Overdue and not wanting induction, interested to hear experiences or people going through the same

[Itsnoteasyfeelingqueasy]

I’m 41 + 1 today with no signs of labour. My midwife has booked me in at the hospital for Thursday (41+3) for induction. I said I don’t want to be induced but she said to go anyway to discuss a plan for monitoring. Even though I know I can decline induction I still feel like the hospital appointment adds some kind of deadline. I’m hoping to have monitoring until I’m 42 weeks pregnant, after that I feel I will need to accept induction for my own peace of mind. I’m really scared of the induction process and needing instrumental delivery, I feel like if I go over 42 weeks I would prefer a c section. I’m not sure if that’s something I can request? The midwife said the type of induction would be with a balloon, it doesn’t sound pleasant from what I’ve read.

Any thoughts or experiences on any of this?

[EllieJai44]

I haven't personally been in that situation but I know they are not keen to let women go over 42 weeks, after 42 weeks the risk of stillbirth increases, if it was me I would accept an induction or ask for a C-section, which is completely in your rights to ask for.

I had an induction with my daughter and it wasn't a bad experience at all but obviously everyone is different

[mdh2020]

No experience of induction but I found laughter brought on my first labour. Assume you have tried curry and sex?

[Grumpy19]

Have you had a sweep yet?

[stairgates]

How old are you OP? I'm 43 and 37 weeks so for me my age has me on the side of caution this time. I would go in for the consultation, they may check you over, give you a sweep if your happy for them to do so and you could have baby in arms by the end of the day! But I would go to the consultation and discuss the options.

[Somethingsnappy]

In France, I believe you are offered induction when you are three weeks overdue, rather than two weeks. Just another viewpoint to consider! You could request daily monitoring if you go psst your induction date?

[LH1987]

For what it's worth, I had the baloon induction and it was fine. A little unpleasant being inserted but not painful. Also ask for gas and air when it is inserted and it isnt a bad experience at all.

[Glendora]

I was in the same situation as you with DC1. I read a lot of the research on going 'overdue' and felt I was comfortable going to 40+14. I went to the automatically scheduled induction appointment at 40+ whatever it was and declined induction at that point, and the induction was re-booked for the morning of 40+14. I had a post-dates scan and a couple of midwife appointments in that time, but it wasn't daily monitoring.
In any case, I went into labour naturally at 40+13 and DD was born in the early hours of 40+14. But by then I was so desperate to not be pregnant anymore that I would have been fine with being induced at 40+14. Those last few weeks weren't much fun.

[Juno231]

@Somethingsnappy is that because they count the weeks differently though? As in they count from ovulation vs our LMP?

[muststopeatingfroyo]

You absolutely can request c section rather than induction.

[SallyCinnamon3009]

@Somethingsnappy

In France, I believe you are offered induction when you are three weeks overdue, rather than two weeks. Just another viewpoint to consider! You could request daily monitoring if you go psst your induction date?

I think this is due to how they calculate how many weeks pregnant you are but I could be wrong. In UK we calculate from date of last period so you're not technically pregnant the first two weeks

[Lockdownseperation]

Definitely something you can request. If I was you I would ring the hospital now and ask a pma midwife to call you and discuss your concerns with her.

[HarrietM87]

Hospital told me risk of still birth doubles after 42 weeks. When I looked it up it turns out it goes from 0.06% to 0.12% (or something like that) so a tiny tiny chance. There is a much higher chance of stillbirth at 37/38 weeks than at 42 weeks statistically. Obviously this will he subject to any individual risk factors you may have.

I was put under lots of pressure to have an induction from 41+3 and held out until 41+5. Ended up having an amazing birth - a single dose of the gel and then a fast labour and waterbirth, but if they had said I had to have the drip then I would have asked for a c section. You can also ask to be monitored every day rather than have an induction.

[welshladywhois40]

Couple of other view points - I wasn't induced but still needed instruments at the end and it was so fast and we are talking minutes. I was very against and frankly scared of instruments but you follow medical advice and get on with it.

Pain relief - ask and ask. My concern we inducements is the time they take so you need rest and you can't rest while in pain

[RenegadeMrs]

Due to limited amount of induction options they could offer me (previous section) and only a 50% chance of the one method they did offer working, I declined an induction and had a c section. It was the right decision for me and I didn't have to fight for it.

[Iverunoutofnames]

I had DD at 40+16 days with an induction. I did have a forceps delivery and epidural. Actually it was fine, the only issue I had was with bleeding which had nothing to do with the induction.
I’m glad I didn’t have a c section in the end and having to deal with that.
I know my own hospital doesn’t allow you to go over 40 weeks now.

