Induction at a Birth Centre

[morv]

Here is my rant for the day. I went to see the midwife at the birth centre last night and asked about induction. When do they start discussing it and when will the pressure be on. My DD was late and didn't come until a S&S was done by the ob at 10 days past my due date. I had hoped to avoid that this time. However I was told at 41 + 3 (which is when the ob started) they like to try a S&S with daily monitoring. If that doesn't work then at 41 + 6 they induce you. I can refuse to be induced but I would be kicked out of the birth centre. I am not late until after 42 weeks, why are they in such a hurry to get the baby out? I don't want this baby out unless it is ready. It may come earlier and this will not be an issue but it bugs me that I have a timeline on things.

Also I have said that I want time to progress in labour but was told if I want time then I should stay home because otherwise their "guidelines" will push me into being induced.

Next time if there is a next time, I will consider home birth.

[AnyDream]

41+6 is pretty late for an induction these days. Often hospies will induce at 41 weeks because after then the baby's skull starts to get harder and the labours tend to be longer and more difficult. Not saying that means it's right or not in your case, just be aware that they deal in generalities and they have to draw a line somewhere.

BTW if you go too late they won't have you in the birth centre because after 42 weeks the risks of post-maturity increase and your labour stops being a low-risk one. Again, not true for everyone but esp in cases where there might be some doubts as to the dates, they've got to draw the line somewhere.

Good luck and I hope it all gets going for you soon and proves to not be an issue.

[Julie Doula]

Often hospies will induce at 41 weeks because after then the baby's skull starts to get harder and the labours tend to be longer and more difficult.

I'm a bit skeptical. I don't think it's a given that baby's heads harden. Can anyone put their finger on literature that would support this? (Today I heard about 3 mothers who were pregnant until 48 wks who then had perfectly normal labours.)

I would have to disagree that that labours that start naturally after 41 weeks tend to be longer or more difficult. I've never read anything to support this; or seen evidence of it personally (so far - in my limited experience). Actually, I've noticed that mothers who hold off on induction and allow labour to start when their bodies and babies are good and ready, seem to labour beautifully. It seems to me that induced labours are often harder and often seem to involve further intervention & complications as a result.

I know they often say this to support induction, but actually I do wonder if it's a way to 'scare' you into agreeing to a medically managed birth on the supposition that your body is 'not working right'.

Sorry Marydean, I don't mean to pick at what you wrote, I think you've raised an important point and I would like to know more about it too.

Morv, I'm sorry to hear this birth centre has such policies and I'll take a guess that there are midwives there who feel the same. See how you go - it seems the most common time for un-induced women to go into labour is between 41-42 weeks - so I heard recently - but if you go past that arbitrary 41+6 (by what calculation?? these things are ESTIMATED!!!) remember, you can still find an independent midwife and have a homebirth, even at this late stage.

There was a classic case of a woman in SA who did that earlier this year. Her OB dumped her at 43 wks because she refused induction - she found an independant midwife, and had her baby safely at home at 43+3.

[morv]

It seems that the birth centre where I am going is chang a little from a traditional birth centre to just somewhere where low risk mothers-to-be are sent. So I suppose as part of that things are a little more medicalised.

I know that it may not happen that I go over 41 weeks but if I do I think that I would not go the induction route even if it meant not going to the birth centre. I just thought that it was a strange policy for a low-intervention birth centre.

[blue daisy]

I agree with Marydean, 41+6 is pretty good for induction...these days most obs/hospitals wont let you go 10 days over

I'm sure you are a full bottle on natural induction methods

its not too late to have a HB...if its meant to be the right midwife will be available for you

good luck with it all...wishing you a soft cervix and a peaceful labor and birth


xx yogababy

[BellyBelly]

morv, I wouldn't worry about it too much hon, of all the clients I have, most have gone into labour by then, a very, very small percent have not. It is important to know where you stand and what you will do, but think positive - you may not get that far. I guess if they stand by that, you have to choose if you want to go the induction route or natural route and yes, homebirth too... so three options to dscuss with dh. Good luck hon, it's not fair that you can't choose to birth where you want, but the most important thing is you have your rights and power no matter where you birth.

You know you have my support 110%.