Upset and worried about unwanted induction — handhold and advice?

[RoseAndGeranium]

I’m 41 weeks pregnant and I was advised at 20 weeks that because of a raised reading in one of my uterine arteries that induction would be advised at 41 rather than 42 weeks. By 25 weeks, though, the pressure had normalised and (separately) the single consultant I saw said in our 10 minute meeting that since I had no other risk factors I could stay in midwife led care. My understanding has been that the key risks associated with raised UtA pressure are pre-eclampsia and IUGR, but all my growth scans have shown baby is putting on weight nicely and that blood flow has been good. My own blood pressure is still perfectly normal. So although the advice is still to induce at 41 weeks I don’t know why, and unrelated issues at recent MW appointments (that do not indicate induction) have meant there has been no opportunity to discuss either the process of induction or the relative risks and benefits (on which, honestly, she’s always seemed a bit fuzzy anyway when I’ve tried to bring it up).
Fine. I sort of decided I just wouldn’t book an induction till 42 weeks, especially as I’m pretty sure their dating of the pregnancy is 4-5 days too advanced (I know when I ovulated). My midwife hasn’t pushed on it and I have never consented to having a booking made. So when on Sunday (two days ago) I missed a call from a midwife at the hospital late in the day i assumed it was to offer a stretch and sweep. Certainly I didn’t expect it to be anything an offer for an induction appointment. Then, on Monday afternoon (yesterday) I got a call from the hospital saying I’d missed my induction appointment that morning! News to me. I explained, really flustered and confused, especially as I was out with my very energetic toddler who hates it when I talk on the phone, that I had never discussed or consented to booking any such appointment and at most my MW and I had talked about maybe inducing toward the end of this week. The person I spoke to said was sympathetic and said that she’d wait to receive the request from my midwife. Then, an hour or so later, I got another call saying they’d booked me in for Wednesday (tomorrow). Still flustered I sort of accepted this as I felt like I had no choice. But honestly, I don’t want an induction, I have no idea if it’s really necessary or whether the benefits genuinely outweigh the risks and I don’t know who to talk to about it. I know it’s silly but I’m so stressed that I hardly slept last night and of course that’s not going to help labour start naturally, which at this stage is literally all I want.
I know this is really long and I’m not sure what I’m asking other than who do I talk to about this? If I cancel the induction for tomorrow will they offer me another for, say, Friday or Monday? I don’t want to put my baby at undue risk, but since my first arrived safely and spontaneously 10 days late I do want to give this one a bit more time come naturally. Does anyone have any good information about risks/benefits of induction? I’ve read here and there about uterine rupture, fetal distress, increased risk of EMCS, problems with bf-ing even raised risk of ADHD, which all sounds awful, and then there’s the long labour and additional pain. Has anyone had better experiences? Is it normal for hospitals to book appointments for these things without consulting the patient? Should I have had the chance to talk this over properly, and if so, with whom? Again, sorry for length. Just feeling so railroaded and worried.

I don't know anything about the risks of induction but I can tell you my honest experience.I was induced on Valentines day and had ds 2 days later.I understand everyone is different though and many women are induced and have their babies quicker than that.The only thing I've read that could be true though is that your contractions are much more painful when induced as mine were horrendous.
Good luck and I'm sure everything will go smoothly x

This isn’t the kind of information you want in that it’s anecdotal personal experience, but I delayed induction until 42 weeks and would accept earlier if I was in that position again.

Labour started within an hour or so of the pessary going in and I was able to walk around/get in the shower/have a bath etc. I did then go on to need forceps in theatre but that was due to 10lbs9oz back to back baby whose shoulder got stuck rather than the induction process.

Good luck with your birth x

I did t RTFT as it's a bit long but it's better not to go too far overdue - in my experience the oaks of going past 40 weeks outweigh the risks of being induced

I also have an induction booked tomorrow! I will be just short of 42 weeks. Going to the appointment does not commit you to having the induction. You can ask all your questions and chat through your concerns and then decide to go ahead, delay, have additional monitoring etc.

