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

Original poster

Advice needed; should I accept induction at 40+10 tomorrow?

88 replies

Johno85 · 16/07/2017 08:08

Hi ladies. The title says it all really. I was due on 7th July with our first baby. He's not budging. So far have tried a fair few things to bring on labour. Had one stretch and sweep last Wednesday which spurred on some cramping and a tiny bit of a show but I've just had intermittent cramps since then. MW said that my cervix "wasn't doing much" at the time.

I'm booked in for an induction tomorrow at 10:30 but the midwife did mention that if baby and I are ok then they may offer to let me go to 40+12. My parents flew over from abroad on my due date and are due to fly home on Thursday but are now talking about potentially changing their flights. Obviously that won't affect our decision too much.

I've read so many pros and cons and now just left stumped at what to do. Any advice would be really great. Thanks in advance x

OP posts:
ThisBabyIsAnOctopus · 16/07/2017 08:13

I think if there are no concerns about you or baby (and it doesn't sound like there are), and if you're happy to wait then I would give it the extra 2 days. Most first mums run 10 days late on average (IIRC!) so it's perfectly normal.

peripateticparents · 16/07/2017 08:15

I had dc1 at 40+10, dc2 at 40+12 and dc3 induced at 40+14. The induction was by far my worst. I'd hold out, personally.

Original poster
Johno85 · 16/07/2017 08:18

Thanks for the info. I think I'm swaying more that way at the moment Smile

OP posts:
Rockandrollwithit · 16/07/2017 08:19

I had my first at 40+11 naturally. If you can I would hold out for the extra two days. Maybe ask for monitoring for the reassurance that your placenta is still functioning well?

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 16/07/2017 08:21

I would have expectant monitoring until 40+12 and then have a planned section. I wouldn't not agree to induction. I've had 2 natural deliveries (one with forceps) and induction is the only intervention I would not agree to

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 16/07/2017 08:22

Sorry - induction via a drip or pesseries (just to be clear)

MyFavouriteName · 16/07/2017 08:24

I was induced with my second at 40+10. By the time they started my cervix was favourable and I probably would have started on my own in the next day or so. The induced labour was fast but much more painful. If you're happy to wait then I would.

silkybear · 16/07/2017 08:29

I went to 42 weeks exactly. I had an appointment to discuss induction on the monday at 730 and she was born naturally at 711 so she was just in time! As long as they are keeping an eye on you I would try and hold out as long as you can. Ask your midwife about risks/benefits as I know the placenta becomes less effective after a while.

silkybear · 16/07/2017 08:37

From my friends experiences and own research on induction, if you do go for it and have a synto drip insist on an epidural first as it will make your contractions alot more intense. Good luck wont be long now!

Sasmac2017 · 16/07/2017 08:43

Hey there, just my two cents...I was induced with my first at roughly the same gestation as you are now. They used the gel on my cervix and within hours I was in active Labour with contractions every 2mins lasting 1min right until i gave birth. It was so tiring and painful. My midwife said that Labour is not usually like that. If you can hold.off for another day or two you should (unless there's a safety issue for you and babs). This time around I've told the midwife I am not go i to be induced. All the best :)

TittyGolightly · 16/07/2017 08:44

if baby and I are ok then they may offer to let me go to 40+12

It's your decision, not theirs.

I was induced at 40+13 after my midwife lied to me about being in early labour and frightened me into going.

It wasn't pleasant, but I'll never know if it was the right thing to do.

ItsNiceItsDifferentItsUnusual · 16/07/2017 08:48

I'd wait a couple more days. I was induced a few weeks ago at 40+13. I really didn't want to be but I was so fucking uncomfortable by then that it was the lesser of two evils.

Luckily I was soft and slightly dilated so they just broke my waters rather than having a drip etc.

TittyGolightly · 16/07/2017 08:50

I was in early labour but they gave me the gel anyway.

Original poster
Johno85 · 16/07/2017 08:51

I think now that I've put my impatience aside you are all really backing up what I was already thinking. I don't particularly want an epidural or pethidine (don't get on with opioids). Have done the daisy course in the plan for an active and dare I say it calm as possible labour, so being induced makes all of that sound tricky.

OP posts:
HumpHumpWhale · 16/07/2017 09:06

I would hold out. I was induced with DC1 at 42 weeks, and it was totally fine, but I think that was at least partly because I waited so long. I was SO TIRED of being pregnant. But I'm glad I waited as long as I did.

