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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Being induced on due date

47 replies

TheNewWife · 21/03/2017 09:01

Ok, in brief, I live overseas and my healthcare is private. I'm due first DC on 15/4 and my Mum flies in on 14/4.
Now, she can only stay for two wks max as she cares for my elderly grandfather and that's how long we have managed to get alternate care in place.
Visited my gynae last wk, explained that it would be a nightmare scenario if I went two wks over my due date because of situ with Mum (who I would love to be there) and she agreed. Said that as I've had low risk pregnancy, no hassles throughout whole term etc that she would induce me on my due date if all continued the same.
I was delighted and shared the news with friends at my babyshower at the wknd and several of them have expressed horror at this.
Apparently my labour will be worse - longer and harder. More likely to need epidural (I'm open minded to pain relief but aiming for a water birth)
AIBU to think that I should trust the gynae with the pHd and not a bunch of women with varying degrees of 'I've heard from such and such... etc'. Surely my gynae wouldn't do it if there was an issue?
Anyone else been induced and can give me heads up?

OP posts:

splendide · 22/03/2017 07:42

It may be worth doing some reading on the likelihood of forceps/ other interventions with an induction. I was really keen to avoid the sort of cascade of interventions that I've seen in my friends who were induced and when I went over said I'd refuse induction but would have a CS if needed. Went naturally at 41+4 in the end.

I think you're at lower risk of getting injured with an elective CS than an induction st term.

DuggeeHugs · 22/03/2017 07:44

Sorry if it didn't come across as positively as I'd imagined it. It wasn't intended to scare but to try and balance out a bit - so many people gave me the all positive view and it left me without balance when I needed it most.

and apologies OP if I've scared you, it wasn't my intention.

RyanStartedTheFire · 22/03/2017 08:12

Sorry Duggee, not personally aimed at you, just the tone of the thread has been very "this is going to be an awful idea and will fail". I agree points from all angles are needed for an educated decision, but it's not all necessarily doom and gloom. I loved both of my inductions, they were positive outcomes for me and my babies and I'll welcome the third when it happens.

Original poster

TheNewWife · 22/03/2017 08:14

Ladies
I genuinely appreciate you all replying - with positive and negative points.
It's clear that with this being my first baby, I'm totally clueless and as my gynae said what I wanted to hear, I went with it.
I'm grateful for this forum and the opportunity to ask more questions as I feel I can now approach my gynae next wk with appropriate concerns for her to address.
If I need a C Section, so be it, it's just not my first choice of birth. Please be assured that from 38wks on I'll be walking the legs off myself trying to go naturally!

OP posts:

BoboChic · 22/03/2017 08:16

TBH OP I would postpone your mother's visit and not put the huge pressure on yourself and your baby of giving birth to a timetable.

RapidlyOscillating · 22/03/2017 08:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

TheNewWife · 22/03/2017 08:22

This is for my benefit. I'm overseas without family to hand. It's my first baby. You don't get midwives and health visitors like you do back home. A consultation for an hour with a breastfeeding specialist is circa £150. My DM was a nurse years ago, my grandmother was a midwife. My DM will be a huge support to me

OP posts:

INeedNewShoes · 22/03/2017 08:23

I'm due to be induced at 38 weeks. My consultant has warned me that 30% of inductions end in an unplanned cesarean.

On a more positive note, I've been told that induction doesn't rule out using the birthing pool if everything is straightforward after the pessary as they have waterproof CTG monitoring.

I am hoping to avoid an epidural but my consultant says they do recommend an epidural for anyone being induced so I'm trying to keep an open mind!

Pregnancy is full of unknowns anyway so I've decided not to worry about any of it as baby could just decide to turn up early anyway.

BoboChic · 22/03/2017 08:25

Except that the easiest way to recover from pregnancy and giving birth is when the birth has been as natural as possible. By inducing to a timetable you will introduce all sorts of risks that may hinder fast recovery.

McBaby · 22/03/2017 08:53

I had to have an emergency induction at 38 weeks with dd2. I found the labour took a long time to start but it all worked out fine in the end.

This time I had hideous spd at the consultant has suggested another 38 week induction, if I am not induced i have been advised it's likely to be an unassisted homebirth as the other two were so fast. I am very undecided what to do as I do not want a c section if the induction fails!

It's all about weighing up the risks of each in your individual circumstances.

splendide · 22/03/2017 08:57

I can see it's a really difficult balancing act of what's best. I do think you just need to be aware that being induced is not just a straightforward starting of labour afterwhich it's the same as if it has started itself.

