How far over did you go before being induced? [HELP]

[Shanti]

I'm terrified of induction always have been, even with DD's pregnancy although luckily she was born at 41wks as I went into spontaneous labour.

This follows on from this thread..... https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...decide-163139/

So, I'm 40wks+5 days today and apparently my babies love my womb so much they always stay in past my due date. I know it's only a 'due date' as an estimate anyway.

I had an appointment with the hospital's OB today (standard appt as I'm over 40wks) and he discussed giving me an internal to see where things are at and talked about induction. Normally I am against internals especially when not in labour but I decided to have one today. I never had any with DD's pregnancy only in labour (only had one). But given what I've been dealing with lately with this pregnancy, I decided to have one today and part of me wishes I didn't, part of me is glad I did.....

So after a very uncomfortable internal my cervix is not ripe or 'favourable' nor am I dilated at all and he said he could feel bub's head moving around so it's not fixed in the pelvis yet. That, I'm not worried about as I know with subsequent babies, this isn't a problem as it can engage as soon as labour starts etc. I also know that it's been 2/5 engaged last week and that it can bob up and down. My MW reassured me today not to worry about that.

So he asks me how far I want to go before being induced, of course I say "as far as possible" and he says "10 days past, or 12 days past", of course I say "12 days past EDD" so I'm booked in for next weds for my induction. This sucks even just thinking about it makes me feel sick. I have less than a week to go into spontaneous labour, talk about pressure. But anything can happen in a week right??

There is pressure on me to have this baby out because 'apparently' its a big baby. The OB guesses 10pds, well over 4kg. They've been saying this since my scan I had at 35weeks as a sizing scan which looking back I kinda regret getting now too..... he keeps saying how it's big and then he mentioned about how it's head may not fit through my pelvis and possible c.section...... umm hello???? What happened to believing in a woman's ability to birth a baby no matter what size???? Not to mention I birthed my DD and she was posterior!!!!! for goodness sake.

Left appointment feeling REALLY deflated about it all and a bit panicky. Thankfully my MW met up with me afterwards (she couldn't make the appt), and we had a talk and debriefed about it all and she reassured me in my ability to birth the baby and that it's in a great position (LOA) and has been for ages etc. She knows I'm not worried about the size, and we talked about some other things. I feel better, just so annoyed at the way this OB views the size of my baby I guess. It's ALL an estimate!! I don't like seeing OB's and only see one because I have to once I'm over dates, like I did with DD's pg.

Back to being induced, it scares the absolute sh*t out of me. I'm not comfortable with the idea at all..... I've heard so many stories about babies being induced before cervix is ready and ripe and then they go into fetal distress and end up with every intervention under the sun then a c/section.

So, am I being irresponsible if I let myself go past Weds?? If I decide not to have the induction on Weds (41wks+5). Am I endangering myself and/or my baby?? Can I then ask to have daily monitoring?? I haven't asked this yet. My blood pressure is always great and I feel fine.
I had acupuncture again this afternoon (also a week ago) to help bring on labour. It seemed to help last time.... I've also been getting LOTS of prelabour pains and contractions for weeks now.... which is why I can't understand why nothing has happened down there yet???

I feel so pressured to go into labour. It's awful. I had a wonderful birth and labour, intervention and drug free with DD even though she was posterior and got stuck, I did it all by myself with no help...... I want to have that natural drug free spontaneous labour again. I CAN do it, I've done it before. I WILL do it.

Is it possible my cervix could start dilating over night and my cervix ripen and the head engage in the next 48hrs?????? Surely??

[Ginger]

Hi shanti, I feel like I'm always replying to you at the moment! Sorry if I'm being annoying, I just feel like I can relate to you so much at the moment with what you're going through.
I got induced both times (as you already know) lol. With ds1 I was really against being induced, so I decided to go until 14 days over. I was monitored every day in the last 7 days before the induction.

