Induction is more likely to lead to c/s so do some research. Its best in my view to wait for baby to be ready and avoid a cascade of interevntion.

i was induce recently just 9 weeks ago due to problems with bub i went through the whole lots the gel and the breaking of the waters they both are a bit unconfortable but does the job they normally are only meant to let you go for 2 hours to see if labour has started if not they will hook you up to the drip with the drugs that starts the contractions and with that many people are differentonce i had started that it was a very fast labour my contractions started at 10 min apart and quickly went from there it didnt realise at the time that she was so close the pain is somewhat worse than a normal labour but can still have drugs if needed about 40 minutes in i had the urge to stand and walk the pain off but never got that far i stood up and at that second had contraction and she was there 45 mintues after but i was close to having a c section cause it was causeing bub stress her heart rate kept dropping but with that the mid wife never left my side

I have found that stressing about bringing on labour actually helps to prevent it, which is odd considering stress can trigger an early labour too! LOL.

What I found has worked the best is to just forget about it, and carry on like nothing is going on.  You just have to be careful or labour can sneak up on you and catch you off guard! LOL

If this is your first, then it is normal to expect you will go over.  Your body hasn't been through it before so doesn't know what to expect.

The other thing is, just because you get pregnant doesn't mean your hormones take a break.  I was told by an obstetrician that even though you can be at week 40, it could be as much as 2 weeks after that before labour starts because your body still keeps track of ovulation, and you are more likely to go into labour during the would be ovulation.

hi I had the same problem but had a succesful outcome because I wouldnt let anyone boss me around! hope my story helps you as I'm extremely supportive of natural births and always trying to help my friends avoid c-sections.  For my daughters birth in Nov last year I was living in Dubai - where there is a 70% c-section rate in most hospitals.  As you can imagine I was terrified when I found out how unsupportive they are of natural birth and they actually prefer to cut you open as its more convenient to them and they make more money on insurance.    I didnt think I had to worry as my boys were on time but in the end after 4 membrane sweeps (one which got me to 7cm dialated but returned to 2 because babys head wasnt coming down and pushing on it) and 3 weeks of constant false starts I went to my midwife (I had to pay for her myself as insurance only covers ob/gyn visits).  She was ready to break my waters in the clinic and do a kind of illegal home birth but the babies heart rate went a bit funny (turned out it was because I hadnt eaten enough brekkie) so she told me to go to hospital and have them do it instead - just in case anything happened. 

So I went to my hospital, 12 days overdue and had the midwife break the waters (talk to the head midwife on the ward before you go and make sure she is supportive of natural labour and delivery positions).  Over here you can legally refuse to have the obstetrician deliver your baby - that goes a long way to keeping it natural!  My midwife broke my waters and kept me on a monitor and on my back - the number one worst position to deliver naturally, its painful and its slow.  After an hour I was allowed to get up for the toilet, the contractions started immediately and I was in active labour and didnt have to stay on my back.  If they hadnt started within 2 hours after breaking waters they would have induced me which almost always leads to epidural (because it is agony) then c-section because of the epidural.  So avoid the hormone drip as long as possible.    Get your membranes swept and wait a day or so (go walking etc), if that doesnt work get your waters broken and get upright (wonderful position for me was on my knees and rocking through contractions with my arms over the head of hospital bed - which was raised in sitting position) and baby will come down and out.  Keep very relaxed and breath slowly through contractions, let them do their work.  They hurt but they are working for you not against you.  When it seems like you cant cope anymore and you want painkillers - you are almost there so try to wait! Your body has natural painkillers so let them kick in.This worked for me, and good news was my baby was born in 2 hours after being 2 weeks overdue.  No episiotomy, nice slow crowning and gentle pushing and no tears. 7lb 8oz so not too tiny. 3 babies - all natural, no drugs. Good luck!

My DD1 didnt come until officially EDD+12 (tho I'm convinced she was EDD+14) and I had turned down the OFFER of an induction at EDD+10. They agreed to monitor the baby and placenta every other day in the second week and then we would discuss it at EDD+14. If baby was in any difficulty I would have of course agreed to an induction, but when she was born the placenta was still in great shape - they all deteriorate at different stages as you get to around 40 weeks, but some are still working fine at 44 weeks - every pregnancy is as individual as every baby it produces. Of course they tried to scare me into the induction, saying that the rate of still births double after 41 weeks (but this is something like going from 1 in 1000 to 2 in 1000, which is hardly a high risk, especially if they're monitoring you closely). Babies come best when they are ready and as yours isnt ready yet, even if you are (!), then going for an induction would suggest to me that there are risks involved with messing with nature - baby may not be in the best position yet for example and you might need intervention to get baby in the perfect position to come out. All intervention, including induction, statistically increases your chance of escallation substantially (ie induction, ventouse, forceps, c-section).

My advice would be to research about induction and waiting online so you can make an INFORMED decision at your meeting on Monday. Although at my "Induction" meeting I was given a hard time, once they had grilled me and accepted that I was making an informed decision, the mood suddenly lightened and we got on with discussing the monitoring in a supportive atmosphere. If however after rearching induction, you feel happy about being induced at 10, 12, or 14 days, then great. What you want for a good labour is to feel in control. At no point should you feel bounced into any decisions. Ask questions, ask for their advice, ask what to expect. Bear in mind hospitals are very risk adverse in case you sue them, and there are some things they are not allowed to tell you!

When getting informed before my second labour, I found this homebirth site extremely informative. Near the bottom of the Homepage is a link to a page on "Overdue...." which you may find an interesting read, even though you're presumably planning a hospital birth.

Hi there,

They usually let you go 10 -14 days after due date before induction. If you can avoid the syntocin drip, do. Try all other options first as it really is not pleasant and does seem to end in a higher chance of c-section. However, the only thing you want is the arrival of a healthy baby. Listen to what is suggested, but always question the doctor re: the effects and pros and cons of the advice they give. As long as bub is Ok and not distressed, take your time and don't be rushed into a decision re: induction. Best wishes! PS Try long brisk walks, raspberry leaf tea, se...x, etc... My bub was 11 days overdue and I was all set to go out for dinner ( with the bonus of having to be induced in 2 days) when my waters broke. I had tried EVERYTHING, but they do come when they are ready!

Best wishes

There are a number of way's to induce, hun.

I had two inductions both natural deliveries.

First was with a gel in the crevix, they then realised I was dilated and a couple of hours later they broke my waters, all went well untill bub got stuck,LOL, The used a ventuse to help her out.

The second bub was induced by drip and the drip was used thoughout labour to move everything along because of concerns for me. No getting stuck with No 2, all was well.

Infact all my personal friends who had induction all had natural delivery, so try not to worry untill you have something to worry about, it is not good for you or Bub to stress too much at the mo. You may even start dilating any moment so by Monday they won't have to come near you.

Many best wishes. Winnie.xx

 They usualy only induce if they really need to or you are 2 weeks over (I was told the placenta starts to not work so well after then) They also should have given you some info on inductions (I was given it at 40 weeks). Unfortunaly I only know emergency c sections comming from inductions, my mum was induced with me and had a c section and my friend was induced with her bub and had a c section. But im sure there has been a lot of people who just have a normal delivery after being induced.

Hopefuly you will start naturaly and it will all go smooth!!!!

Good luck

there are a heap of different ways of induction, a sweep of membraines is the main one they do. you have a drip with medication in it and there is a cream they use as well. there are a heap of natural ones as well. sex is a good one. I also got told by my SIL that (sorry to be graphic guys) but swallowing seamen is ment to work and she was told this in her midwife class. :)

good luck