why is it more moms opt for inducing labor?

[bekabugg90]

Why in todays workd are more moms optting to induce labor when they hit the exact 40 week mark? I do know that people say the amniotic fluid stop receiving so many nutrients after that. But really that happens two weeks after the 40 week mark.
So why are more moms pushing drugs into their babies just to have them born on their exact due date?
When my baby wants to come out, she will come out. If its a medical reason, ill allow to be induced. But im not inducing my labor to fit a drs or my own schedule of my baby being born.

[sprmom87]

With my second I agreed to be induced because mycervix was completely closed still and the ultrasound was showing the placenta was starting to stop functioning properly, but I was well over my due date. With my current pregnancy since when I do go into active labor my prior two have lasted under 2 hours, my dr is worried I wont even make it to the hospital, and due to medical issues, unrelated to pregnancy, it would be too dangerous to risk that happening...but I am only 20 wks so I am just gonna wait and see how it looks once I am much closer to my due date

[thepenguinsrock]

I had no choice my last baby was 2 weeks late I had a trapped sciatic nerve and spd which was causing me so much pain I was struggling to look after my older 2 kids who were 3 and 4, plus I had strep b to worry about. lol would ever choose to be induced I'll always wait until it's the final option.

[mege26]

I think the drs are just as guilty. They like having things scheduled. I feel like by the time my kids have kids or grandkids have kids... They will talk about how women used to have babies naturally out of their vaginas. Look at the food we eat, nothing is natural. It's all about convenience.

[beckyy28]

Honestly I don't think it's a matter you or some other mothers need to discuss. You have no idea what's going on with them and who are you to judge? Grow up and stop trying to start another debate.

[infringe]

With this baby, if she doesnt come before my due date, my ob is inducing me. I have to travel for a court appearance less than a week after my due date, which is over two hours away, and for safetys sake he doesnt want me going into labor while im that far away from the hospital. I will be waiting until after my due date though, so she will be fully cooked.

[LoriBee]

I'm Canadian.  It's not a business here.  Or at least not in the same way.  We pay for our healthcare through our taxes and the government pays the doctors. Also I don't need to pay to deliver my baby nor the hospital stay (unless I want a semi private/ private room which is covered by private health insurance through my husbands work )

I would never judge someone for using a midwife but it's silly to think that there is ANY way to give birth that is 100% risk free.  

[kprince2]

With my daughter I was induced the day before my due date. I had been sick with hyperemesis for my entire pregnancy. After two pic lines numerous hospital stays I was completely exhausted.  I had nothing left to give and my doc was actually one the recommend it to me because she knew all no had gone through. So although everyone is free to have their own opinions I would not judge just based off the word induction. Unless you walk in someone's shoes you will never know there reasons behind it, or if they tell you like we are :-). But I am all for waiting, but past 40weeks in my book is just too much for me.  I have been just as sick with this one hospital, pic line the works. If I get the option for induction at any point after 38weeks i will take it faster than they can say the word. Why? Because I chose to.

[TA283]

My cervix won't cooperate so I'm being induced at 41+3 tomorrow. With my first I went the full 42 weeks and didn't have contractions at all near the end, plus my cervix refused to dilate and had to be opened with that balloon catheter thing.
In this case, I started having contractions St. Patrick's day, but now I only have several a day and my cervix won't go past 2.75 dilation. I can hardly stand/walk anymore and it's always hard to breathe. I went up and down the stairs (3 flights) twice last night and I was almost in tears. I can't do dishes anymore because I can't stand long enough.
I suspected that my cervix might give me trouble again but I'm hoping that since I've had contractions it will be easier. It took a day and a half with my first.

[NavyMomTX]

Babies are a business! Dr's want that 9-5 mon-fri and off weekend sched. Thats why they push to induce and push for c-sections. They want to go home. We have to start doing more research and just saying "no" to the foolishness. Think about it. I women is induced and end up in labor for 29hrs... lol. Who's to say that's not when the baby was planning on coming out anyway? So, now you just drugged your kid for what? Also, some dr's will induce a woman and after 12hrs of labor push for a cseaction. Why? They're trying to get out! No...! The minimum hospital price is $30, 000 to have a kid. For all that money, make them wait! I support midwives! No pressure for drugs and the minimum price is $7, 000. It's ridiculous how the medical field has become a business.  Sorry...rant over. Lol

[Weand3]

I was induced with both of my sons and both times it was medically necessary. With my oldest I was leaking fluid and didn't know. I would have had a dry birth if I hadn't induced then and I was 2 days past my due date. With my last son, his heart rate kept dropping during a l&d visit. I had no choice but to induce. He was a week early which wasn't bad at all. This time around I'm hoping my water breaks on it's own but if it doesn't I'll be talking to my doc about inducing me. I'm a healthy woman and my baby is healthy, I'm 38+ weeks at this point. I personally just refuse to risk having to have a c-section because I can't afford the downtime associated with it. I have a 2 year old to care for.

[cnj76]

I was induced with both pregnancies. I understand the risks and concerns. But it's ultimately a decision between the patient and doctor. For whatever reason, you should always know the risks. But there are risks too, however, going past your due date. Everyone needs to be informed on making their own decisions with their doctor. I don't regret it in either situation. I have two healthy children. There is a possibility of a 3rd induction but, it's just a wait and see what happens thing. I have my own reasons. Along with my doctors.