[onthefly]

With DS I was induced at 42 weeks. To my everlasting regret. Actually I have 2 due dates both times, by the original (IVF transfer) I was 42+3/4 (can't remember exactly). The 42 weeks was according to an early scan. With DD I went into labour after an S&S and had her at 41+4 (by scan) or 42+3 by original dates.
There's plenty of evidence to show the true average gestation is actually more like 41 weeks, not 40. And most of the time the mother and baby figure things out between them without any need for intervention. Yes, there's always the risk that something might go wrong. That could happen at any time though. And there are certainly plenty of risks associated with an induction.

You want a natural, sponaneous labour? Most likely you can still have one. The choice is totally yours to make. Don't allow youreseelf to be railroaded into something you're not comfortable with - it's your decision to make, not some doctors or hospital administrators. It's your body and your baby and your responsibility. Definitely request monitoring if that's what you want - they probably haven't mentioned it as they assume you'll turn up for your induction as scheduled.

[Junglemum]

I was in the same position last pregnancy. Being induced with DD1 I certainly wanted to avoid it again at all costs.

After a lot of research and reading I agreed to an induction 12 days post EDD. I know lots if people will say don't be induced if you don't want to be, but its YOU, no one else, that needs to comfortable with your decision. And its not that simple in my mind. I am all for a baby choosing their birthday. I know its only an EDD, but the WHO recommend induction post dates, to reduce fetal death. That was a pretty big influencing factor for me. You can certainly ask for daily monitoring though. It wasn't an option for me as it was over an hour drive to the hospital, DH wasn't around and I had DD to after.

BUT...... I started acupuncture. I had a session every two days and went into labour the night before my induction date. I don't know if it was the acupuncture or my body was just ready, but I figure it's worth a shot if you have that available to you. Nothing to lose anyway.

One other thing. I had PE with DD1. I was in hospital being monitored, had an internal one night, cervix was high, closed and not at all ripe. I was headed for a C/S. The next morning it was forward soft and favorable for an induction. That happened in 11 hours, so don't worry about your cervix being closed today. :huh:

[delphmoon]

I really feel for you

Stop thinking for a moment about Doctors words and what the doctor thinks you can do.

Now...start thinking about YOU. What is YOUR BODY saying? Do YOU feel ok right now? Does everything feel 'normal' to YOU?

Feeling pressured will impact on the labour so I think you need to stop thinking about what others say and look inside of you.

Don't think complications. Don't think interventions. Just think "I trust myself". Seriously...you've done this before and your going to do this again...

Big BIG

Good luck

[eza]

I'm not sure about how quickly the cervix ripens/dialates. I went 12 days over. However I had the choice to go further if I wanted to. I wish I had as I was 4cm dialated going into induction (had waters broken) but being my first bub's and not really having a clue, I just went along with what the nurses suggested. Luckily that's the only intervention that was neccessary as I went into labour on my own.

I don't think that you are being irresponsible at all!! They will most likely monitor bub's daily after the 10/12 days anyway. Good luck and I hope that something happens in the meantime Think Positive!!

[Arcadia]

This doesn't answer your question, but anything can happen between now and next Wednesday.

Do you have a birth alter set up? How are you mentally/spiritually preparing yourself for labour? I found I had to have lots of me time for my labour to start with ds. I cried a bit, wrote in a journal and tried to let go of my expectations as much as possible.

My mw did an internal at 39+2 and my cervix was closed and high etc. BUT it slowly changed over the next few days and I lost my plug two days after that then had ds 4 days after that.

Is having the induction booked in making you feel netter or worse? Why not cancel it if it's putting you under stress? You can always book in again.

[luna moth]

I went 11/12/13 days over, depending whose dates. I sort of stick with 12 days over, that was my date. I hated that I was booked in too, and was getting a bit upset with it. At 40 + 9, I had an appointment with a different midwife, and I talked to her about my fears. She was brilliant, and said "Look, none can make you do anything. You can refuse it if that's what you really want." That really helped me relax. The next night, I was in bed, getting a bit teary - my husband was starting to stress about it, and it was showing physically on him, his parents were coming that weekend, and I didn't wan them visiting me in hospital (they have no understanding of our choice to not let anyone but us handle baby for the first 48 hours) so I decided to "take the hit" as going ahead with it was the best overall choice for the whole family - best for hubby and baby, maybe not for me.

As it turned out, although it wasn't really spontaneous - gel only, then ended up doing it by myself the next day - I had a wonderful labour and birth.

