Induction at 39+6wks - really bad idea????

[dappleton]

OK just to let you know i'm not in the UK so things are a bit different here - but I think this different is crazy - what do you all think????? Really, sleep deprivingly worried and only have a few days to decide what to do....

I have so far had a really easy pregnancy and no health issues (i'm only in my early 30's). Baby has been monitored beyond imagination - i've had scans every 2-3wks, doppler last week just to check everything, have had 2 CTG's and have 2 more booked this week and everything has shown up to be normal. Baby is engaged and apparently in a good position and est weight from last scan was 3kg (so healthy but not huge!).

I'm currently 39+1 and have been told by my consultant that he will induce at 39+6 if baby not appeared.
Now theoreticallty I don't mind this and if he was talking about inducing at 40+6 I'd not even be posting this thread, I don't care about having a natural birth or the birth experience for the sake of experience - I just want a healthy baby and no long term complications for me.

So I guess what i'm asking is can anyone think of any reason it would be a good idea for me to go ahead with this plan when the chances of the baby appearing naturally given a few more days are very high and from what I can gather a natural birth is less likely to lead to complications. Has anyone found an induced birth to be easier than a natural birth and are things such as ventose and forceps really that bad for baby or for me???

Any experiences or facts would be really welcome...thanks

If I were in your position I would google induction and the WHO recommendations. I think it speaks for itself and you will be able to make a proper informed choice.

Some countries health service do not even think you are overdue until 42 weeks. You are right in that it depends on the country you are in and in some cases depends on your dr and/or hospital.

My general impression is that if there's nothing actually medically wrong then why would they introduce a drug to you and your baby that will potentially cause problems? Is it more that the Dr wants to control the date for non-medical reasons? If that's the case then I would be politely saying no, unless there is an actual medical problem which indicates requirement for the drugs I would not take the risk. If it's not broke why try to change the proper process and potentially end up with things more complicated when everything from what you say is set for you to have a straight forward birth in your own time.

I think with most things women can experience births with forceps and ventose and come out of it saying it wasn't all as bad as they thought it might be which is great, but given it's just more potential trouble for yourself and your baby I wouldn't personally be entertaining the idea. Each women has a responsibility to get informed and make their own decision though.

Here is a information video which talks through the pro's and con's of induction in a very balanced way:

I'm wishing you and your baby well. Do your research, weigh up your options and don't forget to listen to your instincts. Once you've got a more full picture of both the facts and your feelings then you'll be in a great position to go and have an informed discussion with your Dr. Remember that it really is down to you, it is your choice.

Do they offer sweeps where you are? I had a consultant push me for induction at 40+1 weeks because of 'high' blood-pressure (140/90 - not that high and taken after a 3 hour wait in an overheated waiting room), being 1 day overdue and having a fluid level at the low end of the normal range (but still within the normal range). I declined. In the end, I accepted a sweep and my waters broke naturally the following day.

Thanks to both of you for your replies, really appreciated.
Architien: I've read through all the WHO info and watched the you tube video. Will discuss with the doctor and see what his explainations and induction strategies are.
EvaPeron: Not sure if they offer sweeps but its a private clinic so i'm sure anythings possible at a price! will certainly enquire about it and perhaps that will be a good half way ground both the doctor and I would be happy with.

Sounds like Singapore. My friend had an induction at barely 40 weeks and my doc wanted to do the same for me. Managed to hold on til 41 weeks when DD2 turned breech again so had a c-section.

Apparently large and overdue babies in Asian women can cause problems and contribute to a higher rate of emergency c-sections so they prefer to induce close to due date. Don't know where you are but 3kg here is considered on the big side.

Stick to your guns and only agree to things you are happy with.

normal gestation is up to 42 weeks. No reason to induce before then unless there is inidcation that something is not right. Inducing too early before baby is ready can to lead to a lot of other interventions. It is your birth. Make your decisions.

Be careful with giving advice on when to induce based on dates. In France they induce at 40+3 I think, but the dating is one week different, so in effect the same time as in the UK. Remember we use a weird system where pregnancy is said to start about 2 weeks before it actually does.

France induce at 41 weeks (post last period) typically, so I have a provisional induction date for later this month. You can negotiate daily monitoring until 41+5 after which they will induce and give you 48 hours to deliver or it's an automatic CS.

The dating is, in effect, worked out the same way but national statistic apparently show that most babies arrive between 40 and 41 weeks gestation so calling 40 weeks term is illogical. Instead you get a due month and at the end of that an induction date.

So if you're in a French based system being induced one day before your EDD may be at 40+6 instead of 39+6, but if you're counting weeks of pregnancy it's much of a muchness.