How soon after 40 can you be induced?

[SandyChick]

I'm 40+3 today. I'm seeing my midwife on Tuesday. If i want to wait until 42 weeks or to see if I go into spontaneous labour and would rather be induced as soon as possible if it's safe etc when is the earliest it could happen?

Would I be encouraged to wait or could it just be a case of booking the soonest appointment at hospital?

I went over with ds1, had sweeps etc which didn't do anything. It was quite a slow and difficult birth. Because of dh's job I would rather just get on with it and be induced sooner rather than later.

That should read if I DON'T want to wait until 42 weeks

tbh i think if their policy is 42 wks that is when they will do it unless there is any concern for you and the baby, i went to 42wk+ with most of mine, with no 5 i was induced at 9 days over and i had to see a consultant to get that and it was because i had been ill and was knackered, one of my other children had been ill and in hospital so lots of stress and i was concerned over the babies movements. they did a scan as well and agreed as it showed fluid levels were low.

in retrospect hers was the only birth i needed the syntocin drip for and i think thats becasue my body wasnt ready so i should have waited a few days.

sorry if thats not what you wanted to here :(

btw i was induced with all mine, ds1 took 3 days, very slow difficult labour but no 2, took 7hrs, very straightforward, no 3 took 3hrs and no 4 took one hour, they were all at 42wks+ :) so your next birth may be much better :)

Your second birth is likely to be much more straightforward and quicker. Look carefully at the risks of induction - it is potentially dangerous for both of you as well as more painful. Babies do come when they are ready

Policy at our local hospital is 40+12

Depends on the reason for induction (medical factors) and hospital policy. Call the labour ward to ask what the policy is in your area

Saw mw today. I'm booked for induction on 17th which will be 40+12.

Baby's head is still free so she said a sweep was not advisable.

Hi Sandy

I've had 4 inductions
41 weeks
42 +3
40 weeks
42 weeks

The 2nd induction was fairly quick, one pessary and over and done in 10ish hours.

My 3rd induction at 40 weeks was yet another long drawn out affair that took them 40 hours and an ARM to get into established labour. If you're naturally a 42+ weeker like me I'm afraid I would wait - my 4th induction was such a fab experience, still took 10 hours to get me into establish labour with 2 pessaries but then it was over in 2 minutes - I went 8cm, 10cm, then head delivered in 3 contractions