to induce or not

[kateb85]

This is obviously a personal preference, but opinions are welcome. I'm 39 weeks and 3cm dilated, and feel pretty great. Today at my appointment my doctor suggested scheduling induction for next week when I'm 40 weeks. My husband and I are hoping for the baby to come earlier so induction isn't necessary, but my fear is that if I wait longer than 40 weeks, the baby will be just be getting bigger making delivery more labored. Thoughts?

[kateb85]

Thank you ladies for sharing your stories and input. I did some more research on it, and with your help I feel more confident about trusting my body to go into labor naturally when it's ready.
My doctor didn't say what their policy was on how long they would let me go before medical intervention, but I'll be sure to ask at my 40 week appointment. He also did not inform me of the higher risk of cesarean with induction, he just made it sound like it was a common practice of theirs to induce as early as 39 weeks if the mother wanted that option, (Which I found a little odd, considering the risks you mentioned). Again, thank you, your comments are appreciated. :)

[xktxcx]

I was induced woth my first for medical reasons and my labour was a terrible experience compared to my second which was all natural. When I was induced I ended up with the epidural and had to have a forceps delivery. I would never agree to induction unless absolutely necessary.

[Tavie615]

I had to get induced at 37 weeks with my son. My water broke and I wasn't having contractions at all. I ended up getting 2 doses of pitocin because the first dose didn't work. But 20 minutes after the 2nd dose my baby was here. I feel if you can do it without induction, do it. If not, there's nothing wrong with getting a little help along the way. Oh and I did it with no pain meds. The contractions are hard, but with my experience, that was the quickest labor experience I've ever gone through! LOL....... Good luck and remember, you know your body and what would work best for you.

[lousie_1986]

Does seem a bit silly he's suggesting induction at 40 weeks... Full term is 37 to 42 weeks, It's like he's just chopping off 2 weeks of healthy waiting time for no reason. I'm a pretty small, skinny girl who birthed a 10lb 4oz first baby... I don't know that labour was any worse because of the size, I thought it all went very well. My body could handle it fine :) I'd much rather have a big baby than have my body forced into a pretty dramatic process that it's not ready for (with higher risks to mother and baby)...

[LynxLove]

It comes down to do YOU trust your body? Do you trust that for centuries women have trust their bodies to know when to start labor and it has worked. We have the advantage of modern medicine to help us(if you want) once our bodies have decided our babies are ready. Estimate due dates are not an experation date, and range from 38w to 42w. The current recommendations state higher monitoring after 40w, but not to induce until 42w.

What is your Doctor's practice policy in terms of how long they are willing to let you go with monitoring?

[reagansmommy14]

Your doctor should tell you that it doesn't always work and could end up with doing a c section.they should only suggest it if you are favorable ie effaced 100 and dialiting. I had it done at 41weeks I had a great experience. Once they came in to break my water I started dialiting really fast! I probably could have gone with out an epidural ,but it was my first time and I didn't take any breathing classes .eventually they asked me did I want a duola and I got my epi which slowed everything down. But in all I just regret no experiencing the whole water breaking on its own thing

[Adele86]

My doula said to refuse induction absolutely, she says it's and unnatural pain and most woman tear up because the contractions and your body's responses do not line up, also another of women who are induced have to get a cesarean because their bodies don't respond properly.

[MommyDiamond]

Induction isn't bad because I had it done with my last and will also have it done again in 2 weeks but I feel like you are pretty much at your 40 week mark and should just see if you can go into labor naturally

[jen0221]

Plenty of babies go over the due date. The date given is only an estimate. The problem with inductions is that they don't always work. Once you are given pitocin, you are then considered high risk and if you don't progress as fast as your doctor would like, you will then require a cs. The problem is that if your body isn't ready, it won't go into labor. That is why the rate of cs is so high with inductions. Obviously it doesn't happen to everyone, but it happens more frequently than your ob is probably willing to admit. Your body knows what it is doing and the size of the baby isn't going to make a huge difference even in a week. I personally wouldn't let him/her scare me into an induction just because of size. I am 5'3" and small framed and have birthed 2 babies both over 8lbs no problem.

[mrsCarden]

I say no because I feel like it just makes you suffer more. I was induced and that baby still didn't want to come. Never dialated, cervix never thinned. Nothing. Ended up with a c section and now im always a c section. If it were me and you are dialating (I never do) I would want to wait for it to happen on its own and experience my water break or have a cool story of going into labor. Not going to a hospital and getting injections of crap until I was in total pain that led nowhere :(. Let me live vicariously through u lol I'm another scheduled c section (third baby) in July and so badly wish I would have just once experienced going into labor or water break etc. Good luck! Keep us posted on your decision!

[mw89]

My induction experience was terrible.  I also just felt bad that I chose my daughter's birthday.  But there is definitely a lot of horror stories out there about induction.

[proudmommytobe15]

Induction isn't always terrible. I was induced and had a wonderful experience. I was induced at 41 weeks

[b_june21]

I'm in the same spot, except I hit 40 weeks today. I have an appointment with my OB in the morning to schedule an induction in case I don't go into labor within the next few days. I'm comfortable with going to 41 1/2 weeks but my doc won't allow his patients to go past 41. I'll be 40 and 2-3 days when I'm induced.