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?

Good luck OP, it will soon be over. I hope the time flies by 😍
I’m glad you took the advice and went ahead. No two labours are ever the same, you may very well have a positive experience to share this time.

My second induction was so much easier than the first. I don't know if there is move "give" in the muscles and pelvis second time round. Won't bore you with the 36hr nightmare of the first. Second time round, I went in overnight and had a pessary when I got there. Another at 9 ish in the morning. Had babe in arms by 3. No tearing, no stitches.

And I was 43 weeks with the first, 41 weeks with second.

We are in the delivery room! Seeing the little bed for baby has made it feel VERY real. Also incredibly scary!

The midwife has gone to get the chopstick looking instrument to break the waters, so that should be done within the next 20 mins or so. She did say that they will look to start the drip as soon as possible but I asked if we could hold off to see if anything starts to happen (without the drip) once the waters have gone. She said that the drip would give it a good start and seemed quite for it, but it’s really mirroring my first labour and I’m scared to rush things.

I know I shouldn’t feel this way but I feel exactly the same as my first labour and that is rushed. I am aware that I am taking a bed on the labour ward and I know things can get busy quickly. I feel like by me asking to ‘wait and see what happens’ I’m hogging the room for even longer.

Hoping to get some opinions?!

As others have said I’d listen to the midwife. Have you told her about your concerns? Does she know about your previous birth? She will be able to reassure you and support you to make choices that are right for both you and your baby.

OP seriously.
It's your choice if you'd like to wait a few hours before starting the drip.

Wishing you all the best!

When I was last induced, my hospital used dilapan - they insert rods which help soften the cervix and dilate. This method doesn’t have any hormones either which my hospital encouraged as they try and avoid hormonal inductions as they can be more painful. Maybe ask if your hospital can offer this?

talk to your midwife and explain how your feeling.
part of the reason to want to get things going with the drip is infection risk. Once the waters have gone that goes up, so they do want to get things moving on.

good luck

Watch something comforting or preferably funny to get the oxytocin flowing. You're in a safe place and you will be meeting your baby soon. Get in the zone however you wish. If you want to wait a bit after your waters go for things to start then that is your choice. It's your labour.

If you refuse induction at 42 weeks you should be monitored daily I think. I know someone who went with that and a few days in they accepted induction as something was going wrong.

Yes you can wait a bit if you want, but they’ll probably want to move things on due to risk of infection. But talk to them, ask what your options are - drip, pessary, planned C-section and ask for time to think if you need it.

I think you'll find that the thread has moved on.......

I was the same in my second labour and told them I wanted a minimum of an hour and to be allowed to go on a walk around the hospital grounds/up and down the stairs to see if i could get it started without the drip. When I pushed them they were happy to compromise a bit but they were quite set on the drip so stick to your guns if that's what you're wanting

OMG who would want a planned caesarean section!

I'm so glad you've gone in to be induced. The risks of still birth, failing placenta and risk of distress or infection (babies are more likely to pass meconium after their DD) isn't worth the risk.

Sending a big hand hold. If you're 2cm already your body is already starting to get ready. Hopefully once your waters are broken it will speed things up for you. I was induced at 40+5 and had a pessary then my waters broken. I didn't need the drip at all. Hopefully baby will be here before you know it. Sending lots of positive thoughts to your way

See whether or not you have meconium in your waters when they break them, and maybe monitor baby’s hb

That may influence your decision

I had a failed induction at 41+4 their dates, 42+5 my dates
Pessary & drip for 20 hours after waters were broken, a lot of meconium

HB suddenly dipped and ended up with EMCS, but honestly I didn’t care at that point - just happy to get a healthy baby!

I had the syntocin drip with my first baby, not a great experience. With hindsight should have had an epidural.
Was induced with second, had the drip after my waters had been broken, after about an hour on the drip I had an epidural, could still move my toes but it took all the pain away, I was concerned about the chain of intervention with an epidural but baby was born about 2 hours later, it really was was worlds away from my first birth. Good luck x

I don’t want to scare you, but I read up on this when I was pregnant and came to the conclusion that I would go with induction if it came to it (luckily I went into spontaneous labour at 39/40 weeks both times).

They tried to do a study in Sweden about women going into week 43, but six babies died in the process and they concluded it wouldn’t be ethical to proceed with the study.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/oct/28/post-term-pregnancy-research-cancelled-babies-die-sweden

Best of luck with the birth and hope all goes well for you and your baby ❤️

Are they offering you a pessary first? This is what I had at 41+1 weeks and they broke my waters. It was enough to start labour without the drip. Good luck! A really helpful thing is to stand up for as long as possible once contractions start (gravity is on your side)

I'd also take the midwife's advice at 42 weeks, op. I had an induction with my first at 37+2 and it went so smoothly.
Lots of luck to you!

Ahhhhh good luck!!!! Excited for updates

Perhaps a woman who abused her own autonomy to decide she wants to have a planned c section? Or who has been advised to have a planned c section?! Luckily I had a lovely vaginal birth at 36 weeks with a 9lb 7oz baby after induction but that was my number one choice!

@TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne - plenty of people might want a planned CS! Lots of reasons - no one else’s business
I did for Ds due to Complications with dd’s birth ending in EMCS after nearly losing her, heart murmur for her, massive haemorrhage for me, complete failure to dilate. DS was a bigger baby and I lost 2 babies before him, so going for a planned CS was the right decision for us.

I have 3 kids and was induced 3 times .
Twice overdue and one reduced movement which looking back i was busy with a toddler so easy to miss movements but went with induction anyway.
One and two not the nicest things but no issues and 2 healthy babies , three much easier and a 3rd healthy baby.
I wouldn't be hanging around at 42 weeks , good luck with your baby and with whatever you choose to do.

My daughter was born at 42+1 at home, safe and well (and bloody ginormous). No induction, after a horrible birth with her twin brothers four years previously.
Good luck. I had great fun. 😂