Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Can I Demand an Induction?

29 replies

typhoonsmum · 31/07/2007 15:50

AM SO ANNOYED NOW!

Been to midwives. Am 40+2 by booking scan but only 40 weeks by Last Period. (I was always told scan dates are more accurate) They won't do a sweep till next week and won't book an induction till the following week. I'll be 42+1 before they do anything serious.

I hate them. I've known I've been pregnant since I was 3 weeks. I can't wait any longer. I was expecting next week and had come to terms with that but to throw another week on the top is just horrible.

I wonder whether I can demand an induction.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

JeremyVile · 31/07/2007 15:52

Hate to sound boring, but the baby will come when its ready. Why force the issue when theres no need?

isgrassgreener · 31/07/2007 15:53

Don't do it, inductions are awful, try and wait if you can

witchandchips · 31/07/2007 15:55

most babies are "late". just enjoy the next few days

Theclosetpagan · 31/07/2007 15:58

Nope - inductions can be horrible - especially if your body is not ready to go into labour - all you'll have is extra pain - a longer labour and more intervention.

If the scan is only 2 days different from your dates then they should go with your dates. They should only alter them if the difference is more than 7 days.

Plus - induction has its own risks to you and the baby - why have induction drugs which can cause problems unless you need them. If you read the "patient information leaflet" inside the "induction drug" box about all the possible side effects to you and baby it's horrifying - they should really only be used when absolutely necessary - not cos you are fed up with being pregnant.
I DO understand though - DS was 15 days late and I got sooo fed up.

Artichokes · 31/07/2007 16:03

Nooooo. I feel for you. I felt the same. Then I got pre-eclampsia and pushed for an induction. I got one due to the pre-e and I will forever regret it.

Inductions are very paniful. They are the beginning of a cascade of interventions. You are much more likely to end up with a c-section or instrumental delivery. I also had a post partum heammorhage which is much more common with inductions. I was hospitalised for days, needed transfusions and felt bad for weeks. Whats more I missed out on the fun stories of when I went into labour and how I reacted etc.

Please don't demand an induction. Let your baby and your body choose when the time is best for both of you.

CarGirl · 31/07/2007 16:03

I've had 4 inductions, for being T+ 14/17/1/14 only the last one was a lovely birth, the one where they induced me at term was the worst, nearly failed all because I demanded to be induced (gone a bit nutty with AND at the time) it will be a much more pleasant experience the longer you wait!

mixedmama · 31/07/2007 16:10

I have never had an induction but most peoples experiences dont sound particularly positive.

Have you tried all the natural ways (not sure how much truth there is in them) sex, curries (altho if you are sick in labour this wont be pleasant), hot baths, raspberry leaf tea, was there also something about cod liver oil... a friend of mine got an independant midwife to do a sweep (not cheap tho for all of about 5 mins work). Nipple stimulation.

CarGirl · 31/07/2007 16:16

Having a sweep if you are no way ready is pretty painful & pleasant too that is probably why they say at least T+7, although you could ask for another at T+9, some babies just love being well cooked.

LilyLoo · 31/07/2007 16:18

don't do it had an induction with ds was awful, had a natural birth with dd was lovely. You are nearly there but try and enjoy the rest you will be glad you did afterwards.

Original poster

typhoonsmum · 31/07/2007 16:19

I know a induction is worse. And I know they are only leaving it to 42 weeks in the hope I go naturally but i'm just fed up.

DD was T+9/11 (depending whose dates you went by)

Tried all the old wives tales and nothing works. Going to devour all the chocolate in the house to cheer myself up now.

OP posts:

pooka · 31/07/2007 16:26

I had a sweep with dd on her due date (but by then had been in pre-labour for about 1day). Worked and all well. Not painful.

MW tried to do a sweep when was T+3 with ds. Hurt like hell, she was unable to get beyond my tightly closed cervix. Eventually went into labour at T+7 and he was born 2.5 hours later.

What am saying really is that a sweep only works if you are ready for it, IMO, and that intervention unless absolutely necessary is not particularly helpful at times.

My yoga teacher had all 3 of her children (all healthy) at T+21. Spontaneous labour starting. In France I believe they measure dates differently. Think if everyone was more amenable to thinking "right, I'll be pregnant for 42 weeks" there'd be a lot less disappointment.

