Overdue and not wanting induction, interested to hear experiences or people going through the same

[Itsnoteasyfeelingqueasy]

I’m 41 + 1 today with no signs of labour. My midwife has booked me in at the hospital for Thursday (41+3) for induction. I said I don’t want to be induced but she said to go anyway to discuss a plan for monitoring. Even though I know I can decline induction I still feel like the hospital appointment adds some kind of deadline. I’m hoping to have monitoring until I’m 42 weeks pregnant, after that I feel I will need to accept induction for my own peace of mind. I’m really scared of the induction process and needing instrumental delivery, I feel like if I go over 42 weeks I would prefer a c section. I’m not sure if that’s something I can request? The midwife said the type of induction would be with a balloon, it doesn’t sound pleasant from what I’ve read.

Any thoughts or experiences on any of this?

@Nibblingoncrumpets I haven't discussed that with her, but if you turn down an induction then you're entitled to request extra monitoring, so I'll be pushing hard for it (won't be taking no for an answer). It involves having the baby's movements, heartrate etc. monitored regularly e.g. every second day to check that they are happy and healthy. If they're fine on these checks there's no reason to suggest that the placenta isn't working as it should.

@muststopeatingfroyo there isn’t a midwife led unit near me so it’s hospital or home birth and home birth is a definite no if I’m induced. I think they may also be reluctant to support home birth after 42 weeks but I need to clarify that

@Nelbert19 it sounds like you have a great team supporting you. I think I will ask for a similar plan when I speak to the hospital tomorrow x

I have had several 42+ births, declined induction, they monitored daily and checked cord flow, as long as baby is fine and you are happy with movements and feeling well it's your choice. Mine were born at home but we do have a home birthing team here.

@SerenityNowwwww I think the only reason they have booked me for induction is it’s the standard process they you are booked in a few days before 42 weeks to give time for the induction to work.

I’ve done a hypno birthing course and very much into the natural ways to encourage labour. I’ve been have clary sage baths and eating dates. I’m still very active, looking after my horse, walking the dog, bouncing on the ball! I feel generally relaxed I until I start feeling the time pressure and worrying about induction!

@Nibblingoncrumpets I have declined a sweep so far as it still seems like a form of induction and I’m worried it will be painful and just lead to cramping that doesn’t really turn into labour. I’ve read mixed about experiences with sweeps. I may consider one at the end of this week if induction is looming

@anothernamereally that’s good to hear. Community midwifes attend home births in my area. I vaguely think I remember them saying they wouldn’t support home birth after 42 weeks. Was your team fine about attending your home birth after 42 weeks? How many days/ weeks pregnant were you when you went into labour?

Hi
I had a hb for my 4th baby (9lb 11oz) at 41 + 3.

Hoping you into labour naturally soon.

Ultimately it's your decision on induction. If I was in your shoes unless there was an indication that baby was becoming compromised (other than being "just" overdue) then I would (and did) give my body time.

Maybe extra vaginal exams to see how effaced etc you are.

I was a "stretchy" 3cm for a few days and then ds was born in a 3.5 hour labour.

Good luck !

Hi OP.
I experienced the same with both my pregnancies. They really piled the pressure on to induce and the same with sweeps. As long as my BP and baby was happy then I refused, I was youngish (26 & 28) and low risk.

Both labours started spontaneously at 41+2 and i had two unmedicated vaginal deliveries and two healthy (9lb!!) boys both times.

I went 40 +17 and wish I had been induced earlier. Very large baby and shoulders so ended up with ventouse and then forceps delivery with episiotomy and shoulder dystocia. Horrible experience and I was left with internal injuries that took a long time to recover from. Luckily my baby recovered quickly, but as a teenager still has a misshapen skull as the ventouse was used 7 times!!! We are very lucky that he didn’t suffer any other side effects from a very traumatic birth.

42 + 4 and 42+ 3 both big babies but my youngest was only 41 and bigger still. I seem to remember the team saying that 43 would be their cut off.

@dizzycatdance2 yes I thought a vaginal examination may help tell me if things are getting ready down there! I asked my midwife for one but she said she would only do a sweep or nothing as unless I was in labour she wouldn’t feel anything 🤷‍♀️, very confusing as I thought they had to feel the condition of the cervix before they did the sweep? Not sure why she couldn’t just have a feel? I might see if the hospital midwife will just do an examination without sweep

@NCParanoia ah that’s positive 😊. I’m 37 years old but the pregnancy has been uncomplicated. I still have 6 days until I’m 42 weeks so hopefully plenty of time for her to
come naturally.

@dontdillydallytoolong I’m sorry to hear that you went through that. That is literally my worst nightmare. My mum had a similar experience with my birth and I’ve been brought up hearing about her trauma which is partly why I have a fear of instrumental birth. My baby has been measuring on the smaller side 5lbs 9 at 38 week scan so in fact I think she probably needs a bit longer to grow if anything

I was examined as I had a " false labour" at 41 weeks (5 hours of contractions !,thank you mother nature)

Maybe go to hosp "in labour" get examined at triage??

