Refusing induction - Crazy?

[madcatsazz]

Has anybody else refused induction? I'm 41 weeks today and assuming checks and monitoring show baby is healthy, I am planning to refuse induction. I have appt with obstetrician on thursday and I wondering what points he's going to throw at me. I know there is an 'increased risk' but I have read the stats and they are still seriously low and know that scans and heartrate checks should show any signs of distress in the baby. I also know there's an increased risk of meconium in the waters - does anybody know of further research on this? Any advice or opinions welcome (go easy on me though, I'm a heavily pregnant hormanal woman!)

lol - babymoon. Which bit is that again? Is it the sleepless nights or the cracked nipples? Aww, she's really sweet though. I forgot how intense these first days and weeks can be. Milk coming in at the moment so breasts represent Jordan's and hormones all over the place - poor kid can barely get them in her mouth they're so huge!! Anyway, I do feel remarkably smug about the birth and v v proud of her delivery - I read through my discharge notes today and couldn't help but grin at the Normal Vaginal Birth statement and the "first stage 53mins" "second stage 50 mins" bit. Anyway, sorry to run on - bit high at the minute but it'll pass.

Oranges, hold on there, your VBAC will be brilliant and you know what, I came to realise on this merry adventure that it doesn't really matter about the outcome, only that you are involved and helping make the decisions along the way. If I had needed the full induction then I think I still would have been ok with that, as long as it was on my terms, when I felt ready. That's all we can ask for I guess. Keeping fingers and toes crossed for you.

Fantastic news madcatsazz, so glad it all went ok!

I have just read the whole of this thread, it is better than any tv drama! I am sitting on my birthball streaming with tears ( hormones! 39+ 5) and so pleased for you
COngrats xx

Just read the whole thread. So pleased for you and that you managed to get a positive birth. The hospital staff sound great. Enjoy your new LO.

Great news.

Welcome to the world Holly

Aw, thanks all.

thegauntlet - please don't cry, you'll set me off!! My milk has come in today so I'm already feeling a little hormonal! I have to say, if I could wear a little tiny 'smug' badge, I would - just for a few more days because I am so proud of what we achieved but probably emotionally more than physically. I was so focussed on the actual deed that I hadn't realised what I wanted was to feel in control and part of it. In hindsight I can see that all I ever wanted was to feel like this baby's mother and to feel I was making my own decisions (with DP of course ) and not just relying on others to make them for me because nobody can know your own body like yourself. I know that nothing was 'done to me' and in fact, I/we chose every step of the way. I even had to ask them to give me syntocin for the third stage as I was bleeding quite heavily and I wanted it to stop but they were still 'respecting my wishes to be left' (not to the detriment of my health, I just asked before they offered!) Anyway, I'll stop bleating on about it soon and thank everyone again for their support.

You have been inspiring madcatsazz - such a good outcome.

hi i ended going in for induction at 40+18. things just spiralled out of control and my baby ended up in scbu for 9 days. she was mecaspirate. i do not know if this would have happened anyway so in that sense it was probably right to be in hospital but i feel so guilty anxious and traumatised in case it was the induction process, syntocinon and breaking hind waters that triggered the uterine hyperstimulation which triggered the fetal distress which added to the meconium situation. are there any health professionals out there who will give me some idea?

homebirthmummy, I'm not an hcp but do you want to look at the AIMS booklet about induction - send me an email and I will forward it to you - katy180 at btinternet dot com (no spaces). I think syntocinon can cause uterine hyperstimulation - in fact I know this as it happened to me in ds1's birth resulting in emcs.

You were put into a very difficult situation and no doubt it was hard to justify turning down induction. Please don't feel bad - it is very hard to be in that place, I know. Not your fault that your dd was unwell.