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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:
ruralcat · 11/07/2019 19:47

Some trusts will only consider induction at 14 days overdue. If you are sure that you have no risks factors and do not want the induction then you can ask for daily monitoring so they can keep their eye on babies heart rate and movements.
That said I was induced with my eldest and it was a great experience. Pessary in at 10pm, first twinge at 6am and baby just before 9:30am.

Firsttimekittenowner · 11/07/2019 19:47

Just because it's hospital policy, it doesn't mean you have to agree to it.

They obviously can't do anything without your consent and if you feel that you are being put under a lot of pressure consider contacting AIMS or birthrights for more advice.

It is ALWAYS your choice.

Fundays12 · 11/07/2019 19:59

You can decline induction but please be aware the risks of stillbirth start to go up from about 41 weeks. Also it’s recently been discovered babies born after 42 weeks are 40 percent more likely to have adhd than those born before.

Ultimately it’s your choice but weigh up the risks.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
hormonesorDHbeingadick · 11/07/2019 20:05

KatnissK you don't have to have additional monitoring but they should be offering it.

Witchend · 11/07/2019 20:12

Anecdotally, I know someone who refused induction and went to 43+6, 42+4 and 42+1 days with no issues. Her mum had similar length pregnancies.
However I also know two people whose placenta failed at just over 40 weeks. One was whisked in very quickly with reduced movements and had an emergency c/section, the other didn't notice anything until too late. Sad

NoParticularPattern · 11/07/2019 20:16

You don’t have to agree to a single thing that they suggest. I’m not at all saying that all indications are unnecessary (I had one and it was great by the way!!) but they can’t force you to do anything. What I would suggest is having a proper conversation with your midwife or consultant and ask them the following:

What are the benefits to saying yes or saying no? Not just perceived ones, actual factual ones.
What are the risks associated with saying yes or no? Again not just wishy washy “policy” replies, proper facts.
What are the alternatives? Can you have an outpatient induction where you can go home? Could they offer monitoring instead? More sweeps? Ask them for your options rather than what THEY want you to do.
Ask yourself what YOU would like to happen- consider “ideal” and also your next steps down from there.
What would happen if you do absolutely nothing? And again don’t let them fob you off with “policy” or “the risk increases”. Ask them to demonstrate to you what risks increase, how much they increase by (and don’t just accept “double/triple” etc- ask them for numbers. 0.1 up to 0.2% is MASSIVELY different to 5 up to 10% etc.).

Again, they cannot force you into anything. They can suggest what they feel is best or safest, but they need to demonstrate to you why that is. They cannot simply say it’s because the risks increase as an across the board justification.

IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls · 11/07/2019 20:21

The risks of intellectual disabilities rises from 41 & so does stillbirth so if youre happy to take those risks 🙄 carry on.

user1471549213 · 11/07/2019 20:23

I had an induction on my first. It took 4 days to kick in. I got my first gel on Thursday evening and only by Sunday morning was I favourable enough to break waters. If you go in at 41 +3 it could very well be 41 + 6 by the time anything kicks off (in my experience!) If you want til 41 + 5 or 6, which they've said they can't accommodate then it's 42 weeks and it takes a couple of days then you are at 42 +2/3. It's really up to but you have to assess the risks. I know in the hospital I'm attending they don't like you to go over by more than 10 days so would definitely want you in for induction by 41 +3.

NerrSnerr · 11/07/2019 20:28

I don't understand why you'd want to wait longer. The risk of placenta failure increases after 40 weeks and the induction could take a few days. I'd want the baby out.

PeoniesarePink · 11/07/2019 20:32

It can take days to get an induction going. At 41 weeks + 5 there is a significant chance of your placenta failing. It's for your benefit, not theirs.

Vandree · 11/07/2019 20:40

You can of course refuse the induction but they probably feel as its your first baby you might take a few days for the induction process to work. I was induced 3 times and the first was by far the longest with it taking nearly 3 days for everything to get going. Personally at 41+3 I would be more than ready for induction especially if its going to take a couple of days. I should add that all 3 of my inductions were fantastic, no epidural no stitches or sections, and other than the first one the labours were quick. I would wonder if the risks of not having an induction outweigh the wanting to wait an extra 2 days where you dont really have extra time on your hands if it takes a few days for induction to work?

Nextphonewontbesamsung · 11/07/2019 20:45

They base their policy on past experience.

King's changed one of their policies after my horrific birth experience [not a badge I am proud to wear] but they do actually know more about pregnancy than you do op. Don't simply shut down because you think you know better.

BendingSpoons · 11/07/2019 20:46

Witchend 43+6 Shock

Fundays12 do you have any more info about the ADHD link? I've not heard that and am interested from a work perspective.

GummyGoddess · 11/07/2019 20:50

What would you like to do? Other countries have different official lengths of pregnancy and different ideas of risks so it's not particularly clear which country has it right. Some women naturally have longer pregnancies depending on ethnicity and what their own mothers were like.

Would you be more comfortable going straight to section rather than induction?

AuntieGT · 11/07/2019 20:57

Our trust are gender happy leave you 14 days overdue if you want to wait. How can policy be so different? Surely the risk of waiting until then can’t be that high in a normal low risk pregnancy or lots of trusts couldn’t have that policy? I think you have to feel happy with the decision too, and I totally get why you’d want to avoid induction as it can be extra painful. I chose to delay induction by an extra day and it was a massive mistake but that was a completely different scenario as I had ruptured membranes, but even then my doctor was very much of the attitude that it must be my decision, they could only advise, bla bla bla.

AuntieGT · 11/07/2019 20:57

*generally

Teddybear45 · 11/07/2019 20:59

How old are you? Older women tend to have more stillbirths and it’s proven to be safer for the baby to induce between 38-41 weeks.

F10029 · 11/07/2019 21:12

In my area they don't induce before 42 weeks. I was booked in for an induction at 42 weeks, wasn't sure if I wanted to have one. I was told it is best to turn up for the appointment, and you can discuss your options, doesn't commit you - as you say it is your choice.

As it happens I went into labour on my own 2 days before this.

Nat6999 · 11/07/2019 21:13

If I had my time again, I would have refused my induction & gone straight to C section. It would have saved nearly 3 days & I wouldn't have had to go through 48 hours of labour, no food & no sleep.

DonutCone · 11/07/2019 21:19

I will never get people who will risk it. Knowing someone who had a still birth at 41 weeks, it’s just not a risk I’d take. Is it really that big a deal to be induced when you are already way past your due date?

EleanorofCastile · 11/07/2019 21:51

Haven you spoken to your midwife about this or was it just the admission booking person? Give your midwife team a call first thing in morning.

I’ve just had an induction at King’s, I was given my choice of dates, BUT I got the impression my midwives would have supported my decision to go over 41+5 and that it’s not unusual for women to request this.

EleanorofCastile · 11/07/2019 21:56

King’s policy is for induction at 41+3 to 41+5.

OP should have been allowed to request 41+5.

She is not putting her baby at risk - she wants to follow the policy!

Dandelion1993 · 11/07/2019 21:58

I'd take it. It sound alike after that day, the next appointment would be after 42 weeks.

After 42 weeks (sometimes earlier) the placenta starts to degrade and become less effective.

NeatFreakMama · 11/07/2019 22:17

Why do you want to wait? I know a PP said mother and baby are important and that's true but it doesn't sound like there's a risk to you at the moment so it's just prioritising the safe delivery of your baby at the mo.

underneaththeash · 11/07/2019 22:18

take the induction, the risks do rise over 41weeks. My placenta doesn’t last over 41 weeks and we had a nightmare of a abruption HDU for me and SCUBU.