Induction at 40 weeks due to age

[Hopingrae]

I'm currently pregnant with DS2, DS1 was born at 41+2 weeks when I went into spontaneous labour, 2.5 years ago.

I had my 34 week midwife appointment yesterday and she said because of my age (40) they'd look to book me in for induction at 40 weeks. I was really surprised by this and my gut reaction was to say no straight away. She said ordinarily they now book women in for induction at 41 weeks which I still thought was really early! I was booked in for induction with my DS1 at 41+5 but he came on his own in the end. Am I being naive thinking I'll be ok to wait it out? I've got no risk factors (other than my geriatric age, apparently!). As DS1 was late, I'm fairly sure DS2 will make a late appearance too and I'm ok with that. I wouldn't object to induction if I got beyond 9 days which is where I was when DS1 arrived. But 40 weeks doesn't give him a chance to come on his own.

I'd be interested to hear other people's experiences with this. Thanks so much!

Of course you'll be ok but you'll be up against 'the system' so you'll need to advocate for yourself.

(I had my babies at 41+6 and 41+5)

There’s a higher risk of still birth for women over the age of 40. I am getting induced at 39 weeks because of that. I think it’s a fairly normal process for 40 year olds. Basically not worth the risk.

Look up the "increased risks" for me the risks of a cascade of intervention that comes with induction outweighs the slight increase in still birth risk, unless medically necessary obviously- the WHO states gestation is 37-42 weeks. They did get pushy with my second as I refused to be booked for an induction.
He was born 40+5 I was told I was putting my baby's life at risk and it was an emergency (no medical reason as to why when I questioned it)...such an emergency they'd not book me in until after the weekend.

I was already in labour which I'd tried to explain at the same appt but no one would listen, he was born 8 hours later 😂

I think it is standard practice BUT I recently read somewhere (and I’m sorry I can’t remember where) that there is little data to back this up. It might take a lot of searching but if you feel strongly about it,I always think it is better to go in with facts and evidence if you can certainly can’t hurt! Good luck.

Thanks ladies.

@Posithor that's my issue too, it's the no medical reason part. If that changed I'd absolutely go with what was medically necessary. Totally agree re wanting to avoid the cascade risk of intervention following induction too which carries a much higher liklihood.

@DifficultBloodyWoman yes I've read something around this too re induction lowering the risk. And I read on an NHS trust's website giving advice to pregnant women that the risk of still birth is 2 in 1000 or 0.2% for women over 40 years old at 40 weeks, which increases to 2.5 in 1000 or 0.25% at 41 weeks, the margins are almost negligible. Ironically i was 41+2 weeks aged 37 when DS1 was born at which point apparently the still born risk is also 2 in 1000 for that age group, so the same risk for 40 weeks at 40 years old, m but no one pushed for induction then until what would have been 3 days later. Just feels like an arbitrary line in the sand!

Will hopefully be speaking to consultant midwife about it in the coming days/ weeks, so will see what she says!

It’s your decision and your midwife should not just assume your consent. Why don’t you book in an induction for 41+5 if that’s what you’re comfortable with? The stats about still birth risks etc really kick in after 42 weeks.

I was advised induction because I used fertility treatment - no medical reason at all, and in my 30s. I waited it out with DC1 (appeared spontaneously at 41 weeks by there calculations, 3 days late by my IVF due date) and will be waiting again for DC2. If I was approaching 42 weeks though I’d consider it more.

I had a very positive induction I know that's not everyone's experience all be it very fast 13 hours start to finish but I had complications so was induced at 38 weeks, I would do it again personally . I'm not over 49 just yet but just thought I'd share my experience as not all inductions are bed x

You don't have to do anything! it should be offered but not pushed, unless very good medical reason, and your age alone is not a good reason. Induction is offered far too routinely nowadays. Have a look at Sara Wickham's website for really good insights on induction, particularly the statistics around actual vs relative risk of going past your due date.

I had my last baby at age 41 and chose for induction at 40 weeks. I spent a lot of time talking to the midwife about risk etc of going overdue. The risk of still born increases (based on research 3 years ago). I really didn't want an induction but felt the risk was too high.

My midwife did offer that if I didn't want to be induced I could consider daily monitoring and delay induction.

Everyone is different. I have two miscarriages before my baby and I felt that I had to minimise all risks.

Everyone is different - if you do delay I would push for more monitoring