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Original poster

Can you refuse induction

27 replies

BEO · 30/12/2023 12:00

Has anyone refused an induction and what happened? I am approaching my 33rd week of pregnancy and hope to go into Labour naturally. For many reasons I do not want to be induced. Has anyone refused an induction then went over and had baby naturally or a c-section?

preganncy is uncomplicated, did have a growth scan and measured big so have an app with consultant when I will be 34 weeks. I know they might give me different options then but if everything is ok I don’t want to be induced and would rather have a section over that.

so yeah just hoping from stories for people who felt the same??

And I know some people have uncomplicated and quick births from being induced But the majority of people I know didn’t and we’re in hospital for days requiring intervention at the end anyway.

OP posts:
pregnancyrollercoaster · 30/12/2023 12:16

I refused induction especially after witnessing 3 ladies who were induced all ending in emergency CS. Silver lining baby was breach, flipped then back to breach so ended up with a CS.

BananaHammock23 · 30/12/2023 12:21

I refused induction in favour of a c section (vaginal birth wasn't an option for me). I'm so glad I did - mentally I didn't have the strength to go through an induction.

jackstini · 30/12/2023 12:23

I refused induction until I was 41+5 and my waters started trickling - full of meconium - no choice but to start labour off

However, after 20 hours of failed induction (drip at full strength plus a pessary never got me past 2cm dilation) I had dd by emcs

Helar · 30/12/2023 12:26

You can absolutely refuse any medical treatment, including induction. If you were considering whether or not to have one at a certain point, it might help to ask for an assessment of your Bishop’s score. If the score is low or high this will give you a good idea whether or not the induction is likely to be successful which could inform your decision making.

OneMoreTime23 · 30/12/2023 12:29

I refused to have one booked when I got to 40 weeks. But after another 2 weeks and 3 days of slow labour agreed (at that point I’d have agreed to anything that got DD out). Ended up with a spinal and forceps delivery but that was down to my anatomy more than anything.

toomanyleggings · 30/12/2023 12:29

Yes you can. I wish I had and gone for a c section instead. Horrid business and mine supposedly ‘went well’.

Tryingtohelp12 · 30/12/2023 12:29

Refused induction with my second and third - first was induced: number 2 came in 6 hours start to finish with two pushes at 41+5 and number three came in 3 hours with three pushes at 41+2. My nhs trust like to induce at 41 weeks but I was a low risk pregnancy and had lots of movement. Number 1 was induced - incredibly painful stopped progressing at 9.5cm and ended up with an epidural, episiotomy and forceps. I believe some women just carry slightly longer

AHobbyaweek · 30/12/2023 12:30

You might be OFFERED an induction but you have a right to decline any and all treatment offered to you.
I declined induction and had a home birth 2nd time around as my first induction needed in 48 hours of labour and EMCS.

You can decline induction and if medically needed to get baby out request a c section.

I personally only had a few instances that I would have accepted induction for medical reasons and had researched the options available.

A large baby is not a reason alone to have an induction (NICE guidelines state this too) and induction with a suspected large baby can increase chance of shoulder dystocia which is the main reason they want to induce you earlier. Didn't understand that circular argument myself.

Only you can choose what you accept and consent to. Also consider that a sweep is a form of induction too and can set off the cascade needing more intervention further down the line. All up to you.

scrunchmum · 30/12/2023 12:38

Yes you can refuse any interventions including vaginal examinations. I never got there but the midwives were talking to me about induction for post dates at 38 weeks Hmm

FlyingHighFlyingLow · 30/12/2023 12:40

Of course you can. But I'd really think about it before going against medical advice. Fair enough don't want an induction at 40 weeks just because you're 40 weeks, but if there is a specific reason I'd consider it carefully rather than a blanket no because you're scared of it.

I know 3 people with very successful induction stories, not so much as a tear. I also know of some with instrumental deliveries, some ended in emcs. I went into labour naturally day of my induction. I was never induced and ended up with failed instrumental delivery followed by cat 1 emcs. It was babies position that meant he got stuck. I also know someone who refused induction because they were scared due to reduced movements, placenta was failing and baby eventually came out by crash c section very very sick after another episode.

Unicorntastic · 30/12/2023 12:40

Yes you can refuse, I did even though they mithered me constantly about it! They also wanted to do it at 37 weeks to which I also said no. I said no to a sweep too.

scrunchmum · 30/12/2023 12:40

Oops posted too soon
I'd recommend reading Milli Hill positive birth book (I also love her give birth like a feminist book)
A good framework is BRAIN
Benefits - what are the benefits of the intervention
Risks - what are the potential risks
Alternative - what else can we do (wait, c section, etc)
Instinct - what does your instinct day
Nothing - what happens if we do nothing, eg any increased risks to baby

2024BigWhoop · 30/12/2023 12:41

When my Consultant was discussing birth options with me in relation to a health condition I have she said I could either be induced or have an ELCS. She told me that from her experience most inductions end up in a c-section anyway so it’s probably best to just go straight for that anyway.

