Do inductions run in families?

[fells]

I am desperate to go into labour naturally and at 40 weeks + 1 day I know there is still a good chance this could happen. The idea of being induced frightens me and since my mum was induced with me (I was nearly 3 weeks late)and my brother and my Grandma was induced with my Mum I was wondering if the inability to go into labour naturally can run in families?

I'm due to have a sweep next tuesday. Is it true that sweeps only work if the head is completely engaged? I'm only 3/5s engaged at the mo. To be honest I really don't feel my baby is ready to come out yet and I don't feel particularly uncomfortable just anxious at the possibiltiy of induction and a pointless sweep!

[WigWamBam]

I wondered whether inductions run in families, as my maternal grandmother was induced with all five of her children, and both my mother and my sister were induced with all of their children (3 each) too. And yes, I was induced with my dd - although in my case, and in my mother's when she was having me, it was because of pre-eclampsia.

[CarolinaMoon]

fells, I had a sweep when ds was only 1/5 engaged. Didn't do any good though, just felt bruised.

Think long pregnancies can run in families - when to induce is just a matter of deciding when it's getting risky to continue the pregnancy any further.

[Hulababy]

No idea, but doesn't seem so in mine. I was induced for post days. But neither my mum (3 children) nor my nana (six children)went that far over their dates or needed inducing.

[RedZuleika]

I think (from what I've read) that CarolinaMoon is right: that a tendency to a longer than average gestation can run in families. Not that you can't go into labour naturally, but that you tend to be up the (say) 43 weeks end, rather than 40. I've also read that the average gestational length differs in different ethnic groups.