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Childbirth

Induction at 40 weeks because I'm 42 years old. Anyone else?

43 replies

Thatsnotmyfigure · 30/04/2014 21:54

I thought I knew all our hospital's policies on 'older mums' (Grrrr) as I was 40 with DC1 . It turns out this time they want to induce me at term (which is 4 days before term according to my dates, but that's another story!).
The consultant quoted some research on failing placentas in older mothers. Has anyone read this or knows where I could find this? I'm sure there was some new research a year or so ago that said older Mums have longer pregnancies, but I also dont know where to find this
Don't get me wrong - I absolutely do not want to take any risks, but the consultant was very authoritarian and patronising and left me feeling without choices. Last time round I delayed induction till 41+6 and had a show, then one intervention and a normal delivery. My pregnancy is totally normal so far so the only reason they want to bring the induction forward to 40 wks is my age. I have had so many friends who've ended up in the cascade of intervention and not had positive birth experiences. It just provokes quite an angry reaction in me - I'm not even sure why!
Has anyone else had induction suggested at term because of age?

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hellymelly · 30/04/2014 21:57

I had both dds in my 40s (one born the week I turned 41, the other at 43) but no-one suggested induction at 40 weeks. i did get induced with dd1 but due to pre-eclampsia, and went into labour at 39 and a bit weeks with dd2. i was told at the time they would monitor me after 41 weeks.

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RoganJosh · 30/04/2014 21:58

All I know is that it's not routine in my area. Have you looked at the NICE guidelines?

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CarrotCakeMuffins · 30/04/2014 22:25

I am also 42 and due in a few weeks. All the midwives I have seen have told me I am NOT old. Also, that they will not want to induce me as I had a previous CS with DC1.
I am also hoping to have a home birth which the midwives are supportive of. Although I also have to see a consultant at the hospital next week, who has a different view.
I think you need to question this more.

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Thatsnotmyfigure · 30/04/2014 23:04

Thanks everyone that's v helpful. I will have a look at the NICE guidelines again. V impressed they are letting you have a home birth carrot cake- no chance of that with the attitude of this NHS trust! Good luck!

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QueenOfGeeks · 01/05/2014 07:51

I am in exactly the same boat as you OP. They have told me I should be induced on my due date (again their date not mine) due to increased risk of still birth. I would love to know what the figures are, I will be 41 when DD is due.

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LaVolcan · 01/05/2014 09:07

Grr - this all annoys me: you are offered an induction not told that you will be having one. Nor do they 'allow' a home birth for anyone, or has anyone 'got' to see a consultant. They may offer a consultant appointment, and they may advise that you do or don't do something, but there is no compulsion about it for a mentally competent woman.

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MoonHare · 01/05/2014 15:10

Agree with LaVolcan, attitudes towards pregnancy are often so frustrating and I would feel the same in your shoes OP.

Thinking practically about your specific question - could you email your consultant's secretary say you were quoted this research and ask them to let you know how you can get hold of the the exact study the consultant referred to?

I wonder how the 'slightly' increased risk of placental failure balances against the increased risks associated with induction??? Surely they can scan you at 40 wks to check blood flow to placenta, growth etc???

Hope all goes well.

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ChunkyPickle · 01/05/2014 15:24

The cochrane reviews have a lot of information. I did a lot of research for ds2 because I planned to refuse induction and go straight to section after my first experience.

I did read some studies on placentas which made me feel fine about waiting up to 2 weeks overdue, but I can't remember which site I found it on.

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Thatsnotmyfigure · 01/05/2014 15:30

LaVolcan that is not how it was phrased to me. I was not offered an induction. I was told that he would not induce me any later than 40+3. (I don't think he'd even read my notes, just focused on my age)
Today I have spoken to a midwife who checked the hospital's policy and found nothing, also the NICE guidelines and the RCOG guidelines and similarly no guidance on older women. It's not about ignoring the risks, it's about being offered the choice and being presented with a balanced picture. If I find any research I will post here! Tomorrow I can call the Consultant midwife. Thanks for the info on the cochrane reviews Chunky!

