Induction 37 weeks or expectant management

[Sxp842]

Hi all, this is my first pregnancy and my waters started to break at 35+5 but I didn’t get diagnosed until 35+6. Since then I’ve continued to lose more water. I’m currently 36+2.

the doctors have booked me for an induction this weekend when I’ll be 37 weeks. I’m really not keen on an induction as I’ve heard lots of horror stories, and I really want to avoid tearing.

has anyone declined induction and asked the hospital to let them wait it out? Or otherwise had positive induction stories?

the doctors seem keen to induce me but only because of infection risk (as I understand it). I’m nervous about going against medical advice, but equally I’ve been managing the infection risk all of this week by having regular check ups, so it would be bad to continue doing that for even just a week longer?

baby is looking healthy, 6pounds at the 36 week scan and 37th percentile.

Iv had 2 inductions at 37 weeks.
First time - 2 pessarys, ARM, 2 hour active labour on gas and air and an episiotomy and manual placenta removal - 5lb 3oz baby.
Had an operation 18 months after to refashion internal scar tissue as there was banding inside making it impossible to have sex.

Second time - ARM and drip, 1 hour active labour on gas and air, small second degree tear and manual placenta removal - another 5lb 3oz baby.

I have healed amazingly the second time and sex was back to normal in 8 weeks which I was astounded by. Retained placenta is very rare and I was even more unlucky that it happened twice the staff couldn't believe it. I'd take the induction any day as I hate being pregnant.

thats reassuring to hear you had a good experience with it. Was the pain worse with an induction? Although I suppose you can’t compare it. They would induce me with oxytocin drip. I don’t handle pain well and I’ve heard it’s worse with oxytocin, but equally nervous about an epidural due to risk of tearing.

was the operation you had because of the retained placenta?

surprised you had a tear as 5lb 3oz seems fairly small!

My mum's water broke 4 weeks before my brother was born. There isn't many stats on how long is safe. It's really hard.

I had an induction at 38 weeks. It was very very fast.

We both need a couple of days of extra monitoring but she's well and healthy as am I.

how was your experience of induction? Did you find it even more painful because it was so fast, or was it better to get it over with?

gosh 4 weeks is a long time! I think if I declined induction at 37, I’d probably only wait until 38 weeks

I personally wouldn't risk it. The most important thing is getting baby out safe and well. I have had both an induction and spontaneous labour and while I preferred the spontaneous labour I would get induced in a heartbeat again if there was a risk to baby. Either way labour is painful doesn't make that much of a difference tbh. Over 2 weeks of your waters leaking really doesn't sound good and would probably increase your chance of needing a csection.

I have nothing to compare it to as I was induced both times. First labour waters went, I had back to back labour which stop started for three days then went jn for a drip to get baby out. My second took 2 sweeps, 2 gels, ARM and then a drip. They had written me off for 2 lots of drip with the second and half way through the first drip I wasn’t getting a break between contractions and she was born an hour later. The most stressful bit was no one listening to me when I said I needed to poop and that she was coming 🙄 I had pethidine with the first (and gas and air) but hated both so chose no pain relief with the second. Yes it hurts. A lot. But I’d happily chose no pain relief again to be honest with the reaction I had to the drugs. Suffered a second degree tear with both as my body would not slow at the end stage.

i had an induction with our first in 2020; it took 4 days to progress and resulted in 16 hour back to back labour, full dilation, failed forceps (twice) and an emergency CS which saw that she had become stuck and so had to have internal extensions of my scar (both to one side and with an inverted T) Currently 38 weeks pregnant with our second and have been told an elective CS is the safest way forward due to increased risk of uterine rupture (because of the surgery).

I absolutely believe that the series of events that happened was because she wasn’t yet ready to be born (eventually born on her due date!) and in hindsight I should’ve been confident in sticking up for myself and refusing induction as the request was made due to a ‘tailed off growth’ on a scan. She was born happy and healthy at a good weight of 8lbs 2oz.

But hindsight is a beautiful thing and I’m aware that our case is quite unfortunate in that I had to go through so many processes to get her here. Additionally, I didn’t have the worry of infection risk due to leaking waters that you’re having… so it’s difficult to advise either way. Induction is more likely to result in CS but the risk of infection prehaps would still have made me go the same route anyway. And let’s be honest, she got here safe and I’m having another, so it can’t have been too bad 🤣

I preferred my induction with the drip by far. It was much more controlled and the pain was obviously painful but I'd say it wasn't too bad 😂

First two labour's with no intervention took days. 3rd Labour I was induced which took 8 hrs from start of drip and I absolutely loved it. Felt controlled, unlike my first 2. 4th baby due soon and another induction which I'm looking forward to 😅

I had an induction with my first at 37 weeks (type 1 diabetes). It didn’t work ultimately and I had a c section. It was all very well managed and chilled. I didn’t find the oxytocin drip contractions particularly painful and the c section was an easy recovery.

Im pregnant with my second and will have a c section at 37 + 5, i considered another induction but weighing everything up and opting for a c section.

My diabetes control is perfect and currently there is nothing showing any concern for the baby and she is growing perfectly. However, I am well aware of the risks and how things can change in an instant. Therefore, I am following medical advice to get her out early. The risks of even attempting to keep her in longer just in no way were outweighed by the benefits. Just explaining my rationale and as I know how difficult these decisions can be!

Wishing you well.