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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

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

114 replies

elisremi · 20/12/2021 15:31

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?

OP posts:

Igmum · 21/12/2021 08:05

I was induced at 42 + 1. Had really wanted to avoid induction but didn't want to risk DD. Induction worked straight away, birth and baby all fine. I would opt for induction OP.

timeisnotaline · 21/12/2021 08:05

It can change in hours and the baby that was perfectly healthy… isn’t. I wouldn’t wait it out. I was induced at 41+5 and only needed my waters broken to start it all off so it might be easy. The placenta looked a bit funny and it makes me feel sick thinking it might have been on the way out and stop supporting my baby. I was so glad my very healthy baby was out and safe, I would kick up a huge fuss before going 12 days over again.

bowlingalleyblues · 21/12/2021 08:07

I can’t remember my weeks plus days exactly, but I think they were both about 42 weeks and was similarly having monitoring daily. One of them was technically 43 weeks based on the scan date, but only 42 weeks based on my ovulation dates. Hospital will be very keen to induce as it’s a way for them to manage this risk and across the thousands of babies they deliver each year they will sadly see babies and mothers with bad outcomes which they will want to minimise. I would say make sure you are fully informed of the risks of induction and the risks of waiting. There is a pamphlet by the association of independent midwives which gives a lot of the pros and cons to help you make an informed choice. In summary: The chances of it going ‘wrong’ are low, but obviously the worst case scenario is awful. I did acupressure/acupuncture and delivered within a day, but that’s just anecdotal. Both births were quick and was definitely very ready!

PotteringAlong · 21/12/2021 08:08

My inductions were fine.

More importantly, my babies were fine.

Go in, be induced, don’t mess around with your babies life.

QueenJeanie · 21/12/2021 08:11

Incidentally my induction at 41 + 3 didn't go to plan but my baby was safe and well. That's really all that mattered.

Tiberius12 · 21/12/2021 08:13

Slightly different but I was induced at 35 weeks with dd2 as my waters broke and they were worried about infection. It was a much much more relaxing birth than with dd1 where I went into labour naturally at 39 weeks. I wouldn't hesitate to get induced if thats what the medical professionals are recommending

Fetchthevet · 21/12/2021 08:18

Please don't risk your baby's life because you've heard some bad stories about induction. I was induced because my baby was 11 days overdue and honestly it was all fine. But even if it hadn't been, I would still be encouraging you to be induced rather than risk giving birth to a dead baby.

bordermidgebite · 21/12/2021 08:18

I was induced and my baby was fine

Although it was clear that she could have easily died or been brain damaged if left longer

Follow the medical advice for your baby

mrsbitaly · 21/12/2021 08:23

There is a cut off point where it can become dangerous for the baby to stay in there. I was induced after 42 weeks and I actually enjoyed that birth more than I did my second birth which came on due date. I liked that it was more calm and planned I was prepared it made the experience better for me. I wish you all the best

HelloBunny · 21/12/2021 08:27

Once a doctor said the words stillbirth to me, I went along with any advice given. Induced at 40 weeks, due to my age they wouldn’t let me go over. Doctors offered me a C-Section both days I was in. Midwives said wait for labour / waters to break. My failed induction resulted in EMCS, anyway. Looking back I would have gone straight for the C-Section. My birth story does matter, the baby’s safety is paramount.

HelloBunny · 21/12/2021 08:30

Doesn’t matter, obvs...

Makingnumber2 · 21/12/2021 08:31

If you’re not keen for an induction is an ELCS an option for you instead?

MistandMud · 21/12/2021 08:34

One of mine was induced at 41 weeks, and was recorded as a second-stage labour of 4 minutes (we'd gone for a small stroll 'to get things moving' and had to turn round smartish to get back into delivery ward).

There wasn't time to think much beyond 'ow ow this is a bit intense - oh, all done.'

Borderterrierpuppy · 21/12/2021 08:42

Hi Op I really understand your wish for normality for you and your baby I wholeheartedly believe that lots of intervention isn’t warranted in birth.
However sometimes intervention is absolutely the right path for you and your baby. Continuing your pregnancy past 42 weeks can put your baby at increased risk of dying before birth.
I work as a midwife and have delivered some of these babies, including babies where parents had refused induction. I can’t explain to you how heartbroken these lovely parents were, they genuinely thought they had made the right choices until their baby died. That the problem with numbers/ statistics and risk, nobody ever thinks they will be the one.
Are there particular aspects of induction that are making you hesitate? Perhaps have a chat with a midwife or Dr about the process in detail?

randomsabreuse · 21/12/2021 08:43

I'd go for one pessary then C-section tbh. Should be nearly ready to go and if it takes more than the pessary then there's something positional/size related going on that will probably mean intervention will be necessary eventually so would skip to C-section...

