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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

40 week appointment tomorrow, induction questions

72 replies

pixie04 · 19/12/2011 19:16

Any suggestions on how to approach this?

I'm having my 40 week appointment tomorrow, I'm expecting to be offered or to be able to request a sweep, which is fine but I'm also expecting to be offered an induction date. I'm thinking of refusing at this stage. My worries are:

I'm small, 4ft 10", if I don't go into labour without medical intervention ie gels and further methods then I think I may be too small to pass him.

I'm planning a homebirth, so in the hope that he hasn't grown bigger than I can pass then I'd like to be able to have him at home all being well and I don't know if arranging an induction at this point could make a difference to that.

Lastly I'm scared that by accepting an induction I could be setting myself up for a lot of intervention to no avail and potentially an EMCS. I would prefer to hold out while all is fine but if things change re asses then.

Do I bother discussing all this with MW tomorrow, or do I just say no thanks can we review next week? These thoughts are in my head but I'm not really overdue yet am I so don't want to start worrying and being monitored ect when right now there is no need.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

JKSLtd · 21/12/2011 20:04

I like it Grohlsgirl (been lurking) can really see that being yelled across the playground!

OP - hope things keep moving and baby arrives soon and you keep us noseyparkers updated

SecondElfLucky · 21/12/2011 20:36

Oh yes, labour tens only seem to be available online.

FWIW, I thought tens was rubbish and gas and air the dog's bollocks! And the pool worked absolute magic (DD2 was out within about 40 minutes of getting in, much to everyone's shock). Hopefully you are the same.

xmasmummytobe · 22/12/2011 06:59

Any updates from anyone? Nothing much happening here, well exactly the same as yesterday but figure this could go on for days or just be nothing.

Grohlsgirl · 22/12/2011 08:52

Nothing too exciting, got a bit of backache and had a bit of a show, but trying to just keep going without analysing it too much otherwise i drive myself mad!

How are people keeping occupied? I'm sorted for christmas so having to think of other forms of entertainment...

xmasmummytobe · 22/12/2011 09:07

I'm the same, stuck with nothing much to do. Didn't get much sleep last night so I'm going to go back to bed in a bit for a couple of hours.

I hope your backache and show turns into something but I'm with you on the over analysing I can't cope with this is it or isn't it. I told DP about my pains yesterday so he cancelled his plans last night and stayed in with me and guess what, nothing changed

I phoned the hospital this morning because baby barley moved yesterday and just had a few wriggles this morning much less than normal. They aren't concerned at all as long as I'm feeling something they say it's fine but call them back if I'm concerned.

Grohlsgirl · 22/12/2011 14:51

Hope you get a few more wriggles today xmas it's hard not to worry especially at this stage isn't it?

Grohlsgirl · 24/12/2011 07:03

Just checking in before i head off for induction, hoping xmas (OP) is ok? And everyone else too, have a great Christmas y'all xx

SecondElfLucky · 24/12/2011 08:52

Good luck Grohlsgirl. Home stretch now!

JKSLtd · 24/12/2011 09:02

Good luck come and update with your news

xmasmummytobe · 24/12/2011 09:03

Best of luck Grohlsgirl hope it all goes well.

I'm still waiting he's hanging in there for tomorrow I'm sure.

JKSLtd · 24/12/2011 09:05

Well your name told him too

JKSLtd · 24/12/2011 09:05

To not too

xmasmummytobe · 24/12/2011 09:07

I had a feeling about a week ago that he'd come over the next 3 days so I changed it. If he doesn't I'm going to change it to something New Year related

Grohlsgirl · 27/12/2011 09:56

Hello everyone, just wanted to let you know that baby Leela arrived on Christmas Day weighing 7lb 9! So much for a small baby! Labour went really well, had problems with the placenta so its a really good job i didnt have a homebirth, managed to escape yesterday and we are now home and a very happy family

Good luck to all of you still waiting, it is sooo worth it when LO arrives. Thanks for all your support too, it was a big help during those "going slightly mad with waiting" moments xx

chocablock · 27/12/2011 10:10

I had an induction at 8 days overdue as my waters broke and i didn't go into labour naturally. It was absolutely fine. Yes it was a hospital birth with epidural but i didn't need a Ceasarian and surely the main thing is that you have a healthy baby, not how you give birth? My midwife said there is a risk to the baby if you go more than about ten days overdue, slightly higher incidence of stillbirth.

