I'm 39 years old and now 41 weeks + 5 days with my first baby and trying to avoid being induced...

[killerkitty]

I had follicle tracking back in May last year so I know exactly when I ovulated and conceived. When my dates were calculated by the doctor she used the day of my last menstrual period, which was two weeks earlier. However, my eight-week scan confirmed the doctor's date as correct and I was given an EDD of February 15 2009. But here I am, nearly 42 weeks later and the midwife has confirmed my cervix is still not favourable, and the hospital is itching to induce. I don't want to put my baby at risk, but I want to go into labour naturally when my baby is ready. NHS figures confirm that 20 per cent of pregnant women in this country are induced. Can it really be true that one in five women are unable to go into labour? Why are they putting this pressure on me, and who is right? Them or me?

You haven't mentioned baby's weight, but do try to find out (have a scan). It is quite likely that your baby has continued to put on weight over the last 2 weeks and if he is quite large, you might do well to consider a c-section.

I went into hospital on DD's due date which was a tuesday, to be induced, the reason the hospital advised this was due to my age, 40 at the time. I went along and was given gel to start with, then as nothing much happened I was given a pessary, this didn't do much at all so was given another the following day, no movement again, started to get a bit fed up (and bloody sore from the internals!) and then on the Thursday morning a lovely consultant came along and advised one more go on the pessary route and then if still nothing happened we'd go for a c section. This was only because they normally have three goes at the pessary and then advise a c section. I started to dialate and they broke my waters, put me on the drip to hurry her along and five hours later DD arrived BUT the lovely consultant questioned why on earth I was being induced as there were no complications at all with baby or me and hadn't been all through my pregnancy, we were both fit and healthy and it was blinkin hard work and not particularly nice to have all this going on when really DD was just not ready. He basically said it was totally unnecessary to have done all this probing just because of my age. I wish I'd seen him earlier! I was advised to have an epidural which I accepted gratefully as I had a bit of a tough time, chatting to my super midwife she told me a lot of what I was going through was down to the induction.

My experience only and everyones different and has a story to tell but I'll definately know next time!

I didn't have a favourable cervix on the Wednesday. Hence the fact that my precipitous 2-3 hour labour on the Friday was a bit of a surprise!

Midwives unable to sweep, so distant and closed was the cervix. They tried to have a (painful) jiggle. But no chance.

Had scan and CTG and all is well with the baby. They reckon it's eight and a half pounds, there's plenty of blood going through the placenta and lots of amniotic fluid. So although the midwives offered me an induction for this Monday I decided to see the consultant and have a chat. He agreed with me that as all was well it would be worth waiting a bit longer to see if I could go into labour naturally. Have booked it for next Wednesday when I will be term + 17 days - probably long enough for any woman to stand being heavily pregnant!

Midwife also tried a sweep - and still not able to. I must have a very stubborn cervix. Have now booked another one for Monday.

I'm told that if I do go in for induction on Wednesday, then they will start me on pessaries. Then if nothing happens they'll break my waters and put me on the drip, and give me an epidural if I wish (which I'm sure I will by then). Basically they say they won't let me leave the hospital until I have my baby. Is this the case? I thought you could have the pessaries and if they didn't work then you could have a rethink about your options and possibly even go home... Does anyone know?

Try to avoid going down that drip > breaking waters > epidural route if you possibly can. I did it and it wasn't pretty - birth was horrid and so was the long recovery.

Have sex. Lots of. Semen on cervix is very effective.

killerkitty I had a favourable cervix during my sweep (one week overdue) but still DD wouldn't put in appearance. In induction first pessary started it all off and it was painful. It took 2 midwives 3 goes to break waters by which time very painful. i think I'd hold off the breaking of waters. I remember them saying they'd give pessary if nothing happened they give another 2 pessary attempts (with a space of 3-4 hours inbetween attemps) then if nothing happened they'd leave you alone for 6-8 hours before further drip intervention. SO glad pessary worked first time.

I'm watching this thread with interest as am old as the hills at 41 and due number 4 in August. The last 3 babies were pretty much 2 weeks overdue, but the obs has told me dire tales of what happens to babies of ancient mothers, and am wondering about induction.

OK, so drip>breaking waters>epidural route is to be avoided, but how do you do that if you're already in hospital being induced with pessaries? I'm a fairly tough cookie, but even I'm not sure that I can say: ?Thank you for trying with these pessaries, they clearly didn't work, now I'm off home to avoid you lot breaking my waters and hooking me up to a drip?? What are my rights at this point?

Duchesse - I was lucky to get sensible doctor when I visted the hospital today, but I'm told there is one consultant in particular whose attitude is that any woman over 35 should be induced at 38 weeks! Clearly a woman-hater with a very small willie.

kitty - you don't have to accept any intervention at all - you must give consent to any procedure so just say you want to wait a bit - go for a walk - have some fresh air etc. It is imtimidating being in hospital with all the specialists telling you to go on - get on with it. Always ask what the risk is of waiting - that's the line to use all the time. If the baby or you are at risk then do whateveryou need. Otherwise you always have time to think.
Make sure you've primed hubby/partner to ask you - "are you sure? Shall we have a think about this?" then you have a person you trust giving you a bit of space. Make sure they are doing the right thing for you and not just 'getting you going' as you're taking up a bed.

