Chance of induction

[Casuallydresseddeepinconversation]

I had an induction with my almost 13 year old and my 19 month old, what are the chances of spontaneous labour, currently 24 weeks, Both were due to post dates,no medical complications or issues, I don't want another induction! As there's a smaller age gap this time will that increase the likelihood my body will just get on with it?!

I was induced with all 4 of mine 🤷🏽‍♀️

What were the reasons if you don't mind me asking

It is impossible for anyone to tell you the likelihood of you going into spontaneous labour. If you have no medical complications and there are no concerns about your baby's growth, movements, etc, then have a think about whether you would want to delay induction and have regular monitoring instead. Sarah Wickham has lots of useful info about this on her website.

Sorry that should say ...of you going into spontaneous labour by 41 weeks. If left long enough you would eventually go into labour by yourself but the system isn't particularly encouraging of this, sometimes for good reason, but not always.

@Casuallydresseddeepinconversation for being overdue.

Went 17 days over with DC2 and still hadn't gone into spontaneous labour 🙄 loads of thick meconium and a 10lb 6oz baby. I was induced with #4 at 42 weeks because I didn't want to risk waiting any longer because daily monitoring only tells you how things are for that moment in time and there was no placenta scanning available.

What gestations were you induced at? I'm just asking because all my labours have been spontaneous however I was offered induction earlier than I went into labour with both my 2nd and 3rd child.

DC1 was born at 40 weeks.

DC2 I was offered induction purely for post-dates from 41w but I declined and opted for 41+5. He was born spontaneously at 41+4.

DC3 I had low papp-A so I was offered induction for that from 39 weeks. I declined and opted for 41 weeks. He was born spontaneously at 39+3.

So 2/3 of mine would have been induced labours if I had accepted induction when they offered, but I didn't, so they were born spontaneously.

I'm not advising you to decline or delay induction necessarily but it's an option.

I was just looking for anecdotes not a scientific guarantee

Apologies if I have offended, my post was intended to support you to make a decision right for you, not as criticism. Hope you have a good pregnancy and the birth you want x

I'm scheduled for a c-sec on Monday at 39+2, but if I decide not to go through with it, I plan to decline induction until 40+2.

That said, I'm a 41-year old VBAC candidate, who didn't labour at all with my first. While I'm very cautious of the risks of going overdue, I'm also aware and wary of possible interventions following induction, which will be mechanical methods (sweep, dilipan-S rods) only for me in the first instance. 40+2 feels like a good compromise for me. I'm guessing they'll be on me to induce asap if I pull out of my ELCS, but if I can hold off until then, at least I give myself a chance at going spontaneously! I'll also still have childcare sorted around then.

So my first was delivered at 42 weeks so I guess induction started a day or too beforehand, tried to delay induction with my 2nd,finally relented and she arrived at 42+4

I don't think there's any way to predict it unfortunately

It sounds similar to me that you have long pregnancies. I have a very curved lower spine arch and I do wonder if my babies don't press on my cervix.

Getting me into established labour always takes so much time but once it gets going is quick!

My youngest 3 were born with 3 years and 6 weeks so that didn't seem to make much of a difference either.

I booked in my induction date early with last one and made my peace with it and was for more chilled etc. can honestly say it wasn't particularly painful I was so much more relaxed etc

Hi I had induction with my first at 37 weeks old bcos I had low amniotic fluid it was quick and very painful birth. I got pregnant 9 months later and had spontaneous birth at home (couldn’t make it to hospital cos of pain) I had her within half an hour the ambulance arrived when she was coming out. My third I went over 41 weeks and few days I was induced and it was very painful as well more painful than my first. I’m now 31 weeks pregnant with abnormal placenta and I’m very scared I will be induced but this could put me at risk bcos of my placenta etc. hope you have a smooth birth. Every birth is different and very i predictable.

I definitely don't think you can predict anything or even plan much unless it is an elected section. 5 births, first 3 late but not induced - every birth completely different other than no c-sections, all big babies (9-11lb). Last two induced, DC4 at 41 weeks, big baby, was 9lb 13oz, no signs of moving. last one was my smallest at 8lb 13oz but but induced at 37 weeks (due to bad lying position (on side) and concern about size and predisposition for quick labour, they basically did not think I would get to the hospital in time - he got head down briefly and they took their chance to induce while he was in the right position) Hated being induced. Don't get me wrong, every labour was painful in its own way, but being induced is something else. I was really keen to be induced for DC4, but hated most of it (relentless "sore" pain, not being able to distinguish the general pain from labour pains for me, or the midwife team saying I was not in proper labour despite being in abject agony, had to beg to go to birthing suite, no chance of epidural, born within 10 minutes of getting in there and it was all a bit of a panic). Had an epidural with DC5, so not as bad, but god knows the induction was continuous and sore. Obv you have to take their advice, but I would have been happier to let my body decide.

^i agree. We can never predict how a labour can turn up. I just pray and pray bcos this pregnancy is so worrying to me. I have never heard of this (placenta with an accessory) before and the risk is a lot. I’m 31 weeks everything seems fine. I just hate that every pregnancy something new comes up I never bought about before but at the end kids are fine. Wishing every mummy a smooth birth 😊