Refusing induction

[Iswallowtoothpaste]

Hi all. Currently 38+5 and awaiting induction thanks to gestational hypertension (which they now think could be essential hypertension) on tuesday at 39 weeks exactly.

I’m getting massively cold feet about the whole thing and am feeling as though I’d rather wait a little while to see if labour started spontaneously.

I’ve been having 3x weekly blood pressure checks and it’s been fine.

Baby’s growth hasn’t been compromised. She’s always been between the 75th and 85th centiles for growth.

If I’m being a twat, please slap me and tell me to go for the induction on Tuesday!

What is it about the induction that's giving you cold feet?

Think about which parts of the induction are the issue eg no drip without epidural or decide a cut off when you want a csection. And then discuss it fully and very firmly with a consultant or doctor. Ask them about the risks of waiting, the risks of induction (they’re never keen to discuss this one) and the risks of a cs.

@mawof3soontobe I keep hearing stories of it taking a while to get going and ending in a c-section which I’m terrified of.

I’m not good with hospitals either and the less time I have to spend in them the better.
We also live an hour away from the hospital.

At this point I’m feeling as though I’d rather be monitored closely with expectant management.

My experience of induction was it was pretty similar to labour without the pissing around am I aren't I, drive home 30 minutes, give up, come back in, oops you're 7cm fun and games I had with my first... only needed the hormone gel. Even had the pain/No change in dilation, pretty well all the dilation in 30 minutes then can't get the bugger out once pushing, eventual ventouse with both of them...

Induced was definitely easier over all, although didn't need waters breaking or drip...

@Iswallowtoothpaste I was induced at 37+3 because of preeclampsia (Incl high bp) and was terrified after all the horror stories. Just to say that actually it went v well and ladies with high bp typically labour quickly. I had been told that but didn’t believe it, however 24h pessary went in and baby delivered 10 hours later. I would accept induction if advised personally, sometimes baby is safer outside xxx

I’ve had three, I’d describe them as normal births. No further interventions and G&A enough, fairly unremarkable

I've had 4 inductions and all went ok no other intervention except ARM with 2 of them - so no drip, no tears, no assisted delivery.

I never got the natural labouring and homebirth I really wanted BUT I had healthy babies.

I think it does help to focus on why they want to induce you, your pregnancy is becoming higher risk and they are prioritising you and your baby's health.

Even if you end up with a few days getting you into established labour (been there and got the T-shirt x 2) it is worth it.

I found a tens machine brilliant for coping with the early pain from induction and the epidural was great when it got long and drawn out (didn't need it for all of them)

@Bellafreud really? I haven’t heard that one! I laboured spontaneously and fairly quickly for a first birth with DD (about 5 hours from first contraction)

It’s actually quite refreshing to hear people say that they didn’t mind induction.

To be honest I’ve found that hospitals really don’t induce you willy nilly.
I was desperate to be induced with dc1 from about 36 weeks onwards. I was huge (10lbs baby), I had excess fluid, I also had hyperemesis that had led to first stage rental problems and I had SPD mainly due to the weight of my uterus size and was walking around using crutches and the hospital wouldn’t induce me because there wasn’t enough medical reason.

Thank goodness I developed high blood pressure at week 39 and they finally induced me. So I think the fact the hospital are saying you need it would be a huge swaying factor for me personally. I imagine they have many women every single day asking to be induced and they decline.

As for the induction personally I found the process pretty good. I had a pessary, one more 6 hours later. Went into labour overnight, laboured slowly all day, then had my waters broke that evening and was put on the drip to speed things up, had an epidural and tbh I then fell asleep and was woken up by the midwife in the morning at which point I was fully dialated. Started to push and he was born about an hour later.

I think the main thing with an induction is to not go into it with a really ridgid plan of what you want to happen I just kinda went with the flow. And I know people don’t like epidurals but mine was a dream, I had it placed about 4am slept until 8am and woke up fully dialated and ready to push.

I think you probably need to sit and go through the risks pros and cons with a midwife if you’re this unsure but personally I don’t think they’d offer it if they didn’t think you needed it.

Oh I also had a ventouse delivery and needed some stitches but again it was fine. I was up and about the next day and home the day after that I think.

I had one pessary put in. Was fairly intense when all got started around (16hours later)and over quickly (less than 2hours all in) but I had a good bit of free time before that. Walked about and went for lunch etc

Needed an emergency episiotomy in the end but can't say it was terrible. Fairly relaxed atmosphere up until I was in delivery room.

I went into labour spontaneously but after 11 hours of my waters breaking, they put me on the drip (I had strep b so they wanted her out as risk of infection increases after waters break).
The contractions ramped up but overall I had a straightforward birth without any intervention.

I was induced with a pessary with DD2. Much better than my first labour! It went in about 4am. Contractions started at 8:30am-ish, she was born by 9:15am!

Home with take away pizza late afternoon! now that is the way to have babies!

I was the other way round. At sweep my cervix was so unripe and I asked for induction as was already over a week late. Iwanted to go to straight to section, but was not an option. I knew baby was in wrong position, but midwives insisted he’d move even though he’d been in that position the whole pregnancy!

Went in to be induced on the 2nd, baby arrived on the 5th- by c section!

It really is nothing to be afraid of. The whole thing for me was horrendous, but I know I’d made the right decision asking to go into hospital to have the whole thing kickstarted- the consultant who did the op said my placenta was very old and calcified.

The induction was the worst bit for me. I was so relieved when they finally announced I’d be having a c section!

I'm having a sweep this week and failing that, induction next week at 38 weeks.
So many people are telling me how bad induction is but I went into labour on my own with my last child and it was really long and traumatizing, so it can happen without induction aswell.

I had a great experience in March with my first. I was induced last minute at 37&6 due to another reduced movement episode.

Pessary in Thursday night but removed Friday morning - by which point I was 6cm dilated - they broke my waters & I had him - gas & air. Amazing experience with no further intervention.

Couldn’t have asked to a better experience I’ll cherish it forever.

If you have time, get your hands on the book 'Why induction matters' published by Pinter and Martin. Full of lots of essential information that may help you make an informed decision.

I’ve had one induction (38+1 due to PROM) and one spontaneous labour (home birth).
I won’t be consenting to induction for any reason ever again.
If doctors are really that concerned about me or my baby’s well-being, then I’ll be having an elective csection.

I’d follow medical advice, they don’t induce just for the sake of it....

Your stories have really calmed me. I’m on my way to the hospital now. Still feeling apprehensive and a little later than expected but bring it on!

Your first birth sounds similar to mine and I then had a quick and relatively easy induction with my second around 38 weeks due to high blood pressure. The placenta came out looking a bit crappy and my baby was quite severely jaundiced - I wish we had got him out sooner. Please don’t delay if you have been advised to have an induction. Good luck!

Good luck op.

Hope all is well x