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Original poster

Declining induction at 42 weeks

39 replies

Louise2019 · 25/02/2019 16:45

Has anyone ever declined an induction at 42 weeks and gone into spontaneous labour the following week?

I’m currently 42 weeks and 3 days pregnant with an induction booked for Friday. I’m really hoping to avoid induction but as the days pass it’s looking less likely.

Does anyone have any positive stories?

Thanks

OP posts:

DownWentTheFlag · 25/02/2019 16:51

I was booked for an induction with DC1 at 42weeks, but was naturally having contractions by the time I got to the hospital to be induced.
With DC2 I had an induction at 41 weeks. It was actually a great experience! I wouldn’t hesitate to have another induction.

HJWT · 25/02/2019 16:52

Have you had a sweep? If so have they said how your cervix feels? Id personally go of that than other peoples stories. I had a sweep and was 1 cm dilated with a very soft cervix she said I would 100% go into labour from the sweep, I was induced a week later xx

Original poster

Louise2019 · 25/02/2019 16:57

I’ve had two sweeps now, a week apart, there’s been progress from the midwife only getting the tip of her finger in at the first sweep to two fingers, stretching to three at the second.

If things hadn’t progressed then I’d probably have gone straight for an induction, but as there have been changes I’m hoping that things are moving along.

OP posts:

endofthelinefinally · 25/02/2019 16:59

Are you having regular monitoring?
I wouldn't want to go beyond 42 weeks, personally.

Coffeeandcrumpet · 25/02/2019 17:01

Not a chance would I go beyond 42 weeks, it is far too risky, there are very good reasons why they want to induce you,!

OnlineAlienator · 25/02/2019 17:03

I refused all inductions at 42wks, imo babies come when they are ready. They werent happy and scanned me, at which point it was discovered DD was breech and i was booked in for a cs, which went well and DD was 100% healthy....but i feel rather lucky because i know of a lady who refused induction and insisted on a home birth and the baby died :(

It's a tough call to make.

niknac1 · 25/02/2019 17:08

If I was in your situation I would try to stay upright and active if at all possible, if no spontaneous labour then I would accept the induction. However if the induction on Friday was delayed at your request I would have taken their medical advice and go for the induction when suggested. I’ve had 2 inductions, each was different but I was happy as my children were born healthy and I’ve chosen to just be grateful for the that.

AgnesNaismith · 25/02/2019 17:11

I had a 4 hr labour with induction (pessary only) at 42wks. My dc1 came out quite blue and I am pleased I did, I wouldn’t put it off.

Bigonesmallone3 · 25/02/2019 17:14

Seems silly.. risks increase post 42 weeks!

CallMeWoman · 25/02/2019 17:17

Not all inductions are uncomfortable or require further medication to keep labour going. I would strongly advise you to follow your midwife's advice at this stage.

I was induced with a pessary with my first, and she was born within four hours. Good luck!

HJWT · 25/02/2019 17:18

@Louise2019 I think you should defo go in to be induced, like I said I was at a 2 and had a very fast L&D after the pessary and waters breaking.

CottonSock · 25/02/2019 17:20

I went for induction at 40 +2.
My friends didn't want one and went in for monitoring to find their baby was in real trouble. Luckily this story had a happy ending after crash c section .

Lou1984 · 25/02/2019 17:25

A friend who recently had her baby and was in a similar situation, went for reflexology 3 days before her booked induction with the hope of managing to avoid the induction and went into labour the next day. She said she actually started feeling twinges/changes as the reflexologist worked the specific points in her foot! Obviously no way of saying for certain that the reflexology brought on the labour, however if you are feeling desperate its certainly worth a try while you wait for your induction on Friday! Good luck x

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 25/02/2019 17:25

I’ve had two sweeps now, a week apart, there’s been progress from the midwife only getting the tip of her finger in at the first sweep to two fingers, stretching to three at the second

This is promising. I ended up with a CS after the pessaries and gel did nothing and they couldn’t break my waters for the drip. That was at 42w.

Personally I would get ready for an induction; you’ve got to 42+3 and I think that’s good going as most trusts wouldn’t want to wait that long.

