Total respect to Stripey who was I believe online shopping last night and mentioned a bit of back ache and a hot water bottle!! When did you pop out to pod!!?? ACE!
Can't keep up with all the bubbs!!
No news here.
Shanster - UK goes for the slower route that mirrors the spontaneous establishing process, so ripen cervix, then break waters to get better contact between head and cervix and reduce volume, then begin contractions via hormone stimulation if required. takes 12 hours to 3 days, like nature does.
Yours sounds very effective but damn painful [and rather shocking to the system if I may say], glad you and the baby were able to cope. Fast not always good but 2nd the thank GOd for painrelief. Hear hear!!
MissH - guidelines re Induction are flexible as there is no hard and fast date where the placenta just stops functioning eficiently.
The stats suggest 'risk' begins increases at term plus 10 to 14, but then increases more steeply following 42 weeks. But still the risk is small, and one many people would take. So best practice suggests around 42 weeks as the max time 'routine' induction is offered and regular monitoring for failing placental function should take place, if induction is declined. So your unit is probably quite a responsive one that manages on an individual basis.
Because of the variables with humans- healthy women, women who never access any care at all, women who are from overseas, differing BMI, substance users, 1st timers, 5th timers, ssoooo many ways to be an individual, it's best there is no hard rule, as Mrs A recently arrived from an African war torn country after 6 months in a camp living on porridge and who is diabetic, cannot be compared to Mrs B who is very fit and has a BMI of 24 and 10 portions of fruit and veg. As an example.
This gives units flexibility to manage their local caseload i.e. quiter units or low risk populations can book at 42 weeks and be confident they can take you on the day, high risk units with loads of turnover and high risk population can book at term +10 and know that if the place is a merry-go-round the standard inductions can be put off a day or 2 safetly to accomodate the lady with the lung transplant or the 26 week twins with blood pressure or something.
Be much easier if nature just delivered on a date that was stamped across our bums at conception. Not so much fun though.....
For you - the thing is your own risk, and the baby movements. Well thriving pregnant bodies usually time labour just right, and well babies move. Hence the UK is very safe place to give birth, particulary if you are a long term UK resident. We are generally well nourished and can access scanning and heart rate monitoring if we are worried about movements, and access the interventions required when and if required.
Hope this helps!! A very long winded way to say if all is well carry on, if you're at all worried, have monitoring as it's easy and conclusive and no big deal.
It's so difficult to answer these things without essay writing, as they are such complex management issues. Obstetrics is very very complex.