42+3 and really don't want to be induced.

[elisremi]

I wondered if any of you had gone over 42 weeks and what your experience was like? I'm now 42+3 and baby is moving as normal, passing her NSTS, ultrasound/fluid/placenta all look good. I really don't want to be induced and put her through the stress of that. Obviously if she's not doing well, I wouldn't think twice about being induced. But while she's happy and healthy I would much rather wait for her to come on her own. All I'm hearing is horror stories from people who went to 42-43 weeks. Wondering what anyone here's experience was?

A friend of mine went into labour at 42+5 (had daily monitoring) and has a normal delivery and healthy (9lb 8oz!) baby. A friend of a friend went over 42 weeks and very sadly had a stillbirth. Scan 2 days before was absolutely fine. Not to frighten you but that’s my only experiences of people going over.

I had an induction and it was completely fine. Didn't lead to any other interventions, no injuries to me. Just to let you know that not all inductions are hideous.

I'd do whatever the medics suggest to be honest. Better safe than sorry.

Good luck.

You don’t have to have an induction. My c section (at 37 weeks due to APS) was perfect.

Honestly though please listen to your doctors. They have seen situations like yours many times before and have that experience to advise you with - and like anything else, things are always going well until they aren’t.

Good luck xx

I was induced at 42+2 and everything went well. No interventions needed, DD scored 9 on first APGAR and then 10 on second.

I had an induction 13 days after my due date. Best birth I've had!

I'm happy to hear something positive!

I was induced 14 days after due date and it was great- super fast! Your body is probably very ready too. Good luck. X

A long time ago I was in a similar position to you and freaking out about induction and all the horror stories I'd heard. I asked for some positive induction stories and got heaps.

People who have good induction stories usually don't talk about them because they preceded the even better part, or they're postpartum and tired! There are plenty of them though.

It can go badly, but that doesn't mean it will. And to be honest, you're at a point in the pregnancy now where baby has had a lot of chance to come out alone/spontaneously. If you have an induction it's for a very good reason. It also doesn't mean that you've in any way "failed" - that might not be an issue for you but I've heard mothers feel bad because they didn't got into spontaneous labour. It's really an inaccurate and unhelpful way of looking at it. I'd say that baby loves her warm, snug home and might need some enticing out.

I was induced (just had my waters broken) when she was two weeks late and it was a fast easy birth, with no pain relief needed.

Your risk of still birth is climbing by the day. The induction at 42 will be much easier- you just need a little push because the baby is ready as opposed to early inductions when you have to really convince your body to get going

I was induced at
41 weeks
43 +3
40
42

The one at 42+3 has the thickest grade meconium in her waters and I was unwell after her birth. She was 10lb 6oz. Never wanted that experience again lots of people around and them worrying because of the thick meconium.

The one at 42 weeks was better, no meconium under 9lb 10oz. No continuous monitoring 2 pessaries.

You are already in the window of no home birth etc so please don't risk it.

The ones induced earlier needed ARM abs were lengthy affairs, I had epidural for the first 3 too. I delivered them all unassisted. No tears etc induction can be a straightforward birth.

I was offered an induction but turned it down in favour of a c section. I wouldn't want to go beyond 42 weeks.

There is now quite good evidence about the dangers of 'managing' a pregnancy beyond 42w. This Guardian article summarizes a massive Swedish experimental study that was halted early due to babies dying:

amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/oct/28/post-term-pregnancy-research-cancelled-babies-die-sweden

I had a baby at 41 naturally and she was already over cooked. My placenta was degrading and she got stuck from the size of her. No way would I have wanted to go even a day later.
The second later birth was much worse than my first who was earlier. Given the choice again I would be induced as early as possible.

My friend also had a stillbirth at 42. Honestly, the professionals don’t just make medical advice up and I think anyone refusing to listen to it is crazy

It's purely anecdotal, but I've noticed that people I know who were induced at 41-42 weeks generally had quite a positive experience. It's the ones who were induced early (37 weeks ish) who seemed to have more difficult births. Maybe because for the later inductions, their bodies were very close to going into labour naturally anyway?

Good luck with the birth

There's no point cherry picking "positive" stories to suit your own narrative. It's dangerous basically and your scans will be fine until sadly they are really not fine. Medics do not give advice to induce just for the sake of it.

@tocas

There's no point cherry picking "positive" stories to suit your own narrative. It's dangerous basically and your scans will be fine until sadly they are really not fine. Medics do not give advice to induce just for the sake of it.

I agree with this completely.

You are mostly "hearing horror stories" because that's what a bad outcome is. The death of a baby. A horror story.

Op I've got a good induction story. Never needed anything beyond the pessary.
But I think if you go in today you've a good chance of getting baby evicted and being home in time for Santa.
That said just don't have your baby on Christmas Eve it's a rotten day for a birthday, everyone is too busy to be bothered with it.
Good luck.

My friend was trying to avoid being induced, but when she eventually was induced it went very smoothly and she had a quick birth with no complications. She says she doesn't know why she was so keen to avoid it!

Another positive induction story here and would do it again next time if needed! No pain relief or other intervention required.

I don't know anyone who has gone over 42 weeks but I personally wouldn't risk it in a million years.

Another induced at 42 weeks. It took a while to get going but my actual birth was fine. I avoided the drip, no intervention and just gas and air.
Not all inductions are bad.

@tocas

There's no point cherry picking "positive" stories to suit your own narrative. It's dangerous basically and your scans will be fine until sadly they are really not fine. Medics do not give advice to induce just for the sake of it.

I agree with this. Everyone who has had a stillborn would have had reassuring scans at one point. The medical advice is there for a reason. To be very blunt (purely out of concern) I would rather have an induction than a dead baby. You don't want to put your baby through an induction but are happy enough to have your baby suffer towards the end with a degrading placenta etc.

@tocas

There's no point cherry picking "positive" stories to suit your own narrative. It's dangerous basically and your scans will be fine until sadly they are really not fine. Medics do not give advice to induce just for the sake of it.

This. If a pessary doesn’t tip you into labour at this point, there’s probably something amiss anyway. Nobody wants induction. Mine was at 37 weeks with a first baby, but I did it because it was advised & I would have walked over hot coals to get her here safely. Just go in and get induced and stop listening to the insta birthing ‘goddesses’ who have zero personal or professional investment in your situation.

I had two inductions and both were fine. I think the possible downside of induction (if there is any) must be far less than the serious risk of a potential still birth if the baby is not induced.

But I would urge you to listen to the advice from the doctors and not a random collection of unqualified women on mumsnet.