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Original poster

Forced in to induction

59 replies

dal86 · 11/07/2019 18:14

Hi, wondering if anyone can help or offer advice. I am 41+1 today and had a failed sweep. I've just received a call saying I am now booked in for induction at Kings on Saturday when I'll be 41+3. I really really want to wait until at least 41+5 just to give the baby a little bit more time to come on it's own, but they've said Saturday is the latest appointment that they have (they say they can't take me on Mon or Tues) so it's 41+3 or nothing.

What happens if I refuse to go or just don't turn up? I've been told the whole way through that you it's your body and you don't have to do anything you don't want to do, but it now seems that's not true.

Just feeling really upset & disheartened by it all.

OP posts:
hormonesorDHbeingadick · 11/07/2019 18:17

Why do they want to do anything before 42 weeks? Do you have any risk factors?
It’s your body and your decision.

PotteringAlong · 11/07/2019 18:18

Well, nothing will happen. It is your body and it is your choice.

None of my children were born before 40+12. And I was induced with 2 and the 40+12 I went into labour with naturally on the morning I was meant to be induced.

If they can’t let you go that far because they’ve got no appointments then they’re got no space and I would take the induction because, for me, the risks of waiting would not be worth it.

MauisHouseOnMaui · 11/07/2019 18:18

They have a duty to provide care so if you refuse the induction then they should offer conservative care such as monitoring, my cousin refused induction at 41wks and had to go for a daily CTG until she went into labour at 41+6.

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Namechangeymcnamechange11 · 11/07/2019 18:18

If you just don't turn up, they're not going to frog march you there. Surely they're just thinking about risk to the baby? The placenta gets less effective the further overdue you are.

If you don't go, baby will still arrive, no one has ever stayed pregnant!

PotteringAlong · 11/07/2019 18:19

Meant to add, I was induced late because of lack of appointments but was monitored daily after about 41+3

SouthWestmom · 11/07/2019 18:20

@PotteringAlong 40 plus 12? What's that?

Original poster
dal86 · 11/07/2019 18:21

No risk factors and completely normal/safe pregnancy. They have just said that their policy is to always induce between 41+3 and 41+5. I am quite prepared to be induced if I have to, I just really don't want to start everything so soon (41+3) and it sounds like it's all down to space/appointments etc

It's my first baby so feel completely lost and like I don't know what my rights are and what will happen if I refuse to go on Saturday.

OP posts:
squeekywheel · 11/07/2019 18:25

Find out how they manage the induction.

Do you have to stay on an open ward?

What happens if it doesn't work?

I had an induction that half worked and ended in a section. About two thirds of inductions end in either that or an instrumental delivery.

Next time I'm just going straight to the section.

flippyflapper · 11/07/2019 18:31

They induce for a reason, im sorry i dont want to seam harsh but you have to think of your baby, there is more risks once you go overdue healthy pregnancy or not.

I was induced 3 times, i really didn't want to but i decided i wanted a healthy baby more than anything else.

Alternatively it is your choice.

DappledThings · 11/07/2019 18:32

My first was an induction at King's. I had an appointment when I was 41+4 and they said right induction tomorrow, all booked. I'd gone into that appt all ready to say I wanted to talk about options but as soon as she said it's booked I just thought screw it, let's crack on!

Nothing will happen if you decline but you would be rude not to call so they know not to expect you. They'll probably ask you to go to antenatal for monitoring as they will start to worry about placenta failing.

That's what happened with me in the end. I was booked for induction on the Saturday but they ended up so busy they said to wait till Sunday but to come in for monitoring. Then it turned out my bp has gone through the roof so they fitted me in that evening anyway.

You're not forced into anything. It's always a choice. I'm very much of a mind to follow medical opinion though and when they said it was their policy not to let first timers go beyond 41+5 that was plenty of convincing for me.

squeekywheel · 11/07/2019 18:34

@flippyflapper

No, they need to get the baby out for a reason. A section is just as good a way to do it and in many ways better.

AuntieMaggie · 11/07/2019 18:49

They start the induction at 41+3 but the baby might not arrive for 2/3 days anyway... Induction takes a while. You could refuse but I don't see why you would for the sake of two days.

