Requesting to be induced - is it my decision?

[Bungle007]

Does anyone know where the decision lays with being induced?

I am 44 years old and am 33 weeks into what can only be described as a miracle pregnancy. After numerous IVF fails and the stillbirth of twins when I was 40 we had given up on having a family. So when I became pregnant naturally earlier this year we were overwhelmed.

It's been a difficult pregnancy with many symptoms including bleeding, swelling, carpal tunnel, RH negative blood, ectopodes and others. However none of the physical symptoms have phased me - the anxiety and worry of something going wrong has been the killer. During my pregnancy I have also had to resign from my job (a very good job I worked hard for) after 4 years of bullying which I could no longer fight once pregnant. So stresses have been high.

At an emergency hospital appointment a month ago the midwife mentioned being induced early due to my age - this is now forming part of guidelines for older Mums based on recent studies. I spoke to my local midwife who explained that being induced early reduces risks for mums-to-be over 35 years of age.

Since then I have read every academic paper and lots of threads and articles on early induction. To add to the anxiety a friend has just lost her baby at just over 40weeks due to a know in the cord which is heartbreaking, and has naturally made me ever more anxious. I have carefully decided that I want to be induced at 37 weeks which is classed as full-term and when he should be able to breath through his lungs. If he needs a little help I trust the hospital more than my body due to my history and age.

I have been induced before with the twins as I knew they would be stillborn so I know of he intensity and if I end up having a c section I will deal with that as long as the baby is okay. He is already over 4lb and is in a downward position with his head quite far down.

I have a first meeting with the consultant next week and I am worried that he/she may refuse to induce me if his/her opinions differ from those that I have read and those of midwives I have spoken with. Is the decision mine to be induced at 37 weeks once the baby is full-term?

Many thanks

I am pregnant with an ivf pregnany and have requested an induction or cesarean at 39 weeks. Midwife thinks they will agree to it as this may be my only chance to have a baby, at your age, no offence, your situation is similar to mine.

If your fobbed off ask to speak to another consultant. With your history you should not be refused.

Good luck.

Don't know the answer to your question just wanted to wish you a good birth and healthy baby.

The decision isn't exactly yours as doctors etc can refuse to provide treatment that they think is not indicated or dangerous as part of their care for the patient.

With a history like yours though, I would bet that the consultants would very happily agree to a section/induction, although perhaps closer to 38 weeks as, as I am sure you have read, outcomes are slightly better at 38 weeks than at 37 weeks.

I hope all goes well with your discussion and for the rest of the pregnancy.

I am so sorry for the loss of your twins. Our first daughter, Scarlett, was stillborn at 37 weeks almost 4 years ago now. I had 3 children from a previous marriage already. She was induced breech as she had already died.

I changed hospitals after her death and went on to have two healthy girls who are now 2 and a half years old and 11 months. My consultant was amazing, she couldn't have been more helpful and pleasant.

I did have lots of complications and was high risk even without a previous stillbirth, I had gestational diabetes and was on insulin injections from early on with both of them.

I was induced at 33+ weeks with dd3 due to the GD but did have steroid injections a couple of weeks before just in case. You could ask for these which do help with maturing their lungs. I'd already arranged to be induced before 37 weeks as the thought of getting to the same gestation terrified me.

With dd4 I did get to 37 weeks but had a total meltdown and as she was bigger, my consultant wanted me to be induced at 36+ weeks. I couldn'd face it and ended up having a c section (semi elective I guess) at 37+4. Baby had to come out and I could not deal with another inducement mentally. I'd had the steroids then too. This was my first c section. All I wanted was my baby out safely and this was the safest way for me. She was quite stuck as it turned out, and they used forceps during the section as she was towards my hip bone.

Anyway, long waffle there sorry! My consultant certainly did listen to my (genuine) fears and was happy to go along with my wishes. As it was dd3 was born at 34 weeks and spent 2 weeks in nicu/scbu but dd4 got to come home just over 24 hours after my section (I was desperate to get home) as her blood sugars were perfect.

I found it much harder to cope with, mentally, the later on it became and I really did struggle. I wish you all the best and hope for a positive outcome xx

Sorry for the loss of your twins. I lost my first neonatally almost 2 years ago.

Since then I have gone on to have a healthy Dd. My midwife told me I could basically decide what I wanted to do. What I decided to do was book an induction for 40+2 to give nature a chance but could have pushed for earlier if I wanted. She arrived on her due date.

During my pregnancy I was on SANDS next pregnancy groups and people were getting induced early. Therefore I cannot see them saying no to induction at 37 weeks.

Hope all goes well for you.

I don't know anything about the induction, but best of luck Bungle. You deserve a world of happiness.

I think in your circumstances they won't refuse you, however, I had Dd2 at 37 weeks and she wasn't really as ready to be born as I would have liked. She did come home the same day, but almost had to go back in because of jaundice. She was only 5lb and didn't feed well to start with.

I am now 12 weeks pregnant with another baby and due to current health issues this baby will not go to full term. This baby could be born anytime from 34 weeks on weeks onwards. He or she will be small (I have hypertension that refuses to play nice) so I want too keep baby in as long as possible.

Good luck though, and sorry for the loss of your twins

Good luck bungle - I've found that taking my dh along to important meetings and getting him to be the pushy one helped enormously, if you haven't already, go through all your points with him beforehand. Hoping for the best for you.

Recommending induction is actually policy for most hospitals when the mum.is over 40. They will usually want to wait for 38 weeks.

check out nice guidelines
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg70/chapter/guidance

From what they say, maternal request should be considered from 40 weeks.
You sound very well informed so I think the docs should be open to your request-but would make sure you were aware of all risks so you can make fully informed decision (they may recommend you wait a week or too longer to benefit baby with regards to growth and lungs). Good luck x

Most hospitals won't induce for maternal age until term - 39/40 weeks if that is the only issue. You could also discuss additional monitoring and growth scans with your consultant so to allay your anxieties and to make sure that the baby is not induced before it is ready or of a good size? Hope that things go well for you.

Hi Bungle, firstly I wanted to say I'm sorry for your loss and I do hope everything goes to plan with this pregnancy.

I don't know the exact answer but I can tell you my own experience so far which may help you.

I am 40 and presently 36+5 with my first baby. I have been consultant led from the onset as I was suffering with depression and had high blood pressure. From the beginning, the consultant told us they would induce from 37 weeks due to older mothers being at high risk of still birth. I have had regular monitoring and scans to ensure my placenta and umbilical cord are working appropriately too.
Over time my health has improved and my consultant is now saying I could go to term but is happy to discuss induction from 38weeks.

The point I am trying to make is that with your age and your previous history you have a strong case for a) regular monitoring and b) early induction. No one wants you to go through trauma again but you do need to raise this with your consultant as soon as possible. I am sure you'll be fine.

Good luck and do keep us posted on how you get on.

xx