[ILMamaOf3]

I didn't "opt" for my induction, it was medically necessary for my son. His cord was wrapped around him 3 times - twice tightly around the neck and once around his abdomen, I had too much water in my sac and his heartrate had been erradic during 2 non stress tests a week apart from each other. I got induced the day before my due date. I would have given him all the time he needed to get here on his own but I'm afraid I would've been delivering him past full term and most likely stillborn.

No matter what, its each woman's choice if the dr gives the option. I won't judge or question a woman's choice, I'm not in her shoes. Besides, its her risking ending up in a csection, not me.

[LoriBee]

Personally I was induced at 37+6 with my son because I have health issues.  For the last week of my pregnancy I was in excruciating pain I was also experiencing a lot of anxiety which my OB feared would start to affect my son. The day before my induction I lost my birth plug and was already 3cm dialated on my own before they started the drip.  

Aside from that my particular doctor does not let his patients go past  40 +3. He outlines his guidelines at his first appointment with you.  

In my case my body just couldn't go the distance with my son.  I'm hoping I can go into labour on my own this time.  Other than that I think every woman has a right to do with her body what she sees fit and her doctor feels is safe for her and her baby

[LoriBee]

Personally I was induced at 37+6 with my son because I have health issues.  For the last week of my pregnancy I was in excruciating pain I was also experiencing a lot of anxiety which my OB feared would start to affect my son. The day before my induction I lost my birth plug and was already 3cm dialated on my own before they started the drip.  

Aside from that my particular doctor does not let his patients go past  40 +3. He outlines his guidelines at his first appointment with you.  

In my case my body just couldn't go the distance with my son.  I'm hoping I can go into labour on my own this time.  Other than that I think every woman has a right to do with her body what she sees fit and her doctor feels is safe for her and her baby

[coachsymons]

I went almost two weeks over before being induced. They thought the baby was huge and didn't even want me reaching my due date.

[SonoTech55]

I would never allow myself to go past my due date. The risk of meconium aspiration sky rockets past the 40 week mark and, in my book,  it's simply not worth the risk.  The situation would be different if,  for example,  a women was unsure of her dates or something and the due date is just an estimate.  But for someone with a normal cycle and a concise due date,  going past 40 weeks is risky.

[AshleyAnn9608]

I asked to be induced with my first.  It was right on the due date. And no it was not for medical reasons....but don't be so quick to judge people, there may be underlying stories that you are unaware of. For instance my grandpa died (was like my dad since my real dad passed when I was young) sept 4th. His funeral was sept 8th. My sons due date was sept 6th. So on my dr appt sept 6th it was either induce and get out of the hospital in time for the funeral or possibly go into labor at a later time and miss it. I chose for induction that afternoon, baby came at 11:45pm and I left the hosp on sept 8th in the morning and went straight to his funeral. I was very happy with my decision,  my grandpas wish was to meet his first great grandchild and even though he was not able to, he was there in attendance at his funeral.

[dyliciousmama]

I need to be induced because he's laying on a nerve that causes my right side of my body to go numb and not work. It's horrifyingly painful too

[brit333]

I agree it depends on the situation and some times it's necessary for health reasons and risks to mom and baby. But i also agree I think too many women get impatient and feel like getting it over with is the only option because they are sick of being pregnant or to tired and uncomfortable rather than waiting it out which is best for baby. And sometimes it's the Dr that just wants to move on to the next patient or has personal plans coming up they want to get it over with which is wrong!! They do start monitoring you and baby much more past the 40 weeks but drs have changed their perspective on pregnancy and consider a baby born between 37 and 42 weeks full term. Is not until after 42 weeks that a baby is technically considered late. My daughter was also born 13 days past her due date but I know she needed the extra time to cook cuz she was so little!! I was honestly ok with being that far over due because my Dr had me and my baby in his best interest. He actually came right or and said at 40 weeks I'm not inducing you!! without me even asking about it.

[YoungLadyDay14]

Do women opt to get induced? I didn't ever choose to be induced. My 1st I was scheduled to be induced bcuz at the end of my pregnancy my baby stopped growing & they were concerned. I end up not getting induced bcuz she came on her own 3 days b4.  

This pregnancy again, I will be scheduled to be induced at 39 weeks if nothing happens by 38 weeks. Im not opting to be induced, but bcuz I have a cervical cerclage and an insufficient cervix they will induce. I like to stick to the most natural way & least amount of drugs as possible.

My cousins baby was allowed to go almost 2 weeks past her due date & it caused more complications. It can be dangerous to go to far over as well. I just think every situation is different.

[asmith21488]

Childcare issues...i have to have a csection which works cuz i know the exact date so ill have someone for my child...and because its their choice, their baby...

[luka_n_baby2]

There are some legit excuses I guess. But a lot of women are just selfish and want their baby out because they are uncomfortable or tired... I was 2 weeks past with my son when my water finally started to break. In the end I still had to have pitocin because I wouldn't dailate... to each their own I guess!