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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

How long can I safely delay being induced?

28 replies

emilygrace · 04/12/2005 20:36

I am now 40 + 11 with my second baby. I don?t want to be induced for two reasons:

I know my best chance of a normal delivery is to go into spontaneous labour

I was induced last time (40+13) and it was a terrible experience. I had a bad reaction to the prostin gel, ended up with an instrumental delivery, lots of stitches and baby and I were both traumatised.

The date of 40+11 is based on my LMP but I know it?s not accurate. I was still breast feeding and had only one cycle in years and it was 33 days. The fact that I am about 5-6 days behind was confirmed by a dating scan at about 10 weeks. But the hospital policy is not to change the EDD unless it?s more than one week different to that given by the LMP.

So, can I use this to ask the consultant to delay the induction until the actual date of 40+10? ( Hospital policy is to induce at between 10 and 13 days overdue.) I feel this would give me a better chance of going into spontaneous labour. Naturally I don?t want to do anything that would put the baby at risk, but from what I have read there is no significant increase in the risk until over 42 weeks.

I have tried everything to bring on labour! Baby is OA and her head has been engaged for 4 weeks! I have had two membrane sweeps and my cervix is very soft but only 1-2cm. BTW my first baby was actually born at 40+17, but was not post mature. Being post dates was the only reason I was induced ? there was plenty fluid, placenta doing well and I was well.

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AChristmasCarolinamoon · 04/12/2005 20:43

can the hospital do a biophysical profile scan (i.e. where the check the amount of fluid, placenta function etc)? That would put your mind at rest (assuming it's ok!) and give you more confidence about refusing induction at this stage.

They can't force you to have the baby induced, but it is hard to go against medical advice when your baby's health is at stake.

Original poster

emilygrace · 04/12/2005 20:52

I agreee completely Carolina, if there is any medical reason for being induced then I would do it straight away. I mean if I or the baby were at risk.

But I now know that I was induced last time just because it was hospital policy as everything was fine in the biophysical scan. Last time I couldn't argue that dates were inaccurate , as I was ahead of the dates. This time I am behind. Do you think they will see this as a valid point?

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Original poster

emilygrace · 04/12/2005 20:55

I think its in the NICE guidelines that if you decline to be induced (at over 42 weeks)they should offer you this check.Not sure what happens before.

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Hulababy · 04/12/2005 20:56

I would ask for a scan if you really don't want to be induced. And be really vigilant as to what baby is up to all the time.

AChristmasCarolinamoon · 04/12/2005 20:57

well, you can always ask, can't you? To me (a not-at-all-medical person) it makes a lot of sense. If they can see on the scan that everything's fine and you actually had a scan giving a later due date, why would they want to induce you now?

I would definitely give it a go .

pupucelovesruDOuLaph · 04/12/2005 20:59

Protocol/policy or not they have no right to force an induction - they know this ! All they can docis document in your notes that they have informed you of their protocol and you have chosen to decline an induction for the time being.
As for a scan every other day as well as some monitoring. Check baby's movements and it will happen on its own :-)

Original poster

emilygrace · 04/12/2005 21:06

Pupuce - thanks, I know they can't force anything. But I don't want to put the baby at risk. Do you think waiting until I was really 10 days overdue would be risky? OTOH if it ends up like last time ( induction and instrumental delievry), it will adversely affect the baby . Also I guess the baby is getting bigger every day?????

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Original poster

emilygrace · 04/12/2005 21:07

Sorry forgot to say - very clever Christmas name

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pupucelovesruDOuLaph · 04/12/2005 21:08

Many hospitals do not induce before 14 days so it's a postcode sort of issue... which really annoyses me !
Some babies die in utero at 38 weeks ! what do you say to these mothers ?
Some mothers have 44 weeks pregnancies ! It is not unusual!
Hope that helps.

Flum · 04/12/2005 21:10

I was 15 days late having my dd. I just said no to induction and it happened on its own. Baby was not post mature or anything.

My mum carried me for nearly 10 months. I think it is a bit genetic.

Original poster

emilygrace · 04/12/2005 21:13

Thank you - that does help. I suppose that I should have expected to be late again, given what happened last time. But you always hope it will be different second time around. Its good to know that its not unusual.

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LIZS · 04/12/2005 21:14

Agree you can but ask for a scan. fwiw I was induced at 40+10 with dd having had a long labour and awkward delivery with ds and it was fine. Ob/Gyn was concerned that placenta may be starting to decline in function and I was scanned and monitored before he booked me in for an induction, althguh we all hoped it woudl eb spontaneous in the meantime.

