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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Any experience of declining induction...

26 replies

EST0106 · 09/04/2014 15:07

...and did you end up having one anyway?
I'm current 41 plus 1. I'm planning a home birth and it's my second child. I saw my midwife today who is totally on board with HB etc and has booked me in for an induction on tues when I will be plus 14, I think our area is usually plus 12 but as I want a HB she has advised me to wait til 14. She has said that I can go to appointment and decline induction at which point they will do a scan to check baby's ok then if all fine I can go home and wait it out with further monitoring next day etc. I can still have a HB but it will be against medical advice. first child was 10 days late. Does anyone have any experience of doing this,did you end up having an induction anyway? Obviously I don't want to take risks with baby's health etc but sort of feel if all well it will just come when it's ready. Any experiences/advice? Many thanks

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Emilycee · 09/04/2014 16:54

Watching with intetest as am in a similar position but first baby... currently only 5 days over but getting a bit stressed as really don't want induction either!

LondonKate · 09/04/2014 17:14

Also interested in seeing what people say here - I'm pregnant with my first and want to have a homebirth but worried I'll go post date (me and my sister were about 2 weeks late).

Onesieone · 09/04/2014 17:19

I'm a neonatal intensive care nurse and mother of 4 babies all overdue. I really cannot get my head around why you would decline an induction which is indicated for your safety and your babies. U have a choice. That baby doesn't.

5madthings · 09/04/2014 17:25

Because induction carries risks as well.

I went to almost three weeks over with ds3, he was born weighing 9lb 5oz and coveted in vernix, clearly not overdue and midwife said my placenta looked fine. All five of my babies have been two or more weeks late.

You can ask for expectant management instead of induction.

WheresRyder · 09/04/2014 17:34

I declined induction but this was 16 years ago. I declined as I suddenly remembered where babies come out and that it would be painful. I was scared and in denial. Sounds so stupid now. But I am very pain averse even a routine blood test will get me in a fluster and panic.

They gave me all the advice and a scan warning me he was big and I still declined. I ended up being induced at 43 weeks and it failed. I only got to 6cm and then he was distressed and I had an emcs he was 10lb 4!!

I don't think this is normal though. People will often defer induction or refuse to come into hospital and as long as you are both safe and well. There is some evidence to show those with longer cycles have longer pregnancies etc so the edd is a guideline not set in stone. However I would say go into the discussion open to listening to the current evidence and advice for induction past term.

Original poster

EST0106 · 09/04/2014 17:34

Obviously if there was any indication that there was a risk to the baby, I.e. Not enough waters etc, then I would have an induction, but if everything is fine and baby is moving well etc then what is the risk? Thanks

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butterfliesinmytummy · 09/04/2014 17:50

There is a risk of the placenta calcifying and not functioning efficiently. I was 42 weeks with both of mine. The first time in the UK I was induced and it was a good experience, second time was in Singapore where babies are mostly induced at 39 or 40 weeks. My consultant was so worried about going past 40 weeks that he asked me to be scanned every 2 days in case the placenta deteriorated. In the end, dd2 was born by section as she was big and breech.....

PicandMinx · 09/04/2014 18:32

I declined induction with 3 of my babies. I was not happy to subject myself to unnecessary intervention. When I questioned the reasons for induction, I was told it was "policy". My babies arrived in their own time and were fit and healthy.

curlyLJ · 09/04/2014 19:16

I have declined induction at my 39w consultant appointment today. They want to induce me before I get to 40 weeks as I am 40 yrs old. This is because policy dictates this, not because there is any reason to suspect anything wrong with me or baby (in which case I wouldn't have declined obviously).

I said I will happily go for monitoring (daily or every other day) to keep an eye on things, but having had too much unnecessary intervention last time, I want to give it a chance to happen naturally this time.

She has just written into my notes that her recommendation is for induction at 40w - to cover herself I guess - but i will decide when I see the midwife at 40+1 when I will have a sweep and maybe book for an induction at 40+7 rather than the usual 12/14.

