To induce? or not to induce? that is the question!!

[moominsmummy]

Am 40+10 and off to see consultant tomorrow about induction. Think they will want me in to be induced on wednesday (40+12). I had an induction for my first pg cos I went over dates (induced at +12) and didn't particularly enjoy the experience. Would rather NOT be induced but not sure I could last with the worry that I may be putting baby at risk for going any longer. Am hoping to persuade them to let me go until Friday (40+14).

really don't know what to do. don't want to rush into another induction but then don't want to risk baby at all. help!!!

Hav they offered to do a sweep first? I have been induced twice and was told that this time if I go over they'll do a sweep at 7 and 10 days over, before the full whammy induction

had an attempted sweep at 6 days over - cervix so high couldn't even reach it

I expect they will trying to do another tomorrow (I will certainly be demanding another attempt anyway)

I know it sounds ridiculous but I feel such a failure that I don't go into labour by myself. (of course not helped by people's continual smart comments "ooo - haven't you had it yet??")

I was induced with both my two and am pg now - I don't feel like a failure because I didn't go into labour! I just hated the waking up each day thinking "oh shit I'm still here"

Leave your answerphone on, message "haven't had the baby. If you wanted anything else, please say. If thats all you rang for, please piss off"

Hopefully sweep tomorrow will get things going for you, good luck

thanks - like the answerphone message

Your chance of going in to labour at this late stage is extremely high. If you wait until 14 or 16 days over it will increase your chances of having a spontaneous labour soooooo much. The risk to the baby is ever so slightly higher in pregnancies that go past 42 weeks, but it can be monitored with ultrasound scans. If it is an otherwise low risk pregnancy then why not at least wait until 14 days overdue. Chances are you will have it before then anyway.

You could also consider accupuncture and/or reflexology. The accupuncture really worked for me.

Hi

Nothing worked for me, 4 babies 4 inductions (waited +16 for the 2nd one) but the subsequent ones were all much better than the first one, once the gel started to dilate me it all went quite quick.

By the 4th time I just accepted it (still booked for the homebirth I knew I wouldn't get) and I was so much more realxed and chilled and it was a fantastic labour and birth and would do it all again tomorrow.

The big plus is that you can organise your childcare easier

I was induced with my first but argued to be left for longer with the others as I have a longer cycle and therefore conceived later and was not as overdue as calculated.
they all arrived 2 weeks later except the 4th but he was a bit of an unusual case!
you should be able to go to 40+14 I would have thought

My dc was 3 and a half weeks late! I resisted induction, much to hospital's horror and gave birth to my little girl, who was just perfect and covered in vernix after an 8 hour labour. Remember it really is your choice!

thanks everyone for your posts - I feel better informed now. am off to hospital to see consultant and see what the options are..