Induction suggested due to my age

[Barbarajg]

I am 41, 36 weeks into my first, smooth pregnancy. My consultant asked me if I'd considered induction if I don't go into labour by due date. She would not recommend it though, says its my decidion , but claims this is something done more and more with mums to be of my age. Something to do with potential risks with placenta if I carry over.
It seems a bit radical, and I would prefer natural, pool MW led birth. Any experiences?

I was referred to see the consultant because of my age (I'm also 41) and he made it seem like induction was mandatory or a cesarean. I'm only 18 weeks and having a straightforward pregnancy so far with no health problems. Apparently the placenta can deteriorate with older mothers after 40 weeks which poses a risk to the baby. I've go to go back at 39 weeks to discuss and I'm leaning towards them monitoring rather than going for the induction automatically. If a problem shows up of
course I'll go for it.

Thanks Swanlike, I was told just the same! It just seems that induction is such a lengthy complicated process, pushing your body to do what it's not ready for...
I think I'm going to ask for monitoring and few days extended wait last my due date....
Good luck and enjoy your pregnancy- it goes so quick!!!!

Can you do more gentle things first? Run the gamut of sex/pineapple/castor oil/nipple fiddling/hot curries, etc - then maybe do a sweep?

Current research strongly suggests that the longer the baby stays in the better - even a 37/38 weeker may have sucking reflex problems after birth. MUCH better to wait for things to start on their own unless you are medically indicated for an induction.

(Oh, and I've personally had one induction for borderline low amniotic fluid at 39 plus 3, but that was after 3 weeks of careful monitoring, NSTs, first. Also gone into labour naturally at 39 plus 2. And currently waiting at 37 for DC3 )

I'm not an older mum, but I know lots of them - I would be highly suspicious of anyone wanting to lump you into a high risk category just because of your age. Arm yourself with facts, smile serenely, and don't let them bully you.... Monitoring first, obstetric high jinx later......

I would absolutely not recommend an induction to anyone unless there was a strong medical case for it. If you've had a straightforward pregnancy, why would it be necessary just because you're 41?
I had a terrible experience with induction, and although I know some go ok, I think the odds of a bad experience are much higher.
As my great nan once said, like trying to take the stone from an unripe peach. I thought that was a pretty accurate description.

Thank you ladies, it helps to see I'm not the only one who thinks this a bit drastic. Think I'm gonna ask for some extension past due date and sweep at 41 weeks if it doesn't happen before. I had acupuncture in hospital (Whittington, North London, highly recommended)) this week and it really seem to be helping things along - even had a false alarm that day!!!
Thanks again!

I wouldn't worry about induction per se. I had 2 and they were both fine. Also I had DS2 at 39 at 14 days overdue and the placenta was slightly calcified. DS2 had lost some weight before birth due to this. So while I would wait to go overdue I wouldn't leave it too long

also neither of my inductions were lengthy or complicated. In both cases I was given a pessary and a few hours later I was in labour and in DS2's case he arrived in 2 hours. Hopefully though it's not something you will need to worry about and your baby will arrive of it's own accord!

I think the rate of stillbirth is slightly increased in older mothers past their due date but it's still a small risk. I would ask your consultant to quatify exactly what the evidence is for suggesting induction as a course of action. As with any woman near term you need to be very vigilant about baby's movements. If baby slows down or changes at all you MUST go straight to hospital and ask them to montor you.

There is induction and induction. I would avoid the prostin drip route unless absolutely necessity. prostaglandin pessary prob fine.

I cannot believe that just going slightly over term increases the risks that much,does it is???

the prostin is the gel they put on your cervix, sytocin is the drip :)

i was induced with all 5 as i went more than 2wks overdue, almsot 3wks with one, i opted for expectant management and only got induced when i had had enough! and with dd as my fluid levesl were low.

i also had accupuncture and like you found it really helped actually.

ask for monitering, a sweep if you want and be vigilant with watching babies movements.

Oh duh quite right fivegomad. Got me drugs muddled up there :)

Induction is really no worse than natural labour, I have gone into labour on my own once and had two inductions. Now I am probably going to fan the flames of controversy but I would do what the consultant suggests provided that the induction is not too early. Even if the risk is small, why take it?

I know induction is more likely to mean that you have some form of intervention during the birth but this is not necessarily so. I have a condition that means my placenta can become less efficient at full term and therefore I have to take aspirin throughout pregnancy, so this may influence my views. I would listen to the consultant, after all they are dealing with these issues every day and making decisions informed by their experiences with other patients.

i cant have the prostin gel as they discovered i was allerguc to it with ds1. thankfully breaking my waters did the trick for most if my labours, tho with no 5 i needed the drip. still gad an active labour and used gas and air. dd was back to back so think that was why i needed drip. once labour got going it was only three hours and dd shot out, still the wrong way round! my inductions went fine, ds4 was a pool birth so inductions dont have to be horrible but i would still avoid if i could as you do risk more intervention etc. its about weighing up the risks which are different for everyone.

in your case op i would be asking fir expectant management and monitering etc once past due date, extra reassurance etc. good luck :)

Agree induction isn't always dreadful, but I also wonder if the makers of oxytocin put on rather good OB/GYN conferences in the Bahamas such is the keenness of some doctors to use the bloody stuff.

Crikey if they suggest this with me I'll freak. I have heard too many first hand accounts of induction.

I'll be 39 when my third is born, btw. No one has mentioned it so far.

Good luck, OP.

Hello - my aunt had a cs at 42 weeks for bot her babies, she was 41 the first time, and 44 the next.

I was induced with my 1st at 42 weeks, and for medical reasons (poss probs with baby) bang on 38 weeks. As for the poor sucking reflex at 38w, not in my DS case. He came out and latched straight on.

There CAN be issues if left in. The placenta can stop providing all nutrients if left a long time. If you are happy to run the risk then do so, but I personnaly know someone who at 42w was fine, and not a few days later.

Having been induced twice, once taking 2 days as induced at 38w, I can honestly say I didnt' find it that bad. First time 6hrs after 1st contraction, 2nd time 1.5hrs.

I am classed as a geriatric mother (cheers) I think Mother Nature decides who is past it and who isn't:). Hypnobirthing REALLY helped me, worth looking into I ewould say. Sorry about typos, wriggling 16wo.

"Current research strongly suggests that the longer the baby stays in the better - even a 37/38 weeker may have sucking reflex problems after birth. MUCH better to wait for things to start on their own unless you are medically indicated for an induction"

That's incorrect, the risk of stillbirth rises from 39 weeks onwards

With this measure the risk of unexplained stillbirth was least in preterm pregnancies, rising fourfold after 39 weeks to a maximum at 41 weeks

My boss was pregnant with her first at 40 something. She was an incredibly fit woman who ran 10 k before work and was the only person I know who ate the exact 200 extra calories suggested for final trimester and no more.
She was put through enormous extra hoops because of her age- insane really given she was fitter than the average 20 someone. She had also done her research and argued with those keen to induce and went into labour naturally at 42 weeks. All was fine. I do know this is not always the case but she so low risk on every front that she took this into consideration