PenguinsEatSpinach · 09/04/2014 19:55

Onesie - What horribly emotive phrasing. I hope you don't behave like that when your patients ask advice?

People decline induction for lots of perfectly valid reasons. Personally I will decline induction at 40+14 (if I get there) as I disagree with the dates of my 12 week scan (it would be an immaculate conception pretty much) and I think that, at that point, I'm only about 7 days over. If I get to what I consider 14 days over, I'll agree then. I'm happy to be monitored before, and I'm happy for them to recommend a section before that date (i.e. if they have a real concern and the worry isn't just about 'policy').

The risk profile does not do a magic jump on day 15. It is a gradually increasing risk, so it can be a perfectly sensible decision to have a few more days of monitoring to see what happens.

JacqueslePeacock · 09/04/2014 20:03

I declined induction recently. I did get the hard sell from the consultant who wasn't keen to let me leave the hospital, but ultimately it was my choice. I agreed to come back to hospital every day for foetal monitoring (baby fine every time, took about an hour each time) and I declined all internal examinations as my waters had already broken and I didn't want to risk infection. Again I had to fight not to have internal exams.

In the end I went into labour naturally 4 days later but I was prepared to continue waiting as long as monitoring said baby was fine. He was born perfectly healthy and with no problems at all.

Good luck!

143b · 09/04/2014 20:15

I'm watching this thread with interest as a made a decision I would absolutely decline induction of labour.i researched the statistic and can clearly see that you need a lot of luck on your side if you are a first time mum and get induced. I would agree to any form of monitoring and a section if there is any risk for the baby before labour kicks in naturally..

TheGrassIsSinging · 09/04/2014 20:18

I declined at 41+3 and again at 42 weeks. It was hard. The doc made me feel like shit about it, but I wanted to give my body a chance to do it naturally.

Ended having one anyway at 42+5, but still glad I went with what I felt was going to give me the best chance of labouring naturally.

puffylovett · 09/04/2014 20:23

I declined twice, due to disagreements about the dates based on the dating scan. Like another poster, it would have been an immaculate conception.
Both mine were born quickly and easily at 40 + 18, no pain relief required, fast easy labour.

Ds2 was predicted to be 6lbs at the expectant manager scan, to which I got lots of lectures about induction etc. he popped out a 10lber

OrangeMochaFrappucino · 09/04/2014 20:46

I have just come home from an induction, having planned a home birth. I tried to decline and argued that the risk of waiting a bit longer were small but the doctor countered that it was a preventable risk. A different situation as mine was due to prolonged rupture of membranes rather than being overdue, but I didn't feel able to refuse and there was a certain amount of emotional pressure.

I really didn't want an induction and it wasn't the birth I would have chosen - my first birth was much better. However, it was fine and I was still able to have a positive experience despite the constant monitoring and the drip which I had feared. It was hard letting go of the home birth dream but I did quickly get used to the fact it wasn't going to happen - but I was going to get my lovely baby. I don't regret giving in on the decision and I still felt like I had some choices in labour and was able to be reasonably active despite the drip. Feeling in control was important to me and a sympathetic midwife will make you feel like your feelings matter so hopefully even if it comes to it, you might find induction to be ok.

I hope things get moving for you and you get the home birth you want - but if you do end up with an induction I hope it goes well .

Original poster

EST0106 · 09/04/2014 21:41

Thank you so much for your stories, both those that have waited it out and those that have had inductions and it's been ok. I think because my first birth was so positive, MLU, water birth etc, I want this one to be too! I think keeping that if the pressure to be induced is just because it's 'policy' and no better reason than that I will resist. Like penguins said, it's not like something happens on day 15 to suddenly increase this risk. I'll keep you posted! Thanks again.

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Original poster

EST0106 · 09/04/2014 21:49

Oh and congrats on your new baby jellyandcakes. X

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aroha77 · 09/04/2014 23:20

I keep meaning to research what evidence the policy is based on - does anyone know?

