Can I choose to be induced?

[OnMyJourney]

Hi!

I'm only 25 weeks at the moment but my midwife has asked me to start thinking about a birth plan.

Personally I was fully against being induced I always thought labouring at home then going in would make my hospital stay shorter because I couldn't think of anything worse than being in the hospital for days. But I have quite bad anxiety and the fact I can't plan when I'm going into the hospital makes me feel scared.

Has anyone asked their midwife to book them an induction for between 39-40 weeks and the midwife just allow it without arguing that it's best to just wait? My partner also only has a certain amount of time off and I don't want him to miss any time with our baby.

Does anyone have any advice or know if I can request an induction?

I don't know the answer, but would imagine that it would be unlikely that you could request an induction at 39 weeks, if not for medical reasons. Your best bet of a short hospital stay would be to go into labour naturally. Most husbands only have a certain amount of time off work and usually the paternity leave will start when labour does.

I went to 41 weeks before being booked in for induction at 42 weeks and it was an horrendously slow process, because the baby just wasn't ready to be born yet. I so wished I could have held off and went into labour naturally. Ended up an emergency c-section after labouring for days and days, c section was needed as baby was starting to get stressed and tired with heart rate dipping etc, not the peaceful entry into the world I had envisaged.

I'm sure this would be a no as well. There's a lot more risk to you and baby from being induced. Mine failed and ended with an emergency cs .... wish I'd said no but as a ftm I did what the doc advised.

You can inform them you will be having a C-section which you can plan for.
But an induction can be unpredictable. Firstly you cab be cancelled on due to high intake

And it absolutely can take days and days and then routinely ends in assisted birth anyway.

Honestly, please don't consider even trying to push for it. They do this to women they consider overdue or with many sometimes minor pre-existing issues.
The drip they will put you on induces agonising regular contractions that you can't prepare for. This often puts baby into distress. I came in, in natural labour (41 weeks exactly) I was told it wasn't progressing fast enough only two hours later(!). I refused the drip and was given it anyway. DD went into distress and they couldn’t monitor her heartbeat from outside any more. Without my consent, a hand was shoved up me to put a clip on her head. She was born without any other intervention but the clip left a little bleeding wound on her tiny head. Induction is not something you should want to choose for your own sake, or your babie's. It can also lead to forceps, ventouse or emergency c section.
You can however request a c section. If you stick to your guns they cannot refuse you.

@OnMyJourney I honestly felt the exact same anxiety as you. I kept saying I hope I get induced etc, I then actually had to be induced for medical reasons and honestly I would never ever get induced again, I had a terrible experience and my baby just was not ready to come. Of course that doesn't apply to everyone and I've heard of people having great inductions but me personally, I wanted induced then I ended up wishing I never had to be induced x

Also, my sister requested C sections for both of her DDs as she didn't want to give birth they were scheduled for the exact day she turned 40 weeks. She's now pregnant with number three and is doing the same again. Around here they will not book it for any earlier and you're still playing a waiting game on the day to be taken up. Depends on emergencies and doctors available.

Inductions are horrible, honestly.

I was induced (because my waters broke early) and can confirm that it was hideously painful. She wasn't ready to be born at all and was back to back. Like others who have commented, my DD also became distressed, had to be cut on the head, heart rate slowed right down, I had to have an emergency C-section (fucking terrifying) and she was born with an Apgar score of 2.

You would be insane to request it.

It hurt so much I literally wished for death.

Yes just wanted to chime in to say the same. First baby, induction lasted 5 days and ended in emergency c section. It was like being tortured. The pain was inexplicable, hospital was boiling, the ward was like a war zone. The woman opposite me was also being induced and had her whole family there day and night watching happy valley on the loudest volume her tv would go. The theme tune still triggers me. I do understand your anxiety, but inducing a baby that is not ready is madness. Don’t do it. There are lots of things you can do to prepare, and if you really can’t stand the thought of it you are perfectly entitled to ask for a c section.

