My doctor wants to schedule me for induction-as she does all her patients, i am 39 weeks 2 days, is this safe?

Question

To Earl E Morningwood, I was looking 4 opinions not smart *** comments or a medical diagnosis.
To everyone else thank you so much for your comments. I just came from the Doc today and she told me that she wants to Induce me on my due date and when I asked why she said it is routine and she schedules all of her patients for induction because it is not safe to carry pass your due date. She never mentioned this in all the time I have been going to her. I began to get a little nervous thinking about it on the way home.

Answer 1

If she's inducing all her patients then she is a lazy OB/GYN that cannot be bothered with having to play catcher for a baby on her precious weekends.

Answer 2

Is this your first baby? The average length of pregnancy for a first baby is 41 weeks, not 40 like everyone thinks. I had a doctor (it's a practice; different one every week) who, at 37 weeks, told me she wanted to schedule me for induction at 39 weeks because she thought I wouldn't make it to my due date and I might not get to the hospital in time (I live 15 minutes from the hospital...I should *be* so lucky as to have a 15 minute first labor). The last three doctors I've seen at my weekly visits have said there's no need whatsoever to induce.
Yeah, I'm at 41 weeks exactly right now, and still pregnant. Babies usually know when to come out. If you're really concerned, ask for a BPP (biophysical profile) (essentially, a more in-depth ultrasound). That will tell you whether conditions warrant an induction, as the placenta can start to degrade after 42 weeks (assuming that all of your dates are pin-point accurate, though, this shouldn't be a concern for a while). As long as the baby is healthy, growing, and receiving enough oxygen (all able to be told by a bpp), then there's no need to induce, barring any medical complications you might have (high blood pressure, cephalopelvic disproportion (they'll just do a C-section for that, anyway), etc.)

Answer 3

Although inducing a birth carries a bit more risk than allowing the mother to go into labor naturally, it is considered safe and necessary in some circumstances. My looming question is, why does she want to schedule your induction? Do you live a long way from the hospital or have some concerns about arriving in time? Is she going out of town, with no coverage in case you begin labor? Are there health concerns that would indicate the need to deliver your baby without allowing you to go into labor naturally?

I don't mean to cause you distress, but I am a little concerned at the trend of doctors to induce labor at their convenience. Your baby is most likely mature enough to be born if the dates are all correct, but why rush it? I had a doctor tell me that a day in utero is like 3 days out, with concerns to the babe's growth and maturation. I had to have c-sections and I could have chosen when to deliver, but took his advice and waited until after my predicted due date. It's tempting to jump on the first opportunity, but is it really the best for the baby?

To summarize, unless there is a reason to induce, such as health concerns of you or your baby, I see no reason to ask for problems. Chances are that the baby is mature enough at 39 2/7 weeks and you would progress without problems, but there is at lease some percent of a greater likely-hood of the delivery not progressing as anticipated and ending up as a c-section. C-section deliveries are quite common these days and are sometimes the better decision but they do require a longer recovery and carry the typical risks of any major surgery.

Remember that you are in charge of your own health and decisions. Gather as much information as you can and then make an informed choice. You are the boss. I applaud you for questioning this in the first place.

Good luck and God bless you and your much anticipated family.

After reading your update, I must say that her reasoning is weak, if not completely false. Many people carry past their due date. 2 of my 3 children were born at least a week past their EDC. The other was a scheduled c-section at 39+ weeks, because I was gestational diabetic and a mature, 36 year old, mom. It is unsafe to go WAY past your due date, but natural labor +- a week is less risky than an induction. Even with all the tests we have today, you can't see inside to know EXACTLY where the baby is at developmentally. With her history of inducing all (or most of) her patients, I do suspect that she is scheduling for convenience, something unfortunately becoming common with Obstetricians these days. Sadly, sometimes it's even about money, so that they are on shift when you deliver.

Trust your heart in this, and enjoy your experience.

Either way, I wish you well.

Answer 4

I'm nonetheless pregnant with my first however I simply desired to mention well good fortune! I wish the whole lot is going good! Oh and early congratulations! I'm splendid jealous considering the fact that I'm 32 weeks and I'm so capable to have this child already. I want I used to be days clear of hard work/supply! Want to change locations? LOL! =P It's a well signal that your frame is cleansing itself out and stuff, that by and large method hard work may be very close! I'm being precipitated at 39 weeks for scientific causes except I pass on my possess earlier than that, which at this factor I believe I would. You'll need to hold us up to date and put up your start tale afterwards!

Answer 5

Hmm...seriously, I'd be a little leery if my doctor told me that. It seems to me that your doctor is doing this more as a convenience for herself than the safety of you and your baby. What if she calculated your due date wrong? What if your baby, for some reason, really needs that extra week or two? I think she's just trying to avoid a middle-of-the-night run to the hospital on a Saturday night when your labor begins naturally. At this point in your pregnancy, it's entirely too late to switch doctors. Can you talk with her and ask her to at least let you go a week past your due date? If she's concerned the baby is large, tell her to do a brief ultrasound and measure the baby. They're not completely accurate, but you'd get a rough idea. This is crazy. I've never met your doctor, but I really don't like her, lol!

Answer 6

The only reasons for inducing labor is for medical necessity on behalf of the patient or baby, or because labor really has gone on too long (a week past the due date at the very least.) Your practicioner is way off base in recommending that you be induced on your due date, unless there are other complications I do not know about. The due date is merely an estimate, not a set-in-stone day of arrival.

Honestly, I would be leery of any doctor who tells you it is unsafe to carry past your due date. I would recommend checking her credentials.

Also, ask your doctor if you or your baby are in any harm that she hasn't alerted you to. If she says no, I personally would not let her induce until at least a week after the due date (with regular fetal monitoring, of course.)

Good luck with everything, and Blessings!

Answer 7

The risk of having a c-sec is at least doubled for an induction. Also most people say an induction is agony compared with a natural birth. There is a risk of uterine rupture. Also your baby is more likely to have jaundice if you are induced. Pitocin is known to cause jaundice.

Answer 8

No...it is not routine to induce. Tell her that you would rather wait. You want to have your baby on your schedule...not when its good for her. They won't let you get past 42 weeks. If there are no complications now, tell her that you's rather wait it out. I had an induction at 39 weeks...due to medical reasons...at it was awful.

Answer 9

whats the reason for the induction in the first place? 39 weeks and 2 days along you still have a week to go. They usually wont induce unless your baby is way past his/her due date..

Answer 10

Induction is safe, yes. They will start you on pitocin to start your uterus to contract. They may also insert a gel into your cervix to soften it and make you dilate.
Why does your doctor induce all of her patients? It seems a little strange. Good Luck. Happy Pushing

Answer 11

It is safe for you to have your baby now. As long as all the other tests have shown a healthy fully developed baby. Good luck and don't worry. I was induced when I had my son. He is now almost 8. They say, you are safe to deliver around 36 weeks. Good luck