Can i request an induction of labour at 38+4?

[Vik9821]

Morning,

I’m just wondering if anyone has actually requested having an induction of labour?

I do have medical reasons for this (a large baby growing at a fast rate, and severe anaemia which I’ve had iron infusions for but they don’t seem to have worked.) I have another daughter at home who relies solely on me and with how I’m feeling (dizzy, and passing out spells with spots in my vision which happen very frequently) from the anaemia it’s becoming unsafe for me and baby but also my daughter as it’s just us at home.

I do have a 38 week scan tomorrow where I also see a consultant, do you think she will sign off on this if I request one?

Personally I think they won’t and you’d be better getting someone in to help with dd and putting your feet up if you can.

I think ask anyway, I was induced last time at 37 weeks for gestational diabetes. The severe anaemia might be enough. My induction was fine but took days due to lack of space in the labour ward so worth factoring that in for childcare

I asked at 39+3 and they said they wouldn’t consider even a sweep before 40, but there’s never a harm in asking and sometimes it’s who you speak to

Ask, if there are good clinical reasons. Def discuss with the consultant.

I requested an induction at 39 weeks and the consultant readily agreed. I have a medical reason for wanting it (not exactly the same as yours, but not entirely dissimilar).

The ARRIVE study in 2019 showed that there are significant benefits to being induced at 39 weeks (https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/induction-of-labor-at-39-weeks-increased-after-arrive-trial). This hasn't filtered through to NHS policy yet (for what seem like political reasons to me), but your doctor will know about this research, and really shouldn't put up much resistance to your request.

Thank you everyone for your replies.
I forgot to include in my post that with my first baby I had a very fast labour (2-10cm in under 3 hours) and I also have GBS in the pregnancy.

I can’t exactly get family to always be there to help when I need as they have work and other responsibilities and if it was the case of them looking after my toddler when I have my funny turns it would be daily which obviously isn’t ideal or doable.

I’m just hoping the consultant will say yes, it’s not that I’m impatient and want the baby here asap it’s that it’s for my own health and safety as well as my baby’s and toddler who I care solely for x

I am not sure if they would or not but having been both induced and natural labours I would say there is a much higher risk of intervention with induction and it is basically fast forwarding your labour so it is more intense. It is not something I would choose to do again unless there was a very serious reason for it. Could you get some rest and someone to help you with your daughter for a week or so until you've had the baby? Could OH take some annual leave?

@Vik9821 I presume you are having this 38 week scan to see size of baby if baby is measuring large? If that's the case they often don't like to keep large babies in the same way as they would with a regular sized baby, so they may be scanning you to make a decision about induction anyway?

Was your daughter a large baby?

I'd be nervous about relying on scans and bump measurements - mine were wildly out, and I was deluged with stories from other people who were the same. My DS was predicted to be just over 11lbs... he was 7lb. The consultant and midwife said that this happens "all the time" when they came to see us afterwards.

My knowledge and experience of induction would mean I wouldn't want it at 38 weeks, but you can make the request!

@Orangebadger I’ve been having fortnightly scans since 32 weeks as baby was on the 7th centile and she has at every growth scan since grown bigger than the consultants would have thought so she isn’t following a steady pattern but instead rocketing up in weight x

They are very unlikely to get a baby out before 39 weeks due to health implications. If anything they’d go for a section as induction is much less likely to work. However every doctor is different and will work with you. I hope it gets better.

It’s not just the fact that my baby is big as to why I want an induction. It’s also the fact that I am anaemic where I passing out and get heart palpitations, I have been experiencing this for a few months now but it used to be every so often just feeling dizzy and lightheaded whereas now it is daily to the point I get spots in my vision and if I don’t sit down I will hit the floor. Like I said previously it’s a matter of the health and safety of me, my baby and my toddler.
Also as I will be 38+5 tomorrow I’m guessing if they do sign off on it, it will be after 39 weeks x

I was induced at38 weeks .. I went to 38 weeks appointment consultant wanted me induced next day . It was a medical reason I had anti c and there were concerns.. I wasn’t expecting it . I hadn’t even packed my bag .

so ask

@Vik9821 they do sometimes induce babies early for medical reasons, large babies can cause problems with delivery and that has its own risk, so they often induce women with diabetes for example at 38+ 5. Many clinical reasons they want baby out sooner.