I saw something recently that showed how the likelihood of stillbirth increased as you approached and went over 40 weeks (typically can'tant find it now) but it was enough for me to go along with the advice to have my baby between 38 and 40 weeks even though I know how hard induction is from last time as I'd rather we were both safe and healthy at the end of it.

hormonesorDHbeingadick · 11/07/2019 18:59

Nothing happens if you refuse induction. Obviously you should let them know so they can give that slot to someone else. The risks of having a baby at 42 are quite low but look them up yourself.

Wale90 · 11/07/2019 19:05

An induction can take several days to get going, especially if you are not 'favourable' which based on your failed sweep you are not. So, given that they like babies here by 40 + 12 it makes sense they want to start by 40+10 or 12 .

For what it's worth I got to 41 + 3 with a failed sweep, they started discussing induction at 41 + 9 and I just categorically refused and demanded a c section Confused. I had a totally uncomplicated easy pregnancy but I wasn't prepared to wait and then have an induction take 2-3 days.

Honestly, just get cracking with it, if you are happy to try an induction just go for it, if you wait and nothing happens you will be in the same boat but even more overdue.

Mammalian · 11/07/2019 19:05

It's interesting that different hospitals have different policies and it can be hard to do anything outside of this.
As a first timer I was induced at 42 weeks exactly- as this was the policy in my hospital

WomanLikeMeLM · 11/07/2019 19:07

Stop being awkward, your only priority is the safe delivery of your baby.

Wale90 · 11/07/2019 19:07

*babies here by 40 + 14

Newyearnewunicorn · 11/07/2019 19:09

If it’s the midwife that’s booked you in try and get an appointment at the hospital to speak to a doctor. Midwives just seem to have a set date for everyone.
I refused an induction booked by the community midwife and got sent to the hospital for what I presumed would be a lot of pressure to be induced and the doctor I saw was very helpful looked at my individual risk and dates and we decided on a cut off date together. As it happened I went into labour and had an c section for failure to progress before then.
If it’s a consultant who’s saying you should be induced it would probably be wise to be induced.

Oswin · 11/07/2019 19:13

Womanlike so the op should put her own feelings and comfort last?
Both mother and baby should be a joint priority.

Original poster
dal86 · 11/07/2019 19:28

@Oswin

Thank you :-)

OP posts:
userabcname · 11/07/2019 19:32

I was under the impression you are free to go over as long as you like but you have to be monitored every day (I may be totally wrong!). I know a friend of mine delayed induction until 42w exactly and she went into spontaneous labour a couple of hours before she was due at the hospital!

hidinginthenightgarden · 11/07/2019 19:37

Oswin, surely they are thinking of both of them? And surely the risk to life (however small) takes precedence over OPs feelings?
I’d just get on with it OP. Do all you can to get baby here before and if it doesn’t work then at least you made have prepared tour body a bit more so it is quicker.
Good luck.

BananaBeforeBed · 11/07/2019 19:39

I would take the induction - risk factors, however small, increase with every day over 40w

BendingSpoons · 11/07/2019 19:41

My friend declined induction at King's. She saw a consultant (I think) and had monitoring at 41+6. They wanted her to be monitored the next day but she decided she wasn't going to go. Labour ended up starting that night and was born 42+1. Her reason for not going for daily monitoring is that she was there for 4 hours because she was low priority. If she was low priority there wasn't that much risk to the baby. The placenta doesn't immediately fail at 42 weeks.

My midwife (at a different hospital) told me I didn't have to be induced. She asked if I wanted to book an induction at 41+5. I said yes and she told me to just call and cancel if I didn't want it. (Labour started before then for me so wasn't needed).

If you don't want to go in, just ring and decline induction, that morning if you want.

BendingSpoons · 11/07/2019 19:44

Also my friend at Kings was told if they induce you at (I think) 41+6 they don't let you go home. Before then you can go home, all beinrg well. Just mentioning it in case it is relevant to you, although obviously if you delay induction you are less likely to need it.

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