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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Being induced so DP can be at birth?

25 replies

jemimastar · 30/10/2013 11:35

Hi ladies
I am due on Dec 2nd. My DP has just been promoted at work and was asked a long while ago to go to Singapore on a vital work visit where he will be in charge of recruiting new team/presenting to staff and clients etc etc ie. Its a pretty big deal- but 1 week after I’m due.

If I tell my midwife at next appointment is there any way if I reach my due date they would book me in for an induction the week after so he can be at the birth? Im starting to really stress about it!!

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beela · 30/10/2013 12:39

I think they would normally only induce for medical reasons, but you can always ask...

Is there anyone else who could be a birthing companion? mum/sister/best friend?

I was induced a couple of days before my due date due to pre-eclampsia and it took a loooong time (4 days) because the baby really wasn't ready to come out.

Original poster

jemimastar · 30/10/2013 12:42

Thanks Beela- I wanted my mum there as well/anyway so that's fine, just would love him there too. I thought I'd read if DP in armed forces and couldn't be at birth they would induce, know my DP is hardly in the armed forces though!

Sorry to hear you had pre-eclampsia but glad it all worked out for you in end!

OP posts:

Igloofornow · 30/10/2013 12:45

My aunt was induced on her due date as her husband worked on the oil rigs.

quoteunquote · 30/10/2013 12:46

I would avoid being induced, it is not nice, and far harder on your body,

you may well go into labour naturally before hand, and even if you did get induced, you might not get the baby out on time,

I would find a back up birth partner, you may go over and he will be back in time, but inducing to suit someone else schedule may well not go to plan.

Mogz · 30/10/2013 17:09

I'm due December 2nd too!
Is there no way your DP's work would rethink his trip given that his wife will either be giving birth or have a tiny new born? Is he not entitled to paternity leave?

beela · 30/10/2013 19:30

Good luck, hope it all works out for you

MrTumblesKnickers · 30/10/2013 19:48

I was induced a couple of days after my due date because of diabetes. I was in labour for three days and it was not nice understatement. The baby really was not ready to come out. I would really try and avoid induction if I were you.

Cross everything (cept your legs) and hope the baby comes bang on time!

EirikurNoromaour · 30/10/2013 19:56

I don't think it's worth it tbh. I've never been induced but from what I've heard it sounds harder and more painful than spontaneous labour.

ZenNudist · 30/10/2013 20:40

My friend was induced early as she lived overseas and her dp came out to where she lived, they got married then she had baby to schedule. She didn't report it being awful.

Just thought you'd like to hear of things going well for once.

quoteunquote · 30/10/2013 20:41

I have done both a few times, I would never voluntarily be induced by choice, it was far easier naturally, really traumatised by the induction ones really physically and mentally.

I really hope you find a way around it.

onlysettleforbutterflies · 30/10/2013 20:46

I completely understand your reasons but having had an induction I would always advise against them if at all possible. I know there are good experiences too but I wouldn't risk it if at all possible sorry.

midwifeandmum · 30/10/2013 20:48

In my area of practice (glasgow) they wouldnt induce you unless there is a medical implication.

Try avoid being induced if you can, it has higher rates of instrumental births/ csections, higher risk of post partum haemorrhage, prolonged labour, infection and higher risks of baby being unwell afterwards.

I hope you go into labour begore then. Can the company not delay dp work trip?
Best of luck x

scarevola · 30/10/2013 20:54

I think you have misunderstood or misremembered about Forces families. They'll do their damnedest (these days) to get (or keep) the serving partner home, but not everyone can be there and birth interventions are made only for medical reasons.

If you cannot be sure of DP being there, then think about who else you might want to support you.

HMT13 · 30/10/2013 21:02

The forces thing doesn't sound right to me. I've never known it happen anyway but I could be wrong. They have brought my DH home early so he's here for the birth (which I'm so thankful for), But there was no mention of being induced etc when we were going to attempt to have his R&R around my due date. We would have just had to pray! I wouldn't personally opt for being induced. Hope it works out for u x

MrsApplepants · 30/10/2013 21:07

Could you ask for a stretch and sweep on your due date if all well? Might help start things off but I'm not sure if they will do this at your request or not. Just a thought.

GrandPoohBah · 30/10/2013 22:52

Positive induction - I was induced at 38+4 as I had preeclampsia. 1 round of gel, spontaneous waters going, 12 hours of labour, epidural, no further interventions, absolutely fine (though I did have a bit of a tear).

Don't know about you being induced on a specific date though.

greentshirt · 30/10/2013 22:55

Just on the forces thing, it specifically mentions the possibility of induction in the situation in my maternity pack thing so it is something that still goes on but must be a local policy

Original poster

jemimastar · 31/10/2013 09:43

Thankyou all!

Good to hear the few positive accounts but will bear in mind overall it sounds like a pretty tough ordeal. Will just have to wait & see. He will get paternity but they hope he can make the trip, I think he could potentially miss it but they've made it clear he is vital to it.

I know there are so many stories about 1st time mums most likely to be overdue, but I read an interesting article yesterday that's given me (false?!) hope saying actually based on this study, 39+5 was the most likely day to give birth and the myth about 1st time mums being very overdue on average is all based on 1 quite old study... am crossing fingers & swollen toes tightly!!

I didn't know that even sweeps had to be at the midwives discretion, I though around/past your due date you could def request these? x

OP posts:

MummyLuce · 31/10/2013 16:44

people are being v negative I think. I was induced and it although it ended in a c section, it was all fine! everyone v healthy. I know loads of people who have been induced and it was fine, but I don't know ANYONE who has given birth without their OH. the thought of my OH not being there is absolutely horrid and I would have pressed for an induction in that case!!!
its called social induction, please see this article
www.skepticalob.com/2012/05/social-inductions-improve-outcomes.html
the bmj seems to think it safer than expectant management if performed between 37 and 41 weeks.

terilou87 · 31/10/2013 20:25

I gave birth to my dd without my dp there as we had no one to watch ds, not by choice though and I wouldn't recommend it dp felt he missed out and it was weird him not being there,
Op you never know if they will induce unless you ask fingers crossed you get what you want

littlecloud · 31/10/2013 20:37

My induction was awful very, very painful & I was bed bound sobbing towards the end. Second birth natural & so much better, felt much more in control no tears wouldn't choose to be induced again. Both my births were before 40 weeks. Fx yours is too.

LittleRobots · 31/10/2013 20:41

I really would avoid induction if at all possible. Maybe meet a Doula so you're reassured you have someone with you if it goes over?

GampyWabbit · 31/10/2013 20:42

Well, my first baby arrived 2 weeks early - a big surprise!

I have no experience of induction, but I would definitely do all you can to have him at the birth.

cottoncandy · 31/10/2013 20:42

I have a friend who was induced at 37 weeks with OC and both inductions were fine, baby was out in half a day. However, I also know people who have had horrific inductions. You just don't know which way it will go.

If you want induction could you convince OH's work to pay for you to go private on the basis that this is the way they can pretty much guarantee he will go on the trip? If you are private you can pretty much get what you want (if that is what you want).

I had fantastic natural births but at 40+10 and 40+9 so not what you want! In my area they won't sweep until 41 weeks unless for a medical reason.

Smartiepants79 · 31/10/2013 20:48

Ask. I think that if the ward is not busy they might say yes. It may depend on how many women they've got in at the time. They might agree to an early stretch and sweep?

I was induced for my first baby. It was fine. Progressed quickly and naturally. Don't remember it being more painful than my second, completely natural labour.

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