Ttcdcno1 · 30/12/2023 12:52

I am 39 weeks today with my first I’ve refused induction. I want to go into labour spontaneously but if by 41 weeks little man isn’t here I have opted for an ELCS and have a date booked in. From the people around me, induced labours have ended in emcs anyway and have been awful. A midwife friend said to me the other day I don’t blame you when I told her my choices so that sealed the deal for me 😂

motherofawhirlwind · 30/12/2023 13:02

I declined, they still booked it for exactly 40 weeks and I didn't turn up. Went into labour naturally at 40+4

Infertilitylife · 30/12/2023 14:12

I have declined an induction and if baby isn’t here naturally by the time they want him out, I have a section booked in. They said it was a maternal request for a section and the consultant wasn’t overly impressed (huffing and puffing, slamming things onto her desk) but she said ultimately it was my body, my choice and the only thing I do not want is an induction.

Original poster
BEO · 30/12/2023 17:36

@FlyingHighFlyingLow I understand that but if there is a medical reason to induce someone then surely a section can be offered instead if there is a medical reason for the baby to be born by a certain date/gestation.

OP posts:
Surprisenewtcatcher · 30/12/2023 17:44

I planned to refuse, then agreed to try the pessary which was awful (uterus was hyper-stimulated), then refused any more induction. They agreed to a C-section in the emergency C-section theatre, as soon as it was free the next day. I went into labour that night and was baby born with forceps and a spinal. Would have completely refused induction if I was making the decision again.

FlyingHighFlyingLow · 30/12/2023 19:47

BEO · 30/12/2023 17:36

@FlyingHighFlyingLow I understand that but if there is a medical reason to induce someone then surely a section can be offered instead if there is a medical reason for the baby to be born by a certain date/gestation.

Absolutely, and when they were talking about potentially inducing me at 37 weeks due to complications I said I'd have a c section over induction. It wasnt required and when I was going to be induced at 41 weeks, I knew I was already 2cm dilated and 75% effaced so I was happier for the induction knowing my body was on it's way itself. Had no changes happened to my cervix I would have chosen a c section then also.

Sidebeforeself · 30/12/2023 19:52

But a CS isn’t necessarily better than an induction? Surely the point is that if you need medical intervention you hope to have the right one for you and your baby , rather than a blanket offering ? I agree that induction for the sake of it seems wrong, but I wouldn’t assume its to be avoided over CS

CreativCarly · 30/12/2023 19:58

I declined induction for both of my births, gave birth naturally at 42+1 with both babies, good births. You obviously need to research and weigh up how far you're willing to go but I'm very glad of my decision.

FlyingHighFlyingLow · 30/12/2023 20:05

Sidebeforeself · 30/12/2023 19:52

But a CS isn’t necessarily better than an induction? Surely the point is that if you need medical intervention you hope to have the right one for you and your baby , rather than a blanket offering ? I agree that induction for the sake of it seems wrong, but I wouldn’t assume its to be avoided over CS

My decision at 37 weeks was based on the fact that it was my first baby, no signs of my body being ready. Even the consultant agreed it was likely to end in emcs anyway. At 41 weeks my body was ready so I had a higher chance at a vaginal birth. I was prepared for either option, but I wanted to avoid going through a potentially drawn out induction process over several days of no sleep I'd have to recover from in addition to the major surgery of the emcs.

littlemissalwaystired · 30/12/2023 20:21

scrunchmum · 30/12/2023 12:38

Yes you can refuse any interventions including vaginal examinations. I never got there but the midwives were talking to me about induction for post dates at 38 weeks Hmm

I'm a midwife and I have that discussion at 38 weeks. I explain to people that it's to give them a good few weeks to do their research and decide what they want, as opposed to having it sprung upon them. I feel we can't win either way sometimes.

scrunchmum · 30/12/2023 20:49

Fair enough, personally I didn't like it as I felt I was on the clock from 38 weeks when I wasn't even "late" yet. But I appreciate that everyone is different!

Original poster
BEO · 30/12/2023 21:03

@Sidebeforeself it comes down to peoples choices and I would want to choose a section over an induction- unless like previous poster it looked like my body was ready (baby engaged, dilated etc). But if I am offered an induction when my body is showing 0 signs of being ready then I want a section. It’s my preference.

OP posts: