Birth after 40 - first time mum - induced?

[Desertlady]

I am pregnant with my first at 42. Doctor recommends I’m induced around 39 weeks due to higher risk of stillbirth in later pregnancy.

Getting induced seems it can be a longer, more painful labour that is more likely to need forceps, ventouse or emergency C-section. I really wanted to have a natural water birth but my doctor said it’s unlikely as first time mums have long labours and opt for epidurals so they mostly ditch their original plans for a water birth. Another option is elective C-section - I don’t want one but wonder if it’s better than the induction and possible emergency C-section route.

Would really appreciate some advice from others in a similar situation.

[Baypony]

I am 40 and had my first baby 6 days ago. I was under consultant care due to my age (and having had IVF) and like you, was told I would be induced. I asked the consultant what the medical reason was for this and he waffled something about babies dying, which seemed more scaremongering than anything else. There really seemed to be no hard medical evidence that I should be induced. My pregnancy was problem free, I am active, fit and healthy, not overweight, non smoker. I asked consultant why being 40 increased the risk, whereas no one would be concerned if my due date was 1 day before my 40th birthday. So eventually got consultant to agree to delay induction by a week. I went into labour naturally at 3am on the day baby was born, (2 days before due date) however waters went and revealed baby had pooped inside. Long story short I ended up having an emergency c section which was not as dramatic as it sounds. It was still calm and relatively trouble free. Dr explained everything to me including the reasons why it was needed. It went fine, although I would not have chosen an elective c section over a natural birth if I could have had the baby naturally. It is major surgery and not to be taken lightly. Recovery is tough, you have to get up and move around as soon as you can, you feel really tired, sick and awful and still have to look after your baby. In my experience not a decision to be taken lightly.

I suppose what i’m trying to say is you do not have to accept and agree with your consultant and no

matter what you plan for sometimes things go a different way.

I am just thankful that baby is here safe and well. Good luck!

[Seb9]

I had an induction due to my scan showing babies growth had slowed, I was induced at 39+5.

I was expecting that the contractions bought on by the drip to be strong so I'd already spoken to my midwife about getting an epidural and had this after the contractions began. It was the best thing I did, I was able to rest while the drip did its work and once I was fully dilated, the epidural had worn off so I could feel the contractions for pushing.

I didn't have any intervention and only had a minimal tear and a graze.

Although my doctor was gearing up to assist I managed to do it by myself once I had some great midwives really cheer me on.

If you have the induction there are positive stories out there like mine, my little girl is 5 months old now and her birth seems like a distant memory.

Best of luck to you

[Zopes]

Hi every pregnancy is completely different so only use advice given in here as a guide and always do what makes you feel comfortable. I am 47 and have just had my 4th and last child.

I had my 3rd child at 43 so both of those pregnancies have been deemed high risk mainly due to my age but also because of other complications that can occur at any age.

As your pregnancy progresses you will find your plans will change anyway but of course write down initially what birth plan you would prefer. Some people opt for all pain relief offered others prefer to have as little intervention as possible. I have had 4 natural births, I’ve only had Gas & Air and Pethadin. You will know what pain you can cope with on the day and make decisions then. I also attended a Hypno birth course and that was brilliant and made my recent birth experience a calm experience and helped me relax and focus.

It’s your body and your baby so don’t feel pressured into anything your not comfortable with but remember the doctors and midwives advise what’s best for you and your baby and ultimately you just want a healthy happy baby and mum.

Good luck x

[LCEIreland]

I had my 2nd son shortly after I turned 42, I was also advised to be induced at 38/39 weeks due to my age and a few other health issues of other family members (nothing I have myself), I was induced at 39+3. My induction went very quickly, I started having contractions within 2 hours. I only had gas and air and was only in labour for just under 3 hours. But a friend who is in her 30s was induced due to reduced movements started the induction process on a Thursday and her little one wasn’t born until the Saturday, every pregnancy and induction is different, trust that the consultant is doing what is best for you and your baby.

[Hidden]

Hi there, I gave birth to my baby at 40 (nearly 41). I had an entirely natural labour with no interventions or medication and it lasted 15hrs from beginning to end, and used the birthing pool. I used hypnobirthing breathing techniques to get me through the contractions and some of the midwives said they wouldn’t have known I was in active labour when I first arrived. This website offers a course on hypnobirthing for £40. It was money well spent. Not just because of the techniques it teaches but because the presenter talks with authority about how important it is for you to feel in control of any decisions at each point of your pregnancy and labour...and that’s the thing to remember, it’s your body, your baby and you have the right to make informed choices about how you want things to be (said whilst fully acknowledging that every pregnancy/labour is different and there’s a need to be flexible based on what’s happening for you and baby).

I too had a consultant who was very twitchy about my age and the fact my boy was breech at 36 weeks. He suggested I might need a c section if baby didn’t turn and, if he did, wanted me to be induced at 39 weeks. When I asked why, when all signs indicted all was well he quoted statistics at me. I highlighted that baby and I were being monitored regularly and that I was open to induction if the health of either of us appeared to be at risk, but not until then.

Fast forward to 39 weeks and the day of my next consultant appointment and I actually waddled into the reception area and said I needed to cancel my appointment with the consultant as I was in labour (waters had broken at 4am that morning and I was having regular contractions). I then waddled on towards the birthing centre ☺️

I found the midwives were much less twitchy about age etc if all other signs showed your pregnancy was going well and you’re in good health. I’d suggest talking to your midwife and get their take on things too.

[Hidden]

This is the website mentioned above:

birth-ed.co.uk/birth-ed-onl...

This is the website I used the exercises from to help turn my breech baby the right way up: spinningbabies.com

Again, much to the surprise of the consultant who’d also never heard of the website

[emmab178]

Unfortunately still births do happen in the last few weeks of pregnancy. My friend was overdue and one day had a scan and everything fine the next day went in for reduced movements and no heartbeat. Think there's gov.uk petitions from people who have had still births to be offered inductions automatically at 38 weeks to reduce the numbers.

I was also told being 38 and being an ivf pregnancy there was no way they were going over my due date.

The baby was breech but even if she wasnt i wanted an elective c section. Was wonderful and highly recommend it. I know a few that have had traumatic births which ended in emergency sections which is completely different.

It's a risk versus reward decision on these calls and only you can determine the levels of risk you are willing to take x

[Wishingfortheday]

Hi there, this topic is on my mind a lot too. At 42 years of age and 36 weeks pregnant with my first baby, I've been told by the staff in my consultant's clinic (several different doctors, as have never had any continuity in who I've been seen by - but that's a separate issue!) that an early induction will be recommended/needed due to my age etc. However all the tests and scans have shown that things are progressing well, baby is developing normally and so far there has been no cause for concern. My antenatal class instructor, who was herself an obstetric nurse for many years, recommended I contact AIMS for information and support on this, as there was very little evidence to support that early induction due to age improved outcomes for either mother or baby (a recent NHS study of particular importance is the '35:39' study - you can find this via an internet search). Also the occurrence of stillbirth at week 38 is very similar to the rate at week 41, for example - so why are they happy for us to go to week 38 but not week 40? There are also (as you have mentioned already) several risks for mother and baby associated with the induction process that should be considered and the doctors tend to brush over. It seems hospitals are under increasing pressure to keep their c section rates down, and this is one of the reasons they are keen to steer people down the induction route.

Unless a genuine cause for concern arises I intend to give informed refusal of induction.

AIMS are really helpful and supportive in helping access unbiased information on any maternity services related topic, so worth having a look at!

Best wishes xx