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LaVolcan · 01/05/2014 16:46

Quite so Thatsnot - from what you say, he didn't offer anything, which is what he should have done. He didn't bother to sit down with you and discuss what the options were, one of which is doing nothing and waiting for things to happen, to going for various interventions. Nor did he bother to discuss the pros and cons of each option. Grr again.

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Thatsnotmyfigure · 01/05/2014 20:08

Exactly. Grrr from here too!

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Thatsnotmyfigure · 01/05/2014 20:14

Here's a research paper from 2013. have still to digest it as my brain has gone to sleep now!
www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/induction-labour-term-older-mothers-scientific-impact-paper-34

and the BBC summary
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21277369

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TheRealGabster · 06/05/2014 20:37

Hi Thatsnot. I am in exactly same position. 42yrs old and consultant insistent from start that he would not let me go past 39+0wks. The link to the study above is what he gave me in the end. I was really torn when I read it. You can see the risk goes up but ....it's such a hard one.

My whole pregnancy has gone really well with absolutely no complications or causes for concern so when I had my consult last week they admited everything seems to be still growing nicely (fundal height etc) so they agreed to "let me" go to term Hmm (I was 39wks yesterday).

If it's what you want, my argument suggestion was that rather than inducing me, if there was a real risk, I was happy to have daily monitoring rather than risk my baby be born before she was ready. This seemed to do the trick! Grin.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

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BikeRunSki · 06/05/2014 20:40

My hospital would have induced me with dd at 42 weeks - which would have been my 41st birthday. Luckily for is all she came along of her own accord at 39 weeks.

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DaffyDuck88 · 06/05/2014 21:18

I had my DD naturally in the birthing pool of the local Midwife led birthing centre just a few days after her due date. I was 44. Never any talk of induction. To be honest if I thought I was being treated as a statistic rather than an actual live patient I'd have been furious. They can't force you to do it can they? The decision/recommendation to do so has to be based on your individual case, anything else is just wrong. I did hypnobirthing and there was a great acronym they suggested but I can't for the life of me find it. It basically advised that you ask if what they were suggesting;
is absolutely necessary and why;
if there were are alternative procedures;
does it have to be done immediately etc.
There were a few more and it just bought you time to consider each proposed step or intervention and help you focus on the reasons without being too emotional etc.

If only I could remember them all, (maybe someone else knows it?), I found it really calming to have the questions as back-up and drilled into DPs head. I was terrified of things becoming medicalised and 'done' to me so to speak rather than going with the flow - so had him geared up to ask the questions if needed. As it turned out they weren't. Thankyou lovely Lewisham birth centre and fabulous midwife Ally!

Ultimately we all know we will do whats best for our baby, we just have to keep ourselves in the picture too and remain calm.

Hope all turns out well for you, I've read other threads which suggest that if you get the support of the midwives you stand a better chance to go for the birth you want (with safety for both you and baby paramount of course) rather than whats just easiest or text book for the doctor. Also its not even policy, different hospitals advise different things. I just googled and for example one in Bristol suggests avoiding an induction at all costs!

Very best of luck!

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AWombWithoutARoof · 06/05/2014 21:24

Nothing useful at all to add, except that it's rather cheering as a TTC 43 year old to see lots of women in their 40s on this thread firing out babies all over the place. Grin

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DaffyDuck88 · 06/05/2014 21:31

Hang in there AWombWithoutARoof, I met loads of people while pregnant and afterwards of a similar age. In fact technically I was 44 when dd was conceived but she arrived the day after my birthday so I was in fact 45. Fingers crossed for you too!

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SapphireMoon · 06/05/2014 21:46

At just off 43 I had my 2nd child. Very healthy pregnancy, good placental flow at 20 week scan, low blood pressure etc, etc.
Midwives said just carry on beyond due date, consultant went on about risk so much I agreed to induction at due date [40 weeks]. At 39 weeks midwife began sweeps. After two sweeps baby came bang on 40 weeks.
Always felt fear led my decision to agree to sweeps etc.

