I don't want to be induced - any advice available?

[ac12]

I'm being induced next Thursday and frankly I don't want to be - the long and short of it is that I feel like I was given no choice - the midwife just went ahead and booked it without asking whether I wanted to be or not. I now feel like it's out of control. I was planning on a home birth but now I just feel useless - I can't even give birth on my own terms - can anybody advise please? I'm so sad. Everyone is saying that it's so cold outside that the baby doesn't want to come out but I just feel like I can't even give birth properly. I would appreciate any advice you can give me because I am really low and didn't want to feel like this at this stage...

Why don't you start with the NICE guidelines which are all online, to gain more info as to why induction is offered as a routine at term +10-12. ANd to give you an insight into what is involved. Then you can ask to see the midwife/a midwife/obstetician to discuss the pro's con's and options if you still feel unhappy?
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/index.jsp?action=byTopic&o=7253

In brief it's offered as we know that the placenta will begin to shut down it's function at some point in late pregnancy. This can be reflected in decreased movement, show up on scan via dopplers, and the fluid decreasing. If this happens and the body mis times labour the consequences can be serious for the baby but this is happily rare in the healthy West with healthcare. Anything that comprimises the placenta increses this effect, like having raised BP or smoking. We also know that babies tend to cope less well in labour if the placenta has started to decline.

So as part of safer management induction is offered. The safe alternatives in an otherwise healthy pregnancy are to have detailed monitioring once the pregnancy moves onto a fairly late stage when we know the statistics suggest increasing risks.

A longer pregnancy does not always go hand in hand with a tired placenta, just like a short or average preganancy doesn't mean the placenta is tip top either. Find out a bit more about the risks and benefits for you and bubbs. Then you can move forward.

The other option is to simply labour anttime between now and then!! It's very possible!