Refusing induction....thoughts?

[abby81]

Mmmmmm so am 42 weeks on Friday. Had an unsuccessful sweep on Tuesday and another booked for tomorrow and then induction booked for Friday. I really don't want to be induced as I will feel like a failure but mostly it is the thought of being in hospital on my own overnight etc if I don't go into labour straight away. So dh and I have decided that if tomorrows sweep is unsuccessful then we will go ahead with induction and if no labour at night time and I am struggling, then I will discharge myself. However if tomorrow the mw can get a finger in then that means stuff is moving albeit slowly, we will cancel induction and see how weekend goes. Giving the sweep more time etc.

What are ur thoughts? Anyone not taken induction when advised?

Thing is my mum had to be induced for all 3 chn and her labour with me was 4 days long. I do not want 4 days of induction business etc. It terrifies me!

I didn't get to the point of needing to, but would have resisted if I got there. I refused stretch and sweeps. Have you truer acupuncture? That was my back up.

Induced with all 3 - longest labour was 5 hrs! And that was dc3!

Is this your 1st baby? I've no experience but induction is not something i personally would encourage!

Why not wait til Monday and see if the second sweep gets things moving?

Maybe ask of you can be monitored if your worried about the baby.

Very best of luck!

I was induced with my first and it was hideously painful, horribly long and drawn out and utterly unsuccessful. Most people I've spoken to who have been induced have said the same thing. Consequently I refused induction with number 2 and opted for a CS instead. I had read too much to consider letting myself go too far overdue and decided the best path for me would be CS. As it turned out I went into labour 24 hours before the date we had set for the elective CS but it all went bottoms up and I had an emergency CS anyway but any of that was better than going through induction again.

My mum says the woman in our family are pregnant for 10 months. I went 2 weeks over but then they found out dd was breech so had a c section.
Is there a doctor you trust that can give you a proper medical opinion on the pros and cons? I presume the induce because its risky to leave things to develop naturally.

I've had 4 inductions. If you are definitely 42 weeks (you are confident about dates etc) it really should be okay. The ones I had at 41 & 40 weeks took much longer than the ones at 42+3 and 42 weeks.

The one where I waited until 17 days over I had grade 3 meconium in my waters so with my last one I decided to be done at 42 weeks instead (no meconium that time).

I only ever had pesseries, had ARM with the 2 long ones, no other intervention managed to push them all out without tearing or assistance even the 3 that I had epidurals for.

I was induced with my first at 40+15 - not a great experience at all, and ended up in a CS anyway. Second time around I refused induction and went to 40+19, natural labour. Much better experience, and I'd do it again (although I'm not having any more). They should offer you additional monitoring for going beyond 42 weeks, and I took every opportunity as I was a bit worried about going so far over.

Some people just take longer to bake, I think! Anyway, long story, but my recommendation would be to do your research about the risks and make an informed decision that's best for you and your family. Good luck!

I think declining induction is a perfectly reasonable thing to do, not many women do it (not enough) but it is simply a case of reading the literature (not Dr Google!) and deciding which risks are more acceptable to you. i.e. risks of induction vs small increase to risk of stillbirth. You will be offered increased monitoring as an alternative (CTG and possibly scan to estimate liquor volume). The midwifethinking blog is very good for up to date info. The longest I have known anyone wait is term+21 days, I waited term+17 before agreeing to an induction.
However, I would counsel against starting an induction and then going home, as once you have begun an induction you are no longer within the range of normal labour and closer monitoring is probably a safer option. It is very unlikely you will go into labour straight away as the pessaries most hospitals use release prostaglandins slowly over 24 hours and this is only the beginning! I usually tell my women a good two days from start to finish.
I think you would raise significant concern from the HCPs if you do discharge yourself after having induction drugs administered and probably Social Services involvement if I'm honest (I am not commenting on the validity of this, simply that it may happen).
Have you tried 1. nipple stimulation 2. sex 3. accupressure/reflexology? I would suggest all three in the meantime! Good luck

You can request daily monitoring instead of being induced but whatever happens you will not have failed! You have carried your baby and however you birth it you will have achieved that!!

I was induced at 40+10 and after delivery it was discovered that the placenta was failing badly, to the point that another couple of days and it's likely we'd have lost ds. I'm glad I didn't take the chance.

I had a really positive experience of being induced at 41.5 weeks with dd1. From trying to do the sweep thing, they thought I wasn't ready, but dds heart beat was a bit irregular so they decided to induce. I went straight into labour and gave birth around 12 hours later. I did tear a little though.
Sounds like your mum's experience was less positive. I guess you have to weigh up the risks of delaying induction against the risks of inducing before your body is ready.
Maybe there is a midwife on here who could advise about this?

You won't have failed. But if an induction goes ahead you won't really be able to leave hospital. I understand as I have a horrid phobia of hospitals and went in to be induced, but in my thinking, induction takes childbirth from natural into a man made process, so you really do want people around. You're more likely to need/want pain relief if you are induced (says so on NHS website guide to induction and was true in my case) and things can move unexpectedly quickly.

They also may hold off if your body is showing signs of going into labour. They will monitor you but in my case it was like they were stepping back and hoping my body would kick into gear, but unfortunately although labour had started it wasn't within the timeframe the NHS wanted. Hey ho.

It's always your choice, but if you do agree to an induction, relax into it, leaving hospital would be potentially rather dangerous for you and your baby, and the whole thing could be done and dusted in a matter of hours.

All the best for the well being of you and your baby whatever you choose.

Gosh so many helpful things mentioned, thank you all for honesty and advise. I guess nothing can be figured out until tomorrows sweep, hopefully mw will be able to find it this time no probs. I have a backwards facing cervix and it is right round the back of the babies head. Just had a feel up there - sorry tmi- and it is so bizarre being able to feel your babies head. Couldn't find my cervix tho but I'm at an awkward angle I supppose! Thank you all and will probably ask more questions tomorrow!

Good point Fuckwittery, I hadn't thought of that..... I will have to discuss with mw tomorrow. As it is am having v painful period type pain. Would be lovely to go into labour!!!!! Night all.

I was induced last week first day they inserted the pessary tampon thing into my cervix nothing happened but got some tightenings which were like period pains but cervix hadn't dilated then they gave me the pessary and the tightenings got worse was in pain for about 18 hours and was only allowed paracetamol and a bit of codeine for the pain and that was only twice during the 18 hr period. Then got taken down to the labour ward at 1230am (officially was 42 weeks then) where they broke my waters (only after I had an epidural) and then gave me the hormone drip. Hubby was allowed to spend the night in the room with me they got him a beanbag and some sheets so he could get some sleep.

You and baby get monitored really well and I ended up with an EMCS as my baby' went into distress. Had loads of doctors in the room and was asked for my permission to do a csection and then wheeled into theatre where my epidural got topped up and I met my baby. Overall I think it was a positive experience the medical staff took action when they needed. Me and baby were constantly monitored during the earlier phases as well. My birth plan was that I wanted my baby to get here safely and she has so job done! I think I have also recovered a lot more easily from the csection than I thought I would have so that has all helped as well to make the whole experience largely positive.