Request to be induced? Anyone asked before?

[Charliebob1337]

So long story short, this is my first pregnancy and I am currently under a midwife, obstetrician, haematologist and an anaesthetist.

I am currently 36 weeks and 3 days. I have been lucky enough to have quite a straight forward pregnancy so far. Lots of monitoring and scans, and all seems fine.

Baby is currently measuring big. I was put back 4 and a half weeks at the start due to my PCOS messing with my period dates. Baby is measuring around 39 weeks at the moment, that's head and stomach size. Also approximately 6lb 12oz as of last week. I don't as far as I'm aware have GD even though I am overweight. To be honest speaking to the sonographers there's a good chance I could be a week or so ahead.

I am seeing my obstetrician on Monday I will be 37 weeks and 2 days by then. She has already told me by no means I will go over 40 weeks and if so will be induced, but I'm wondering if anyone has requested one sooner?

My reasons being:

1. I am worried, in fact terrified. I have quite a rare blood disorder which means my risk of bleeding is very high. They will need to get special clotting factors in for me and will need constant supervision for a while even after birth. I feel if I was to go in on a weekend they may be down on staff or not prepared. I'm not allowed an epidural but will be allowed diamorphine but again ONLY if staff are available.

1. Again because of my disorder they want to reduce the risk of me having a C-section and give birth vaginally. Obviously if one needs to be done there are plans in place but surely if baby is already measuring big the longer they leave the baby the harder it may be to push out and therefore need to go to theatre.

1. I went in with reduced movements last week (2nd time, all is fine but I think this heat has been making baby sluggish) and they couldn't locate my notes! They aren't missing, but it was 10:30pm at night and they couldn't request them so gave me a copy to take with me to my next appointment and file them there. If I had gone into labour at that point my entire birth plan and special requirements are in those notes and noone would have been able to read them to know what the plan was!?

1. Not as important health wise, but important to me. My husband was made redundant last month. Luckily another job was available that he had no choice but to take, but it means he has to go to the other side of the UK for training. This unfortunately falls at the end of July during week 39 and week 40 of my pregnancy. There is just no way he can't go, he has to to in order to protect us financially and but it means if I was to go into labour or be induced he wouldn't be able to be there during the birth. He may be able to get back for the day, but he will be about 5 hours away and doesn't drive so would need to get a train and then go back shortly after. This is our first child and only child as we want just the one so I really want him there.

So am I being unreasonable and do I have any grounds to ask on Monday that I be induced the following week? I would be anywhere from 38 weeks and 2 days or even the tail end of that week at early 39 weeks. Obviously I don't want to harm the baby but I just want a date so I can plan, get my head into the right mindset and also have my husband there.

My midwife seems to think I can request it but have seen contradicting things on the Internet. Other health care professionals I've seen have also found it odd I don't have a date in place yet.

Has anyone asked and it's been approved or is it a no no unless you really have to. I'm so scared to ask, I'm not a very pushy person and have my trust and faith in all the wonderful clinicians looking after me, but I just want to be induced..

Many thanks in advance.

sorry doesnt sound like they would induce you as my hospital are very strict on induction due to the pain it causes, They will only do it if there is a risk to mother and baby during pregnancy.

I was allowed to have sweeps from 37 weeks which is 3 weeks early on your second baby. They did this as I was under consultant due to losing a baby previously, but they absolutely won't agree to induce you. I did go into labour 6 days early due to early sweeps

Ask for one but only on physical health factors - they don't give a damn about your financial factors, birth plan and will minimise/ignore your anxiety. I'm sure you have read they will want you to go over 37 weeks but as before 40 weeks.

Ask. The worse they can say is no. My babies were all brought out early. For various reasons. The last one ultimately due to my anxiety. If you have specific health concerns, and anxiety related both to health and to social / home issues, they are very likely to listen to you. After 37 weeks is best (though one of mine was before) and they’ll give steroids if expected before 39 weeks. I think you’ll have a good case. Go in armed with facts, with a list of your concerns. And the stuff with DH matters too. Part of my 3rd coming early was so I could be home for when my middle one started nursery and my oldest started school.

You can ask but they won't induce unless they feel it's necessary as induction can have complications.

Thanks for all the replies, appreciate your input and past experiences. I'm just going to ask and see what they say, like another poster said I don't have anything to lose by asking.

