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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

So what's the deal about going overdue, and what are the risks and benefits to being induced?

19 replies

MrsTittleMouse · 22/09/2008 22:07

I've been going over my birth plan with DH, and when it came to what we would do if I went overdue, we've hit a bit of a blank. I know that induction can be very fast and painful, and that if I'm induced I will have to go to the consultant-led unit (and therefore have less options for an active natural birth).

So does anyone have any experiences/opinions about my options if I go overdue? I think that I would rather be monitored for a while and give my body a chance to do things by itself, but obviously that can't go on forever!

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StormInanEcup · 22/09/2008 23:40

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ajm200 · 23/09/2008 08:54

I used to work with a guy whose little boy ended up with water on his brain and learning diffiiculties after his wife was left to go to 42+7 with regular scans and the placenta started to die. I know of others that have refused the induction and had healthy babies.. it is a risk that you have to consider when making your decision.

I was induced with DS due to health reasons, the labour was intense but as he was my first I have nothing to compare it to. I managed a VB without interventions but there is a risk of you becoming tired and needing help to deliver baby.

You may find that you end up in the consultant led unit anyway if you go over 42 weeks. Most Trusts consider anything over 42 weeks as risky.

LeonieD · 23/09/2008 09:25

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AnnVan · 23/09/2008 10:54

The risk of going beyond two weeks overdue is that there is an increased chance of the placenta failing. BUT - the risk of placenta failure is still really small.
I gave birth to my baby boy last tuesday, having refused induction. I was 42+3 by the time he was born. Having said that, I don't know how much longer I would have left it to be induced.
The chances of having interventions like forceps or c-section go up if you're induced. And labour is supposed to be more painful.
I am really glad that I refused induction,and opted for the monitoring, and I had a really positive experience when he finally decided to come along.
One word of warning is that if you do decide to be monitored, be prepared for a lot of pressure. The midwives were generally very supportive, but I had consultants constantly trying to bully me into being induced. One even went so far as to lie about monitoring results to panic me into accepting (it worked, and I agreed, but they were too busy to indce that day, and did a further ive hours of monitoring which showed baby was fine, so I was lucky).A lot of the pressure was purely because the policy is only to allow two weeks overdue, not because of genuine concern for your baby. I agree that it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the NICE guidelines as well.
I think the important thing is to make an informed choice. Also decide how far you will go - I had said that I wouldn't want to go more than midweek, so if he didn't arrive by then I would accept induction.

Original poster

MrsTittleMouse · 23/09/2008 13:54

Oh dear, it is so hard to decide how to balance the risk of going overdue versus the risk of induction. I suppose at least I won't have to make a snap decision and I can come onto Mumsnet for opinions at the time.

OP posts:

RaggedRobin · 23/09/2008 14:36

i posted this on another thread:

this article nonsensus consensus really gave me the confidence to refuse induction after going over my dates for the second time.

it calls into question much of the research which is used to push women into agreeing to inductions, and pretty much suggests that the risks to baby from going over due dates are actually pretty similar to the risks to the baby from intervention. it is focussed on the canadian experience where inductions seem to be routine from 40 +7 but, in scotland anyway, they seem to routinely induce at 40 +10, which isn't that much better.

i'm so glad i refused my second induction - had a wonderful water birth on the morning after i had been booked in for induction. i suppose it depends very much on the reasons for being induced - if there are no real medical reasons and the hospital policy is based on (possibly) faulty research, then i would question the wisdom of rushing into it.

onceinalifetime · 23/09/2008 14:48

MTM, don't assume induction is quick and painful, it can be very slow and painless - and ultimately fail which is what happened to me. I had a long induction with almost no progress, epidural - hence no pain, and eventually was recommended to have an emergency cs due to change in baby's heartbeat. Sounds worse than it was but in the end I just wanted dd out and ok. I think that once overdue the options are really (a) going overdue and hoping it'll all happen naturaly, (b) induction and (c) possibly c-section (not in any order) as all three are possibles at that stage. Not trying to worry you at all but just that once you start going overdue and up to the maximum (2 wks at my hospital) you do have to keep an open mind. My birth plan was awash with water births, candles, music, etc, none of which materialised

Original poster

MrsTittleMouse · 23/09/2008 15:08

This is my second delivery, so I know all about the best laid birth plans. It's funny how much of mine is and then "let's see how we feel" or "let's see what the midwife reckons".

I know from the last time though that I do better if I'm just left alone to get on with it, which I know will be less likely if I'm induced. Hopefully I won't be on here in 4 or 5 weeks trying to make up my mind, but will go into labour spontaneously.

OP posts:

Anglepoise · 25/09/2008 00:27

Bumping for more opinions/information because this is looking like a decision I'm probably going to have to make in the next few days

I'm currently term+10 days (since it's past midnight) and had a second sweep today, which has done sod all so far. 50% effaced, 1 cm dilated (from sweep last week), cervix looking neither favourable nor unfavourable. I'm now booked in for an induction on Saturday morning (ie at 40+12) should I fail to go into labour naturally before then and trying to research my options.

