Please talk to me about refusing induction

[Cosmosis]

I am 40+5 with DC1 and had a sweep yesterday, where I was told my cervix was still pretty closed, so no real hope that it would work. They don't want to see me next week, she just booked me for an indiction a week tomorrow (so 40+13). As far as I can see, this is just because it's "hospital policy" to do an induction at 40+12, and not for any good reason.

I'm very low risk, I haven't had a single issue during my pregnancy, my midwife even commented that I'd had the most boring pregancy in the world and she couldn't think of anything to write in my notes :) Both DH and I are pretty frightened of an induction as we think it highly likely to lead to a cascade of interventions we really don't want for a number of reasons, so I'm thinking of making an appointment for next Thursday for another sweep (just in case!) and to discuss not being induced.

What I want to know is, what do they actually do re monitoring you if you refuse an induction, and I suppose how long it's realistic to leave it? I know what I'm like and I get bullied into things if I am not armed with all the facts, so want some facts to arm myself with!

maybe those two extra days will be enough!
Why don't you go to a chinese medicine clinic and try acupuncture? My midwife told me yesterday that she had wanted to avoid medical induction in both her pregnancies and had gone for a proper acupuncture session with a chinese doctor which had put her into labour within six hours on both occasions. I am going to book my appointment with the same practitioner for when I hit 39 weeks as they are talking about inducing me early because of my very big baby!
I assume you have tried everything else - e.g. sex, nipple stimulation, long walk up steep hill etc. Good luck.

ILDD, sadly no cash for acupuncture :(

I have booked another sweep for tomorrow, so fingers crossed. Will be discussion induction with them then......

I was induced at 40+14 and it was fine. Had 2 gels then no other intervention, a perfectly normal, natural birth. No drip, no drugs, no tears. Doesn't have to be awful. Good luck!

I was booked in for an induction at 40+13 but wards were so busy they were happy to keep me waiting in hospital another 3 days until DH was asking to speak to head midwife as no communication and I was getting a bit stressed by then. The midwives said that baby was fine and best place for him was in my belly until they had the room/staff to look after me properly. In the end was induced at 16 days over, mecomium no waters, pre eclampsia and emcs at 17 days over, DS was 9lb 13oz and perhaps not a good fit for my pelvis.

I had my appointment today and the mw was lovely - she agreed with me there was no need for an induction yet and I go on to daily monitoring from Saturday to just wait and see. Thanks for everyone's advice, it's really helped.