Being induced vrs spontaneous labour

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Due date is tomorrow and still absolutely no signs of labour. My obstetrician has written notes to advise that I don’t go over 40 weeks, mainly because of my worry (and perhaps irrational fear) mid- pregnancy that I would give birth to an unusually large baby (husband was over 9 pounds) so she wrote in my notes that I could be induced from 40 weeks. Baby looked to be 6 pounds at 36 weeks.

But as pregnancy has progressed, i’ve learnt that many women to go a few day past their due date especially for first babies. So I’m torn between getting an induction or just waiting a few days extra.

I’ve heard being induced is much more painful (and would mean I’m on a labour ward) whereas spontaneous might mean birthing centre. But I am not fussed - I just want the healthiest outcome for baby but unsure whether this means waiting a few days OR inducing him but is there any evidence to suggest induction is necessary bad for the baby if they’re not actually ‘ready’ to come out?

Your chances of having an emergency C-Section skyrocket with an induction, especially as a first time mum.

I agreed to an induction in the end (got to 42 weeks, no baby) and it was awful. Baby was in the wrong position and was unlikely to ever come out without lots of intervention so I had an EMCS. Really wish I’d skipped all the induction stuff and just gone straight for C-section. So it might also be worth considering whether you would prefer induction or ELCS.

I was induced on my due date as concerns for baby's growth. Can't advise whether you should try waiting etc but in terms of induction, I may be in the minority but it was okay. I didn't have to have the drip as went into labour after being given the pessary. From insertion of pessary to baby born was just over 12 hours. I did have to have an episiotomy and baby was assisted with ventouse but honestly it was fine. If I had another birth like that I'd be happy and content. If you do go with induction I hope it is as positive as it can be for you.

As long as you are healthy OP.....

I went to 40+4 to go in to labour and ds was born in the early hours of 40+6.

I have three friends from NCT, all had a sweep, all said it caused a lot of pain but no progress.

My first pregnancy was my longest.

DD1 - spontaneous birth at 40+5, 8lb 6oz and labour was as good as I could have hoped for

DD2 - spontaneous birth at 40+2, 8lb 2oz and much quicker than first birth

DS - induced at 38w for GD, awful experience that ended in an EMCS which really was a life threatening emergency for DS and I. Born at 38+2, 8lb 7oz so would have been a major chonk if he’d been allowed to keep cooking.

Personally, I would never choose an induction again and would opt for a C-section if spontaneous was not an option or came with increased risk.

My daughter was born following spontaneous delivery in the pool at 38+6. I got to 10 cm at home, arrived at hospital just in time to get into the pool and start pushing. I only needed 2 paracetamol and some gas and air for pain relief and I had 4 stitches for "cosmetics" reasons what ever that means. I had some diclofenac before the stitches and then no more pain relief.
I was induced at 37 weeks with my son as I got acutely unwell. I was called in at 36+6 after my blood test showed my body was struggling. They had no beds on the induction ward. They repeated the blood tests and they were no worse than the batch they had done the day before so they did a sweep and sent me home. This nearly put me into labour, had I not been so unwell I would have given it more time as it was I accepted the pessetry. This did the job and was removed after 4h as I was starting to hyper stimulate. 8h later I was moved to the delivery suite. Labour was a bit stop start because of my health. It was ok when I was mobile but I couldn't stay awake and every time I napped it went backwards. After another couple of hours I couldn't stand and labour stalled. They broke my waters and baby arrived about an hour later. He did go into distress and they nearly had to switch to an emergency c sections, be was born with the cord tightly around his neck and this was why he was in distress.
Like the spontaneous labour I only had paracetamol and gas and air, I didn't need any stitches the second time. The spontaneous labour was 12h from waters breaking to delivery with 2h if active labour. Induced labour was 20h from pessetry to delivery, active labour was 6h and it was 90 minutes from them breaking my waters to delivery.