again was fine, the protein has left in less than 12 hours but the consultant has still decreed that they want to induce me 'just in case'. They gave me a sweep today and I made it clear that I'd rather not be induced. Has anybody else been in this situation? They haven't even allowed time to see if the sweep works.

[Fattycow]

You can always refuse to be induced.

[Discopanda]

I don't even know if the consultant has read my notes. Can I ask for a second opinion or a second sweep to see what happens first?

[ZenNudist]

Hold out. Ask for continuous monitoring. Keep bouncing on birthing ball. Get accupuncture induction treatments. Baby could turn up naturally at any time.

Have they even done a sweep yet? Strikes me that trying to induce you when you're not ready is going to result in a cascade of interventions.

I do have a friend you swears by her 2 chemical inductions and had very quick labour as a result and another who had positive stories about it as she was induced in her home country so her dh could be at the birth (!).

All I'm saying is go into it with an open mind if you have to because you hear a lot of bad things about induction but I've heard good things too.

Offering you general sympathy here. You are nearly there (& then all your problems will be replaced by new ones )

[ZenNudist]

Btw my ds1 8 days overdue and ds2 7 days overdue. Is this your first ? Because 4 days over is nothing. Most hospitals won't induce til 41 weeks but will induce by 42. I know there's a 'complication' but I know plenty of people opt for monitoring over induction.

[Quitelikely]

I'm very surprised you are being offered an induction for no reason at all!

You need to say to someone 'can you please remind me again why they want to induce me please?

Because I can't see any sensible reason from the info you have provided.

[Quitelikely]

Oops I said please twice! Must preview!

[Discopanda]

It's my second, first was a natural, complication-free birth 12 days late. I had a sweep today because I'm already overdue but it seems ridiculous to make a decision to induce just because one urine sample out of around a dozen had protein in it, especially as the following one didn't!

[ZenNudist]

Sorry I realised after I posted you'd said you'd had a dd already and a sweep!

I want to say with your record to hold out up to 14 days overdue. It doesn't seen like much to worry about. Baby will probably be a bit earlier this time anyway.

Ds2 was a home birth and it was a lovely experience whereas ds1 was like you an overdue natural birth - I found it quite traumatic.

What have you got planned? Hospital/ home? drugs ? Etc.

I'm all for a good natural birth. Such a cliche but I found it very empowering. Keep going for those sweeps, they hurt but at least it shows willing (whilst avoiding induction) and anything that helps baby along is good right? I really did find acupuncture helped and I'm not a kook, honest.

[moomoob]

Why don't you want to be induced???I've been induced twice with a pessary your monitored after the gel goes in for around an hour then after that your free to move around do whatever you want. For Me contractions started more or less straight away both times about 4-5mins apart although they didn't last long and grew in intensity as time passed. It takes out all.the build up of slow labour (I was 39hrs with 1st and was shattered when it came to pushing) both induction births were easier and more straightforward than my 1st natural labour. Good luck it might not be as bad as you think you could have your baby in your arms by tonight. If I were to have another if I could I'd chose induction over a natural start to labour every time.

[CommanderShepard]

If the protein-y sample was followed by an NAD sample it sounds like it got contaminated and you're unlikely to be pre-eclamptic (I was, and I had +/++/+++ all the time from about 30 weeks). I was induced, but I had risk factors and my BP was climbing; in your case I'd be holding out or at least asking them exactly why they're rushing to induce.

Moomoobinteresting how it affects people differently! The pessary did nothing for me so they broke my waters - the most pain I have ever been in - and then started a synto drip. And I was continually monitored so it wasn't easy to move about even though I had a telemetry belt. Never in a month of Sundays would I want to be induced again (fortunately I won't be, as my induction resulted in EMCS and my hospital won't induce VBACs)

[HazleNutt]

People and inductions are different, I had one and unless there is an actual urgent medical reason for it, won't be having another.
So yes, OP, ask them again what's the reason and remember it's your body and you are fully entitled to disagree with their opinion.

[pocketsized]

I was induced 3 weeks ago (it was fine, 6hrs from start to finish and baby was safe) but, when they told me they wanted to induce me a week early they were hopeless about explaining their reasons why, I came away from the meeting we the Dr with no idea why they wanted to do it really, it was all such a shock! On the advice with my community midwife I spoke with the day assessment unit (who had made the decisiob) and arranged to go back in to talk it through with the Dr. Once I'd had 12 hrs to write down all my questions, and the opportunity to discuss the reasons with the Dr with my DH present I had a much better understanding and was happy to consent. I think often the communication is poor, and I would definitely suggest getting someone to sit-down and go through it with you all again to help you make a confident decision.

[Discopanda]

I went in this morning and spoke to the midwife and one of the doctors. I explained that I wasn't happy being induced when I'm not THAT overdue, would rather go into labour naturally, don't want to be in hospital longer than necessary (I'd have to stay in 24 hours after birth due to group B strep) and not happy having a greater risk of foetal distress and intervention such as forceps and ventouse. He said that basically because I'm overdue it's a 'we might as well induce' situation but as he doesn't think I have a genuine risk of developing pre-eclampsia he was happy to delay it. I've got another sweep tomorrow and they'll check BP and urine then see what happens.

[catellington]

Hi that's interesting I am 7 days overdue and today had my first ever very slight protein in urine sample. Midwife was not at all worried and said it is quite common if you have gone overdue to get this reading, no reason to take any action.

Just thought I'd share that!

I'm booked for induction on Saturday when I'll be term+12.

[FriendofBill]

Pregnancy term can be up to 42 weeks...I wouldn't consider interventions before then.

My pregnancies were long ones.
I think 45 weeks are well known where there is less interventions.

[Murphy29]

Just wanted to share. I had no risk factors of pre-eclampsia, no family history, healthy, normal BP, under 30 etc also and went from zero protein on the Friday to +++ on the Monday. In this time my liver had taken a bashing and I was very unwell with preeclampsia so was induced 5 weeks early. It was really quick and the best thing for us both.

I'm not saying this to scare anyone, just to make sure that you get some regular checks if you decide against being induced as I was just lucky that I had a growth scan on the Monday and so had an extra urine then blood test which caught my problems or else I'd have been left for another week.

[Jackieharris]

There is a higher risk of pre eclampsia is first pregnancies, murphy. If OP didn't have it with her first she has a very low chance of having it with subsequent pregnancies.

OP I just go in for regular monitoring. If your bp is steady and you don't have any swelling then I wouldn't worry about one urine sample.

I'd be more worried about the risk of induction.

Normal pregnancy lasts up to 42 weeks. Your last was 40+12. You are maybe just a long gestater!

[piggychops]

I was 1 week over, had a sweep because at that time the hospital concerned had a policy of wanting to induce anyone who was 7 days over. They then took my BP which ,not surprisingly, was up. I had no protein in my urine, no headaches, no other symptoms but I was put on a pathway for possible induction without any discussion what I wanted. Thankfully DS was born of his own accord several hours later.
Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions ,OP.

[Frasras11]

Hold out if you don't want it. I was induced at 40 weeks with DS but don't think it was necessary. It was a precaution. Ended up with epidural and forceps. This time round no body is inducing me.

Ask for monitoring and that you're allowed to go into labour naturally. You don't have to be induced if you don't want to!

[Discopanda]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to go into labour today!

[Madamecastafiore]

Woo woo how exciting. Hope all goes well.

[Discopanda]

Update! I did! DD2 was born at 4.30 on the 15th, I'm very glad I let it happen naturally.

[AnythingNotEverything]

Hurrah! Congratulations OP.

[DayLillie]

congratulations