Induction at weekend?

[Charkd]

Anyone any knowledge of whether wait times are likely to be worse with a weekend date for an induction? I've been offered Thursday or Saturday, asked if can delay until Monday but no slots apparently. Just heard lots of horror stories of women being stuck on ward for days waiting for a space and know September meant to be frantic for births anyway

Both my induction experiences were during the weekdays so I can’t comment specifically but to my knowledge I suppose you may have a slightly higher chance of delay on a weekend because of generally less staff around but in all honesty I know loads who have had inductions delayed in weekdays aswell. It’s all the luck of the draw of how many women are delivering/bed status etc etc.

And also to add if they are happy to get you in and you can secure a bed I would also jump at the opportunity so they are then less likely to cancel once your actually in a bed and ready to go

As charley says, a lot of it is to do with how many other women are delivering. Midwife staffing should be the same, but there'll be fewer doctors around. Notably anaesthetists.

September isn't always too bad. Anecdotally, my Wednesday start, early September induction got me onto delivery suite at 3am Thursday morning, even though I wasn't quite ready to have my waters burst yet. They only had one labourer at the time (the only other Wednesday induction), and were desperate.

However, my Monday start, early-mid March induction saw me finally reach delivery suite 8am Friday morning. Women kept coming in in spontaneous labour, bumping all the inductions back. Then there were emergency inductions, which by there nature were triaged to the top of the list. And then some women waiting for inductions also went into spontaneous labour/waters broke, hopping the queue. I think I was told I was third on the list to start. I dropped to eighth at one point.

Tbh I would take the Thursday slot. Still a weekday, and hopefully you'll be down on labour ward on the Friday. If you're going to get an epidural, request it before before 4-5pm, and definitely before 8pm. Bitter experience talking.

I was booked in for a Wednesday- was told they would avoid the weekend due to 'ghosting staffing' so that sounded worrying

I was delayed to start by 13 hours so lots of waiting around before anything. Ended up needed a DR but they won't start you until there is a midwife assigned and for me that was waiting 13 hrs

I would take the earliest date with that said as I feel even that could have you waiting around as like others have said, it very much depends on the other ladies labouring

What I did pick up from my birth experience just how understaffed the midwife's are x

I was booked for a Saturday. Wasn’t asked to come in until after 6pm. Induction didn’t start till midnight!

Thanks very much. Does sound like it's the luck of the draw! Yes, was told about the "ghost staffing" at weekend when had previous c sec so that was my concern. Bah it is what it is, not going to lie is making me wonder whether should just opt for another section! Really feel for the midwives having to manage the numbers, it sounds horrendous right now

I was booked for Thursday morning - they rang twice to delay and eventually asked me to come in at 7pm on Friday evening. Once I got there they decided they couldn’t start as labour ward was full… eventually they started on Monday morning! I was so fed up by then. The induction then failed, and I went into labour naturally on Thursday morning, went to labour ward in the afternoon for an epidural at 4cm, then had the baby at 6am on Friday morning.

i would call just before you’re due to go in to ask if they will actually be able to start the induction. If not, it’s better to stay at home in your own space.

also read up on the kinds of induction they offer - I was offered diaplan rods but as I’d never heard of them I refused, in retrospect they might have been a better option for me. Despite being there for ages I didn’t feel like I had all the information I needed.

All the best for the arrival of your little one.

Oh, and remember you can request a c section at any point in the process.

To clarify - I had the baby a week after arriving at hospital!