See if you can read some positive induction stories, it might help you to relax a bit about it, which might help your body to get the signal to do it by itself!

But no, I don't think there's anything irresponsible about going to 14 days, or even beyond, if you're ok with it. The odds of stillbirth do increase, apparently it's from 0.5/1000 to 2/1000. So it's a fourfold increase, but it's still a small risk.

Good luck. Heaps of labour vibes heading your way!

[~Kaz~]

Hi Shanti,

I went over with DS. The amount varied because I had three different dates across three different scans and the dr. was taking the closest date and had an induction booked at about 10 days over by his estimation. I was really against it too if I could possibly avoid it so I went back on the Monday that was booked for induction (after the weekend stressing about it) and I negotiated more time because by my latest due date I would have been less than a week over 40. So I talked him into taking that later date as the new due date and he agreed on condition that I attend hossy daily for monitoring and gave me until that Friday. I went into labour on the Tuesday and had DS on Wednesday.

I guess you've already done what you can to push it out as far as possible by asking for the date to be set 12 days over rather than 10. I think it's more than reasonable that if you haven't gone into labour by then that you re-negotiate. They can't force you to be induced mate. It's your body. It depends on what you're comfortable with as to how far over you go and what type of monitoring you want (once a day, more frequent etc). On my Monday monitoring, very little was happening in the sense I wasn't ripe or dilating and nor was DS engaged but by early Tuesday morning I was being woken by contractions so you never know when it's going to kick off.

I know it's easy to say and hard to do but try to relax. Being stressed won't help your body go into labour on it's own. And ignore the ob totally. You know firsthand what your body is capable of and it's pretty amazing stuff. I'll never forget reading your birth story and I think he's making standard commentary that he probably says to all women cause it helps him feel in control of what's happening. You are in control hun. Just breathe and remember that every day that passes is bringing you closer to meeting your bub. xx

[Jas]

Absolutely not. Hospital policies are hospital policies but obviously they can't induce you if you say no its their legal responsibility to provide you with care and support. Nope not dangerous, you are open to monitoring etc. Also as well as the risks of being further past ur due date there are the risks of being induced. Also the whole thing of big babies is so oer rated ds2 was born at 41w3d spontaneous labour was 10lbs 5oz or 4680g and was a drug free, tear free fantastic birth, your body can and will do it when the time is right!

[surprised]

Hi hun

Hugs! I remember being where you are. I was induced at 12 days over, DS was born 13 days over by emergency CS. For us, our decisions were based on whether we could live with the possible consequences of that decision. I refused the 10 days over induction that was standard hospital procedure, as we felt comfortable waiting a couple more days. But at that 12 day mark, after a couple of days of monitoring, we were no longer willing to take the risk of waiting.

Yes, the labour wasn't what I wanted, I am now hoping for a VBAC - but it's so true that at the end of the day all that matters is a healthy baby and mum.

Good luck hun - make sure you pop back in sometime and tell us how you got on. xoxo

[BellyBelly]

Just wanted to share from the BB induction article:

“My pregnancies were all long. My twins were born by induction at 40 weeks and the next baby was born by induction at 42 weeks. By child number 4 I decided on a homebirth – which meant that I would need to go into labour naturally. Finally at 43 weeks and 4 days that happened. It isn’t recommended going that long, however, he was fine, although his skin peeled off everywhere. Baby number 5 was 42 weeks and 3 days, also born at home. I tried acupuncture, I drank gallons of raspberry leaf tea, I had so much sex I was sick of it. I believe that some women naturally have longer pregnancies and some have shorter. The women who spontaneously labour have their babies at 37 weeks fall into the ‘normal’ category and the unlucky women who go longer than 40 weeks unfortunately get landed with all the interventions. Choosing to wait for labour to occur naturally was very hard work as there was a tremendous amount of pressure to agree to an induction, however, I believed that my body must eventually labour spontaneously. I did agree to regular monitoring in the last week to check that the baby was OK.”

[OceanPrincess]

I had a wonderful birth and labour, intervention and drug free with DD even though she was posterior and got stuck, I did it all by myself with no help...... I want to have that natural drug free spontaneous labour again. I CAN do it, I've done it before. I WILL do it.

