Induction of labour due to advanced maternal age
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Then absolutely decline it if that’s how you feel. Maternal age is a poor indication for induction, particularly if you have no other risk factors but they like to induce anyone for anything these days. There are risks to induction to which they don't tend to talk about so much!
There are studies that show placental failure starting at 38 weeks due to maternal age. Since I am 52 I do not want to take the risk. I don't want baby being stressed. You have to do what's right for you.
@Hayley thankyou. I did have a brief read through of Dr Sara Wickham but need to properly read. I was advised to induce my daughter at 39 weeks due to her measuring big and flatly refused. I think induction is offered far too regularly these days x
@Aimée I agree they push induction for anything. You could also ask for additional monitoring instead 🙂
@Aimée im 43 and 35 weeks pregnant, im seeing consultant next week, im sure I will be pushed for induction as well as several carers already hinted about that. However, I think i would rather prefer c-section 😏 As agree with @Korie stakes are too high to take risk.
I'm 41 and also have GD diabetes there's been no talk of induction yet. I've got an appointment with consultant again at 36 weeks so we shall see. I dont want to b induced either, this is my 1st. I think at the end of the day it's your decision, age shouldn't just be a factor x
If you have a healthy and low risk pregnancy and there only concern is ‘your age’ .. let’s be honest that is no reason for an induction. If they were seriously concerned about you and your baby they would be offering a caesarean. Induction can take days and puts a lot of stress on your body and the baby. If your instinct says wait, then wait until you are ready or until baby comes naturally 😊 x
I don’t think what you’re saying is correct at all Sarah. The concern with maternal age is that after 40 weeks the risk of still birth increases substantially for some age groups. C-section is always an option people have but induction also solves the problem, ie baby being born before 40w, without the need for major surgery. With the most modern drugs usually an induction doesn’t take more than 3 days. Therefore, an induction at 39+4 or 5 gets baby out by 40w. OP, I don’t think anyone prefers induction and if your baby comes at 37 weeks you won’t even have that issue but if you believe the risks are too high to take (like I do and some other people on this post do) you might as well book the induction (or a c section) and hope it is not necessary in the end.
I’m not in the same boat for maternal age, but this is an IVF pregnancy. Again they offered me an induction between 39-40 weeks. I had good discussion with my consultant and because this is my only risk factor we’ve decided on an outpatient induction rather than inpatient (it’s not strictly the policy but felt it was good better option for me) maybe explore all the options at your next appointment x
I highly recommend reading this article. It has great sources and is fact based. https://evidencebasedbirth.com/advanced-maternal-age/#:~:text=Between%2039%20and%2040%20weeks,among%20people%2040%20and%20older.
I’m 40 and consultant said shouldn’t have a home birth and need induction at 40weeks. I declined. I’m healthy and have had a great pregnancy so still opting for home birth. X
My sister was induced at 40 weeks in 2020 as she was 40 but it was also an IVF baby. It was lucky they had as her waters had gone a few days before and he’d got an infection bless him. He was born the following morning although needed help to arrive if I remember rightly.
@Sara amazing good for you x
Thankyou everyone. I think my hesitation is that I literally turned 40 a week ago and if I wasn’t turning 40 for another month this wouldn’t have even been a conversation that the consultant would have had with me (by her admission). If I was further into my 40’s I would probably consider an earlier induction but as I’m newly 40 and that’s my only risk factor I feel ok to wait until 40 weeks at least. We have another scan booked at 38+3 so will see what the outcome of that is x
I was told the same as a 38 year old. I recommend reading dr Sara wickham in your own time. It’s a good look at a wide range of research around induction