I had almost exactly the same labour progression and outcome with my spontaneous birth as with my induced second. Both needed an easy ventouse so I can't exactly blame the induction for it. Spontaneous birth had meconium in waters while induced one didn't. Spontaneous birth I had a tear which was tight/sore once healed, with the induction I had an episiotomy which has solved the scarring from before.

ThreeLocusts · 21/12/2021 08:58

Three time inductee here,- I had no choice as waters had broken so there was danger of infection.

I did regret having to be in the most medicalised kind of setting, and I wished my womb didn't need this kind of kick up the arse, so to speak. So see where you're coming from.

But I needed no other interventions and APGAR scores were b/w 8 and 10. I'd go for induction again.

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 21/12/2021 09:26

You're hearing horror stories because unfortunately the risk of death is much higher at this stage.

You say 'while she's happy and healthy I would much rather wait for her to come on her own'. Things can change very quickly though.

This happened to one of my friends, and resulted in a horrific delivery with her baby born severely brain damaged. They had to make the decision to withdraw treatment after a few days and let her go. One of the saddest funerals I have ever been to as you can imagine. She was fine in the womb right up until she wasn't fine and then it was too late.

Don't risk your baby.

FreeBritnee · 21/12/2021 09:38

I had a sweep at 39 weeks to protect against still birth due to advanced maternal age. Labour started about 12 hours later and the birth was uneventful.

LividLaVidaLoca · 21/12/2021 09:47

These threads terrify me. Nobody ever thinks bad stuff will happen to them.

HopefulProcrastinator · 21/12/2021 10:27

@LividLaVidaLoca

These threads terrify me. Nobody ever thinks bad stuff will happen to them.

Couldn't agree more, I can't imagine much worse than a pregnancy ending with a stillbirth and have taken all recommended medical steps to reduce that risk including an induction for one and planned section for the other.

I have two healthy children thanks to the advice and diligence of medical staff. Nature wouldn't have given me the same.

Fallagain · 21/12/2021 10:32

@LividLaVidaLoca

These threads terrify me. Nobody ever thinks bad stuff will happen to them.

I agree too. While I think birth can be over medicalised going over 42 is a massive risk. Not one I would be willing to take.

OP your baby has to come out one way or another. Left to it’s own device your body may not go into labour in time to deliver a healthy baby. Unfortunately nature doesn’t care about individuals and maternal and neonatal deaths still exist in the UK.

wallyrag · 21/12/2021 10:41

I've had induction with my eldest, my twins and my youngest (4weeks). I've had good experiences. I had just gas and air with my eldest and epidural with the rest and I can honestly say that both labours were so calm and I could happily go through them again. I've had two spontaneous labours, both has and air. One where baby was back to back and that was very difficult.
It's your choice obviously, just wanted to say that it's not all scare stories. I don't think any of my children who were induced were affected, my four week old came out extremely calm, no crying just looking around.
Best of luck to you 😊

isurvived3under2 · 21/12/2021 10:41

I had a twin induction, I was dreading it. It was an amazing positive birth, not stressful for anyone. Without wanting to share any horror stories, and based on friends' experience, please don't leave it any longer. Baby can be fine until he/she is no longer fine, sadly.

rosed1008 · 21/12/2021 10:45

Another one with a positive induction overdue story! No pitocin or anything needed just popped my waters, she was out in 45 minutes... only 10 minutes of pushing and she was totally ready to come out.

I was scared of induction but I think if your body is almost there its fine, my sister was induced at 38 weeks and it was tougher. Good luck!

Heruka · 21/12/2021 10:48

OP I think a thread like this is the last thing you need. When weighing up your own feelings and personalised medical advice, having a load of other peoples emotions and anxieties added in isn’t likely to help you. What are your medical team saying? Ie what is the increased risk of stillbirth in numerical terms and are you comfortable with that? Do you have a cut off point in your mind of how long you feel ok waiting?

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