Christmas day due date

[Britishblue99]

Anyone else due Christmas day? My specialist wants to induce me tomorrow am. I have 3 other kids and want a homebirth. It's only coz I'm 43 she's been desperate to find something wrong with me but has failed, despite a ridiculous number of loads of ecg's and scans. She is going by the scan due date but my ovulation date makes baby due on 28th. We have tried everything to get labour started and failed despite loads of Braxton hicks, a sweep, plus raspberry leaf tea, heel massage, sex, nipple twiddling, curry, walking and swimming yesterday. My other labours have been uncomplicated despite twins (now 12) and a home birth (now 10), no tears below and gas and air only. I'm fit and well and don't want to ruin my kids Xmas and I want this baby at home.

[Lucy61]

Why would she want to induce you before your due date?! Seems unnecessary. If you get induced you run a higher risk of needing a section or assisted birth. Let nature take its course.

[Britishblue99]

Just because I've just turned 43. It's statistical medicine, presumably women over 40 have more complications. It's annoying coz she's threatening to pull me in everyday for a scan or ecg if I don't!

[Kaytee1987]

It seems crazy in a problem free pregnancy that they would induce you before you're due - usually they wait 2 weeks do they not? If this isn't what you want and there's nothing wrong with baby or placenta then just refuse or say you might be happy for an induction but only in a weeks time for a compromise?

[Kaytee1987]

If you have an induction would you have to give birth in hospital? Maybe that's her ploy to force a hospital birth?

[Britishblue99]

Yes apparently if they induce they keep you in from then on in. It was a terrible experience giving birth in hospital with the twins and I've no desire to repeat it. I've already refused induction several times as her only reason is her ageist policy. I will refuse again tomorrow am.

[Kaytee1987]

It seems that they're trying to bully you and take away your birth choices, how stressful. Is there a second opinion you can get?

[Kaytee1987]

If another consultant agreed with you it might shut her up.

[GoooRooo]

Ask for daily scans/monitoring instead if she's worried there might be a problem.

I was due to be induced at 40 weeks because I'm 41 years old. Went into labour at 38 weeks so scuppered that plan.

[jamtartandcustard]

Christmas Day isn't my due date, that was 9 days ago! I'll be 41+4 also with my 4th dc. They want to induce me on Boxing Day but that is our Xmas with step-dd. The midwife booked me in even though I said no so I will just phone up on Saturday and refuse to go in. They can't physically force you in and if you've had a trouble free pregnancy there really is no reason why they can't wait another 2 days. I'm fuming as I'll only be 12 days over. Dc1 was 16 days late, induced which failed and ended in a c-section. Dc2 was 13 days late. I just like to well cook my babies.
Just refuse. Compromise on daily monitoring but otherwise there is
Nothing they can do without your consent.

[Britishblue99]

I've been early every other time and still may be. Just think it's wrong that this kind of policy can be inflicted on anyone pregnant for no good reason. I had enough of having my birth choices taken away when I had the twins.

[Oysterbabe]

They can't force you to do anything. Tell them to get lost!

[jamtartandcustard]

Yes I think it's wrong too. It should be on a case-by-case basis and I think daily monitoring is a much better outcome for mum, baby and hospital then induction as induction just leads to more intervention

[JE1234]

You aren't having your choices removed, you just refuse an induction. She is only advising you, you have every right to refuse. The same goes for the daily monitoring, you can refuse. They are offering it presumably to check that the placenta doesn't start to degrade, you can't really escape the fact that it is statistically more likely to happen if you go over 40 weeks but you can choose what you feel comfortable with. Don't be bullied but equally they are only offering recommendations.