How many days overdue would you choose to be induced?

[pinkypig]

Hi Ladies,

I'm a Brit living in Aus under private healthcare.

I hve just been for my 39 week OB appointment (he is great but VERY laid back). When I asked the OB what his thoughts were on induction (at full term) he said 'it's up to you - you can have this baby whenever you like'!!

This has totally thrown me as I never expected to have the choice. I feel it's a toss up between wanting to go naturally and ever-increasing worry about the baby's welfare the longer I go over.

This is our first baby, I've had an easy trouble-free pg so not in any rush (yet!), baby has been head down for weeks but is 'hardly' engaged (OB's words when I asked!)

What would you do?

Thanks in advance.

I too found such choice amazing - am in NZ.

If he is happy to let you stay pg - then I would let your little one cook a little longer. Laid back or not I am sure that if he needs to get it out he will make it clear, and you will believe him because of his previous attitude.

Hi,
Im 37+3 with my first and would LOVE to have found an OB like yours. Im in JApan and I feel Im having to fight unecessary involvement all the way. I feel if that if I get past 40 weeks, IVe got a fight on my hands to not be induced!
I understand they are being cautious, but come on, Im 25, in perfect health! If I were you Id wait it out untill 42 weeks (that is what is considered full term in France), and if the babys still not here by then, ask for frequent monitoring to check its condition.

If the baby is not ready to come out, and you try to induce before your body is ready, you could have all kinds of problems in labour, with your body not behaving like it should, leading to ventouse/forceps or even a c -section!
Let us know what you decide

A normal pregnancy is 37-42weeks according to WHO so if I were you I should sit back and relax. You will not be overdue until 42 + 1.

I think it is fantastic that your body is being allowed to go into labour when your baby chooses it too not when a consultant or midwife chooses it too.

I was 10 days over with dd when I went in to be induced and was found to be in early labour anyway. There can be concern over the functioning of the placenta as time goes on but as long as the OB monitors you and the baby intermittently it needn't become a problem and you can wait. When dd was born he did show me the placenta and how it was starting to degenerate, as if I could tell ! Good luck

I think you're lucky to have this approach. I was induced after 10 days (had been having contractions for 4 days but not "established" labour) and will fight tooth and nail next time to wait until absolutely necessary. Usually in this country they monitor you daily once you get past 2 weeks.

I was 3 days over with ds1 and 11 days with ds2. I would never choose to be induced, both labours were natural. I think they can get the dates wrong and baby will come when its good and reaady .

I'm an aussie living in London so I had alot of pressure from the doctors to be induced but I stood my ground about having a natural birth. Its impossible to say how long I would have waited, but I just listened to my body. I wish I was in your position your ob sounds great!

I would wait til 42 weeks, DS arrived without induction 12 days late

I'd wait until at least 42 weeks, and possibly longer with daily monitoring. Average length of pregnancy for a first baby is 41 weeks anyway, I think. I was born at 42 weeks and showed no signs of being postmature, and so was one of my brothers. The other brother was born at 43 weeks after induction and was a bit postmature (wrinkly, long nails) but no health problems or signs of anything breaking down.

Thanks everyone. I've decided that I will hold out as long as possible but will insist on regular monitoring. Thanks!

Wouldn't be too keen to go over 42 myself but would depend on results of monitoring etc.

Like lots of others, I'm wishing that our policies were a bit more laid back and similar - can't harm to cook LO for a bit longer, if s/he's not ready yet, why not? As has been said, as long as they keep an eye on you and communicate, hopefully you should get lots of choice about what you want to do. Best of luck!!

I went 2 weeks over with my first - ds
He was monitored daily by a midwife who came to see me. I was offered a scan at 42 weeks to check the placenta function, but he made a belated but damn quick appearance on the dot of 42 weeks

I did a fair bit of reading on this when ds was overdue and decided it was absolutely fine to go at least 2 weeks over. After then it seemed there was some risk, and it would have been a test of nerves for me. I actually doubt now that ds would have ever been born without some intervention - he was OP and had cord round his neck - I think nature knows when a baby is not in a good position to come out. I had a sweep on day 40 +9 and he was born the next day.

Oh my placenta was certainly looking a bit worse for wear after only 10 days over, so I would probably get twitchy after 2 weeks in the same situation again. Good luck to you whatever you decide.

personally - I think induction is so painful and barbaric because its unnatural. i would rather have an elective cs at 42 weeks than another induction (Ive had 2).
Im 36 weeks now and am eating pineapple like theres no tomorrow, curry for dinner, rasperry leaf tablets and if its wasnt for my spd id probably attempt sex, anything to avoid induction, which my consultant is keen as mustard to have by 41 weeks. I sooo dont think so.

AT LEAST 42 weeks - especially if you are caucasian, because caucasian women apparently usually go to at least 41 weeks with the first. This is info I found on the internet qwhen trying to avoid a second induction - I made them wait until 14 days over, but he came out unaided at 12 days over. Much to be said for waiting.

Ds1 was 16 days late, not remotely postmature, ds2 was 12 days late, again, not remotely post mature.

Let your pregnancy go as long as you want to. However, I was induced at 38 weeks due to high blood pressure, and it wasn't painful at all. I didn't have any pain medication. Other than the pitocin, a totally natural delivery. (I live in the US and I don't know if people are induced differently in other places). Good luck to everyone.

I would wait as usually nature is far more gentler than the medics! If you went past 42 weeks I would ask to be monitored but i would decline any induction until 43 weeks (unless medically necessary)... as a doula I see too many inductions that un-necessarily difficult/painful and lead to far too much intervention...

FlipFloppinRubyRioja - how do you know if you would respond wel to an induction ? Some do at 38 weeks and others don't at 42!

yes, at least 42 weeks. wait as long as you possibly can.

I think everybody is different. DD was born at 39 + 3 days normal labour not induced. DS was induced at 37 weeks for a number of reasons. Didn't have any drugs just water brokens labour lasted an hour and a half. Went into hospital at 8am and home 6pm the same day. Good luck do what is right for you

Well sadly I have been with women who were 42 weeks and after 6 (yes 6!) days of inductions only got some labour going... and a section at the end... so NO there is no guarantee that you have an easy induction at 42 weeks... ask mumsnetters you'll see how many have had difficult ones at 42 weeks. Some women go to 44 weeks gestation as well, of course they don't appear at every corner but the point is some women clearly have longer gestational periods and if more refused inductions we would have far more going in spontaneous labour at 42 weeks +.
There is a stat that says that 80% of women who are not induced at 42 weeks go on to go in spontaneous labour before 43 weeks !