Say no to induction or just try to bring on birth naturally?

[Traveller]

Have you asked your midwife if she is still happy to care for you at home past 42 weeks without extra monitoring? The monitoring itself is not intervention and often it can be the basis for reassuring you and your caregiver that everything is ok.

As for agreeing to induction or not, your post sums it up for me and if you make an informed decision to refuse then it's unlikely that you will face much opposition, especially if your midwife has your back.

However important to remember is that a lot can change in almost two weeks, heck a lot can change in a few hours, and most women give birth by 42 weeks so most likely you will not have to make this decision.

[Amber4]

Thanks Traveller.. no, I didn't think to ask her what it means for her care if I refuse monitoring or induction. As usual, these things all occur to me after the discussion

My impression from the way my MW spoke is that she is pro the monitoring.. for instance, she still said I can negotiate with an OB at the hospital and she knows of one who is apparently open minded and quite reasonable, but she still referred to best practice being induced or monitored. I came across a belly belly sticky about the biophysical ultrasound being flawed... so I guess my concern is that if I consent to monitoring, it could be used as a justification to push me towards induction, iykwim?

Still, you're right, I am very, very hopeful that this won't become an issue and that this little one gets moving in time!

[AliBaby]

I chose to say yes to the monitoring once overdue because I thought it was best to know that all was ok with baby. The only time that could have led to an induction was if something appeared wrong with the baby, which of course I would want them to do whatever possible. All was fine though and I got my natural delivery and labour.

Stay positive

[Pholi]

I was very keen to go into labour naturally, and started to do all sorts of things to bring labour on - long walks, with lots of stairs and hills, squats and lunges at home, hands and knees , on my knees over the ball, burning clary sage oil, having acupuncture. I can't say if any of it made the difference, but it was such a relief when I went into labour naturally at 40+4. I would redirect your energy into doing these kind of things, because stressing over something like this can't ever be good!

[luna moth]

7 weeks ago my baby girl was born at 40 + 13, planned hospital birth. I was pretty keen to avoid induction, in spite of a previous positive experience. My midwife mentioned it at 41+2, as an alternative option to 42 week ultrasound. I went with the ultrasound, although ultimately it was cancelled because baby popped out a day earlier. My midwife and her team were totally cool with it, only talking about induction when they wanted to make sure I knew it was an option. I felt really confident in not choosing induction, and I think that helped. I just wasn't going to be "booked in" -and if they'd tried, I sure as hell wouldn't have turned up.

And doing all the natural stuff is fun, so roll with that.

[AndiE]

I won't bore you with the details but I ended up with an extremely successful induction with DS3 - I had a hospital birth but my birthing preference is to do it drug-free, intervention-free (except for DS3!) etc. I should've been a home-birther, trust me! I did everything I could to avoid induction but at 42w, DS3 just wasn't interesting in kickstarting his birth. Anyway, I can't help you much re: the home birth aspects and impact of intervention, but just wanted to say that all I required was gel and DS3 was born not long afterwards with wonderful midwives supporting my birth choices. I know you had a bad experience with your DD, but "if" you do end up requiring an induction then take some comfort that it doesn't have to go cactus. I negotiated minimal monitoring and the brilliant midwife I had even took off the monitoring a few minutes before she was supposed to as bub (and I) was doing so well. Basically, all but the first 20-odd mins of my induction was monitor-free. Big hugs, hopefully bub will come of his/her own accord soon xx

[Amber4]

Thanks so much to you all for your thoughts and support. I had a big cry this morning feeling helpless about it all, then picked myself back up and went off to acupuncture smelling like clary sage this afternoon I'm catching up with my doula who is extremely supportive, so I think it will also help to chat to her.

MadB, I suspect you're right in that my MW was probably wanting to flag things as possibilities to bear in mind, although I completely agree with you, I need to talk with her about what her conditions are, if any, of continuing my care.

Thanks again I'll let you know when/if the little man makes an appearance before I have to cross this bridge. Xx

[Amber4]

Thanks Andi, it is really helpful to hear another positive story. The MW said that it's not possible to continue down the home birth track with any kind of induction (even gel).. she apparently can't get a prescription for it. So basically intervention = no more home birth. My sister went to 43w with her second child (planned public hospital birth) before she consented to induction with the gel. She lives in country NSW and the staff she dealt with were happy to support that. It seems like there are different rules in different areas... my MW admitted that hospital bureaucracies play a big role in this and apparently my local area health service isn't renowned for their open-mindedness in this regard.

That all said, I appreciate the reminder that it won't necessarily go pear shaped if it had to happen. It's one of the reasons I wanted to hire a doula this time from the get-go, so that even if I ended up in hospital, I had someone with me that I trusted and could ask to advocate on my behalf. My past experience with a very unsympathetic MW and a dictatorial OB isn't necessarily going to be repeated. Logically I know that but it's hard to shake the memories and emotions attached to that experience. Thanks again. x