Chances are if your cervix is changing - at all - you might get going with one gel only. I would agree to induction, just to get baby out and safely with you x

MissSmiley · 25/02/2019 17:26

I had a scan at 42w on a Friday (refused induction at 10 days past due date) csection booked for the Monday after the weekend as big baby but went into labour that night and gave birthday at 15 days over 9lb 1oz but by emergency section because they had scared me about not being able to deliver naturally due to baby's size
All very unnecessary extra caution as baby was first baby after 5 rounds of ivf

foxandthehound · 25/02/2019 17:33

I had an induction at 38+2 weeks due to preeclampsia. It was my first baby, my cervix was still very high and very much shut.

I had a pessary put in at 6am one day and exactly 24 hours later she was born.

I wouldn't hold it off if I were you.

snoopy18 · 25/02/2019 17:34

As OP said try reflexology session maybe that can help bring it on naturally - worth a try. Also evening primrose oil may help and ball but would imagine you’ve already been trying the ball.

dontticklethetoad · 25/02/2019 17:36

Your placenta starts to work less efficiently after 40 weeks, your babies oxygen supply can become compromised. Why risk it?

Shmithecat2 · 25/02/2019 17:43

dontticklethetoad
Your placenta starts to work less efficiently after 40 weeks, your babies oxygen supply can become compromised. Why risk it?

This. It beggars belief that people would.

Fatted · 25/02/2019 17:48

Personally, I wouldn't risk going beyond 42 weeks. I say this as someone who had a negative experience with induction with my first at 41 weeks. I'd still choose that over risking going over due.

LashesZ · 25/02/2019 17:53

I had missed my last midwife appointment (they didn't write it in my notes ) so risked going over. I went naturally at 41 + 3 and ended up with a poorly baby because of meconium aspiration, funisitis and chorioamnionitis. Had an 8 day stay in hospital. Drs put it down to being overdue, not sure if that is clinically true but I'd deffo be induced.

Inniu · 25/02/2019 17:57

There are reasons for the medical advice. I know 2 people who went over 42 weeks who didn’t get to bring their babies home.

beforeihit30 · 25/02/2019 18:03

I won’t make any comments on choosing an induction or not as such, I had one at 41+5 with DC2 but I understand you’re holding out for a spontaneous labour. However I wanted to share a positive experience in the sense of the induction, it was by pessary and it went very well. Was also glad to get baby out (apart from the fact I was big and fed up!) as he had started to show some signs of distress, he needed some help immediately after the birth to get breathing and we had to stay in for monitoring as he had been a bit pale/blue but the birth itself was so straightforward and he was just fine in the end, got colour back into his cheeks (and turned out to be an incredibly strong and robust child!).

It may be that you do have an induction in the end, just wanted to say don’t feel down about it (although I appreciate I don’t know your reasons for declining), the main thing is that you and baby are well. My local NHS trust now routinely offers induction at 39-40 weeks to low risk mothers, because of evidence that the birth experience is less likely to be complex (as in, less likely to need assistance like forceps, less or no more likely to result in CS, baby’s outcomes no different from spontaneous births etc). There’s a paper or two (or more) somewhere on this, can’t remember what they’re titled but had a look over when first told to me by my consultant. My NHS trust isn’t exactly maverick so I’m sure they have confidence and the evidence!

Bees1 · 25/02/2019 18:55

BBC radio 2 Jeremy Vine at lunch time was talking about this with Dr Sarah Jarvis. Was an interesting discussion that you might find useful!

Piggywiggles · 25/02/2019 18:57

I’m 42 weeks today and went in today to have an induction. I really didn’t want one but at this point I don’t think the baby actually wants to leave (despite losing the mucus plug, being 1cm dilated, the baby being really low down and having a bloody show) and it’s making me hate the baby a bit so for both of our sakes it needs to come out.

My experience of induction hasn’t been great so far as I’ve had the pessary at half 1, nothing has happened yet and I hate being on a ward with other people. Plus I wanted to give birth at the MLU but if anything was to happen after the 42 weeks and the baby didn’t make it, I’d never forgive myself. It’s shat all over the birth experience I wanted but I’ll get over it. This pessary has done fuck all so far though.

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