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Childbirth

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

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:
batmanladybird · 21/12/2021 10:51

I had ARm for twins at 38+1 (babies were 13lbs between them)
It was wonderful

bonetiredwithtwins · 21/12/2021 11:14

For every 20 positive overdue stories there could be 1 tragedy. It baffles me why anyone would be comfortable taking the risk that they could be that 1 person. Aren't inductions due to be reduced from 42 weeks to 41 soon? Surely they wouldn't do that with no medical reason?

ShowOfHands · 21/12/2021 11:19

We need to move away from the narrative that people's lived, honest experiences are "horror stories". They're not. They're part of a broad spectrum of experiences and should be respected as such. I cherry picked positive stories in my first pregnancy and ended up falling into the chasm between an ideal and the reality and it did me and my baby no favours.

Corbally · 21/12/2021 11:25

I had an ELCS at 42+3 because I turned out to be a poor induction candidate. I agree with others that cherrypicking outcomes isn't helpful in your situation. Just decide with your consultant/midwife how to get that baby out asap. Good luck!

amidsummernightsdream · 21/12/2021 11:30

I went to 42+5, i really wanted a homebirth. Had all the extra monitoring etc.
In the end i decided to opt for a c-section instead of being induced. For me personally it wasnt a process i wanted to go through.
Although it was a huge mindset shift for me (never in a million years thought i would choose a c section) it was 100% the right choice for me and i don’t regret. Go with what you think is best xx

missymousey · 21/12/2021 11:44

I refused induction at 40w but had a wonderful EMCS at 41+3 (baby was getting distressed and stuck after multi day spontaneous labour). Husband was with me in theatre and I was fully conscious and aware to meet my son. Honestly the best moment of my life. If you don't want induction, do consider ELCS. Subsequently had an uncomplicated spontaneous VBAC with DD but I much preferred my CS.

Notbluepeter · 21/12/2021 11:48

There is a lady on the bereavement forum right now who had a still birth at 40+3. The baby had been healthy at a scan 8 hours prior. I would be doing everything in my power to (preferably) have an elective c section, or at least be induced. Remembering that inductions also have risks, particularly risks of oxygen deprivation.

Tempusfudgeit · 21/12/2021 11:54

For Sale
Baby shoes
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E. Hemingway

Iwannabeadog · 21/12/2021 11:58

I will add to the positive induction stories too .I was desperate to avoid and was v nervous, as I felt i had only heard horror induction tales.
However, I only needed 1 pessary, lovely slow 1st stage (wandering around ward, sent DH home to nap and childcare!) then quickish v normal final stage. She was pretty shrivelled on exit but fine - I was 42.
I try to tell as many people as I can about a positive induction tale 😁

SleighbellsZ · 21/12/2021 12:00

I don't understand people who know the risks of their baby, still don't want to be induced at this point.

Get your baby out op.

NiceTwin · 21/12/2021 12:01

I would be wanting baby out asap by any means possible.
I had 2 overdue induced births. First was back to back and took a while to get going but had a lovely birth.
Second, baby was induced at 41+4 and finally put in an appearance at 42+2. Her birth was a bit hairy and she wasn't in great shape when she arrived but didn't take long to come too.

If I was ever pregnant again I won't be, I would happily be induced.

viques · 21/12/2021 12:03

I would rather be induced than risk being bluelighted over Christmas into a hospital where most of the consultants were on leave , ditto theatre staff, experienced nursing and midwifery staff and the cafe was closed.

jibberjabberwocky · 21/12/2021 12:04

My first daughter was born +10 - no problems - this was 1993 - they were talking to us about being induced but that's not what we wanted. Natural birth 8lb 14oz - it was an amazing experience. Obviously you have to decide for yourself based partly on the advice you get from the medics - we felt very confident, had prepared well mentally and physically and weren't anxious. The problem is - whatever you have in mind - you have to accept that your birth might not work out as you would like - this was reinforced at our NCT classes - you can have a plan but you also have accept - really accept - that you might have to make decisions and do something you didn't plan to , e.g. pain relief. Best of luck!

bubblebath62636 · 21/12/2021 12:06

Please get your baby out OP. A section if you really don't want an induction.

Things can go wrong very quickly.

HopeYourHighHorseBucks · 21/12/2021 12:07

If you're going by the scans etc then it will be fine, until it isn't. There will be no warning.

It's whether you want to risk it or not. I personally wouldn't. I would rather be in a setting, where if things went wrong quickly then we would have the best shot at fixing it.

rifling · 21/12/2021 12:09

I was induced at 41+3 and no interventions needed apart from emergency suction due to thick meconium.

GiltEdges · 21/12/2021 12:10

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.

This, 100%. Sadly I've known someone IRL who had a stillbirth at 42+3, despite having had a perfectly normal scan the day before. She was so determined beforehand that her baby would be born "naturally" without any interventions and, as you can imagine, was completely destroyed by what happened. It was a number of years ago now, but she's never gone on to have another baby, as she holds herself fully responsible for what happened and says she couldn't live with the guilt of replacing the DD she should have had Sad

Ultimately it's your choice OP, but please don't ignore the negative stories in favour of the positive because you're hell bent on a certain outcome. The only outcome that matters is the safe delivery of a healthy baby.

Thanks
Viviennemary · 21/12/2021 12:11

Why has the number of still births and women dying in labour gone down massively. Medical intervention would be the main reason IMHO.

InTheNightWeWillWish · 21/12/2021 12:12

Another positive induction here and mine was at 38+1. I’m probably in the minority but I had an initial induction booked for 39 weeks but brought it forward after a bought of reduced movements. The anxiety for her safe arrival was just too much and I took the induction in part for my mental health as well as the risk to her.

Someone in at the same time as me and a bit further along had a horrible induction. I think it depends if your body and baby is ready but there’s no way of knowing that until you start. If the induction isn’t positive then it’s probably because your body wasn’t ready but then you have to weigh up how long it would be until you are ready and whether the placenta would fail at any point in that time. Given inductions are only offered on medical grounds, you have to wonder if you’d be naturally ready before there was an issue.

Original poster
elisremi · 21/12/2021 12:15

I am booked in for induction tomorrow. All tests were fine again this morning.

OP posts:
CC12x · 21/12/2021 12:16

I was induced with my daughter and it was honestly fine. So quick and I don't think she was stressed at all..I'm due to get induced tomorrow. Good luck Op we got to do what we got to do to bring our babies safely into the world x

Incognito22333 · 21/12/2021 12:17

One of my close friends went to 42 weeks 3 times and induced each time, fast labour, baby in arm 3-6 hours in each case. She had an epidural with baby 2 and 3. Said that made all the difference.
If an epidural is already in they can usually move fast to C-section if required.
At 42+3 I would either ask for a C section or straight into induction. I would just want my baby out safely rather than risk further delay. I wouldn’t be focussed on the birth anymore that I wanted, just the baby coming out healthy as quickly as possible.

Hmumoftw0 · 21/12/2021 12:18

@elisremi There was a story on here recently a woman refused to be induced went into labour and ended up emergency c-section.

I was induced with both of mine and all went fine, much preferred having the control tbh

SandysMam · 21/12/2021 12:19

I had a fabulous induced birth! I don’t understand why people are so against them?!!

OutOfBounds · 21/12/2021 12:20

So glad you're booked in. I had an easy induction at 42 +14. All fine.
No one said at the time, but in hindsight I'm honestly horrified that I didn't go in earlier, no one tells you the delayed induction stillbirth stories when you're pregnant.
All the best OP