Curious.. do NHS allow elective induction?

[bhs652]

Hi just a question that's been on my mind - let's say I'm 39 weeks, and stomach is bigger than most, almost bed bound, etc etc.

If I went to the hospital in obvious distress asking to be induced, would they induce me or tell me to wait past 40wk? Just wondering if anyone has ever done this :)

I’m not sure I understand. Bed bound why? Pain?

You can request it but they are unlikely to say yes. If you just turn up at the hospital then I imagine you will definitely be sent away.

Induction is more likely to lead to interventions including c section so they will be reluctant.

Is your baby measuring very big? Why are you almost bed bound, do you have health problems?

You have to be overdue seek advise from your midwife

Yes but you have to be overdue. I requested it 7 days overdue as i didn't want to wait another week.

I was induced when I wanted it but had had reduced movements and baby was measuring off the scale big. Plus I'd needed a ventouse for my 25th centile 38 week 1st child (spontaneous) so there were reasonable concerns that 95th + centile would be difficult/ likely c-section... so would save money to induce when vb was more likely to succeed. Consultant suggested induction asap. I readily agreed!

I doubt they would unless it's due to a medical need for you or baby.

More detail? I had polyhydramnios with one of mine so was HUGE, absolutely huge but not bed bound. Struggling to think why anyone would be in that situation? Also more detail in regards to ‘obvious distress’, in what way? I think the majority of pregnant women are well and truely over it at term and just want it done but that’s different from distress. If you have any atypical symptoms at this point then you do need to see someone to discuss these and they will talk through your options.

I doubt it, induction is usually not nice and often leads to an assisted delivery. Induction is intervention in itself and any intervention comes with added risk.

Apart from being huge (most women feel huge at 39 weeks!) and the distress you mention, is there any particular reason you want to be induced? I was induced with DS1 (overdue) and have just had DS2 spontaneously. My first labour was absolutely horrific and I was booked in the be induced with DS2 again because he was also overdue. I literally did everything to avoid being induced again and thank god he came spontaneously 9 days late. I count my lucky stars every day that I wasn't induced again and I had an amazing birth second time round with barely any pain relief.

I'm not trying to scare you at all and there will be other women who say their inductions were fine, but there are very good reasons that induction is generally avoided.

Best of luck to you

I don't know op, but curious myself. I am not as far along as you and have birth choices appointment with consultant so will bring it up then. The available evidence is actually now suggesting that induction around 39-40 weeks leads to lower incidences of instrumental delivery and c section. I'm not a doctor so will be asking consultant to consider request in that light, and if they feel that evidence is good. Personally I have found that people are generally horrified that you may want to be induced. Lots of non medical people will tell you that you are going to end up with problems due to induction purely based on anecdote, but as I said this doesn't appear to be supported by actual evidence.
My natural labour had plenty of problems, which I'm sure would have been out down to induction if I had been induced, but can occur in natural labour e.g. stalled progression, instrumental delivery. I would much prefer to have some control over when things started, and to have the ability to opt for a CS if things aren't progressing as they should, instead of waiting to see what might happen.
They offer elcs at 39 weeks, so I don't see why elective induction at that stage is not. Perhaps it is a cost/space issue? I would let you know how I get on but you'll have given birth one way or another by then!

I guess because a c section has 100% success rate but trying to get a baby out before it’s ready has a much lower chance of working.

You certainly can’t just rock up to the hospital you’d have to be booked in, and frown friends who’ve had inductions when not over due (mainly age related) they have often been in hospital for 5/6 days (incidentally all but 2 ending in c section anyway)

Speak to your midwife, it may be that they can book you in for a section rather than try to induce