Monitoring from 37 wks & induction on EDD due to age.

[Shellywelly1973]

Has anyone else experienced this?

The midwife said I would be expected to attend the maternity day unit for a minimum of twice a week from 37 weeks for monitoring. Then if I haven't gone into labour on my EDD I would be offered induction. All because im 40.

Im really unhappy as the consultant had said I could use the MLU. The midwife was very surprised as apparently I don't meet the criteria as its my 6th dc. I feel really annoyed as the mlu was perfect. A labour ward is not an option unless the baby needs medical attention. I hate hospitals. Its not something I can contemplate.

Im very tempted to inform the midwife at my 34 week appointment that I intend to have a home birth. Not go to the consultants appointment at 36 weeks. Ignore any appointments to do with monitoring/consultants/induction.

Anyone else experience this kind of 'care' just because they were 40?
I must add I will only be 40+16 weeks weeks by EDD. My bday is in September!!

You don't have to do anything you don't want to do and the midwife should be phrasing it as what is offered. I've not heard of the increased monitoring but offering induction at 40 weeks to 40+ Mums is based on the latest research on maternal age and stillbirth and has come up on here before - www.rcog.org.uk/news/rcog-release-induction-labour-older-mothers-may-reduce-risk-stillbirth-say-experts

They can refuse you the MLU but I would go to your consultants appointment as they are who decide not your midwife. And as you said you can always opt for a home birth.

The midwife was very pro home birth. She warned me that if the slightest thing comes up during the monitoring I will be pressured to be induced.

I don't trust the consultant. She misinformed me about the MLU & didnt process my referral for physio so won't get seen now. Im going to see a private physio this week as SPD is getting so much worse.

I don't want to be stressed by the consultants appointment which I will be, that's why I am considering cancelling it.

Im not asking permission about a home birth. I will be informing them!

Thanks for the reply.

Hi shelly I remember this stress! mine wasn't quite so extreme but you may find some good links on my thread from the summer.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childbirth/a1770717-Handling-pressure-to-be-induced-on-due-date

If you are informed then of course you should choose what's going to feel right for you.
I ended up with an unplanned home birth and then everyone said 'make sure you ask for a homebirth next time'

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childbirth/a1770717-Handling-pressure-to-be-induced-on-due-date

Hello Liveinthepresent I remember that thread- I even posted on it! You had a great if not surprising outcome. ..

The time has flown by. Im coming up 30 weeks now!

This happened to me with DC2. I was told I would be having twice weekly monitoring from 37 weeks and would be induced at 40 weeks, due to the placenta being less effective after 40 weeks in older mothers. I was 42.

However, I also had my midwife's support to use the midwife led birth centre if I wasn't induced, despite having group b strep.

The monitoring was fine, apart from having to find childcare for DC1, and just showed that all continued to be well. Given this, and that it had been a very straightforward pregnancy, when I saw the consultant's team (registrar, not the actual consultant so could tell from that they didn't think there was anything complicated) I negotiated on booking an induction date for 40+3, rather than the exact EDD they wanted.

The day before the planned induction date I phoned the hospital to tell them I wanted to delay the induction by another day. They advised I come in as planned to be monitored again and discuss it then.

In the event the baby had its own ideas and I went into labour naturally at 40+3. I did use the birth centre but literally only for 10 minutes as it was an exceedingly quick labour and only just hot there in time.

So from my experience I suggest you meet the consultant but negotiate with them to get the birth you would like, bearing in mind that you all want the same outcome - a healthy baby. Good luck.

Thanks. I realised last night this is really affecting me. Im dreading the birth now. Im not mentally in a position to argue with hcps. Im really scared of ending up in hospital. The MLU just won't be an option due to hospital policy concerning my age.

Its really sad as its very likely my last pregnancy. I should be confident in the hcps I meet but sadly im not.

Oh yes shelly I thought I recognised your name.
The time flies doesn't it I am now already realising the newborn days are behind me and bracing myself for teething and weaning.

Clearly you have had previous healthy pregnancies and it sounds like you know what you want so I hope you can have the birth you hope for. If I did it again I would definitely aim for a homebirth.
I found the variance between policies at different hospitals fascinating - and at the end of the day as ladymedea said you are only being 'offered' induction even though the HCPs may not present it like that!

Good luck

Sorry shelley that was a cross post in case you think my message is random - I started a long time before I finished and pressed post.
So sorry you are feeling so fed up about it all I really remember feeling so frustrated too but I appreciate it is harder for you with SPD to contend with as well.
Remember if you tell the HCPS how much it is affecting you they must listen - see if the birth rights link on my thread works I found that gave me a bit of strength to fight if I needed to.
Maybe there is another consultant you can speak to.
Do you have a view from your other pregnancies whether you are likely to go very overdue? ( I know that's not a science!)
Look after yourself and try not to let this spoil these last precious weeks.

Time has gone by too quickly Liveinthepresent!

I called the other local hospitals. They all seem to have or intend to introduce the induction policy for older mothers.

Im going to go for a home birth. I won't be attending the consultants appointment unless I am worried. I really feel if I go I will be coerced into accepting monitoring. I might as well stick with the hospital I've booked in to as they all seem to have a similar view.

Sad thing is before this pregnancy I had a mmc. Had that baby been ok I would have had her 3 weeks before my 40th birthday. I wouldn't be faced with these 'policies'.

if it was me I think i'd be happy to take the extra monitoring to be honest! I'll probably be the one demanding more consultations as i'm a worrier.
I think you're turning this into a 'thing' which is a shame, as you said it should be an enjoyable time. Try not to let it ruin everything for you.

Bless you that must be making this even harder to deal with.
Am glad you have made the right decision for you.
Wishing you a positive experience - in about 10 weeks you will be enjoying those newborn snuggles having completed your family.
As soon as DS arrived I knew I would have gone through anything to have him with me.
Good luck and I will keep my eyes peeled for a birth announcement.

Thank you!

ChicaMomma until my last ante natel visit 2 weeks ago I thought I was going to give birth inbthe MLU. Waterbirth. Low tech. Non invasive...normal.

Now im faced with attending hospital twice a week for the last 3 weeks of my pregnancy. Labour on a labour ward. Constant monitoring. No pool. Drip set up. That's not including being actually induced!

I do not consider giving birth to be a medical process. Its a normal bodily function where if necessary we csn medical help.

Had this been explained to me when I booked in at 7 weeks I wouldn't have booked into bthst particular hospital. It appears thst particular hospital has the most 'medicialised' approach to older mothers but other hospitals appear to be following.

So I might be making a 'thing' of it but I appreciate the difference good care can make during labour & delivery. What I am being offered is not good care it about the hospital covering their backs at the cost of mother's right to have a normal delivery.

Sorry for typos - on phone, on a train!

Sorry for typos - on phone, on a train!

i think you need to put this into a letter to the hospital. it concerns me that their 'care' for older mothers is actually putting you off their help rather than wanting it. there are medical reasons for it, but there are also better ways to advise about it and to make you feel at ease.

Hi Shelly,
You don't have to anything you don't want to. I had my 2nd baby at 41years and decided not to attend the consultant as I knew they would pressurize me. I had a home birth. If you need support in the hospital find the supervisors of midwives and get them on board. Bypass the consultant and anyone else giving negative advice. Read Saturdays Guardian on the risks of pregnancy to older mothers. There really is very little research and not too much increased risk.
Good luck