Will I go into labour? 42 weeks declining induction?

[Dontwantinduction]

Hi everyone,

I am 42 weeks tomorrow and midwife has told me that I really need to consider an induction.

I’ve heard so many negative stories regarding inductions and really wanted it to all just start to happen! Question is… will it happen? Does labour always eventually come by itself? Or do I just need to give in and go for the induction?

Unless you have a medical background I'd take medical advice over stories id heard.

At 42 weeks I would take the induction. I’m generally against induction unless medical needs (having had one myself) but your placenta can start to fail at 42+ weeks, so I would absolutely take it at this gestation.

I’d have an induction. I know of 2 people who went too far over their due date and the consequences, well it doesn’t bear thinking about. Sorry to be brutal but I would listen to the health professionals.

Labour does not always start by itself. The placenta will eventually fail. I had an induction with my third baby and it went no problem at all. She was 13 days overdue.

I had induction. No dramatic story to tell. It was fine. A bit of a boring wait in hospital for anything to happen then all pretty quick.

I would take the offer of induction in your situation. At 42 weeks I would just want the baby out and healthy however it happens.

You’re absolutely bonkers to decline induction or a c section at 42 weeks imo.

@FMc208 thank you. They did say that they’d start by breaking my waters and see if anything starts happening. If not they’d look at starting the oxytocin drip. This isn’t my first baby, first was induced (oxytocin drip) and was the scariest experience. I didn’t get to be awake for the birth as there was no time for the spinal - I’m terrified of a repeat of that.

I had 2 inductions, one birth was horrendous and one was fine.

I think medical advice changed between my 2 pregnancies and they now advise induction at 41 weeks not 42…presumably there is evidence to back up that this is a good idea. you are a week over the point they usually suggest induction. I’d take it now if I were you.

I had inductions with both of mine as they both went the full 42 weeks and I'd decided I would only refuse medical intervention til then. You will get people saying they went to 43 weeks and they and baby were just fine but I wasn't willing to take that risk.

Please consider the induction. I was 42+2 when I had a ‘planned’ c section as they wouldn’t induce due to a previous c section. There was absolutely no sign of me going into spontaneous labour.

i had an induction for my first which didn’t work and was unpleasant but i would pick it everyday over risking my baby.

Take care of both of you

I will call up and let them know I’m happy for them to break my waters whenever they are ready for me. Just wish I could avoid that drip… I know there are other methods (pessaries?), are there any that are less… ‘harsh’ if that makes sense?!

I had an induction at 41 +6 (pessary only) and it was very straightforward, baby in arms 2 hours later, no stitches up and walking dog later that day, induction at 42 weeks and induction at 38 weeks are world's apart. Good luck

My understanding is that the pessary is to open the cervix enough to break your waters (sometimes it does trigger labour itself too though). If they want to break your waters that means the cervix is already open so no pessary needed.

i just had my waters broken (won’t lie, it wasn’t pleasant). They kept saying I might need the drip but I didn’t, my labour progressed naturally from there.

I'd be worried about the health of my unborn child if I didn't give birth soon so I would take the induction or c-section. Having a baby born very over due or very prematurely can have an impact on them in later life. I really wouldn't risk it so please listen to medical advice.

Recently watched on tiktok a pregnant woman who refused an induction until 42 weeks. Her baby was stillborn. The risks increase due to the placenta really deteriorating. She had same mindset as you.

Glad you’re going ahead with the induction OP. Definitely best for baby and you.

I had an induction at 34 + 4 days due to problems in my pregnancy. I was given a pessary and amazingly it started my labour. Id been warned it probably wouldn't work as it was very early. I've never given birth vaginally before or since, so I have nothing to compare it to. It was ok, I managed to get through it without an epidural (not by choice).

I would listen to the professionals. Please don't risk your baby.

Good luck

My first was born at 38wks. So bit of a surprise when 2nd got to 42 weeks! I had mothers sense that everything would be okay, and went into spontaneous labour that night. This was years ago now though, so limit may well be 41 weeks now as pp says.
However if I hadn’t, I’d have done whatever the medical professionals were telling me to do. They’ve been here before and there will be sound scientific facts behind their thinking.

Both my inductions began with a pessary. This started things and body took it from there. One at 38 weeks, other at 39. Induced for high BP. I would try to avoid them breaking your waters but there are lots of methods of induction. I assume you accepted sweeps?

I never had the drip.

Semen contains prostaglandins which can ripen the cervix for delivery so get on that if you haven't already!

Bounce on a birth ball a lot too.

Post maturity is just as risky as pre maturity
Talk to your health professionals please not this forum.

did you end up having a C-section? Not all inductions end in a C-section.

...

Post 42 weeks, the risks of going over are far greater than any risks or fears of induction. You need get labour moving and have baby soon. Placenta can fail and baby be severely impacted or die.

Ask them. With my induction they broke my waters and other methods like pessaries weren’t an option. But you need to ask your own hospital and discuss it with them.

Once they break your waters, start walking around the ward, up and down corridor. You will be surprised how quickly you go into labour. I did it twice many years ago. Good luck with your new baby. 🥰