I'd planned the natural waterbirth and everything but had baby transverse at 38 weeks. They wanted to CS me but I refused and stayed in hospital for 10 days then came out with baby head down. Super! When my contractions started a week later I was happy and excited - but nothing happened. I did stick it out and kept asking why or what are the alternatives all the way ... I didn't get stroppy just wanted to be informed. The hospital was wonderful. I ended up having a C-S after 6 days of contractions (completely MY choice) with minimal intervention. My baby was brow presenting so would never have come out naturally - but I did feel at the end that the CS was necessary and I'd not been pushed for anything I didn't want.
So it can be done. Good luck and lets hope all starts naturally soon anyway.

Thanks, guys, some really good advice here. Obviously I'm hoping it will all happen naturally by then, but I shall keep in mind that I can gain time between each step in the process by asking to wait. I'm pretty sure my local maternity unit gives plenty of time for the pessaries to work, but I also worry that if they don't, then nature is clearly saying it's just not your time yet.

get a move on Killer kitty! Are you having pineappple for tea?

GET BACK ON THAT BIRTHING BALL!

killerkitty - the best of luck to you. I tried EVERYTHING - lots of sex, 3 sweeps, raspberry leaf tea caspules, laxatives, stiff G&T in a hot bath, nipple twiddling (set of spectacular braxton hicks, but no more than that!). If they're not ready, they're not ready.

I got booked in for an induction at 13 days over, had a pessary in the morning and waters broken at 8pm. I'm at Bonzo saying 'you don't have to accept any intervention at all' 'cos that wasn't my experience at all. I was contracting after having my waters broken but the contractions weren't regular. I was TOLD I'd be put on the drip. I protested, the head MW was called, and then TOLD I'd be put on a drip again and pretty much forced into it. I was forced to stay on my back on the bed due to the monitoring, despite me feeling that I was in totally the wrong position, as was DD, and I could feel her head was jammed in my pelvis (had SPD so this pain was far worse than contractions). Anyway, it all ended in foetal distress and an emcs at 4am, and not much wonder. I definitely felt my wishes were routinely ignored because I know the Labour ward was chokka. It felt like there was a time limit for my labour. Grrr.

Kitty I hope that whatever happens, being informed is empowering for you. Once you make your mind up, don't let them mess you around!

don't let that last story put the lo off coming out though. Every birth is different.

That baby wants to come out and greet the springtime and be born in march.

come on little baby, here killerkitty's kitty

Sorry, didn't mean to send negative vibes . Didn't even realise I needed a rant! Come on the wee one!

There have been some very negative induction experiences reported on this thread. So just to give you another perspective, I was induced at 42 weeks. Like you I had a strong desire to go into labour naturally, but decided to follow the hospitals advice and proceed with induction at this stage.

I had pessary, waters broken, drip. But was allowed some time in between each stage to see if anything happened.

I had a vaginal birth 11 hours after they started the drip. I had some g&a, but managed without an epidural which was important to me. Having the drip was inhibiting and a distraction, but I was able to move around and try different positions. I had a second degree tear, but it probably wasn't any worse than if I'd gone into labour on my own.

Good luck and I really hope your labour starts naturally. Sometimes sheer will and desire isn't enough, and if you are induced it doesn't have to be the end of the world.

"I'm not sure that I can say: ?Thank you for trying with these pessaries, they clearly didn't work, now I'm off home to avoid you lot breaking my waters and hooking me up to a drip??"

One thing I learned from DD's birth is that you can do whatever the hell you want, as long as your baby is not in danger and you are not in danger.

Tell them beforehand that if pessary doesn's work, you are out of there. They can't make you open your legs to break your waters if you don't let them. If pessaries don't work, get up and leave. Or say you are ready for your c-section now.

Have you tried reflexology?

Michel Odent is not very keen on induction I wonder if he has published anything on the internet?

He is the David Attenborough of Obstetrics.

He thinks you should have daily scans to check placenta and just wait for spontaneous labour.

If the scans show a placenta problem he thinks you should be given a c-section.

It makes a lot of sense to me.

kk - have only read op and a couple of your latest posts, so hope I'm not repeating stuff.

I was induced nearly 5 months ago, with my second dc. I was 40+5 when I went in, but my induction was due to gestational diabetes.

The hospital wouldn't let me leave their grounds once the induction had begun, and I think that this is pretty standard procedure. I don't expect that they could hold you against your will, but it would be a brave lady who tried to escape!

I went in on a Monday afternoon, and spent Mon/Tues/Wedns having pessaries that didn't work. I then had to wait until Thurs night to have my waters broken, as delivery was full. Breaking my waters was difficult, as I was only 2cm dilated and posterior, but it could be done. As a first timer, if the pessaries don't work at all for you, then breaking your waters won't actually be possible (because your cervix won't be open enough for them to get in).

I had my waters broken on Thurs night, but still didn't go into labour, so after 4 hours I asked to go back up to the ward for the night, rather than have the drip right away. This was seemingly an unusual request, but after checking with the registrar (who agreed, but wasn't described as 'happy about it'!) they agreed. So you can ask for a bit of a delay here if you want (once they break your waters you only have 24 hours rather than the 72 that you tend to get if they break naturally, because the risk of infection is increased by the method).

I had some contractions overnight, but really not enough, so the next morning I finally agreed to the drip. Drip started 9:25am (when I was 2-3cm), 4cm at examination at 11:25, and ds was born at 12:35!

If the pessaries don't work and they can't break your waters then they may offer the drip in the hope that the contractions dilate you quick enough, but if they don't then it will lead to an em cs.

If you don't want the drip at this point then the alternative is an elective cs.

hobnob at your treatment. That was terrible and really worth complaining about.
Ilovepudding - lovely story and good to get some positive stories too!

K-Kitty GOOD LUCK!

Oh yes, forgot to say no epidural and only the tiniest tear that didn't need stitching.