Giving birth in 40s

[Isthisrealomgwow]

I had a birth choices appointment with a consultant yesterday.

She said that as I am 40 (just) the guidance is to induce if baby not arrived by due date.

I was induced with my first, and want to avoid it. Preference is for as natural as possible. I can't have a spinal so a section would be under GA (big nope!)

Any experiences of giving birth in your 40s, please.

I would take the advice of medical professionals.

I was 41 and Induced at 39 weeks, I think they would have let me go to my due date, but had other factors that led to induction such as group b strep and what they thought was a large baby, plus excess fluid. I didn't have a great experience, very busy induction ward. Waiting for five days for my waters to be broken, stress with heart rate etc, but once my waters were broken and I had the drip she was out after 5 hours. I wouldn't ever want to repeat though, were you induced the first time due to being over due?

I had my appointment today. I chose to refuse induction (however my previous birth was EMCS) and opt for ELC if I do not go into labour naturally by 39 weeks.

I would ask to see the evidence around why they are inducing you. You can also decline induction if you don’t feel the evidence backs up their guidelines.

It is an offer which you can decline. I am expecting baby 3 and am 42. I have just agreed to discuss induction at 41 weeks rather than the 40 weeks they offered. Like you I have had an induction and don’t fancy repeating the experience.

Placenta failure is a real concern, I wouldn’t want to go overdue personally.

I was scheduled for induction at due date, it was actually 2 days over due to availability. The induction had to be stopped though (long story- I had a bad reaction) so I was meant to have a CS instead. It was still too busy and I was non urgent but whilst waiting I had a spontaneous short labour.

I was 41.5. Ultimately for me the outcome for the baby was far more important than my birth experience. Stillbirth terrified me.

I had Dc4 in 2019 and dc5 in 2021. Aged 40 (just) and 41 nearly 42.

With DC4 they wanted to let me go to 42wks as I was “only just over 40” as it turned out he was induce at 40wks due to his size (large)

DC5 was told that they didn’t like to let over 40s go over 41wks, my consultant said she’d arrange induction for between 40 and 41wks. I was offered 41wks exactly.

I was treated no differently during pregnancy to the babies I had in my 20s and 30s. I don’t know whether that was just me or just how my trust is/was 2/3yrs ago.

My first and third were also induced. My first induction was horrible but 3, 4 and 5 were straightforward, quick labours.

Thanks all.
First birth with induction took 3 days, episiotomy and ventouse. Induced due to reduced movements. Followed by 9lb1 baby, who got an infection. Then my stitch came undone and got infected.
Baby 2, was born at 13 weeks due to a genetic condition.
Baby 3, born at 18 weeks gestation, no known cause.
Both losses included emergency surgery and huge blood loss.
Currently 19.2 with what looks to be a great healthy baby.
I want to keep it that way. I am only just 40, high bmi.
I've read the research, papers and such, that indicate the placenta losses efficency after 40 weeks.

Just to add. I would have preferred to have been offered induction at 40wks with 5 and would have preferred some sort of consideration based on my age if that makes sense.

OP, you're probably better taking advice from your team as perhaps it's the combination of risk factors you describe in your second post that is what's prompted their advice (but only they will be able to confirm that). Also, whatever you decide, it would be important to discuss with an anaesthetist what the options are if a spinal is absolutely contraindicated (which is relatively unusual)/ what the pain relief options are if an epidural is contraindicated so that they can plan with you what might happen in an emergency or elective scenario. Hope it all goes well.

I was 40 with my third. Had low risk in all tests was purely my age. They kept pushing induction but I refused, unless there was a known risk like slow growth, reduced movements. I had extra scans but she was great and growing fine. She was born naturally in the birth centre at 39 weeks.

It there was any medical reason yes I would've had it but there wasn't so I kept saying no.