The reason I mention size of baby is that is what the consultant will likely base their decision on. What was the last centile baby was measuring 2 weeks ago?

@Orangebadger two weeks ago she was just passed the 50th centile. But she’s jumped from 7th to 20th to the 50th centile which is why they are concerned, so I’m also worried for the scan tomorrow to see how much more she’s grown.
my previous pregnancy my daughter followed a pattern of just below the 50th centile and was born at 41 weeks exactly weighing 7lb. They did predict her being 7lb at birth and they were right, I know that they aren’t always right with their predictions but they were in my case so I am worried x

I requested an induction at my last consultant appoint. last week I was 36+4 when I asked for a 39 week induction. My consultant readily agreed no problem (my request was due to worsening anxiety)

I'm booked in for Saturday morning at exactly 38 weeks.

I would ask, the worst they can say is no.

Good luck

I had an induction at 39+2 in August due to possible large baby, and I got the impression that they are very relaxed about induction post 39 weeks now. The midwife who talked me through it after the consultant recommended it said that they won't routinely offer induction before 39 weeks because it raises the risk of further intervention, but that induction post 39 weeks does not raise this risk so they're happy to do it. I had a breech baby that had flipped head down after 36 weeks, so was specifically trying to figure out if I was likely to end up in a c section anyway if I opted for induction.

As it was baby was only 8lb 1oz, not the 10+lb they were expecting. Still glad I did it though because my DH works nights quite far from home, so we wanted to control when it happened.

I got an induction at 38+3 because of anxiety. Had a scan at 38 weeks and had also been in for monitoring for reduced movement. Scan showed baby was a good size and although they had no concerns, they allowed an induction because I was anxious. They gave me a sweep first at 38+1 but that didn't do anything so was induced two days later. It's worth asking.

I was persuaded to have sweeps at 39 weeks and an induction on due date by the consultant due to suspected very large baby, 90th centile.

He was actually 75th at birth, but I was encouraged by the consultant to not go past my due date without induction. I imagine it depends on area as my trust have also now introduced induction as standard from 41 weeks, rather than 41+ 5 as it used to be, but I don’t think this is the case everywhere

They are not likely to induce based on size from what you said but may on other factors like your anemia. Childcare issues won't be a reason either, there is medical reasons against induction so only for concrete medical reasons to they try(and it isn't always successful, makes for very prolonged labour etc)

I had an induction at 35+ 6 with twins. Tbh I was just feeling rubbish and they were concerned I was developing pre-eclampsia. High blood pressure, protein in wee. Older children at home so wanted to avoid a section.

like you I labour quickly. It was just a case of a pessary inserted in the evening at 8pm babies born by two am. No drip/ cascade of intervention. Dc were fine.

I think failing maternal health is absolutely a factor in determining wether an induction is feasible.

Thank you ladies for your reply and for including your experiences. I really appreciate it x

I’m booked for an induction at 38+6 at the consultant’s suggestion. They said there were no medical benefits to baby staying in past 39 weeks and that a day or two makes no difference. I was also induced in my previous pregnancy) and the one before and on the previous one they absolutely did listen to my worries abo it caring for my older child who was struggling a lot and being violent and I just wanted the pregnancy over as soon as possible. So I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.

I had my growth scan and consultant appointment yesterday and they booked me in for an induction on Monday. After weeks of accelerated growth baby decided to drop centile, as well as this they agreed that it’s better for my health that baby be born sooner rather than later. Thank you for all your comments and experiences, I greatly appreciate it x

Good luck with it. There’s another thread on here about positive induction stories and it might be worth reading that to get nerves in check. I’m gearing up for my third induction. And while I wouldn’t say the first two were nice (9lb odd babies) they were safe and reasonably uneventful. Wishing you loads of luck for safe arrival of little one and a calm experience for you.