Would not wish it on my worst enemy, I am sorry to say. Had it for labours 4 and 5. Admittedly labour 4 was two weeks over and they were starting to get concerned, and given I had only had normal labours earlier I thought "well, what can be the harm". But it really hurts, and the pain is continuous, also it often doesn't work so it goes on and on. In my case, in labour 4 they did not believe me when I was properly in labour (it's actually hard to tell as you don't have normal contractions, just continual pain) and it was all a horrendous rush at the end and my husband delivered her. They only let me into the "birthing suite" ten minutes before she was born.
Labour 5 was 3 weeks early, but given he finally had got head down and we had had problems previously (quick labours, big babies, not lying right), they decided that was the best bet rather than section as "there is no need to do a section on a woman that labours OK". Same pain, had an epidural in the end. I'm not saying that the non-induced ones are not painful, they are, but at least you get a breather between the contractions and you sort of know what is going on. If I had my time again, natural birth, or if very worried, and first baby, planned section.

I requested an induction but for 40 weeks. It was approved easily.
As it happened I went into labour naturally a couple of days beforehand.

Unsure on the requesting induction.

However just wanted to share that I had a very positive induction at 37+6 as most experiances above are very negative experiences but it’s not always this way. It was due to reduce movement by episodes through pregnancy.

Pessaries were used first 8:30pm & things started very quickly for me. No drip needed and pessaries were removed in the morning. Had a beautiful labour and delivery with gas & air & vaginal delivery. Baby arrived 2:00pm the following afternoon so it was considered a short labour considering it was first.

It’s worth looking at hypnobirthing which helped me immensely. I did the digital pack at the time from The Positive Birth Company. Along with yoga videos online to strengthen body especially lower body.

good luck!

Have a look at hypnobirthing courses. It could really help you with your anxieties.

Paternity leave should be able to start when you go into labour.

Whilst of course not always the case, the majority of inductions can last days and often not progress and end in a c section. I went into natural labour which wasn’t progressing so they put me on the drip and the pain in the drip was insane. Days later and still nothing so had to have a c section. I also had to wait ages before they had space available to induce me.

No they won't induce you without a medical reason before 40 weeks, they'll be reluctant to do it straight after your due date either typically. There's a much higher incidence of C section or assisted delivery with induction, not to mention all the associated cost of monitoring and intervention. Baby might arrive before then anyway! Good luck

Birth shouldn't be arranged for your convenience. So instead of requesting an induction to force your little baby out before it's ready, you need to manage your anxiety, and accept that you can't plan everything exactly how you want it, especially as you're about to become a parent - nothing throws your life into chaos like having a child

I had gestational diabetes and as soon as induction was mentioned it was a hard no from me. I didn't want the anxiety and uncertainty of not knowing what would happen and how long. It was during tail end of Covid too and I didn't want unnecessary time in hospital away from DH and dogs.

I requested a c section, knew when the baby was coming, DH got to take the right 4 weeks off work in advance which made everything easier being self employed.

You can definitely make a request but as other said it's unlikely to be agreed or recommended.

A c section really may be worth considering if the unknown is stressful for you but it definitely is a decision to be taken lightly.

I was booked in for an induction at 41+4 and went naturally at 41+3 - they don’t want to do it any sooner due to induction being much more painful as the contractions are on top of each other with no buildup as the drugs start them straight away.

The earlier you give birth the more chance the baby can have breathing difficulties which I know is why they won’t do a c section prior to 39 weeks.

They only do an elective c section at 39 wks just in case the mum goes into labour naturally after this time. Chances are you’ll go naturally before the date induction would be booked anyway but it would be a much less painful and relaxed time for you with less time spent in hospital in the lead up

hope all goes well xx

As plenty others have said I wouldn't ask for an induction without a medical reason. My wife was induced and she was in so much pain it was awful. She had a bad reaction to the gel and the contractions came on thick and fast without warning. There was no build up. She ended up needing forceps and it was a really traumatic birth. You'd have to be crazy to request induction for convenience!

As a rule, they don't offer induction until 41 weeks, but I had mine provisionally booked in from 37 weeks, which helped me feel more in control. You would need a medical reason for them to approve an induction before 41 weeks, but if you have diagnosed Anxiety that might qualify but I'm not sure.

Do bare in mind that induction isn't necessarily the quick option and I've known it take days for people. When I asked, I was told I could opt for an elective c-section, which would be quicker, but the recovery longer. Some inductions end in emergency c-sections, so sometimes they say it's better to plan it in.

