Should I agree to be induced?

Question

I am 4 days past my due date, I am dilated 1cm (don't know the effacement) and was clocked at having contractions 5 minutes apart on the monitor. However, these contractions feel like menstrual cramps (not the big labor contractions) and they have taken nearly two weeks to go from 15 minutes to 5 minutes apart. My mother and sister have a history of days of prolonged latent labor with no progress and were forced to have their water broken to get things moving, so my OBGYN would like to induce me 8 days past my due date if I don't get going with active labor soon.

I keep reading all these horror stories about being induced. Should I agree to this, or let nature take it's course?

Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Yes

Answer 2

I guess I'll be the minority here but I'd say wait and only get induced as a last resort due to medical necessity.
I'm an OB nurse. I've given birth via induction (Pitocin) and I've given birth naturally with labor starting on it's own. Contractions via induction hurt a lot worse than natural contractions. I know this because during one birth, labor started on it's own & I had regular contractions. Then the Dr put in a huge dose of Pitocin and it was unbearable.

You are only 4 days past due date. But due dates are ONLY an estimation. Placentas will work under normal circumstances without any problem for up to 42 weeks. Your Dr. will continue checking your baby's growth and activity and won't let you go too long, so don't worry about it.
Personally, I'd give it a few more days before you even consider it.
But also know, if you're in the hospital having an induction, you'll probably get an epidural. And if you can't feel anything, it won't really matter if the contractions are more painful.
having an induction isn't the most horrible thing in the world but if all is healthy and well, wait a few days and see if nature takes it course.
Walking, stairs, sexual activity and nipple stimulation have all been known to kick start labor, too. So you might consider trying those as well.


This site has some good info about induction, coping with labor, etc - http://www.peacefulbeginnings.org/Peaceful_Beginnings

Good luck to you and your new baby!

Answer 3

I think you should follow your own instincts. You know your body and your family history. And you know the type of birth you want to have. Of course, you should take your doctor's advice into consideration, but you need to be comfortable with your decisions.

I would ask questions like, "What if I am not induced 8 days after my due date?", "What kind of complications might occur if I am induced?", "Is there a risk to me and/or my baby in either scenerio?", etc.

My doctor advised that I be induced two weeks after my due date. I was fine with this decision (I hadn't dilated at all and had no contractions, so it didn't seem imminent in the least). I had no complications resulting from the induction, and I went into active labour fairly quickly. I did end up having to have a c-section, but that was only because my baby was very large (10 lbs 4 oz) and wouldn't come out after being fully dilated and pushing for three hours. :)

There are also some homeopathic and herbal things you can try, like raspberry tea, evening primrose and blue/black cohosh. A friend of mine was recently a few days overdue, tried this and went into labour within hours.

Best of luck and congratulations on being so close to being a new mom.

Answer 4

I would not let them induce me unless the baby was showing signs of distress.

The thing with induction is that the contractions come on hard and fast but your body is still just simply not ready to push the kid out, so you can ly there in total transition labour and only be dialated a couple cm.

Sometimes it has to be done if the baby is in distress or something. If you have to, have to get induced, get an epidural so it isnt as painful.

Getting your water broken isnt so bad, at least it wasnt for me. My labour prgoressed okay, I was fully dialated but my water didnt want to break, once they broke it, out came the kid.

Sometiems I wonder how doctors, who have taken so much time learning about the human body, have, what sometimes seems to be, little faith when it comes to child birthing. It is like they always want to induce and rip women open to get kids out.

Sometimes, bodies dont work they way they are supposed to and there is a neccessity to induce. But I think most of the time doctors want to induce just to be on the safe side or something. Interogate your doctor though, that might be best. My opinoins on this subject might very well be ignorant of some important stuff.

Answer 5

If you are that close, being induced will be no problem. I would totally do it. My doctor induced me at 38 wks, and it went well. I was actually already in labor that day, so it just helped it along. I was only in labor 5 hours (1st baby) and no problems at all. Better to get it over with than be miserable and have a long and painful labor! Good luck!

Answer 6

I just had my son in Sept and i had to get induced and everything went well...if you felt like you were having period cramps instead of contractions like labor contractions then you probably were just experiencing braxton hicks....i got induced and everything was fine...it's not safe for you to be more than 42 weeks pregnant which is two weeks over due so it's better to just go ahead and get induced, also your baby can have his/her's 1st bowel movement while still inside you which isn't good so i would advice you to just go ahead and do what you have to do, it's gonna go by so fast don't worry about it it's really not as bad as it seems, good luck.

Answer 7

I would hold off on the induction until 9-10 days over but if things haven't happenned by then I'd do it.

Being induced is not so bad. Its not pleasent but then nothing about labour is!
I was induced by oxytocin drip with my first and had my waters broken with my third after labour had started slowly.
It meant the labours were really intense and painful but thats what drugs are for right?
Nature is ideal but the doctors are pretty good at what they do and they'll do want to do what's best for the baby.

Answer 8

I have been induced twice, and I don't have a single horror story. It went fine both times.

Your placenta starts breaking down once your 40 weeks are over. The baby can start to suffer 14 days post due date. That's why to doc wants to induce.

Answer 9

Well i guess the decision is entirely up to you, however i was induced two weeks early with my son due to high blood pressure and retaining alot of water, however everything went quite well... i suggest doing it, but if you are already dilated and are having contractions, i don't think it will be too much longer til your holding the little bundle of joy in your arms... Take care and congratulations!!

~CHEERS!!~

Answer 10

First of all let me tell you that it is a personal choice ... but if your life or your baby 's life is in danger do you really have the choice...I have been through almost the same and i even fell the induction i had no choice but to accept a c- section. Well does the doctor tell you that it is dangerous to wait? if not if you feel like ,you can wait... I think you know that it is ok to be late even 2 weeks is not a problem...
Good luck and may God be with you!

Answer 11

I think if the doctor decides to induce you, its for a good reason. Do they even give you a choice? I don't know. But I was induced cuz the doctor said it was best for me and my baby. If you have a choice...i guess the choice is yours. Good Luck and Congratulations.