Advice - Refusing Induction blood pressure

It's policy to be induced for high BP because of the risks. I'm being induced atm at 38 weeks even though my blood pressure is 120/80 with medicine. You also won't be allowed a birthing centre birth anymore in most cases due to the BP even if you were to labour naturally. Sometimes they ask you to have an epidural as these lower BP to help control it during labour. I wanted a water birth which I now won't be allowed to have but I'm sure the continuous monitoring requirement alone for high BP excludes you from most birthing centres as most only offer intermittent. I was, and my BP stabilised immediately with the lowest dose of meds. With trickier cases like yours it makes sense they need eyes on you. It sucks to let go of the idea of a birth you want but I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss their concerns, either. Though my BP is measuring fine they are still concerned its spiking randomly as I experience symptoms of high BP intermittently. And protein levels that rise and fall.

Thanks for this. I understand why I wouldn't be allowed inthe birth centre due to needing extra monitoring, I accept that. What I forgot to say above was, I would rather have a planned section than be induced if thats the situation i end up in due to blood pressure. Induction is the absolute last thing I would ever want and I know the pros/cons/risk of both induction and section and that's just my preference. Just want to get that across to the consultants :(

I would be opting for a section over an induction as well. I have an induction with my eldest which ended in an emergency section and I'm adamant that I will not be induced this time and if baby needs to come out then its a planned section. Stick to your guns, your body, your baby, your birth. Tell them I'd rather have a section so let's get a realistic date in for that please, hopefully I can go in to spontaneous labour before but I'm not willing to discuss induction further. Xx

Thank you ❤️

@Katie you can still have an active labour, on the labour ward. At my hospital there is even a birthing pool in one room, but you will need to be monitored for the safety of the baby and yourself. I really feel for you. I've been induced before and im not keen either, 2nd was birthing centre but these babies have their own plans. Personally I'd find out more about the risks and try to incorporate the things you want, in a safe environment for baby and yourself. You can absolutely have a monitor on and still move about, you don't need to lie flat on a bed. I hope that helps x

You need to understand how serious preeclampsia can be! You and your baby are the priority please see that i was induced at 38 instead of 39 due to my bp being high and protein even after meds and was admitted that night and induced that night and if it happened again in this pregnancy i will go for the induction straight away as long as i was after 37 weeks

If you would like a csection I don’t see why they won’t allow that as there is a risk in induction causing a csection anyway xx

Update, I've been told it's not pre eclampsia it was borderline as protein levels weren't high enough so they're just classing as gestational Hypertension and I'm being allowed to go home today with a prescription and need regular BP monitoring

@Katie thats what they said mine was with my son not officially preeclampsia but they still induced me at 38 was in hospital every 2 days getting readings done hopefully it stays calm for you and baby xx

The only thing you can do is keep refusing, legally, they can’t force you to do anything so if you don’t consent to it there’s nothing they can do. You do have other options, you can opt for a c section instead of an induction. You could wait to go into spontaneous Labour but you would need to discuss the risks of this with them as pre eclampsia can be quite dangerous. But them saying there’s a ‘risk’ isn’t really good enough. They need to tell you the exact risk as in the numbers and percentages and be able to back that up with evidence. You can use the BRAINS acronym to make any decisions - benefits of doing something, risks of doing something, alternatives, instinct (what do you instinctually want to do, what does your gut tell you), what happens if you do nothing (I.e. if you continue with the pregnancy) and then second opinion (ask to speak to a different doctor). If you did a hypnobirthing course you could try to speak with the instructor and see if they can offer any help.

If you want a c section instead you just ask for one - they can’t make the decision for you and force you into an induction, it’s your choice.

@Harriet Rose thank you. The frustrating thing is I know all of this but until you're actually face to face with a doctor who is adamant you should accept an induction and are wrong for declining, having to have that conversation with them changes everything, I never thought I lt would come to that for me and I think I'm just a bit soft and not good at standing up for myself however I do feel like I did a good job of saying no yesterday, just felt like shit about it ever since and worrying about having to have the conversation again and again. I know the risks and benefits and the brain framework, I've also been practicing hypnobirthing through my entire pregnancy. I explained I don't want to go ahead with the risk of induction before my body is ready due to increased risk of intervention that may end in an unplanned section anyway.