TittyGolightly · 16/07/2017 09:07

I used TENS and hypnobirthing principles despite the induction, and managed with those and gas and air until it became clear that she was never coming out without help and had a spinal.

The Daisy course will have given you some great tools for dealing with labour, however you get there.

Frazzled2207 · 16/07/2017 09:41

Hmm in theory you can hold out indefinitely but there is definite evidence that going overdue can affect the placenta doing its job so if holding out I would be asking for a scan to check this.

Fwiw I was booked for induction at 40+12 but went into labour spontaneously at 40+10 despite being convinced it would never happen.

mortificado · 16/07/2017 09:48

Could you ask for another sweep tomorrow to see if that gets things going first?

ItsNiceItsDifferentItsUnusual · 16/07/2017 10:06

John I also did Daisy for both my births - it was weirdly most helpful for my induction! Also induction doesn't always mean not active (although does if you have a drip). I was on my back for my induction birth but still used the breathing loads.

HumpHumpWhale · 16/07/2017 10:26

I should have said - I only needed the pessary for my induction. I then went on to have the water birth I wanted, only had gas and air for pain relief. So it's not always a cascade of interventions.

MenorcaSunrise · 16/07/2017 11:41

I sympathise, I am 40+13 today. Have had 2 ctgs and baby is still fine. I have an induction planned in a couple days, though I wish I didn't after reading this thread. I would hang on for a couple more days if you are comfortable doing so.

McBaby · 16/07/2017 12:16

Dd1 born at 40+6 naturally, ,dd2 38 week induction and dd3 at 40+8 naturally.

Personally all three labours were very similar and with dd2 she was no where near coming but there were risks for both of us so it was nessersary. I had two pessaries, arm and drop for 6 hours.

Just wanted to throw in that induction does not mean awful labour.

NameChange30 · 16/07/2017 12:25

I went overdue and really wanted to avoid induction. Had a sweep which was painful and did nothing. Then had acupuncture which was relaxing and might have helped. Then had sex and went into labour a few hours later! Gave birth the same day. I was 40+11.

In France they count 41 weeks so the due date is a week later. I've heard that the average gestation for a first time mum is 40+5. But anything up to 42 weeks is normal. So I'm not sure why the obsession around induction as soon as the 40 week "due date" is reached (unless there are medical reasons that make going overdue more risky).

I'm sure it's possible to have an induction and a positive experience, but I have also heard that the syntocin drip makes the contractions much more painful, and can increase the risk of interventions if labour doesn't progress.

My advice would be to wait a bit longer, maybe consider acupuncture, and have as much sex as you can manage Wink

If you do go for induction, I suggest you request the pessary and give it time to work before going on the syntocin drip.

Best of luck!

NameChange30 · 16/07/2017 12:43

"My parents flew over from abroad on my due date and are due to fly home on Thursday but are now talking about potentially changing their flights. Obviously that won't affect our decision too much."

It shouldn't affect your decision at all. With all due respect it was a bit silly of them to fly over on your due date, unless you wanted them around to support you in the run up to the birth and/or for the birth itself. My in-laws live abroad and we asked them to come after the birth so they'd have as long as possible when baby was actually here. They ignored us and came before my due date so they were only around for a few days after DS was born.

Ginlinessisnexttogodliness · 16/07/2017 13:50

Just wanted to echo a PP that sad not all inductions are drawn out and end up with asssite or section deliveries.
I have had two babies via induction. The second was a little harder going in terms of it being a drip but both were straightforward, reasonably quick (4 and 7 hours respectively from start of contractions to delivery) unassisted deliveries just on gas and air and home very soon afterwards. 41 weeks exactly and 39+1 respectively. They were both decent sized babies too. And hardly any bleeding.

Personally I would want to know my placenta was still functioning normally before declining an induction at getting close to 42 weeks. Will they scan and assess that? The main prompt for declining an induction and wanting to see if you labour naturally should be that the placenta is still doing a good job and in all aspects your baby is fine. If that's the case you are totally within your rights to say no. It is you body and your baby.

I'm expecting my third and will be induced by 39'weeks max if he doesn't arrive of his own accord before then. Hoping for a pessary rather than drip as it is much less painful.

I hope he makes an appearance soon and you have a great, positive labour. After my first I was totally gobsmacked at what an amazing thing my knackered waddling body had just done!