to refuse to be induced

[MagicMojito]

Just as the title suggests really.

I had mw appointment last week and was told that as I am overdue I will need to be induced in my 42nd week of pregnancy and it was pretty much presented as a done deal. I was handed a leaflet and got a date for induction and that was that.

After researching the pros and cons of induction I have decided that its really an option I'd prefer to avoid if at all possible.

I have been so so unhappy with my care throughout this whole pregnancy, I really don't feel comfortable rocking the boat as I know il be veiwed as a pita, but I just feel really strongly about this.

Aibu? Wwyd in this situation? Thanks for any replies, sorry if this post makes no sense, horrid insomnia has unfortunately frazzled brain!

Jeez, mamoth post that could have

They can only offer you induction. If you don't wish to consent to it then it is your body, your choice. Tell your midwife you want to go for twice weekly monitoring instead and will talk about induction again once you get to 42 weeks.

Thanks for reply, I wasn't really expecting any at this time in the morning!

I just don't Like the idea of being induced ( statistically putting a larger risk of surgical intervention during delivery) if there is no real reason or need because there is no risk to baby, she's just cooking for abit longer iyswim? I think ill do as you suggest and ask for extra monitoring although I don't know how well that will go down...

It is your body, ask for regular monitoring though.

It is your choice but there are just as many risks associated with leaving a baby too long as there is with a normal induction.
Just be sure you are making your decision based on a balanced view of the risks in both cases rather than as a reaction to your care to date.
My first was induced for being overdue and the process was very easy and no surgery.my second was induced because of a managed care plan as I was on blood thinners. That too was fine and with no additional intervention.

Can you see a consultant or independent midwife for some impartial advice and to discuss your concerns?

You do not have to be induced. I found that the hospital staff/midwives presented everything as a done deal. I was told I had to have constant monitoring, a cannula fitted, I could not water birth and Definately not hypnobirth. The consultant asked me 'how would you feel if after 9 months something happened to your baby?'. This was due to a previous c-section.

I returned to my midwife and advised her I will not be returning to a consultant who pulled the dead baby card to get me to tow the line. She advised me 'you can't do that you have to have a consultant'. I mentioned the nice guidelines.

Eventually I changed hospitals, found one that facilitated my wishes. Hypnobirthed and water birth, monitored myself with Doppler in the pool.yes I had to travel a fair way to give birth - but I 90% trusted them to not push me for medical intervention unless I or the baby REQUIRED it.

I was a royal PITA to my gp midwife I know I was, however they were not taking me seriously at the gps or at the first hospital. The second hospital listened to me, and fully understood that I had done my research.

Do read more about the risks of being induced/not being induced.

Bizarrely the first consultant told me 'don't worry if you need to be induced we can do so' errr research shows the induction can lead to uterine rupture (the reason she told me a water birth and hypnobirth was unsuitable). The second hospital advised at what point they thought it would be a problem. I said I do not want inducing I would prefer a c-section if it went that far.

I have met so many women who hated their birth experience for many reasons. I was determined to try and give birth naturally and I did not want to fight with a midwife during labour over what is/isn't necessary.

By the way I water birthed, hypnobirthed, over ran by 3 hours what is normally 'allowed'. The hospital were fab. But only cos I was a pita.

Where's the issue ? Trust your body , you know how well you feel and if its ok to leave it a few days .
I has two unavoidable induces - I didn't read up about any Increased risks and so for me it was nothing other than a delight to get on with it .

www.positivebirthmovement.org/contact-us.html

There is another website but I cannot for the life of me remember it. I am sure someone will post a link.

YANBU. Obviously you have your baby's (and your own) best interests as a priority and will have regular monitoring and have done your research. But you are an independent person and can not be forced to undergo any medical procedure. In any case, as a midwife reminded me around 41 weeks, every day that passes makes it MORE likely that you are about to go into spontaneous labour, not LESS! So hopefully baby will make a move before then.

Thinking of you, I well remember those last weeks and days, every hour was a struggle! Not long to go :)

I went with the induction - there were reasons and I wasn't going to go against them just because it wasn't working out the way I planned. As it was it was all very easy and I had a lovely birth with only gas and air.

Is a sweep classed as induction?

Have you looked into the natural ways of inducing labour: walking, sex, raspberry leave tea, rubbing evening primrose oil into your cervix, massage the bump, acupuncture, reflexology, curry, castor oil, massaging your nipples.

Hope all goes well for you.

Risks of stillbirth are greater at 37 weeks than 42. The placenta doesn't shut up shop at 42 weeks! NICE guidelines state women should be offered expectant management (Monitoring/scans etc) YANBU if you have made an informed decision

YANBU but of course make sure you are being regularly monitored. How long are you willing to go before induction, eg to 40+ 12/14/15? If you let the hospital book you an induction date for the latest date then that may make them happier and more helpful with the ongoing monitoring.

Inductions aren't always that bad. Mine was painful, but I delivered with no instruments and no other induction medication than the prostin gel - my waters went on their own after second gel. I had an epidural (not sure if you classify that as a "surgical intervention") but I was glad to have it and it didn't slow things down at all, but made pushing harder obviously. I was induced for medical reasons on my due date. I would prefer not to have one again, but I don't mind if I do - ie not that bad.