[Somethingsnappy]

Juno232, I don't think so. I think they count as we do. Although I think I will look that up as I'd like to check now!

[Somethingsnappy]

I have looked it up, and you're right, Juno and Sally! They calculate dates differently. Ignore my first post then!

[Itsnoteasyfeelingqueasy]

Thanks everyone. Yes I’m aware of the slight increased risk of still birth at 41 weeks plus. I’m monitoring my babies movement on an app. I’m going to phone the hospital tomorrow to discuss my thoughts as I don’t want to turn up on Thursday with them expecting to induce me. I’m comfortable to wait until 42 weeks and would be more than happy to be monitored regularly.
It’s good to hear that the ballon induction was ok. I’m planning a home birth so unfortunately with any kind of induction that’s no longer an option which makes me hope for natural labour even more! Also my hospital still don’t allow partners in until you’re 5 Cm dilated which again puts me off being induced

[Nelbert19]

Hello @Itsnoteasyfeelingqueasy I’m currently 38+1 and am hoping for a spontaneous vaginal delivery (and very much in the maddening sign spotting phase now 😡), however am also very much reluctant to undergo induction for a variety of reasons.

I’ve discussed this with my team and we’ve agreed that if I still haven’t gone into labour at 41 weeks, I will have an elective c-section rather than induction (timeline was also my choice after a recent Scandinavian study showing better outcomes at this point. I’m also pretty confident in conception date so am happy we’re on an accurate timeline)

I’ve also requested that in the event of non progression of labour, or any other indication for any form of induction, unless there is immediate risk to myself or the baby that means induction is safer, I would want emergency c section.

This was all agreed quite happily by the consultant - she pointed me towards some resources to read to make sure I was fully informed and I have an appointment with her tomorrow for a final talk through and to book the 41 week section

[SerenityNowwwww]

Ask what she sees to indicate that an induction may be necessary. If you and the baby are both fine, then say you prefer to wait. If there is even a 0.00001% chance that the baby or you may be in any risk then you should go for the induction.

However - stress can slow down birthing and if you are getting worried ten that isn't helping at all. Try some of the 'natural' things to get things moving along (speak to your doctor or midwife before taking anything) but walking, meditation, raspberry leaf tea (again - dont just take something off the shelf, make sure its all safe for pregnant women), and try to relax (I know it's easier said than done!).

The baby can't stay in there for ever - and if the induction is booked then that's your safety net. They can't make you be induced - and if your and your baby are both healthy and there is not medical reason to induce then ask if you can wait for birth to start naturally.

The weeks are calculated as an average - DS was born 2 weeks before his 'due date' - and he caught me by surprise because I was expecting it to be 2 weeks after that so I hadn't even started maternity leave.

[muststopeatingfroyo]

@Itsnoteasyfeelingqueasy this may not be relevant to you, or may be different at your hospital, but at mine once you hit 42 weeks they won't let you on the midwife led unit and you have to give birth in the delivery suite. This has persuaded me that (if it comes to it) I may go for induction at 41+5 rather than waiting till 42 weeks.

Just something to consider/speak to your midwife about.

[RandomMess]

I was induced 4 times, with DC2 I was 42+3 and still didn't go into labour.

With the first 3 I also had an epidural. I did not need an assisted delivery with any of them, I had one stitch with DC2 but she was 10lb6oz.

I only ever had pessaries and with 2 had to have ARM so it isn't always a catalogue of intervention.

[Nibblingoncrumpets]

Very similar situation to you OP. I’m 40+6. Planning a homebirth. Already have DS1 who was induced at 39+4 and the induction was very unpleasant I’m afraid to say - part of the reason I am extremely keen for a home birth!

Have you had a sweep? I’ve had one and planning on at least one more. I think, like you, 42 weeks is the time to accept induction due to stillbirth risks, but you still have time for natural labour and please please try a sweep or another one if you can.

[bluemoon2468]

Personally I will be refusing an induction until 42 weeks, after which I'll be requesting a c-section rather than an induction. If I go over 41 weeks I'm going to ask for increased monitoring and will request a c-section if there's anything wrong. I've discussed this briefly with my midwife and explained my reasons for not wanting an induction and she said it shouldn't be a problem at all. Each to their own, but I've spent a lot of time researching inductions versus c-sections and have come to the conclusion that I want to avoid an induction at all costs.

The NICE guidelines state that you can request a c-section without a reason, so if you decide to go this way stick to your guns 😊

[Nibblingoncrumpets]

@bluemoon2468

Were they happy to offer extra monitoring? What does that entail?

My midwife doesn’t seem
To give a single fuck
About extra monitoring or me hitting 41 weeks she said to me over the phone when I was asking for another sweep today that I was “impatient”. Gave me
The rage