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Original poster

Pregnancy - Did anyone decline induction at 42 weeks and went into spontaneous labour within 7 days!

50 replies

Louise2019 · 25/02/2019 16:44

I know I AB completely U to post this here for traffic, but was hoping to get some replies and positive stories!

Has anyone ever declined an induction at 42 weeks and gone into spontaneous labour the following week?

I’m currently 42 weeks and 3 days pregnant with an induction booked for Friday. I’m really hoping to avoid induction but as the days pass it’s looking less likely.

Does anyone have any positive stories?

Thanks

OP posts:
Nameisthegame · 25/02/2019 17:17

How active can you be? If you can do it go on some big (safe) walks, you never know, my DD was breech and I walked 10 miles one day and she turned the right way the day before my c section was meant to be....don’t push yourself too hard but you never know

Nameisthegame · 25/02/2019 17:18

I’m guessing you’ve had sweeps from a midwife? It can work for some people

Jebuschristchocolatebar · 25/02/2019 17:20

Yeh had an induction booked and went into labour. My mum told me to go out and wash the windows. Apparently it’s an old wives tale!

O4FS · 25/02/2019 17:28

I did. I was 40 + 14 and had had 4 sweeps. Was having a home birth and I’d have lost it if I was going to be induced. This was on a Thursday, MW gave me until the Monday morning and then I was going on.

She then did my 5th sweep and she said ‘you’re 4cms’. It was 8am and I was on my way to the DCs sports day. I went to sports day. (Ah she’s my fourth, I was all a bit blasé by then). Got back at lunch time, had a nap. She then decided to get a shift on about 6pm and was all done for 7.

She’s still very laid back and in no rush 🙄.

Perihelion · 25/02/2019 17:34

My hospital liked to do inductions at 40+10. I held out till 40+14 and had an induction, which only involved 2 pessaries. Had baby after 24 hours with only gas and air for pain relief.
Not all inductions involve drips and horrific contractions.

maccaroni · 25/02/2019 17:36

I'd worry about an ageing placenta after 42 weeks and want to get baby here safely. Risks to the baby increase dramatically after 42 weeks, have you read up on it/do you feel fully informed? Can you go for long walks, do strenuous housework, anything to get things moving if you are certain you don't want an induction? Best of luck with it all, update us when baby is here.

QueenOfPharts · 25/02/2019 17:44

Hope my experience relevant. In answer to your first question no but I have had gone in twice for induction 40 +12 and 40+ 7 only for my dcs to get a wriggle on themselves no faffing with pesseries just ooh your 2cm, after being very unfavourable a day before, and lets break your waters. With Dd (our first) I got the drip as had high temp so they wanted to speed things on. DS all v quick.
Apparently bouncing on a birthing ball can help, I cba as figured baby would come when ready and I didnt want to be knackered but if you are determined not to be induced its worth a shot.
Good luck OP

buttertoff33 · 25/02/2019 17:45

had DC2 at 40+15. had a sweep at 40+14, booked in for induction at 40+15 but went into labour spontaneously early that morning.

If you are past 42 weeks I am surprised that they let you go on much further. I had a stern talk from midwife and doc as I didn't want to get induced sooner and 40+15 was the absolute maximum they would let me go without intervening. In the end, noone can force you but is there a reason you are adamant on not being induced?

Seraphina77 · 25/02/2019 17:55

I was induced at 40+12 with my little boy. I went in on a Saturday and midwife said she would be happy for me to come back on Monday morning if I was set on waiting for it to happen naturally. I declined (was in hospital and thought let's just get this show on the road!!) I was induced with a pessary at 11am, was in active labour with proper contractions by 3pm and my son arrived at 6.37pm! No drips, no pain relief as it all happened so quickly!

ambereeree · 25/02/2019 17:58

I scrubbed the skirting boards and thst got baby moving! I was in a bit of a rage as my partner was supposed to spring clean.

O4FS · 25/02/2019 19:46

I think it’s called ‘expectant monitoring’ or something, when you can be monitored daily. I got a huge eye roll from the hospital MW when I mentioned it for DC3 (40+10) and lots of excuses as to why they couldn’t (consultant at lunch etc).

She came of her own accord.

RandomMess · 25/02/2019 19:56

I had a very conversation with the "anti induction" consultant. 4th DC previous had all been induced at over 40 weeks including 42+3.

She was honest expectant monitoring is only valid whilst your strapped up too much can go wrong in the 24 hours in between. That they've all had to deliver stillbirths that were caused by placenta failure post 42 weeks...