By the time I arrived at hospital a few days later I was actually in the early stages of labour but it was still augmented later on as contractions were n't being effective. dd did look late (very dry skin) after delivery but was born without much assistance in the end (although she did get a bit stuck ) and less than 1 1/2 hours of active, painful labour. He actually showed me the placenta afterwards and told me it was definitely past its best - not sure how he expected me to concur ! If it does come to your being induced, to ensure the safe delivery of your baby and a healthy mum, it won't necessarily be as traumatic as last time.

Good luck

Original poster

emilygrace · 04/12/2005 21:15

Flum - did you get scanned? How did they react when you refused to be induced?

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Flum · 04/12/2005 21:18

No no scan. They were a bit sort of confused but not too bothered. I guess I was 'under surveillance' though as I was in hospital with pre-eclampsia.

I sort of just did it day by day. you know 'oh I sort of feel stirrings', 'maybe tomorrow, if nothing happens' then I would just say the same sort of thing the next day.

Anyway it all started naturally but ended with emergency CS due to undiagnosed breech baby (praps a scan woudl have been useful)

Original poster

emilygrace · 04/12/2005 21:32

Oh Flum, did they put you on one of these fetal monitors? How could they miss that the baby was breech? Surely the heartbeat would be in the wrong place? Weren't you really angry??

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Flum · 04/12/2005 21:35

yeah, on a monitor.

it was just really wierd. I had loads of tummy exams and midwives were all a bit 'hazy' about how far engaged I was.

My mum (really usefully) announced (after baby born) " I thought that lump under your ribs was too hard to be a bottom" ummm. yeah mum, might have been useful to mention that at the time.

She always does that ie when someone kicks over a drink " I knew that was going to happen" umm, " well why didn't you say something then" durrrr

To be honest was just pleased to have baby safe with me. Did seem a bit rubbish of the midwives though.

Flum · 04/12/2005 21:38

Apparently a table spoon of cod liver oil kick starts labour like nothing on earth . Not got documentary evidence of it though.

I was marching up and down stairs, getting dh to sneak me in curries, getting dh to sneak me out of the hospital for a quick bonk (bless him , totally a mercy bonk)

Original poster

emilygrace · 04/12/2005 21:40

about the midwives!!!!

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Original poster

emilygrace · 04/12/2005 21:42

I thought about the castor oil but Mears doesnt recommend it. Poor DP is exhausted by all the mercy bonks .....think he is looking forward to a break after the baby is born!!!

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Original poster

emilygrace · 04/12/2005 22:07

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mrsdarcy · 04/12/2005 22:09

Emlygrace (pretty name!) - I was induced first time round at 40 + 10 and hated it. I was induced in July for my 3rd child (at 38 weeks and not really ready to pop, iyswim) and it really was much, much easier. The pains felt totally different and it was all much more manageable. So if it does happen this time, it mightn't be as bad as you fear .

Original poster

emilygrace · 04/12/2005 22:33

Thank you Mrs Darcy. I'm glad to hear it was better second time around. How did they induce you?

This time the options are limited for me. They won't use prostin gel after last time. They will only use a syntocin drip if I already have an epidural in - I assume this is so they can rush me to theatre if necessary . So I guess they will induce me by ARM.

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pupucelovesruDOuLaph · 04/12/2005 22:44

Why are your options limited ????

ponto · 04/12/2005 22:46

emilygrace, if you feel unhappy at being induced at this stage, you can always say that you'd rather wait a bit longer and see what happens. NICE guidelines are that you should be offered induction at 42 weeks, but if you decline then you should be offered an ultrasound scan to check on the amniotic fluid level and twice weekly electronic fetal monitoring.

I was induced with dd1 at 40+18 (by scan dates), although I was just 40+7 by my dates, because I started to get anxious about the slightly increased risk of stillbirth if the hospital were right.

For my second pregnancy I really wanted to avoid induction so I could experience spontaneous labour, but in the end I asked to be induced at 40+16 (by my dates, 40+18 by scan dates), this time more because I was so fed up of being pregnant.

I thought the induction would be easier second time around but I had 2 lots of prostin with no effect. Then I had my waters broken (they can do this even if you haven't started dilating if you've had a baby before as the cervix is stretchy). That worked with a vengeance and dd2 was born just 2 hours 15 minutes later!

My advice would be to decide what you want to do and insist that they listen to you. Meanwhile spend the last few days of your pregnancy relaxing and indulging yourself, not trying to bring on labour and making yourself uncomfortable.

Good luck!

Original poster

emilygrace · 04/12/2005 23:21

Pupuce - I had a very bad reaction to the prostin gel last time so consultant won't use it again. I became hypertonic ? hypotonic? not sure of the correct term exactly!

She is also worried about using the syntocin drip as I reacted so badly last time and wants an epidural in first so she can get me to theatre quickly if it causes the baby distress again.

Hope I have explained this correctly.What do you advise?

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