Loopymumsy · 31/07/2007 21:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

boompi · 01/08/2007 14:28

Im with you TM. I know I'm 39 + 1 but as 'dating' scan was a week later than dates, mw say they will leave me till (what I believe) is 43 weeks! They are ignoring fact that an early scan at 9 weeks confirmed my dates.

The waiting is awful but tbh I am more worried about risk to my baby by going so overdue. Demanded to see doctor and mw said 'you dont need to see a doctor its your second baby' Same midwife also poo- pooed my desire to have an epidural again for the same reason!

MW have given me an appt for 41 weeks - nothing till then. GP agrees with me but says he has to go through MW as I dont have a named consultant. Grrrrr [angry}

mixedmama · 01/08/2007 14:32

why dont you have a named consultant? I had low risk uncomplicated care both last time and this time but still have a named consultant, I guess should anything actually go wrong and anyones pregnancy can become complicated and high risk.

boompi · 01/08/2007 14:37

No idea mixedmamma...I did last time but at a different hosptiatl this time round.

MW have also been writing NAD re my urine but not actually asking for a sample

I have been getting period like pains today though so maybe Im worrying about nothing.

mixedmama · 01/08/2007 14:44

I dont think you have too much to worry about, since babies will come when they are ready, which by most accounts seems to be later rather than earlier. Try to not to worry too much and have fun trying all the natural methods (altho not sure how much fun you might find nipple stimulation and sex at this point).

your midwife sounds like a nightmare, has she been like this all the way through.

Loopymumsy · 01/08/2007 15:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

typhoonsmum · 01/08/2007 16:06

My midwife says they go by LMP date not scan but not given a reason why. IMO scan dates are better - the earlier the scan the better to- as they show how far pregnant you actually are. LMP dates are a guess presuming you ovulated 14 days b4 your AF. MW says if the dates are less than a week different they go by the LMP date.

I work in the hospital and test my own urine b4 I go to the midwives so I know what they are going to say. Between weeks 32-38 I had glucose in the samples. They recorded it ONCE! All other times they said that it was NAD.

I know I'll prob go into labour before the 13 August(date they said they would prob induce me) and not need an induction but I was always told the placenta starts to not work as well after 40 weeks. So I was miffed that they are leaving it to 42 weeks. She tried to justify it by saying they really should be leaving it to 43 weeks but she didn't think that was fair.

OP posts:

mixedmama · 01/08/2007 16:19

typhoon - ur induction is on my bday... hope you go into labour naturally before then tho...

Original poster

typhoonsmum · 01/08/2007 16:20

it isn't booked but she said that if I haven't had the baby by tuesday they'll do a sweep and book an induction probably for the following monday. It hadn't be any later!

OP posts:

mixedmama · 01/08/2007 16:24

well i will be thinking of you from now on wards in the hope that it all kicks off then.

pooka · 02/08/2007 10:08

Fingers crossed everything kicks off soon for you.

Don't worry about the placenta degrading. Just keep a check on the baby's movements and have as much rest as you can beforehand.

DaisyMOO · 02/08/2007 10:31

Scan dates, even early ones are only accurate to +/- 5 days so they are not infallible and I actually think it's pretty undermining of a woman's confidence to change dates routinely if a woman knows her dates or when she ovulated. Nobody really knows when the placenta starts to become less efficient as it will vary from woman to woman. Statistically the risk of stillbirth is 'justified' by induction between 41 and 42 weeks, however for the vast vast majority of women it is safe to wait for much longer. Induced labour can be much more stressful for the baby too.

In France your due date is 41 weeks because most women will have given birth by then, whereas at 40 weeks a large number will still be pregnant. I wonder whether we'd be better doing that in the UK so that the 40 week mark is seen as less of a milestone. Maybe it would be easier to deal with going past 40 weeks if you didn't feel overdue until 41 weeks?

boompi · 03/08/2007 15:28

Fingers crossed for you Typhoonsmum.

Tuns out pain I had is a UTI - Missed as urine not checked. On antibiotics now and have consultant appt for Mon to discuss my concerns

beansprout · 03/08/2007 15:30

I went to 42 weeks with ds so I know how hard it is to wait, but induction really isn't a great option if your body isn't ready.

Flip

1 2