Louise

Thats EXACTLY how Im going to feel. Some drs say ' you cant say this, and cant say that til it happens', but truth be known, yes we can.
Who knows us the best?? WE do!

Kina

You don't have to be induced if you don't want to be, why don't you wait til you go 2 weeks over then discuss it?

Louise

This is going to sound so stupid, but is it a guarentee (sp?) to give birth within 42 weeks? I mean if I leave it long enough, will he make it here on his own??

And also, is spontanious labour the fastest option?

Kina

I've not been induced before so I don't know if it takes longer, all I know is from the birth stories I've read on here and other websites. There is no guarantee that you'll go into labour, but say for instance they were a week out on your dates (ok a long time but possible!) then you wouldn't be due yet anyway, so waiting til 42 weeks wouldn't be a bad thing. My personal opinion (not meant to offend!) is that babies will come when they're ready most of the time and if you or the baby are in no danger then why not wait another week? After you get to 42 weeks they'll monitor you daily to make sure that your baby and placenta are fine. It's up to you Louise, but don't feel pressured into being induced if that's not what you want at the moment.

Louise

Thank you for the reply.
At first I wanted the baby out asap, so the thought of induction at 38 weeks made me shreik with excitment. That soon changed once things were explained properly.
At my last appt when I had the V/E, she checked me over, told me what was what and just booked the induction there and then.
This is after she had been telling me for a while now that she thinks baby wil/should arrive on his own... *shrugs*. She said if hes not born by oct 1st I could have a section (I had PREVIOUSLY been pushing for one until I heard how they worked), and then told me that thursday is my day, but by induction (that confused me slightly)!!
TBH with you, being as worried as I am, I really cant concentrate on what I want. It did kinda scare me though, when I was told that after 42 weeks the placenta starts to deteriarate(sp?) That wasnt a good thing to hear!
I guess we shall just have to wait and see.

KX

Up here they dont let you go any longer than 10 days and in Edinburgh its 2 weeks max due to the risk to the baby.

Dale my OH was born at 43 weeks-that explains his laid back sluggish attitude lol x

Kina

With regards to the placenta deteriorating (sp) that's why they'd monitor you daily after 42 weeks, so you wouldn't be at any risk. If you're not happy to be induced this Thursday then why not wait til next Thursday. At least you'll know by then that he's definately not going to come out on his own accord!!
And in the meantime get bouncing, walking, eating curry/fresh pineapple, couple drops of clary sage oil in your bath, gallons of raspberry leaf tea (stewed for ages ) and twiddling your nipples lol

marley2580

They can't force you though. All the women in my family carry late - 2 to 3 weeks on average and I'm expecting to go over. I'll choose to be monitored rather than induced if I do, coz I'd rather go naturally as long as everything is ok with the sprog.

KX

I thought the risk was oxygen being starved to the brain and cerebal palsy and in severe cases still born-how would they monitor that? Not being podantic just would like to know cause if I can avoid being induced again I will!x

marley2580

I believe that they monitor HB and movements, I haven't asked about it just yet as I'm trying to avoid arguments with the MW. From what I understand the risks to the baby are quite small, particularly if lateness runs in the family. Why not Google it?

edited to add:

Just found this:

It is undeniable that the rate of stillbirths and neonatal deaths does rise as pregnancy becomes more and more prolonged. However, many of these deaths are due to congenital abnormalities, or occur in babies with intra-uterine growth restriction. It is not clear how much the death rate rises for normal babies who do not show any signs of being growth-restricted. It can be alarming to hear that the death rate for pregnancies over 42 weeks doubles, but it is perhaps more informative to let people know the figures rather than the relative chance. Some sources suggest that the death rate for apparently normal babies, ie those without detected abnormalities, may rise from around 1 in 1,000 to 2 in 1,000. See the US Midwife Archive detailed paper on post-dates pregnancy.

It is, of course, your right to refuse any medical treatment which is proposed, including induction of labour. It is up to you to make the decision which is right for your family. The vast majority of women who decline induction of labour will go on to have healthy babies. See for example the stories about "Ten Month Mamas" on birthlove.com.

You can ask for monitoring to check your baby's wellbeing, instead of choosing induction. There is a very small risk of foetal death occurring suddenly despite reassuring monitoring, but this can happen at any stage of pregnancy - and as the sources above show, it is extremely rare. Some women feel that it is not appropriate to accept induction on the basis of a one-in-a-thousand risk.

The UK's National Institute of Clinical Excellence and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists offer this information to pregnant women and their families [3]:

If your pregnancy is more than 41 weeks

Even if you have had a healthy trouble free pregnancy, you should be offered induction of labour after 41 weeks because from this stage the risk of your baby developing health problems increases. An induction because you are overdue does not increase the chance of you needing a caesarean section.

If you choose not to be induced at this stage then from 42 weeks you should be offered:

Twice weekly checks of your baby's heartbeat using a piece of equipment called an electronic fetal heart rate monitor.
A single ultrasound test to check the depth of amniotic fluid (or "waters") surrounding your baby.
An ultrasound scan in early pregnancy (before 20 weeks) can help to determine your baby's due date more accurately. This reduces your chances of unnecessary induction.

[End quote]

If you find yourself under pressure to accept induction at 42 weeks and you are not happy with this, then it may help to discuss these guidelines with your doctor or midwives; the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) does make clear that monitoring beyond 42 weeks is an alternative to induction.[4]