Originally planned a home water birth, which is rapidly looking less and less likely. I know it's stupid to get hung up on the idea of the perfect birth and have visited the hospital, which is nicer than expected and has an underused birth pool which we were hoping to use if we did go in, but then MW mentioned today (literally as we were walking out of the door) that this wouldn't be possible if I was induced. Since I originally decided on a home birth in order to guarantee a water birth, this is a bit of a blow. I now have visions of myself strapped to a bed and spiralling intervention (or absolutely nothing having an effect at all, since not one of the natural methods I've tried seems to have done anything at all!).

Any advice/suggestions/links very welcome

Anglepoise · 25/09/2008 00:31

Balls, forgot to say that my whole pregnancy has been low-risk/textbook so far - the induction is because that's the policy (at 40+12), not for any medical reason.

wehaveallbeenthere · 25/09/2008 00:45

Anglepoise, can you walk? Walk and squat (slowly with help so as not to fall) and you may find yourself very soon with baby.
I had a friend (several years ago) who told me about her mothers labour of her.
She was 13lbs one ounce when she was born. Her mothers doctor told her (after 10 days due) that she would "kick in" any time now. He (the doctor) was called away and poor woman went over due a month! The water had torn and she went into dry birth.
God! I hurt just thinking about that.
Walk and squat, walk and squat....let us know what happens.

Anglepoise · 25/09/2008 09:58

Ouch!

I can walk - in fact I've been told I'm unusually sprightly for a 9+ month pregnant woman. Tbh I don't feel 9+ month PG/overdue at all Will give it a go, thank you

AnnVan · 25/09/2008 10:39

Anglepoise - don't know why you wouldn't be able to have a waterbirth - I asked the mw's at my hospital, and they said that if induction with the gel worked then no problem using the pool. If they had to use the drip, then no-go on the pool. Also there is no reason for continuous monitorin just becase you're overdue. When I went into labour at 40+16, they monitored me for an hour before letting me get on with things - by the end of that hour I was desparate to move, it was awful. They did say that they recommended continuous monitoring, but seeing as the results of the earlier monitoring and the intermittent checks were all fine, I was happy to go without the straps - labour would have been unbearable if all strapped up.

snickersnack · 25/09/2008 10:51

Just to second the point about not necessarily needing continual monitoring - I was induced with the gel with dd, and they were very happy for me to be monitored every 15 minutes by the midwife rather than be strapped to a monitor. It all went downhill a bit after that, and I ended up with the full works - syntocinon, epidural, c-section...but the first bit was fine, and very manageable! Good luck. Being overdue sucks!

mosschops30 · 25/09/2008 10:58

My induction was fine. I hung on for 2 weeks as wanted to go to birth centre. At 40+15 the hospital induced me and I felt it was for the best, I'd had enough!

I was still only cared for by mw's and all went well in fact was better than my natural labour

MrsBick · 25/09/2008 15:27

my induction was fine.

went in at 8pm, had gel at 10pm, baby arrived without intervention at 5am.

it didn't hurt as much as i expected- it hurt alot- but it was my first so have nothing to compare it to.

now wondering what will happen when DC2 is born in feb/march- another induction or natural delivery.

i quite like the idea of being induced again- it makes it easier sorting out care for DS etc.

jennyroper · 30/09/2008 14:08

i went 40 +17 with my son and dodged induction. I had a homebirth and the placenta and baby were absolutely fine. I was checked into hosp halfway thro labour but i felt it was a scare tactic and purely based on litigious reasons so got in a black cab and went back home (was 6cm dlated by this time). Am so glad I did. I wholeheartedly agree with the stuff AnnVann said.
There is no right and wrong, just have to make an informed decision. I was on the verge of going in for an induction if i had reached 3 weeks overdue. hope you have your baby by now!

Original poster

MrsTittleMouse · 30/09/2008 14:46

Thank you for all the replies. I am still pregnant, and might well be for weeks yet. It's been really good to hear about good induction experiences, it's put my mind at rest.
It would be lovely to hear if Anglepoise was one of them too.

OP posts:

tyaca · 30/09/2008 18:24

hiya -- fyi mrs tittlebirth i think anglepoise may have had baby. have been following firsttime homebirthers thread and someone updated on her there.

i was induced at 41 + 10. like you, i wanted to go into a MWLU but after breaking my waters didnt work, i went onto the drip and had a consultant led birth (v medicalised, not nice, lots of drips, epidural etc.).

have read a lot on natural birth since (and preg again) and next time i would push v strongly to be given more time for labour to start after water was broken. last time i was told i had two hours (actually turned into 4 after they left us for ages and we couldnt find anyone to check us, just made me more anxious).... no wonder i didnt dilate quickly! also, i was kept in a temporary room. i really think if i had been given as long as i like and put in a private room in the MWLU where i may be staying for the duration i would have relaxed and my not have needed chemicals. good luck!

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