Hind waters have broken - can I refuse to be induced?

[Tapster]

My hindwaters went 9pm Tuesday. I went in yesterday for monitoring, and I am meant to go in tonight at 8pm to be induced. I'm 40+4 and there is no sign of contractions starting (despite 4 spells of false labour in the last couple of weeks - where are my contractions when I need them).

I really want a natural birth, will wait to see what they say once they examined me tonight but probably will allow them a couple of goes at the prostin gel. However, when I had an internal and they tried to do a sweep on Tuesday the midwife said my cervix is still closed and she couldn't do a sweep so I don't hold out much hope for the gel to work.

One midwife admitted yesterday that the hind waters going posed very little risk of infection - should I refuse induction? I don't mind taking antibiotics but I would like to wait for labour to start naturally.

Lizx

I thought that there had been some (relatively recent) research that means that the risk of infection is pretty insignificant for at least 72hrs, if not longer, after waters going like this.

I had the impression that booking you in for induction 24 or 48 hrs later is to do with "hospital policy". Same as some hospitals automatically give you and the baby antibiotics if it has happened, others don't.

Certainly when it happened to me, I was booked in for induction either 3 or 4 days later, I forget since DS born naturally after 48hrs (and no antibiotics).

In your situation I'd be inclined to see if you can hold them off for another day if you can...

They cannot give you any form of treatment unless you consent to it so you can refuse to be induced if you want. But you need to make sure you are fully informed as to the risks of not being induced, if any. Logically, I would have thought that if the main sac is intact, there should be virtually no risk of infection, but I am not a doctor!

I think you should be able to hold them off for a while. My hind waters went two days before I went into established labour with my 1st. If the baby is happy, ie- moving lots, heartbeat good etc then there should really be no reason for them to force you into an induction.

However with my 2nd I was induced as she was 2 weeks late and very comfortable, and I have to say, I prefered it to a natural progression. The whole thing was sooooo much quicker, I also have a 45 minute journey to the nearest hospital so liked the idea of not having to do that whilst contracting. Don't be worried about being induced, there is alot of negativity about it but as with most things you only hear the bad stories and not often the good. I thought it was fab.

Best fo luck though, it won't be long now.

I was induced and I loved it. It was great. I didn't use any pain relief, so I consider it a natural birth, that for medical reasons needed a little push.

Word of advice. if you are induced. Eat like you are eating for a small country. Once they give you a drip you can't eat. At least in the US you can't. I was told that they wouldn't take out the drip until my ds was born, and if that took days than i wouldn't eat for days. Luckily ds loves his mommy and made his appearance 10 hours after the drip and 6 hours after labor was established.

yes ..you can refuse...if your cervix is not even sweepable yet...no reason an induction would work ..without a lot of pessaries and hormones...

the state of the cervix itself as in indicateor for induction..in the bishops score..so no, i don't believe you need to be or should be induced!

if they give you the pessaries...you are there until baby is born......so don;t go for it unless you are prepared for induction.....!

NICE guidlines allow 96 hours after waters breaking before induction ......and if hindwaters gone..that is a different scenario..hold off a bit..if you can esp. as cervix not looking favourable!!

Thanks lulumama - its good to know about the NICE guidelines, I can throw that at them tonight if my cervix is still closed. Thanks everybody thats really helpful. I will hopefully be able to update you tomorrow.
Lizx