How long before being induced?

[chloemegjess]

Hello. I am due tomorrow and my labour signs have faided away. My midwife has just been round and did my 40week check and has said that I can go up to 3 weeks before being induced!

I had always thought that the max was 2 weeks? She said that after 42 weeks, I would have to go for daily check ups at the hospital and I am not sure what she said I would have to have done each day, but she said it wasn't pleasant.

The reason why she is talking about prolonging the induction is that I am extremly scared of needles, and we both feel like an induction would be very stressfull.

With a bit of luck, I will go into labour in the mean time. But if not - is it safe to go 3 weeks over? I have never heard of this before. Has anybody had this?

Yes, it's generally safe to go 3 weeks over, but obviously regular monitoring of the baby is advisable. A normal term pregnancy is classed as anything between 37-42 weeks, so really, 'overdue' only starts at 42+1.

The daily checks will probably involve a CTG to check the baby's heartrate is responding normally, and scans to ensure the placenta is functioning properly (although this may not be every day).

She might also offer you a sweep of the membranes - which may be the thing she said wasn't pleasant. With your consent, she can do an internal exam, putting her finger(s) into your cervix and 'sweeping' between the cervix and membranes. This can stimulate the hormones which help the cervix to soften and labour to start. It's sometimes uncomfortable and you may get a small amount of bleeding afterwards.

Am I right in thinking you are going for a homebirth, cmj?

Yes, I am hoping for a home water birth, so if I am induced, I won't be able to have one.

She is doing a sweep 28th dec and 1st jan. She will then arrange more from there if needed. Hopefully won't get to that stage!!!

Chloemegjess, hold on to that midwife! Lots of them would prefer to have you induced by 41+5 as this is policy in many hospitals. Yours is clearly working with you, which is great in my book. After all, you can always ask to be induced sooner if you wish.

Hi chloe I don't have anything to add but I am due 27th so know how you are feeling.

I have sweep planned for Monday and am feeling really nervous about that.

My friend went in to be induced sunday night and ended up having an emergancy c section! I am getting freaked out by the thought of induction!

Every time I go to bed I start wondering if this will be the night and last time my waters broke in middle of night after my baby was continually wriggling. So now, at each burst of wriggles I am thinking is it going to be the same??!! I'm excited and scared at the same time!!

Haven't eaten any pineapple yet though and it looks like the sex option is next one the list. Good luck and hope you baby arrives soon!!

xxx

Gemy - it always amazes me how every area is so different. no where round here would offer a sweep before you are overdue. My first one is 28th and I am due 23rd (tomorrow). I wouldn't mind one though if it would mean getting things moving.

CMJ - honestly the needle is the least of your worries if you are induced and if you have the pessaries you don't need one anyway!

I went 43+1, but I had to really fight for it. They wanted to induce me at 42 at the latest.

In the end I was induced anyway. Took 2 days to get her out, so she was born at 43+3.

I had to go to the hosp every day in the final week to be monitored.

As long as your placenta keeps doing its job your baby should be fine, but the problem (as I understand it) is that once the placenta goes downhill, it does so very quickly, potentially putting your baby at risk.

Good luck.

Have lots of sex and hot curry and pineapple. I hope you go into spontaneous labour as you are obviously very nervous of being induced, but on the plus side the induction doesn't last for ever and at the end of it you get a little baby to take your mind off things. There are worse things!

I too was anti-needles in a big way (I nearly fainted at the NCT class when they showed me what happens). But I was induced at 42 weeks, and ended up having an epidural and then an emergency c-section. Prior to the event it would have been my worst nightmare. But once DS had been born I couldn't have cared less what had happened (and neither the epidural or c-section were nearly as bad as I thought).

Good luck, go with the flow (although DO ask questions of the nurses / doctors - so that you feel at least slightly in control!- your birth partner should be prepared to do much of this).

Hope you have your baby before induction is necessary - but whatever happens, stay relaxed, positive, and looking forward to meeting your baby (tho admittedly these 3 things are all a tad difficult when in the throes of labour!).

My phobia is to the point where to have my bloods taken during this pregnancy, I have to be physically held down, was sick all over midwife's room, passed out and was in tears the whole way through!

In feb I am being sedated for a filling because I can't have the injection in my mouth!

I know I am a whimp, but thats just me! Would be more scared of a needle than I am of labour. Its nothing to do with the pain of the needle, as I know it doesn't hurt. Just something I can't cope with for some reason. I am not having another baby till I have had as much treatment for my fear as I can - hypnotherapy, councilling etc.

Hi Chloe, I used to be really terrified of needles. Would have a panic attack and everything. But, in my last pregnancy I opted for blood tests to be taken by the hospital and - the nurses are just so good at their job - my fear calmed down alot.

Although, in this pregnancy I had bloods taken 2 weeks ago and the midwife took the blood painlessly, but I have a massive bruise all around my arm!

Obviously, my fear was not as bad as yours' is but believe me the needle will be a whole lot better than the labour!!

I had some kind of good news today though, in the night started having a watery brown discharge and contractions every 10 mins. Phoned hospital and they said I was probably having a watery show and - if it got worse - to go in. Well, today I have been having irregular (albeit very painful) BH and am geared up for more progress during tonight. I am a total wimp too and can hardly stand these BH never mind when the real thing kicks in!

You have a good excuse for spending christmas in a pineapple-eating-sex-frenzy!

I bet you'll go on your own way before then

CMJ = my sister likes to cook hers for ages and her little girl was born at 43+2. She had a homebirth and a very healthy little baby.

Your MW was probably referring to the sweeps as painful. I had one before my cervix was ripe and it was bloody painful - however I went into labour on my own 8 days later.

It will happen, it's just a question of when and there's only one person who knows and they're tucked up inside of you enjoying the warmth and peace and quiet

Chloe you are not a wimp just because you have a phobia!!! I could not care less about having blood taken, in fact usually watch and tell the mw where to stick the needle if she cannot see it, so I am in awe of you getting bloods taken anyway despite how it makes you feel. You will do well in labour, tough cookie .

Sending you lots of labour vibes. Keep active and I am sure it will happen.