I couldn't have my home birth post 42 weeks so I thought I wouldn't gamble, I have too many friends bury their babies tbh.

My one at 42+3 had thick meconium in my waters all these years on the "perfect birth" really doesn't matter!

My inductions never needed the drop and I delivered unassisted they really weren't horrific or anything.

livingthegoodlife · 25/02/2019 20:17

I had one of my children at 40+15 and she came naturally, home birth. I was due to have my waters broken the day before but the midwives were too busy.

Moooooooooooooooooo · 25/02/2019 20:19

I went to 43 weeks and went into spontaneous labour. They wanted to induce labour at 41 weeks but I refused as long as everything was medically ok. Never had any sweeps. A perfect birth occurred with a successful delivery using only gas and air. This was 41.5 years ago.

Limezested · 25/02/2019 20:20

Get bouncing on a gym ball and stimulate your nipples

ohheckwhatnow · 25/02/2019 20:21

I had an induction at 40+13 with ds2. Had the pessary at 12:30pm baby delivered at 6:20pm. Very straight forward just gas and air no problems at all. I tried everything to get the baby moving naturally. The dog was exhausted from all the walking and the house has never been so clean Smile. I read nothing but horror stories about inductions but my experience couldn't have been more positive. Good luck.

Lana1234 · 25/02/2019 20:25

I was due for induction on the Monday and ended up having DS on the Saturday before (40 +12) it was the sweep I think that started me off

Leeeeemon36 · 25/02/2019 20:29

Cervix not ripe and closed so no point in causing me pain MW said. DC1 induced at 40+12 and ventouse delivery was not stable after birth. I don’t think he’d survived if left to “come when ready” (never)

CherryPavlova · 25/02/2019 20:33

All of mine were 42 weeks plus. I refused induction after a very traumatic accelerated first. I had monitoring daily. My longest was 43+2. I nearly caved but it all started naturally. My cycle was very long routinely so I wasn’t convinced by the calculations.

Sidalee7 · 25/02/2019 20:34

I was coerced/persuaded/bullied into booking induction at exactly 42 weeks, I was due into hospital at 10am and went into natural labour at 6am.

notquiteruralbliss · 25/02/2019 21:07

I waited to 42 weeks plus 18 for one of my DCs. Once we got to 42 +7 we got heart rate and to placental blood flow checked each day though.

WowWowWomen · 25/02/2019 21:08

Poor love you must be getting fed up now! I would just go with induction, the research behind these recommendations is sound.

Climb up and down stairs (hold on to the bannister!)
Shake out duvets
Get a sweep
sex(I know but sometimes it gets things going)

Absolutely stay away from castor oil, it won't help and can go through you to the baby increasing risk of distress and meconium in fluid.

I am surprised you have been left so long, it's 40 plus 12 max round these parts.

Baby is safer out than in at this stage, how it happens is not as important as you both being safe.

If you feel anxious or concerned at any point go to the hospital and get monitored, trust your instincts.

With my first I went into labour the day I was due to be induced but they didn't believe me til a check showed I was 4cm. After a long night baby arrived 8am next morning. With the next one it was 40 plus 10 because I think I couldn't be doing with the hassle of last time!

I know a few women who went into labour the day or night before induction, like it's a mental goalpost of sorts!

Bitchfromhell · 25/02/2019 21:21

I've had two failed inductions and they were fine (same baby). Nothing to fear ThanksCake

Also ended in a section which in hindsight was lovely.

If I knew then what I know now it would have been a good experience. My fears were the only thing that spoiled it all.

lubeybooby · 25/02/2019 21:36

I wouldn't decline it that late on. Prefer baby out where I can see and look after it

Bluesrunthegame · 25/02/2019 22:07

To answer the precise question, no, but I think I must have slipped through some cracks in maternity services and I was eventually induced at 23 days late, so 43+2, I think. No mistake in dates, DS1 was very late. I had a kick chart in the last week and was told that if I counted 10 kicks before midday, this showed the baby was fine but if they got later, I should go back to the hospital and they might induce me PDQ.

My consultant said he saw 6 or 7 women every year who went a long way over their due dates and were fine so he saw no reason to interfere if they were happy. I was happy to leave things to nature.

Eventually we all decided enough was enough and I was induced. I seemed to be slightly dilated, but waters were broken, nothing happened, don't remember a pessary but was put on a drip full of hormone and went into intense labour very quickly. Unpleasant experience, but forceps delivery.

DD was 10 days late, DS2 11 days late. It transpired that my paternal grandmother had the same pattern, biological father was 3/12 weeks late and his siblings were 10 days late or so.