Answered your own question

My sister was induced at 42wks and had a beautiful, almost drug-free labour. She used just gas for part of the labour and the drip was turned off after about 2hrs as labour was established and she did the rest herself. I wrote her birth story up somewhere as I thought it was a great positive induction experience - let me know if you want to have a read and I'll dig it up for you.

You can do it.

PS - I delivered an almost 5kg baby with no drugs. No probs. I think I said this in your other thread - big babies rock

[Junglemum]

Just another little thing....I'm no expert, but the power of the mind is pretty amazing. Instead of letting the idea of induction scare the **** out of you, coming to terms with it and being in a better head space might allow your body to relax and go into labour naturally. I think Audax is onto it with reading some positive induction stories and getting into a good head space about it.

I really, really don't want to be induced, so much so that I have chosen to birth without DH, but I will also have to rethink that if I get to 41+ weeks again, as i said before, i personally am uncomfortable going past 42 weeks. It truly sux being in your position. I hope you find some answers.

[beckoes]

with dd2 i was determind not to be presured into anything or be induced. i wanted to avoid all intevention if i could. i got to 41+6 and had a s&s casue i didnt want to deal with the stress of the docs tell me all sorts at my 42 week app. i was ready to go anyway.

I asked a similar question when i was at your stage i think, and found that many people went 42 weeks plus!! i think if you have a lot of monitoring you could go longer but you should trust your mummy instincts.

I had been sure i wouldnt have a s&sand go to 43 weeks, but i changed my mind and thought that the longer i went the higher the chances that at one of the monitoring sesions they sould pick up some sort of problem or bub would be distressed and id have no time to try a s&s or even medical induction and would have to be rushed off for a csec.so that was my chain of thought.....

Is it possible my cervix could start dilating over night and my cervix ripen and the head engage in the next 48hrs?????? Surely??

yes, dd2s head was floating around at 41+6. alot can change in the last few hours! \

sending you many labour vibes!

[Heaven]

Shanti. You've done this before and you'll do it again. I have no doubt. Your body will go into labour. You were only a week over with your DD and that's pretty good for a first time mum!

Forget what the OB said! I can't believe he'd even mention your pelvis might be too small, seriously, you've already done it once!! Your body knows exactly what to do and how big to grow your baby.

If the induction date is stressing you out, just cancel it. You can book it in later if you change your mind. I doubt you will get that far but if you do you can always just ask for monitoring instead. You are not being irresponsible. I think you're being very responsible because you know waiting for your baby to come when he/she is ready is the best thing for both of you.

I've also heard boys stay in longer than girls

As much as you can try to relax and not stress. Forget about anyone but you and your family and concentrate on what you are about to do. I used to lie in bed every night and imagine my cervix getting softer and opening up and my body preparing for labour

[M22]

with me i went at 37 with mr 3 and 42 weeks ( gel induction) with miss 1 she was not going anywhere I pre laboured for about 3 weeks, turns out i had a short cord and it was around her neck adn this is why she stopped herself from coming out. During the whole prelabour time i felt like something was topping her and it was. for me it was the best thing and you are teh best judge for you body... dont worry about stupid OB's. with mr 1 the ob said i would most def get pnd because i said i didnt want and epiostomtomy.

seroulsy you've done it before and you body knows what to do

best
xoxox

[Jas]

Just wanted to add to my post from before ds1 was induced at 37w ds2 I was NOT being induced unless something really serious happened where it was going to a life saving intervention. Anyway the hospital I birth at have the policy of 41+3 with no longer than 42w when it was presented to me that "we will book you in for induction at 10days over" I was upfront that i wouldnt be booked in, I was asked how far I wanted to go before i would choose induction I said indefinitely and was supported by several different obs (was seeing midwives but got sent to appts with obs once overdue) I don't really believe in overdue and try not to use the term to me its just past your due date not overdue.

I completely understand that being past your edd increases your risk of still birth but like it was mentioned before it's only a small risk. And what is practically never mentioned is induction increases your risk of stillbirth too, as well as a whole list of other things.