Anyone requested an earlier induction date?

[Lizzietow]

39 weeks, really fed up. Already have a 2 year old to look after. Having a sweep on due date which will hopefully get things going, but have been told they book you for induction at term plus 12.
Can I request an earlier induction than that, does anyone know? Say term plus, like 3 days?!!

[Bearandcub]

Yes, you need to speak to a consultant though who will decide.

[Lizzietow]

Thanks! Anyone else ever requested an induction that's earlier than usual, but at term?

[bonzo77]

An induction can take ages if you're not ready: eg favourable cervix. If things do not go smoothly as a result you can end up with interventions that massively increase your recovery time, and maybe your baby's. I went through this (Ds was in trouble and needed to come out at about 38.5 weeks) and things were absolutely fine in the end. Just worth discussing the possibility of this, but still worth talking about induction. Might well be fine.

[Lizzietow]

Oh that's helpful bonzo. What interventions did you need in the end?

[bonzo77]

Max dose of pessaries which did nothing, waters broken with no dilation ( hurt), maximum dose of drip ( still no dilation). EMCS which was utterly fab, but was in bed for a week, at home for another week and not driving till about 4 weeks. All very necessary in my case, and tiring and emotional, but not actually traumatic or that painful.

[Lizzietow]

Oh thanks for that. Hopefully my sweep will work on Friday. Plus I've booked reflexology- who knows, may help?

[RandomMess]

Yes you can, I did for a number of reasons with my 3rd pregnancy asked to be induced at term silly cow that I am

Certainly didn't do it with my subsequent pregnancy it was a very long drawn out affair only marginally shorter than with my 1st induction. 4th and final induction at 2 weeks over was a very pleasant experience and worth waiting the extra 14 days of spd agony for.

[Lizzietow]

How many kids do you have, random? So were you induced with the 3rd and 4th?

[RandomMess]

I was induced with all of them!!
dc1 at 7 days over (they thought I was 14 days - long story) took best part of 48 hours and an ARM
dc2 at 17 days over took 10 hours only 1 pessary
dc3 at term - took 36 hours and an ARM (ARM to delivery was about 4 hours I think)
dc4 at 14 days over took 11 hours and it really didn't hurt, was very like a natural labour, took 2 pessaries and established labour to delivery was minutes. Was very chilled about going 14 days over, not getting my desired homebirth, needing to be induced.