If they say no, they say no. I will ask why, but I'm sure they will have a valid medical reason as to why not. I was never going to ask for any earlier than 38 weeks, but was hoping for 38 weeks and 6 days so a day shy of 39 weeks.

Who knows could go into labour before then anyways, fingers crossed and thanks to everyone again.

I think they generally need a medical reason to induce.
Also I wouldn't put too much on the scans with measurements from my experience they aren't always accurate. My little one was measuring much bigger than she actually was. I had a scan the day before I was induced (reduced or rather no movements and the doctors weren't happy with her heart rate) and the scan suggested she would be 8lbs9oz with all measurements being 75th percentile plus - my little girl was born weighing 6lbs7oz and on the 25th percentile.
Wishing you and your family all the best.

I asked for one when I was around 38 weeks and they agreed, but only if I waited until I was 40 weeks.

DD was born 40+1.

Early induction is more likely to lead to a Caesarian than spontaneous labour so I think they’d be on very tricky ground if they induced you and then you ended up with a CS and something went wrong.

Baby’s estimated weight sounds very normal and healthy at this stage and the growth scans are known to be wildly inaccurate so I wouldn’t invest too much worry in this.

Talk to your consultant and get a clear plan in place that works for you and your baby.

As has been said, early induction, before your body is ready, is much more likely to fail and potentially go on for days and/or end in intervention. So there is that to factor into your decision too, especially if you can't have an epidural.

There's certainly no harm in asking and discussing it with your health care providers, but a induction is no guarantee that things will progress the way you want unfortunately.

If you're trying to avoid intervention/csection then really you don't want to go for an induction if at all possible.

Ask! If all else fails cry a little! They won’t induce before 37 weeks but if you say how terrified you are and list all your reasons they should agree to book you in sooner. I have a variety of medical issues and I too was not allowed to go to term. I was to be induced and I cried and said how scared I was of going into natural labour. They agreed and I was induced at 38 weeks - as PP have said induction is not an easy way out - yes it reduces the unknown factor time wise but the drugs do make labour more intense.
Good luck OP - I hope you have a good outcome and your DH can be there for the birth.

Inductions have higher instances of interventions either EMCS, forceps/ventouse, episiotomy etc. If you want to avoid them then asking to be induced is not the way forward.

Also with your notes why didn’t you have them? Or did they take them off you and couldn’t find them when you left? I had to have my notes with me everywhere until birth when they were taken off me.

I’ll be honest, if I was your consultant I’d think you want inducing because your DH is going to be away over your due date. So I wouldn’t mention that at all.

Also inductions are by far the worst birth from my own experience and from others I know. I understand your scared, that’s natural but leaving your body to do it’s thing, unless there is a real medical need, that’s the best way.

I would scan and copy your notes to make sure a copy is always available when you go into hospital. It is also worth storing a copy on your phone.

Good luck with getting a birth plan and date in place. I hope it all goes well.

I don't know the details of your medical situation but I wouldn't opt for an induction lightly.

I had 2 elective inductions. Both fine. Both around 39 week mark. I did it because I felt my first labour was so out of control, and I wanted it planned, short of a section. However I did have epidurals with both, tho they neither of them worked properly. No other interventions, up walking straight after. I think inductions often lead to emergency sections because of when they are done i.e. A labour not progressing Which probably reflects its own problems. Research what you want and make your case for it.

I’m not sure if you’re aware but induction actually increases your risk of heavy bleeding after delivery (even in people without blood disorders) and increases your risk of having an instrumental or operative delivery. It doesn’t sound like this would be in your best interests. If your consultant felt early induction was needed they would be doing that. Hope all goes well x

If you want your baby out then insist on a section. I dont know how you do that but no way would i insist on an induction....

My 3 babies were born in 33 months. All at 42+ weeks. My second I begged for them to do something and eventually they broke my waters and he was born 2 hours later. :)

But i swear. The doctors and midwives know what they are doing. Trust them. And your instinct.

helpful

I was induced at 39 weeks had four pessaries was in hospital for four days before they could break my waters. I wouldn't choose induction if it wasn't medically required.

I asked to be induced at 38 weeks, for my health not the baby’s. They agreed to being induced at 40 weeks, not sooner. So glad they did as baby was way over 10lb & I felt I literally could not go on any longer I was in agony.

My induction was very straightforward and very quick - but obviously there’s no predicting this.