JKSLtd · 27/12/2011 10:12

Congratulations Grohlsgirl enjoy newborn snuggles

chocablock · 27/12/2011 10:13

Congratulations! Pity I didn't read the thread before posting.......:)

xmasmummytobe · 27/12/2011 10:35

Grohlsgirl Congratulations! really pleased it went well and baby is here :) . That must have been a brilliant present.

chocablock Thanks for your response and you're completely right the important thing is that the baby arrives safely, not how that happens. I do have issues with induction depending on whether my body is ready on not especially if dates aren't right. I've known a few women who's baby's have been put in distress by over contracting due to the induction drugs. It's great to here that it went well for you, it gives me confidence that there are good stories out there.

Hope everyone enjoyed their Christmases, no baby here and no sign yet, should change my username back now but I can't bloody access my account!

SecondDietLucky · 27/12/2011 12:04

Congratulations Grohlsgirl. Glad all went well.

Flisspaps · 27/12/2011 15:42

grohlsgirl congratulations

choca (and anyone who stumbles across this in future) please bear in mind that normal pregnancy goes up to 40+14 so 10 days 'over' is not actually over IYSWIM. The risk of stillbirth does increase the longer you go over but it is still a tiny risk (approx 8 in 1000 at 42w+ up from 4 in 1000 at 40 weeks) and induction is not without it's own risks to mother and baby. It is certainly not something I would personally consider in the future simply for going past an estimated due date. The benefits of induction are found to NOT outweigh waiting for spontaneous labour to begin in most women until 42 weeks. Also, placental failure can occur at 37 weeks yet we don't encourage women to be induced then 'just in case'

chocablock · 27/12/2011 18:11

flisspaps yes I am sure you are right. Induction worked fine for me and glad I had it though.

Flisspaps · 27/12/2011 18:32

choca induction for me went 'fine' in that DD and I came out of it alive and safe. Still not a choice I'd make again if I had my time over due to problems that arise during the birth all of which could be attributed to the induction and none of which I had considered despite educating myself beforehand

Just presenting info, not wishing to criticise anyone's choice as its such a personal decision.

chocablock · 27/12/2011 23:02

Fliss sorry you had problems due to induction - what kind of problems or is that a nosey question? Probably is. I am glad I didn't read about all the potential problems beforehand or I would have been more worried!!!

xmasmummytobe · 28/12/2011 05:12

Up early, can't sleep I went to the hospital yesterday with some back pain, wanted to be sure it wasn't a UTI. Had a trace and full check up, all ok no UTI. Dr on shift offered me another sweep.

Turns out that despite a week (well weeks) of pains, aches and cramping nothing had moved on since my sweep last week. I don't have a favourable cervix, it's still posterior and 2 cms long, 1cm dilated is only at the opening apparently not all the way through, also baby isn't engaged. Dr did one hell of a sweep, with plenty of warning. She even offered me a MW who she said would give me a tickle down there if I didn't want her to hurt me. Anyway I went with the Dr's sweep and she did it in 3 stages. It was bloody uncomfortable but not too painful and she got me to 2 cms dilated all the way through. I've had some bleeding since then which I didn't get on last sweep.

I have an appointment with my MW today at lunchtime and I'm just in a state about what to do. I refused booking in for induction on my last appointment so I know I'll be facing the question again. Part of me feels like accepting it, let them do their worst and get this baby out so I can stop winding myself up and panicking about all the intervention and potential risks to the baby and myself. The other less hormonal half of me thinks hold off as long as possible as I'll have a better chance of being ready for an induction if I need it.

I feel like my body is just failing me, baby hasn't become fully engaged and I genuinely think my hips could be too small. We've tried every natural induction method you could imagine bar castor oil and nothing is happening on it's own. I feel that as soon as I start going in for monitoring ect if I refuse induction, that there will just be a constant pressure to let them induce me. The Dr last night even told me she could break my waters if I wanted.

JKSLtd · 28/12/2011 08:19

Good luck today Xmas, maybe by the time the MW arrives enough will be happening to not need an induction date?

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