AliciaMayEmory · 22/03/2017 09:07

I had an induction with DC2 at 38 weeks for reasons relating to the birth of DC1 and I had a sweep and pessary at lunch time and a baby in my arms by tea time, so I am in no way against induction. What I am having a hard time in understanding is why you would want to put yourself and your baby through such a process when there is no real need. Whilst I understand that it would be wonderful for your DM to be there to support you with your new baby, it wouldn't be a reason for me to try to force a baby out before it is ready without any medical reason. And whilst I know that the vast majority of inductions have a great outcome, I couldn't take the risk that should something go wrong, whether it be to the baby or to myself, that it was because I had decided to bring forward my baby's birth date for my own gains.

I really hope that your baby decides to come a little early so that you can have that wonderful time with your family, but a huge part of parenting is the realisation that your own wants and needs, for at least a little while, come behind those of that life you have created.

I wish you every luck, OP, but I would be certainly be asking lots more questions before making such a decision.

LobsterQuadrille · 22/03/2017 09:10

I was induced on my due date and had a one hour labour- nothing except gas and air. Also overseas. It was fine. Good luck!! And congratulations 😀

Sunnie1984 · 22/03/2017 09:14

I've just had my third induction (all at my request).

I had my first two in the private sector in the Middle East.

With my first baby I was given a six hour pessary. It was then possible to break my waters, so I had an epidural, waters broken and the drip started. Baby born 12 hours later.

If you end up on the drip, your contractions are going to be stronger and potentially more painful, so I would seriously consider what pain relief you would accept.

I need a higher dose of epidural than most, so I've done about an hour of each labour without epidural as I needed a strong top up. The contractions were very painful for me, but that's not the case for everyone.

Personally I loved my inductions and have just had to fight hard for my third induction, which was on the NHS.

You just need to be realistic about an induction. You may need more pain relief and continuous monitoring, so be prepared for that,

I'm a little bit frustrated by the "cascade of interventions" that is constantly thrown out when inductions are discussed. Plenty of people have successful inductions, if they are realistic about the reality.

I had no interventions with any of mine. A c-section is not inevitable and labour with an epidural and continuous monitoring is not an unpleasant experience.

savagehk · 22/03/2017 09:47

It's also worth checking how they dose you should you end up on the drip. I've heard (not checked up on this!) that the way they did it used to be to do it on a timetable - so 2 hours at the starting dose, then 2 hours at a bit more, etc. Now they seem to watch how labour's going instead and only up the dose if/when needed which (seems to me) would result in better outcomes.

Re not having midwife to provide BF support, is there a local La Leche League branch, or something similar? That might provide some assistance, should you need it.

RyanStartedTheFire · 22/03/2017 10:35

She's not asking to be induced before 40 weeks, so there's a good chance her body will be ready. Lots of people give birth before 40 weeks.

UndersecretaryofWhimsy · 22/03/2017 12:28

Lots, especially first-time mums, just naturally cook longer than 40 weeks, though.

I don't think anybody's saying that the OP shouldn't have an epidural, they're trying to give her a realistic idea of the risks, benefits and alternatives so that she can make the best choice for her.

I had no interventions with any of mine.

Sunnie induction and epidural are both interventions. That doesn't make them wrong. They're just... interventions. And it is well documented that intervention tends to lead to more intervention. Again, that's not necessarily good or bad, it's just worth understanding that when you make the choice to initiate intervention, you may not be able to control what interventions follow.

RyanStartedTheFire · 22/03/2017 12:40

I managed with no epidural with both early inductions. I didn't even require a drip, just a pessary with both. It's not always "a cascade of interventions" and a lot of people do have positive inductions.
I read that around 30% have given birth before 40 weeks. Let's just hope OP is one of them.

Original poster

TheNewWife · 22/03/2017 13:25

Hoping and hoping that I'm in the 30%!
I'd say that I'd keep everything crossed, but if I'd did that with my legs in the first place then we wouldn't be having this chat! Haaaaaa

OP posts:

splendide · 22/03/2017 13:50

What about booking in for an induction at 41 weeks (if no baby by then!)? Then you'd get some time with your mum and baby but you've got a whole other week for your body to be ready.

Original poster

TheNewWife · 22/03/2017 13:58

Wouldn't that just be the same Splendide? They let you go two wks in the UK so I'd still be forcing nature.

OP posts:

splendide · 22/03/2017 15:14

Yes you would - although I think "forcing nature" is a bit of an odd way of putting it - but it would mean an induction was less likely.

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