I am 40 + 1 today and saw our consultant yesterday. Everything was all good and normal, baby wriggling quite happily on the scan and heartbeat all good. I was offered a sweep, but declined.
Now, I am more than happy to let nature take it's course, and when it's ready it will come. However, the consultant told us today that if you are over 38 years old (I am 39) they like to induce you at 40 + 7 as there has been research to show that there is a higher risk of complications in older mums going over 41 weeks. This is all news to me and to be honest I am totally confused.
One of the things we decided a while ago was that we definitely did not want an induction. Don't get me wrong, if there was a sound medical reason, or baby was at risk or in distress, then of course we would be induced, but right now I don't want to. My main reason for not wanting to be induced is that I did not find out I was pregnant until I was approximately 21 weeks. (A long story, that is for another thread!) So at this late stage, dating the pregnancy accurately has been hit and miss and all a bit 'best guess'. I'm just worried that I could be being induced at what everyone thinks is 41 weeks, when in fact I might only be 37 or 38 weeks. I also really wanted to be as mobile as possible during labour and am not looking forward to being wired and dripped up whilst being stuck on a bed. Bad news.
So, I explained all this to the consultant who said that ultimately it is our choice and if we don't want to be induced we can decline. However, If I don't go into natural labour before next Thursday and am still not wanting to be induced I will have to visit the hospital everyday to be monitored to ensure baby is OK and placenta isn't deteriorating. I'm totally fine with this and as I said earlier, if a medical reason indicates induction is best for baby, we will do it. But baby is happy and healthy, I am happy and healthy and I just don't want to put a load of drugs into me that may not even work! Cue one very disapproving look from the consultant!
So, I feel like I've been put in a position where I am taking risks and making the wrong choice for our baby if I don't have an induction. I now feel stressed about something I didn't feel stressed about before, and I am totally confused and don't know what to do.
Does anyone have any advice, please?
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Pregnancy
Induction, or not?
iamfizzy · 19/04/2013 00:23
I was either havi g a c section at 39 weeks (for non pregnant medical condition) or induction at term. Had decided not to have section due to recovery with a 3 and 6 year old needing to be up and about for school/prescho runs etc. then ds2 turned breech then back again.
The consultant then talked about induction at term (induced for both dc for going overdue) j til she realised she had misread my date of birth. I am 40 in may she though I was already 40 and point blank refused induction at term. I was a blubbering mess (relief at ds2 not bei v breech and then shock of yet another change and hormonal abc pregnant!) but nothing would change her mind.
Still waiting and no doubt induction number three a week tomorrow 
Thank you, everyone, for you advice.
After all that worrying, induction wasn't needed.
I am pleased to announce that our little girl was born on April 22nd without any intervention, except having to be cut during the final contraction / push!
We have called her Georgie and she weighed in at 8lb 13ozs. She is perfect and doing so well.
Sorry it's taken so long to get back on here, but I had a rough time after the birth and was in hospital for 5 days. Feeling near to normal now though and enjoying catching up and spending time and cuddles with Georgie 
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