Induced at 40 weeks if aged over 40?

[Fergie35]

Hi,

I've read some info that says the NHS push you to be induced if you're over 40 yrs old. I'm 42 and this is my second baby and just wondered if this is likely to be the case?

My first was born when I was just shy of 38 and he was a couple of days over the 40 weeks and an easy birth.

My mum had my DS 8 years ago at 43. She went 2 weeks overdue and was going to be induced bit they didn't have any beds l, she went into spontaneous labour that same night. There was no suggestions that she be induced earlier than 42 weeks (I still lived at home at the time and got every intimate detail).

Unless you want to be induced they can't make you.

My friends over 40 have indeed been told this is standard at our hospital (including 1 2 weeks over 40!) but of course you are perfectly within your rights to refuse induction, and I would!

I’ve been told I will probably be induced between 38-40 weeks because I’m 40.
Apparently something to do with because we may have more chance of complications

It’s because the rate of unexplained stillbirths are high for mums over 40. So inductions are used to reduce the risk.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21277369

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/30/women-40s-far-greater-risk-severe-childbirth-complications/

I’ve been told the consultant will advise me to be induced at 40 weeks due to increased risk of the placenta not working to 100% capacity after 40 weeks once you’re over 40. I’m 42. Thus increased risk of still birth deaths. If all goes ok at my 12 weeks scan tomorrow I shall be meeting the consultant, so I’ll let you know what he/she says. This is my second baby, and I had no issues with the pregnancy or delivery of my son. That being said, after 2 miscarriages, if I’m told induction is the safest option then that’s what I’ll do. I’d rather not though!

I’ve had 2 babies over 40. Moved trusts with the first one due to moving house from one NHS Trust who were insisting on induction to one that didn’t. First was born at 40 + 8 all fine, second was born at home and was a couple of days early. As I had no other risk factors apart from age there was no need to induce as agreed with the consultant/midwife. Go and listen to the consultant and talk about the risks but they can’t make you have an induction if it’s not what you want.

And on that Telegraph article, I wonder if any research has been done on the correlation between more complicated births for over 40s and the fact that certain NHS trusts are very keen on medicalising childbirth with inductions etc for that age group?

That's some scary sounding stats on those articles!

I'm having my first at 41. Hoping for a section but will otherwise be induced. I don't want to take any chances - the stillbirth risks are not worth it for me.
I am having growth scans as a precaution too. I'd rather baby is out safely asap.

I'm 39, but will have turned 40 1month before my 4th baby is born. Consultants have said that if I were a few months older they would induce on time but not for just a few months over 40.

My consultant stated that I would be induced on my due date due to my age (41) at the time. I was adamant I wanted a home birth so was prepared to argue my point. He suggested that he would be advising his own wife to be induced in the same circumstances. As it happens my son was 6 days early and a lovely home water birth!

Yep - I'm over 40 and have been told they will offer sweep at 38 weeks and look to induce at 40 weeks because of the placenta issue.

Hi. Just reporting back after my scan and consultant appointment yesterday. The consultant said that evidence shows it necessary to induce anyone over 40 years of age at 39 weeks. He said this was being rolled out throughout the UK in every trust????? Anyway, as always it is my choice and I can make the decision whenever I want too, but this is the safest option to deliver safely after 40 years of age - according to him. To be honest I’m a little dubious about it, as can that much really change between 39 to 40 years of age, but as I’m 42 I’ll go with it. Don’t know if this helps. X

I’m 43 and was due yesterday, induction is booked for Monday. This is my 3rd, I’ve had an uncomplicated pregnancy, and no other risk factors so the consultant saw no reason to book it earlier and even suggested later in the week, which I wasn’t keen on for other reasons. So it’s not necessarily a blanket ‘rule’.

My friend is 41 she was induced at 39 weeks just because of her age. She had a good pregnancy without any complications but they induced her anyway.

A woman in my yoga class was being pushed for induction at 40weeks because she was 40. She decided to opt for additional motoring instead and had him a few days later.

When talking to my midwife about induction she pointed out that women don't routinely go from having a perfectly healthy baby to a stillborn overnight, and that there is a reason additional monitoring is offered as an alternative - If you find a problem then you can opt for induction at that point.

I’m 40 and due in 11 weeks, was booked for 40 weeks and they just brought forward by week. It’s the still birth risk. I asked if it’s a sweep or straight to meds, it’s still a sweep and my hospital said they have a gel now which is better than the pessary.

I think though you can refuse it unless they really insist.

It would seem that I am unusual in being treated as an individual rather than a statistic.

I discussed with consultant and agreed we'd do a sweep close to due date, then daily monitoring for a few days & see how it went & consider induction if nothing was happening. This was a few years ago so they might have got more pro-induction since. I wasn't keen on going down the induction route straight away but also didn't like the risks of placenta packing in, so I was happy with that.

I'd have been happy enough doing the same thing but starting at week 39 tbh.

I’m 41 and was told quite clearly I’d be induced at 39 weeks. I’ll guess I’ll see what happens closer to the time but certainly makes it easier to plan.