Hi OP, I also felt pressured to be induced. I did a lot of research and found that after 39 weeks, the benefits outweigh the risks. I have only ever had inductions and they have been fine, quick labours with minimal bleeding and no tears / interventions.

I had an an induction for ds3 , it was fine , I had the initial pessary about 9am and he was born at 5pm . I was mobile throughout and actually had no pain relief except gas and air right at the end .

I booked an induction at 40 weeks, as my baby was big at nearly 9lbs and I'd had enough of being pregnant (it was private though, so I chose my own date, rather than waited to be offered). The induction didn't work (didn't dilate and only a few mild cramps - I think cos I'd had LETZ a few years before), so I had a CS the next evening, which I loved and most importantly, it was a quick recovery with no birth injuries.

We hear so many negative birth stories and not all the positive ones. My CS was wonderful and I chose a ELCS for second one.

Hope you get the birth you want

I was forced into an induction , didn't really have a choice, I had a big baby and they wanted him out before he got past 8lb as they wouldn't use any intervention like forceps or the ventouse and they wanted to avoid csection. I wasn't allowed an epidural either and he was back to back, quite safely say I will be sticking at one baby.

I was induced at 38+2 and had emcs at 38+4 , they were a bit late at getting him out before he got too big 🙈 he was 10lb4oz .

Thanks so much for all your answers. It’s reassuring to hear of some inductions that went well! I seem only to have come across stories about bad outcomes previously. @rosesandsalvia thanks, I didn’t realise that I could say no to the induction after attending the appointment. One of my concerns is that I don’t actually know what they’re going to do! I’ve been told it’s ‘mechanical’ (which I think means not peasant?) and is a 48 hour process but that’s all I know.

*not pessary! Peasant or yeoman status not relevant, obvs

Also, omg to the posters with the 10lb+ bubbas!!! That’s intimidating for sure. My first was a bit under 8lbs and felt plenty big enough.

I’ve had two inductions (preceded by a bang on the day birth). All were uncomplicated save for the actual induction.

1st induction: once they finally got to me it was about 3 hours in total before DS was born. It was painful but for a shorter period than my first 30 hour birth so almost more manageable.

2nd: pessaries etc didn’t work but then a new midwife came on and gave me a sweep like I had never experienced before and told me to walk up and down 5 flights of stairs. By the time I got back up DS3 was born in 90 mins.

I’ve been very lucky - all of my experiences have been positive.

You can decline induction, it's your decision, and if they haven't bothered to explain the reasoning for it, why would you consent to it?!

AIMS has published a guide to induction of labour, it's available as a book and a ebook.
www.aims.org.uk/general/aims-kindle-publications

Also see www.aims.org.uk/information/item/making-decisions

This makes me so cross for you OP. Tell them they don't have your informed consent until they've explained the risks and benefits. You can decline anything and everything. Your body. Good luck

Also, my IOL at 42+2 was very straightforward, one pessary, 4hrs of labour, a little entonox, 9lb4oz baby, home 6hrs later.

Thanks @NameChange30 and @AnotherVice , your advice and the suggested resources were really useful. Armed with a bit of irritation about the fact that appointments that haven't been explained are being scheduled for me without my consent I called the hospital and asked to know what will be happening at the initial appointment. I've still got questions but it seems I'll have a chance to ask them before anything beyond monitoring happens, so I feel a lot more relaxed.

Hi Op, just popping on to say I was induced at 38 weeks with DD (due to preeclampsia so had no choice) - had a very quick labour and delivery, gas & air, vb.

I felt rotten due to the pre-eclampsia and was so worried about having the induction but it was fine and all went smoothly. Contractions got intense very quickly, which I'm told can be caused by the drip, but all my labours have been like that tbh.

Good luck tomorrow!

If you are looking for more reading this evening, I suggest exploring Sara Wickham’s work www.sarawickham.com/riffing-ranting-and-raving/how-to-cancel-a-labour-induction/ Her book Inducing Labour is worth reading ( you can get it as an ebook)
As a previous poster has said, going to the appointment is not giving consent. Nothing can be done to you without your consent, so you could go to discuss things with them and then make the decision that you feel is right for you and your baby
Hope all goes well for you, whatever you decide