Can I demand to be induced?

[Palmwoods]

...on or just after my due date? I'm having my baby in a hospital along way away, and also have to fly on 17 Feb (due date 20 Jan). It's my second and my first came fast.

I think technically you can but they may try to dissuade you because of risks involved (higher incidence of c-section etc).

I wouldn't recommend induction TBH, not unless necessary. I would think the hospital would be unlikely to recommend it either.

hospitals dont like to induce unless for a good medical reason as a general rule.

I really wouldn't, Palmwoods. I don't know if you were induced with your first, but I found induction a horrific experience and I'm not alone. It is guaranteed to make labour longer and more painful, and as you know labour is not a picnic to begin with.

I have heard that tuttifrutti. I had a pretty good labour first time around and was only 5 days late. Surely this one can't come later! Is there a higher rate of intervention?

There is a much higher rate of intervention following an induction I believe.

My exerience of induction was alsoo terrible, and resulted in a c section 50 hours later anyway.

If you are due 20th but dont fly till feb 17th then you will have had baby at least 2wks before anyway.
I have been induced with both my children and being induced with third tommorow but it is a necessity rather than a demand/wish. I honestly think if only went 5 days over last time then I would wait.

indcution takes you into a whole other birth scenario

constant monitoring, pessaries, drips, ARM....and there can be a whole cascade of intervention....making it more likely tou will have an instrumental delivery ie forceps or ventouse or even a c,s

also, you might not be ready for induction on the due date..your body needs to be ready, the cervix has to be assessed,,and if it is not ripe,then the induction will fail..

or take a long long long time!

babies come when they are ready and nothing will get them out sooner

as the due date approaches, you can try some natural induction tips.

but on the whole , if baby is happy in utero, leave the baby there!

is there a closer hospital you can use..or consider a home birth

I'm a fan of induction as I had a really good one.

That being said, it's a gamble. It could go really well and be fast, or it could take days. You could have tons of interventions (epidural, c-section, forceps, vacuum) or the birth could go very smoothly (mine was wonderful) and you won't need any interventions other than a drip and monitoring, and you can ask for those to be "walking" so you're not limited in you positions.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Message withdrawn

Ok, I have officially been talked out of it! Fingers crossed that he comes on time and not within one hour.

Good luck Palmwoods. I have to say that induction was the absolute worst experience of my life. I have never been so scared and in so much pain.

I tend to stay off the "Positive induction stories please" threads.

fingers crossed for you

What about seeing an acupuncturist? A friend of mine was induced 14 days after her due date and was determined not to be left that long so had appt with acupuncurist (a specialist in induction) on the Thursday one week before due date and had baby on the Sunday. Said it was a quicker and easier birth second time round. Good luck!

Personally I wouldn't - it's surprisingly painful and doesn't always work even if you can get them to agree to do it! Have you considered reflexology for natural induction though (Google it, there are some good home guides online)

Thanks Rachelhil & ShouldKnowByFriday am going to google this now. ShouldKnowByFriday, was this person in London?

Sorry for delay in responding. She saw somebody in Suffolk so not London. You can ring the Accupuncturist Association or whatever its called and ask for an induction specialist. I can recommend somebody in NW3 if you are intersted.

I hope my first post was clear in that my friend was late by 14 days for her first baby and went to an acupuncuturist for her second baby.