Induction - yes or no?

[shelly38]

Hello ladies,

I am 28+1 weeks pregnant with my first baby and I am 41.
My hospital have offered me induction of labour at around 39+3 due to my age.
I'm not sure what to do?
Any advice?

Shelly

I don't get it. Why can't you go to term if you're older?

Induction really raises the risks of you needing further interventions, so shouldn't be done unless necessary.

Even if you're overdue you can hold out for an expectant management/wait and see policy where they'll scan you every other day to check on the baby and placenta.

Don't understand why, unless you have other health issues? Do you have blood pressure/weight/blood sugar problems?

I was 40 when DS was born and was only given induction because I went 2 weeks overdue - DS was born at 40+16 because he took a while to exit the cosy place.

I don't get it either japhrimel - I think it's just their policy to offer it.
I'm concerned about the risk of further intervention with induction.
I think I will ask the midwife/consultatnt to explain the reasoning behind the induction offer.

No thumbwitch - no other problems.
Have had a very easy pregnancy so far (touch wood!)

That seems so weird. I'd definitely ask for clarification and stick to your guns if you don't want it!

It depends on the reasons for suggesting it. Is there any concern about your baby's growth? I was induced because of a number of factors which the consultant explained to me looked nothing much by themselves, but altogether looked like the sort of things which would happen before a still birth (reduced amniotic fluid, a smaller baby than my others had been and a few things noted when I had scans)

My induction was extremely quick and the easiest labour experience by far, but I had already had two vaginal deliveries.

I think if it's going to happen there should be very good explanations as to why (not just your age) and particularly as it's your first (can be long and painful because artificially induced contractions are much more painful). Speaking from experience, it's a good idea to avoid any intervention that isn't truly necessary imo.

Agree with others - if there are no other health reasons, for you or the baby, try and avoid it if you can as there is no real need for it and it can be a trial, to say the least (I was lucky enough to avoid the syntocin drip, which I have heard brings on rather fast and nasty contractions).

electra - induction was offered to me at 12 week appointment with consultant. Hospital policy seems to be "old mum = old uterus" and that baby is better off out sooner rather than later.
There has been no concern over baby's growth or any issue with mine or baby's health.

Gosh - is this standard practice for older mums. I have read a bit about induction and am going to resist it if possible. I am 40 and it's my first child.

DuelingFanjo - it certainly seems to be standard practice at my hospital anyway!

That doesn't sound good at all - what happened to assessing individual cases? There must be loads of mums on here who gave birth naturally in their late 30s, I would think.

I don't have any medical training but I don't think their policy makes any sense. Your uterus has done a good job of nurturing your baby so far so why would you not be able to go to term? I thought that the whole point of having consultant care when you're an older mum is to monitor how everything is going but only intervene if there's a potential problem.

If I were you I would do some research and keep asking them lots of questions and certainly don't let them pressure you to do something if it's simply a blanket policy they have.

• can you change your hospital??

DF - it wasn't standard practice at my hospital so I doubt it's across the board.

I was induced with no.2 and I didnt like it. Mainly because fo the restrictions of them constantly monitoring.

Personally if there is no other associated risk (and I am ignorant of exactly how risky it may or may not be for your age) then I would schedule the induction for the latest possible date and hope to go into labour naturally.

I think you need to ask about the evidence base for this intervention. There is nothing in the NICE guidelines for induction or care in labour about this.

www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/11837/36275/36275.pdf

www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/12012/41255/41255.pdf

shelly38 as I understand it the danger comes from going over not being on time.

I was 40 when I had The Cub and at 42 weeks they would have induced.

OfCourseHeDecidedToBeEarlyTiggaxx

I was induced with no 2, it was not a pleasant experience. Labour much more painful - with need for intervention (almost a emergency c section). Baby was in distress and born with apgar 3 needing suctioning when only head was delivered and then a stomach wash for "unexpected mec delivery" (unexpected because I was dosed up on pethidine and nobody was keeping an eye on me or the labour - because the staff were all too busy with other patients - and the babies heartrate had been at 160 without variation for some time)...

I was offered another induction with dc4 (who was unstable lie - they wanted to turn baby, hook waters and induce because distance I lived from hospital meant spontaneous waters breaking if baby was transverse could result in dc landing on cord and cutting off oxygen and travel time was not compatible with babies survival in this scenario)..I declined - took days for them to get it that I really did mean NO to the induction - and I had a section in the end. Worked out much better. Baby with apgar 9 and I did not suffer so much either.

The best birth by far was DC3 - Natural labour and easy peasy water birth. It did hurt a bit - but the gas and air enabled me to cope and I was stood outside the hospital fully dressed and ready to go home a couple of hours later. Fastest birth recovery for me!

Shelly38 - you're not in Nottingham, are you? Just wondered, given the questionnaire MNers are being asked to answer at the mo for Amazon Vouchers!

They are wanting to do research into blanket inductions at 39w in anyone over 35!

OMG that's awful. It's not evidence based afaik and carries a far greater risk of further interventions being needed!

I was induced because i went 13 days over. I started with the pessary, then they ended up breaking my waters, then i had to have the hormone drip, epidural and emergency c-section. I would definately avoid induction were possible. It can't be helped if you're 2 weeks over but just because you are older seems a funny reason to me. I would definately ask the reasons for this.