HoneyBadgerPersonified · 10/04/2014 07:23

Also watching with interest as I have about a 6 day disagreement over dates against 8 week dating scan. Onesie the reason I would refuse an induction up until about 42+7 is because of the conflict in dates, and I have a serious phobia of hospitals, drips, machines, interventions etc. DC1 was also born in a MLU, water labour etc. Nowhere near a hospital. If I have an induction then I have no choice but to go into hospital where there is a greater chance of intervention/ surgery not least because I'll be stressed by the environment.
Of course I would also happily go for daily monitoring if that kept them happy, and although I appreciate this costs the NHS more, it wouldn't be as much as a CS.
A pp said she's been told she should be induced because she's 40yrs old - it's the arbitrary policies which just box tick and take no account of fitness/ health etc that I have an issue with.

Cinnamon2013 · 10/04/2014 07:43

I delayed first suggested induction as I wanted a natural birth but accepted one being booked in for 40+14 . I didn't feel good about it but consultant raising certain risks made it very difficult to say no. I still wanted to say no, and talked to my student midwife about it (I was a caseload study so we were close). She said she had attended her second birth that week, a very overdue one with a sad outcome and encouraged me to follow medical advice. In the end it was 100% the right thing for us. I was sure the dates were wrong but actually I now think they must've been right. There was thick meconium in my waters and baby was v distressed, we had emergency c-section. Doctors told me afterwards that they had done tests on umbilical cord that showed it was a matter of 10-15 minutes. I don't want to sound negative/alarmist as so many babies are safely born beyond these dates, and I really do support the natural birth movement. But speaking personally I would not take that chance. I hope this doesn't sound v negative but post to provide a balance of stories. Wishing you every luck for a very happy birth

Cinnamon2013 · 10/04/2014 07:44

Ps I had daily monitoring which was all fine, there was no sign of a problem

cottoncandy · 10/04/2014 07:49

I was in exactly your situation with DC2. I refused to let them book my induction at my 41 week appointment as they wanted to book it for 40+12. DC2 arrived naturally at home at 40+9 :-) but unless there had been an indication of a problem I would have refused induction until 40+14 when I think I would have cracked! I thought that as DC1 had been 40+10 and my family have a history of late babies, we just have a slightly longer than normal gestation period.

OrangeMochaFrappucino · 10/04/2014 07:49

FWIW, I also disagreed with my dates and thought baby would be due later but didn't quite make it to 38 weeks. By my dates, he would be barely term but he is a good weight and no problems and although I can't quite work out how, I think the scan was accurate after all.

I also had a beautiful water birth in a MLU with dc1 with no need of pain relief. I was terrified of hospitals and all medical procedures and the prospect of induction was my worst nightmare. If any of you who are as afraid of it as I am do end up with one, please believe me that it wasn't so awful and doesn't have to be as scary as you think. I still only needed gas and air, I could move around and give birth on all fours and there weren't any interventions so it doesn't have to be the frightening medicalised birth I imagined even though it did have to be in hospital. Wishing everyone lots of luck and lovely babies!

HoneyBadgerPersonified · 10/04/2014 15:53

Thanks jellyandcake, it is reassuring to read your post as I think I've managed to convince myself that if I'm induced I will inevitably end up with intervention or c-section - both of which terrify me. I've never spent a night in hospital, never had a drip, never had general anaesthetic or a catheter or anything like that and all of that scares me. I don't even like going to hospital for regular scans even though they're such happy experiences.
I guess if I am induced I'll just have to try really hard to not give up on my birth plan and try keep as much of it as possible like you suggest.

Original poster

EST0106 · 10/04/2014 16:15

Thanks again for your stories. It's really good to people's experiences. I'm glad you had a happy ending cinnamon. Jellyandcakes, it's so reassuring to hear your experience of induction, I keep imagining being on my back, and not being allowed to move and ending up having an epidural and then escalating interventions! Well, still no sign of baby but will keep fingers crossed. Thanks again.

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