Maybe you think you felt the fore waters go ??

How many mothers "in labour" , evey day, get sent home from hosp after an examination.

Only examining for a sweep is , I think, hunkum

I was induced as post dates for my first and it wasn’t an experience I wanted to repeat. Although I was lucky I didn’t need instruments or a section. She was born at 40+13.
I had spontaneous labours with my next 2, both born at 40+8.
My fourth, I was pressured when post dated to be induced. I had to be very insistent in refusing and they booked me in anyway. He was born at home at 40+14.
My fifth was the earliest at 40+7.

My experience Is that I have a longer cycle than 28 days. This means that I gestate for longer than the standard 40 weeks. So in my opinion, and showing by the evidence of when my babies arrived, it was normal for my pregnancies to be longer than expected. And unnecessary to pressure for induction due to post dates.

My last 3 were born at home and I would have refused to go into hospital if they’d said they couldn’t attend. They’ll have to send someone if you won’t come in, otherwise they’re liable.

@Itsnoteasyfeelingqueasy

I’m 41 + 1 today with no signs of labour. My midwife has booked me in at the hospital for Thursday (41+3) for induction. I said I don’t want to be induced but she said to go anyway to discuss a plan for monitoring. Even though I know I can decline induction I still feel like the hospital appointment adds some kind of deadline. I’m hoping to have monitoring until I’m 42 weeks pregnant, after that I feel I will need to accept induction for my own peace of mind. I’m really scared of the induction process and needing instrumental delivery, I feel like if I go over 42 weeks I would prefer a c section. I’m not sure if that’s something I can request? The midwife said the type of induction would be with a balloon, it doesn’t sound pleasant from what I’ve read.

Any thoughts or experiences on any of this?

It's been a while since I gave birth and I know times change, but this is what I think.

I went 13 days over with all three babies and had to be induced or they would still be in there now...........

I had epidurals because I was induced. They put me on a drip. The contractions come hard and strong. It was recommended to me at the hospital. I know some people are not fans, but I enjoyed the whole experience every time.

I had in induction with my DS. Absolutely wouldn't hesitate to have another given the increased risk of stillbirth, placenta failure and complications due to baby's size the further overdue you go.
I'd also never choose to have a major operation unless absolutely necessary.

My induction took a while to get going but after my waters were broken I had an amazing birth. Very calm, and relaxed, no instruments needed, I had an epidural and they told me exactly when to push, DH was there and we watched him come into the world. I was up and about less than an hour later completely unscathed. I'd describe it as literally perfect.

It's obviously completely your decision and everyone should just do what's best for them but is there a reason you're so against induction?

@MaryShelley1818 it's great that your induction went so well, but there are plenty of reasons to want to avoid induction. Induced births are on average significantly longer, with more complications and a much higher rate of intervention than natural births. The risk of tearing and having a more severe tear is higher, and therefore recovery is often harder. Rates of PND are increased and breastfeeding is reduced. And labour is generally more painful with less manageable contractions, meaning that more women opt for an epidural (again increasing the risk of more severe tearing, instrumental delivery and c-section).

I'm sure lots of people have very positive inductions (just as lots of women have positive c-sections), but it's not something to opt into lightly, particularly if it's just because baby has gone a week or more overdue and is showing no signs of distress or compromise.

I wonder if the stats re induced births being longer/involving more interventions etc can be filtered for circumstances where induction was due to being post dates?

It makes sense to me that trying to make a baby come before it is ready might take longer and be harder. But everyone I know (myself included) who was induced at or around 42 weeks had a really smooth, good experience. My baby was basically ready to be born. By contrast I’ve known a few people induced early or on their due date for reasons including their age, or size of baby, and it hasn’t worked out well.

I appreciate this is anecdotal but I wouldn’t be surprised if the stats lumped all inductions in together.

@MaryShelley1818 I'm really glad induction went well for you! Would you mind saying what method you had (pessary/hormone drip/something else entirely..)?

@muststopeatingfroyo I know you didn’t ask me but I had a fantastic induction experience. I had one dose of the gel. Contractions started 2 hours later. Baby was born in the pool within 3 hours of first contraction. I had gas and air in the last 30mins but no other pain relief and no interventions. It was amazing. I had a small tear which healed really quickly. I’m pregnant again and only hope my next birth is such a good experience.

PS the gel is similar to the pessary - it’s the first thing they try usually.

Thanks Harriet 🙂

Yeah, I think I'd be happy to try the gel or pessary if I go overdue. The thing I'm really concerned about is if my waters break before labour: I'm strep b positive so apparently they'd want to induce with a drip straight away in that circumstance - and there are lots of accounts saying the drip is horrible!

And you are right that lots of the stats seem to lump different circumstances/methods in together - which makes it very difficult to take a reasoned view!

@HarrietM87 yeah I think you're probably right. I'd imagine the outcomes for inductions where women are already showing signs of labour readiness (e.g. having lost their mucus plug, had their waters break maturally, have already started dilating) are probably much better than when women need a lot more intervention to get labour going. There must be a huge difference between just having the pessary/gel versus ending up on a drip.