My advice is to book in a provisional induction for 41 weeks, but concentrate on being in the right state of mind and do positive things to bring on labour naturally (I agree with the advice on a hypnobirthing course or book!) I had 2 weeks off before my due date and had a diary of nice things to - massage, pedicure, cinema, video call with family. I had raspberry lead tea and dates and went for walks. Tried to harvest colostrum. Obviously I can't say for sure if any of that worked, but much to my surprise I went in to labour early at 38+6 and it was super quick! I didn't even get my massage and pedicure in the end!

In all seriousness, if going into hospital is what's worrying you, would you consider planning a home birth?

The default is 'no' from most people because of how the media and film portrays birth. But it's just as safe as hospital and you're actually less likely to end up on the cascade of intervention.

I would encourage you to read a very short book called 'why home birth matters' which may help you to make a decision. Ultimately it's 100% your choice but I found this eye opening and It's what changed my mind about birth preferences x

(If you're set on hospital I'd just go straight to c section, everyone I know who has been induced has ended up with a c section anyway after hours of painful induced labour)

I was recently induced at 39 weeks because the doctor gave me the option (consultant led pregnancy). They won't induce you for the reasons you state. Most men only have 2 weeks paternity leave.

However, I thought I'd share my positive experience of being induced. On the third day in hospital, my waters were broken by the doctor and I was put on the drip. Prior to that I had the gels and they didn't really work apart from giving me painful irregular contractions.

The drip honestly wasn't that bad, but this is my first baby so I don't have any previous labours to compare this to. I gave birth a few hours later (that night). I didn't need forceps either. Not all inductions end up as an assisted birth or c section. Being induced isn't pleasant but I know a few women (tbh I am not close to many women who have given birth) who went into labour naturally and tore worse than I did and needed forceps.

In terms of your DH, he can request that his paternity leave begins on the day baby is born (which is actually the day you go into labour as far as work is concerned) so he can maximise his time with Baby.

In terms of your anxiety, talk to your midwife. You probably cannot request an induction. As others have said, it doesn't really give you any better idea of when Baby will arrive anyway and the fewer interventions you have the less time you have to spend in hospital too.

But your midwife should be able to talk through your options with you e.g elective c-section, home birth, MLU.....
And if they don't take you seriously then push again and perhaps request a different midwife. I've seen a few and some have been more gentle/patient/approachable than others.

Have you looked into attending NCT classes or similar to learn more about how birth etc works? I found understanding all the steps and what would happen to my body really helpful and lessened my fears.

Tbh with no medical or other mitigating factors (like 4 other kids at home) to consider I can't imagine an induction prior to your due date being granted.

Even if you do get one for your due date, then you'll be bottom of the pile when it comes to triage, so you'll likely be delayed anyway.

It's no guarantee that it will take days (my first one didn't, though my second did), but with the unfortunate state of staffing and bed availability, it probably will do anyway. I had a medical factor (pre-eclampsia) with both. Didn't stop it taking 5 days (on top of the week I had already spent in hospital) before my induction could continue.

As for how baby arrives, well my first was a regular delivery and second a C-section. However my second was in a bad position, so the C-section would have probably happened even if I'd gone into labour naturally. I don't blame the induction anyway. My sister and Mum have both been induced once each and delivered naturally.

Both my inductions were drip inductions. I eventually needed more pain relief than I would have liked, but the labours themselves were ok.

Going to go against the grain here, and say not all inductions are terrible.
I was strongly advised to be induced for low Papp-a. I refused initially but after reading some studies, in women over 35 it was actually found that induction after 39wks can aftually reduce the need for further interventions. So I accepted on the condition that we would wait the maximum time

For me - went in at 10pm in 40+1 to have pessary. Had some contractions around 2am, they stopped. Next morning was told nothing is happening, go for a walk. Went for a walk, sat down with my coffee, had some lunch while bouncing on my ball. 2pm waters broke on their own and labour started naturally, at 6pm started pushing, 8pm baby was out.
No pain relief, not even gas and air. We did have to have the monitor on babies head, but I didn't even notice it, and didn't even leave a scratch on her. I would have needed it anyway as even when I went in for monitoring she moved so much the monitor on the belt was useless, I got used to keep having to move it every time she moved and it got very frustrating after a while.

It was nice as I arranged dog to be with in-laws in advance, and I felt ready. I'd honestly be tempted to ask for one again just for the stress relief, especially after having a reasonably quick labour with no build up ( I don't know how I would have gotten in a car to the hospital once it had started).