Induction at 41 weeks

Pinknights · January 2014

I saw my midwife today who has a great record of vaginal births. She is mixed with an OB practice though.

Well today at 39 weeks and 3 days she tells me they induce at 41 weeks , and it's the OB's policy who runs the practice. She's still pro my going natural and suggested acupuncture, gels, etc before inducing. Also during BPPS, etc.

The thing is I want to wait until at least 41.5 weeks. What do I do? Just not show up? I have a doula as we'll, but at the end of the day, she's not a midwife.

Is it that bad if I agree to this? I'm really committed to a natural birth, with what's in my control. Help?

tndalles · January 2014

My bradley instructor recommends scheduling the induction and then not showing up. When they reschedule it, the induction will be right around the 41.5/42 week point.

mb314 · January 2014

I would see if they will hold of on inductions if you agree to a non stress tests and other regular tests to make sure the baby is still doing fine in the womb. My midwife wanted to schedule me for an induction at 40 weeks because of creeping blood pressure (it wasn't yet high, but I have a history of high blood pressure and it was going up). We talked with her, and agreed to a NST, a sonogram and a 24 hour urine collection test to check on the baby. For me, the tests showed further concerns, and I agreed to the induction. But I felt okay with the induction because I felt like the recommendation was not based on an arbitrary rule, but based on what my own test results showed.

Good luck! And trying natural induction methods doesn't hurt.

sschwege · January 2014

I think, if it were me I would ask her how they support women who decline induction at 41w. If she seems receptive to it like she says something like, "Sure all you have to do is sign a waiver and we will further monitor you with NST, u/s, more frequent visits, etc." Then I think you should take that as a good sign that you have a supportive MW who will continue to support you. There is a chance she doesn't agree with this policy anyway, she made it clear it was the OB's policy right? I've found that MWs who work with OBs have a prefabricated answer and they also have their own answer. In my experience they are pretty good at letting you know their own answer with sort of a 'wink and a nod'. If however she comes at you with scare tactics about all the things that could go wrong, then you can bank on her not being very supportive. In which case I would probably consider doing as pp said and just not show up.

alliejoe · January 2014

My MWs deliver in the hospital and they'll allow me to go to 42w.

After 40w they require an NST and a cervix check at the 41w appt. She also said 95% of women deliver by 41w. Are you dilated? I'm not as worried about the possibility of an induction if I am several cm dilated. Just because if I am I feel like an induction (or stripping membrane, etc) might be effective. I haven't had a check yet so I may or may not be dilated.

When we scheduled the 41w appt though I was able to make it for 41+2.

So maybe that's a possibility to push call and push your appt back a couple days.

Sorry this post is all over the place .