Induction at age 40

8 replies

PotatoFacedWombat · 09/02/2023 15:20

I am 40 weeks plus one day today, and had my midwife appointment. She mentioned that there is conflicting guidelines about inducing labour around the due date for mothers who are 40+ years old, and I'm 40 now. This has not been mentioned at all during pregnancy so I'm a bit surprised about it. I've googled and it sounds like it's par for the course to be induced around now for women my age, which makes me wonder why I have no induction booked!
I have made another appointment tomorrow to discuss it, but I wonder if anyone can share their experiences of this? Were you offered induction around the due date if you're in my age bracket?

OP posts:

Surprisepregnancy1 · 09/02/2023 16:35

Following with interest. I’m only 29 weeks but the consultant did discuss the possibility of induction around the due date, and I’ll be almost at my 40th birthday when the baby arrives. But I think the reasoning was a very fast delivery with my last baby, rather than my age?

Original poster

PotatoFacedWombat · 09/02/2023 16:43

That's interesting SurprisePregnancy because I have only just had my 40th, and my last labour was very quick too! So we seem to be in the same boat. I had no idea that inducing around the due date due to age was a thing... When I google, it seems to be offered as standard...

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Cakecakecheese · 09/02/2023 19:46

I was 41 and offered an induction at 39 weeks. In the end I was induced at 37+3 due to pre eclampsia.

annlee3817 · 09/02/2023 21:41

I was 41, DD born last August and they said induction would be booked for 39 weeks due to my age, then they said they'd be happy for me to go to term, but then would push for induction. However I ended up having Group B Strep and excess fluid, so the induction was put back to 39 weeks. It's due to risk of placenta failing, higher risk of preeclampsia too, I didn't want to take the risk, so didn't push, but if I had my time again I'd avoid induction and request daily monitoring instead or c section. It's a personal choice though

trrk · 09/02/2023 21:54

I was 41 and was told at my booking appointment that I would be recommended an induction at 39 weeks. Baby ended up being breach and wanted to come at 38 weeks so it didn’t matter much in the end.

Original poster

PotatoFacedWombat · 10/02/2023 07:59

Thank you all for replying. Seems like it's the norm to induce at term for women my age then! A bit concerning that they haven't offered me one, especially as this pregnancy has been quite complicated generally.

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lifehappens12 · 10/02/2023 13:57

With my last I was 40 when I got pregnant and delivered at age 41 and we talked about this from the booking in appointment and was put consultant care from day 1.

At the start I didn't want to be induced. 2nd baby and had quite a normal birth with my first on due date.

What spooked me into agreeing was the risks.

Before I decided I did have a melt down with my midwife staying that I really didn't want it and was scarred it would lead to unwelcome interventions and she offer me extra monitoring instead.

So at the next appointment - ask about the risks and can you have extra monitoring instead if you don't want to be induced.

I did get an induced at 39+5 and had a c-section on due date.

Perexi · 10/02/2023 14:47

I have been told since booking I would need to be induced by wk40. Currently waiting to see if my placenta will move away from being low laying at 36 week's which looks unlikely but if not I plan on asking for a C-section at 40 week's rather than being induced should I still be pregnant.

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