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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:
almostforgotitwastwilight · 21/12/2021 12:20

FWIW I had an induction at 42 weeks and had an amazing birth, 2 pessaries and went into labour quickly and lovely DD born 8 hrs later 😊
FTM too.

Tomselleckhaskindeyes · 21/12/2021 12:20

i had an induction at 42. Have you had a stretch and sweep.

Yamaya · 21/12/2021 12:21

Glad to hear you have decided to go for the induction. My induction was brilliant, with the drip too. Only needed gas and air and gave birth on my hands and knees the way I wanted to.

OutOfBounds · 21/12/2021 12:22

Ah sorry induction at 42 or 40 + 14. Blush

Peaseblossum22 · 21/12/2021 12:24

I was induced at 38 weeks with ds3 , apart from a little gas and air at the end I had no pain relief , was mobile all the way through. He was fine and we were home within 12 hours

AndrewPeacock · 21/12/2021 12:25

Glad you're booked in - another positive induction here (35 weeks, straight to drip, no epidural, under 4 hours, no injuries and baby safe). It was actually so positive that I had another booked for baby 2 at 37 weeks but they came along themselves the day before. Good luck for tomorrow.

HarrietM87 · 21/12/2021 12:26

2 fantastic inductions here. First one at 40+12, second on due date because my waters had gone but labour didn’t start. Both of them just needed one dose of the gel. Both were

SeaToSki · 21/12/2021 12:30

I have had 4 babies and 4 inductions. Turns out Im not very good at getting labour started (but bloody good at pushing them out though 🤣)

All were straight forward and both babies and I were healthy and happy

Glad you are booked in for tomorrow

Tip for pushing. Pretend you are pushing out the biggest poo of your life. It activates the muscles you need. Often women push like they are peeing and that doesnt work nearly so well

angeltattoo · 21/12/2021 12:31

Good luck OP, hope it goes really well!

RandomMess · 21/12/2021 12:33

Glad you are going in tomorrow.

Even at 42 and 42+3 my bishops score was only 1, it was 1 before I even got pregnant as that wasn't with my first. I too just don't seem to start labour under my own steam.

I too have a very quick 2nd stage once my cervix actually gets going!

IgneousRock · 21/12/2021 12:38

So relieved to hear that OP. Good luck!

HollyChristmas · 21/12/2021 12:41

I went 42+5 before I was induced . Baby was 7lb 12 so midwife said my dates must have been wrong , baby never full engaged either .

2ndTimeRound90 · 21/12/2021 12:45

Glad you decided to get booked in. Keep a good eye on that little ones movements in the meantime and don't hesitate to go in if you feel in any way concerned. I had a overdue friend in the same position and she was worried about reduced movements the night before her induction, went in to double check and ended up with an emergency section that night due to placenta failure and baby was in hospital for 6 weeks in a bad way. The consultant told her that if she had held off checking until her booked induction the next day then the outcome would have been very different! Just trust your gut ❤

Mushypeasandchipstogo · 21/12/2021 12:46

Another who says listen to the medics but is it possible to have an ECS, I would opt for this any day over being induced?

pianolessons1 · 21/12/2021 12:47

There is a small but increasing daily risk of sudden and unpredictable stillbirth. If you're happy to take that risk then crack on. It can't be predicted or prevented.

SusannaQueen · 21/12/2021 12:55

I have no idea about 42wks, I was only allowed to get to 38wks. But I had a planned induction and it wasn't a horror show, I think it's probably a bit better to go into it as a planned situation and just wanted to counter balance the poor stories you may have heard.

Vursayles · 21/12/2021 12:59

I’d have the induction in my situation (and I did, twice!) though I really would rather not have. I’m risk averse and if anything had happened to baby suddenly and without warning in between scans I would never have been able to forgive myself. You are you however, and need to take the advice your doctors give, and weigh it up to make your own choice.

First induction was awful. Second was ok, despite having ARM and then the drip. It’s not all horror stories trust me.

Chunkymonkey13 · 21/12/2021 13:05

There is different levels of inductions, you could ask for your waters to be broken and just monitored. You may start to contract naturally.

Wnikat · 21/12/2021 13:07

Please get induced, I don’t know any stories of people going over 42.5 weeks that end positively

womaninatightspot · 21/12/2021 13:07

I was induced twice once at 36 weeks with twins and at 40 weeks both times it was fine. Short labour, everyone healthy no further interventions/ forceps/ ventouse needed.

Original poster
elisremi · 21/12/2021 13:11

@OutOfBounds

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
Oh my goodness, you were pregnant for 44 weeks? What were your medical team saying to you and your belly must have been HEAVY? Even now at 42+4 she feels so heavy that I'm incapable of doing anything except lying on my side 😳
OP posts:
Yogaandcocoa · 21/12/2021 13:13

Rate of stillbirth increase past 40 weeks as placenta, cord etc can fail

I had a stillbirth at 40+3 after everything was fine 2 days before so I would always elect to be induced before 40 weeks personally

Jessicabrassica · 21/12/2021 13:36

I was booked (reluctantly) at 42w but ended up going in in labour a couple of hours before. I ended up under consultant care, was told i was too overdue for the water birth that I'd been hanging on for (which is why I didn't want to be induced).

Delivery was messy and time spent on NICU was traumatic for us both.

But that is our story not yours.
It's worth exploring what you think you would lose by accepting an induction and weigh that up against the possible costs of not being induced.

Cattoes · 21/12/2021 13:41

I had a home birth at 42 + 4. Easiest birth out of my two (first was also at home but on time) and everything went well.

Senseofsomething · 21/12/2021 13:47

I was induced at 39 weeks due to previous stillbirth. It was my choice to be induced early for my next pregnancy.

Induction was totally fine. As far as any birth is fine. I don’t think birth is ever great. You just need a healthy baby out asap at this point. Good luck!