Personally I would follow medical advice. But my position is I care less about the birth process and more about the outcome as I have had experiences within the family of things not going well. Sil if you are reading this we are thinking of you today xx

You don't have to have any medical procedure. They are just advising you on what they think is best based on research I guess.

Me? I'd always follow medical advice. If you refuse you'd more than likely have to go in fir daily monitoring I think.

I wasn't induced myself - labour started a few days before the appointment - but a friend was with her first. She took it in her stride although in the end she needed a c section anyway. She now says that if she's overdue with her next, she'll decline induction and go for an ecs.

I would always follow medical advice rather than worry about my personal experience- a healthy baby is the important thing.

YANBU in that you can make the decision.

I was in a similar situation, but went for the induction as I was getting panicky about something going wrong if I left it. As it worked out, it was actually 43 weeks exactly that I gave birth.

It was really straightforward: just a pessary to get it going and 8 hours start to finish. I had a bath in the early stages. I didn't have a cannula. I could move around if I wanted (as it was, I just wanted to be on my hands and knees. I had paracetamol and gas and air. My midwife was lovely and encouraged me to try different positions and listened to what I wanted. I also did not have my waters broken and DS was born in his sac.

I know not all inductions are like this, but wanted to share a positive story. I was fearful beforehand as I'd only read the horror stories.

Please don't stress about it - your body, your choice, and the NHS will look after you and your little one whatever you decide. A couple of sweeps did the trick for me! Congratulations on your pregnancy and good luck.

A friend of mine was induced and used her hypno birth techniques throughout - kept moving as much as possible and said it was a positive experience with lovely supportive midwives

I think you should try to find supportive impartial advice - is there a team of home birth midwives or independent midwives in your area?

I am 41 weeks at the moment and recently wanted to challenge my care - I directly contacted the consultant midwife at my local hospital and she was amazing - from feeling crap about my care I have gone to feeling cared for and safe - another person who you can contact is the supervisor of midwives - these people are normally listed online or you could call hospital reception

It was a midwife friend who told me these options are always available but most people don't know about them

Personally I accept that induction is statistically safer overall than allowing all women to go to 43 weeks - but you are entitled to make a personal decision. I think you would feel much better if you had a chat with someone sympathetic and experienced in your local midwife team

Due to a previous negative experience following an induction (horrendously long labour and lots of intervention) I felt so strongly I opted for an elective c section with my second child rather than risk an induction again. I'm not suggesting that you do this but I'm just saying I totally understand how you feel.

My consultant also supported my decision and said in many cases an elective c section (this was the nhs by the way) has a more preferable outcome for the mother mentally and physically than a long labour following an induction.

I would refuse to be induced and ask for regular monitoring and go from there.

This is only an anecdote but I don't think you're unreasonable at all.

Both of mine were born a day or two after 42 weeks.

Each time they arrived the day after I had a sweep then a brisk walk.

The same as you the first time I was just told my induction had been booked. I had to ask before I was informed about any other options.

It was just presented as "this is what will happen when you arrive etc..."

I'm not normally over sensitive but I didn't like the feeling of being told what was going to be done especially as I was low risk and wanted to go the midwife led centre up the road not the hospital further away :(

Anyway both born without any probs in the birth centre pool - both healthy.

I think my reasons were to do with how I'd already built up how it would go in my head. I would have taken an induction if I hadn't felt they were on their way and doing fine but both times I could feel they were "getting ready" a week before and it seemed a shame to rush them for the sake of a few days.

I don't feel I put either baby at risk.

I've had 3 inductions and I got 3 healthy babies which was all I cared about. It's your choice of course but I would always follow medical advice. It as my body and my babies but I'm not a Doctor.

Also in my case I was a bit doubtful about the dates anyway for various reasons.

DD was only 6 pounds 11 and the midwife said she didn't look like a baby who'd been baked too long.

DS was born with his amniotic sac still intact around him although I didn't realise how rare that is until we came home and googled it. It was worth waiting for anyway :)

I agree with regular - if you do decide not to have your baby's birth induced, then be honest with yourself about the reasons.

You don't say how many weeks pregnant you are but, statistically, you're very likely to go into spontaneous labour before you reach 42 weeks anyway.

You (nor anyone else) knows for sure whether there's a 'reason or risk to the baby' or he/she's just 'cooking a bit longer' - the fact that there's often no way of knowing which pregnancies are at risk is part of the reason for post term induction being recommended.

Here are the current NICE guidelines fyi www.kch.nhs.uk/Doc/pl%20-%20053.2%20-%20post%20dates%20(overdue)%20pregnancies%20and%20induction%20of%20labour.pdf with reasons why they're still advising 41 +3 for over term inductions.

Can I just say 43percentburns that your comment about 'pulling the dead baby card' is one of the crassest, insensitive and inaccurate statements that I've ever come across around the issue of late pregnancy stillbirth.