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weeonion · 06/05/2014 22:07

I am so glad i found this thread. i am with you on confusion!

I am 42 with DC2, will be 43 by EDD. was told at booking in that I will be induced on EDD. That date has changed at 12 week scan with them putting me around 10 days earlier than i thought ( it would mean i conceived before LMP). I feel like this put extra pressure on as they will be planning to induce at a date earlier than i would otherwise have been allowed to go to.

I am going for a homebirth which again - raised a few eyebrows (aminly due to the very low numbers in my area) but havent met my homebirth team as yet. We shall see! I am having a doula this time round so i hope she can help DP and I approach this all positively.

I will be watching this thread with interest and will share whatever i am told!

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TheTertiumSquid · 06/05/2014 22:28

daffy I think you mean BRAIN.
what are the Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, does it have to be done Immediately, what happens if we do Nothing?

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Sparkley4 · 08/05/2014 11:25

I am 39 and pregnant with my first, due 2 months before my 40th & can I just say how nice it is so see other ladies expecting children in their 40's too. My midwife has been lovely to me all the way through and my age hasn't been mentioned once! Good luck to you all xx

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TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 08/05/2014 11:37

I had an induction at term for age 4 weeks ago. Like you had a low risk pregnancy. DC and I were healthy throughout. I am 40.

The induction was never forced on me, simply offered - I made them book the appointment at 34 weeks. The reasons being:

  • over 40 mothers have higher risk of stillbirth and placental failure and induction is shown to reduce this
  • I have had a previous vaginal delivery which I understand reduces the risk of instrumental or c section during induction
  • I went overdue with DC1 by 11 days and had a placental abruption - so I did not want to risk it again
  • I am a control freak and liked having an end date, I do not want to spend precious maternity leave sitting around waiting :)


I think it's completely your choice but not all risks are equal.
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TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 08/05/2014 11:49

AWomb the MW who performed my induction told me that she considered 50+ to be an older mother these days! That may reflect the demographic of our area but it was gratifying to hear.

Nobody made me feel like an "older mother" throughout my pregnancy - quite the opposite. The MW who delivered the baby was asking when I was going to have no 3 Hmm and I was flattered to see HCPs do a double take at my face when told I was being induced "due to maternal age" Grin - I'm sure they do that to everyone though!

That there are additional risks at 40+ doesn't mean you are old - it just means some other considerations.

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weeonion · 08/05/2014 16:56

I am terrified at the thought of induction and really really do not want one - especially not just because of my age. All the women I know who have had one did not have the best experience and / or ended up with additional interventions. I know that is not representative but is a guiding factor.

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Thatsnotmyfigure · 08/05/2014 22:41

It's great to hear so many different stories! Am jealous of Tondelayo - noone making you feel like an 'older mother'! It is true that the risks have to be weighed up. I am still angry at how I was spoken to and have been able to speak to Senior midwife who has promised to look up current research and has reassured me that it is my choice and I will not forced into an induction or forced to sign a disclaimer at 40 wks (unlike what consultant said to me). Seems like the link I put above has got my hospital thinking but not enough to formulate a policy on older mothers; it's just this consultant being cautious.

Someone on mumsnet suggested I email the consultant and ask for the titles of the research papers which give the statistic of 1 in 100 stillbirths to mothers over 40 that he quoted at me. Funnily enough he has not been able to provide this but I did have to laugh tonight when he sent me a link to an article in the Daily Mail?!!!!! WTF!!!! I never expected that from a medical professional. Thank goodness the midwife says I can change consultant and is giving me a more balanced view of things!!!!

Here are the other links he sent me

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21277369

www.rcog.org.uk/news/rcog-release-induction-labour-older-mothers-may-reduce-risk-stillbirth-say-experts

wee onion I am the same as you, although to be fair my first birth experience was an induction at 41+6 (I delayed it) and was fine as I was going into labour anyway and I only had the pessary and a 9 hour labour. Its the 3 days in hospital/ drip/ epidural/ cascade of intervention I want to avoid!

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