Will I really need to be induced again?

[Thumbelina3]

I had an appointment with a consultant obstetrician this morning as when my first child was born he had to be admitted to NICU for 36 hours and then was in hospital for a while longer whilst on a course of antibiotics. DS was born at 42 weeks (exactly) following an induction and from the start of the induction process to birth was 58 hours. I was pretty unlucky in that I went home for 24 hours after induction was started, but not a huge amount happened. By the time I went back onto the ward it was heaving and they didn’t have a bed for me for ages to do the next stage of induction.

When my son was born there was meconium in the waters which he swallowed and this led to some respiratory problems, and they also founds traces of infection hence the antibiotics.

Anyway, at the appointment the consultant said that once you are induced once, it’s likely that you will need to be induced again and so I should have a plan to be induced at an earlier stage.

I found the whole induction process pretty horrible and I really wouldn’t want to go through that again if it can be avoided. I’m not very keen on being induced early if I could still go into labour naturally (and safely). Similarly, I don’t want to repeat the experience of a crash team being called and my baby having to be admitted to NICU.

I thought that second labours were less likely to be induced as your body has a better idea of what to do. Am I completely wrong? Has anyone else had a similar experience?

I have no personal experience but my best mate had a similar awful induction experience. Her consultant agreed if she hadn’t gone into Labour by 40+10 she would have an elective section. She didn’t go into Labour, had the section and found the whole experience much better than her first birth. Just a thought that it’s not induction or nothing! You have options

I can't really be of any help to be honest but curious to know if it's true. I had an awful induction 9 years ago and now 8 weeks with DC2.

Mine ended in an emergency section so it's my understanding that I can't be induced again due to the risk of uterine rupture. I was hoping for a VBAC this time around but if another induction is expected they might go straight for an ELCS 🤷🏼😔

That being said they can't force you to have an induction if you don't want one.

Hope everything goes ok 🥰

I don’t think an induction in itself means you’re more likely to be induced again. Perhaps the consultant meant that if you went to 42 weeks the first time, you’re more likely to be overdue again? If it’s any use, I was 2 weeks late and induced with my first, but my second came spontaneously on the day before I was due.

I was induced with all my children apart from the ELCS for breech obviously. Each time my waters broke but nothing happened. Never had a bad induction tbf but only ever had syntocin drip so there wasn't much waiting about.

You also have the option to do nothing and just wait. They just don't like it very much. If there are no concerns over baby there's no reason to induce or section purely due to the length of your pregnancy. Use your BRAIN:

Benefits - What are the benefits of making this decision
Risks - What are the risks involved.
Alternatives - Are there any alternatives
Intuition - What does your gut say is the right thing to do
Nothing - What if you do nothing or wait it out

The longer the pregnancy the more likely there is to be meconium in the waters. A long induction that puts stress on baby pretty much guarantees it. You can ask for monitoring (placenta function scan) instead if that's what you decide. Any type of birth is a good birth if you make an informed decision so whether that it spontaneous labour, induced labour or a section I hope it goes well for you.

Also you aren't overdue till 42 weeks. And even then the placenta doesn't just switch off.