Did you go past your due date? Did you doctor induce you?

Question

I am pregnant with my first baby. My doctor said she will induce me if I go more than one week past my due date! So if this baby isn't out by 41 weeks I will be induced. :(

I am wondering if other people have been told the same thing?

Did you go past your due date? Is so, did you doctor induce you?

Answer 1

If this is your first pregnancy, then your pregnancy will quite likely be longer. Usually, the first-time mom averages 8 days beyond her 40-week due date, if she is white and a private-care patient. (Women of color tend to have slightly shorter pregnancies, as do women not under private-insurance care, for whatever reason.) Your doctor will probably want to keep the traditional 40-week-from-LMP dating rather than change the date, but should be more flexible about not pressuring you into interventions before 42 weeks, assuming all is otherwise well. It is quite NORMAL for a first-time mom to go at least a week 'overdue' and pressure for interventions should probably not begin during that time! Try and sound out your health provider about when they think interventions should start to be considered; if they sound very interventionist you may wish to consider switching to a different care provider, depending on your philosophy. DON'T WAIT till you are 40 weeks along to consider the issue!

Answer 2

I was induced with my first after being 3 weeks overdue. (I had switched doctors in my first trimester and they just figured the first one must be wrong about the date!) There are a lot of good things about being induced. Your doctor generally picks a day that they'll be there! You may get to have your baby during daylight hours. The whole world can plan itself around your baby! (Just like it should) The worst part is that you are in the hospital for the entire delivery! Depending on your personality you might find comfort in that! Try not to worry about it too much. The baby will come when it comes and the particulars of how it makes its way into the world are no indicator of how good a mother you'll be or how tough you are.

My first two were induced. The 2nd ended in an emergency C-section. The next two were planned C-sections. I love them all the same and they all love me too! There births were all exciting and exhilirating because it's really all about seeing that little one!

From what I gather your Dr.'s opinion on when to induce is very, very common.

Answer 3

I went one week past my due date with my first, I was induced.With my second, I went 2 weeks past my due date and was not induced. My Dr got upset because I did not come in to be induced. I felt that the baby would come when it was time. Well I guess the placenta starts to deteriorate after so long and doesn't nourish the baby like it should. If I would have known about the placenta I would have been induced. Every one is fine. It all turned out OK. I did feel a bit guilty though.

Answer 4

A lot doctors will let a women go a week overdue some let a women go two weeks but most doctors wont let it go any further because the placenta starts to deteriorate after that.
With my first I was a week overdue, my doctor scheduled me for an induction (I would've been 1 week 3 days overdue) but that night I went into labor on my own. My second was born a day before hie due date. Don't worry honey. There are several ways to induce labor. Toward the end of pregnancy, the cervix (the opening to the uterus, or womb) gets soft. It may even open up a little. Your doctor will check to see if your cervix is getting soft and opening up. If it isn't, your doctor may put a medicine in your vagina near the cervix. The medicine helps your cervix get soft and open up.
Your doctor may also "break your water" or use a finger to separate your cervix from the membranes (tissues) around your baby's head. This often makes labor start.
Your doctor will watch you closely. When you're ready, your doctor will start giving you a medicine called oxytocin (one brand name: Pitocin). Oxytocin will start your contractions and help them to get strong and regular.

Answer 5

I was told that if I go past 2 weeks (not 1 like your doc told you) past my due date, then they would induce. This was my first baby. However, my water broke early (3 weeks prior to my due date) and they had to induce me. I even had a forceps delivery (vacuum thing, not the actual forceps they used to use). I would opt for scheduling a c-section before getting induced - just a personal thing. I went through about 34 hours of inducing labor and another 3 going through labor, so that's why.

But, I would wait until that time comes. Don't stress about it. It all turns out ok in the end.

Answer 6

The standard of care is to induce at 42 weeks, not 41, and that's what my doctor said he does.

The average for first-time moms is to be 8 days past their due date, and that's just the average!
If the baby is otherwise fine, then you can wait 2 weeks past your due date. This is your choice. After 2 weeks, there is a higher risk of a high-birthweight baby and meconium in the amniotic fluid.

He is jumping the gun and you don't have to agree to an early induction. Inductions are more painful than naturallly going into labor and are more likely to lead to a c-section.

Answer 7

Well, I was induced with the second child. It was no problem. I was a week or so overdue, but my doctor wasn't as eager to induce me as I was. I was totally tired of being pregnant, and I had a nine pounder. It is an individual thing, and you shouldn't worry about it. For all you know, the baby will be early. As well, the gestation time for humans is anywhere from 36 to 44 weeks. Your little one will come when it is time! Good luck!

Answer 8

I went ten days past my due date. I was booked in for an induction 13 days after my EDD.
I think a week is a little too soon for an induction especially as its your first, you are likely to go over your due date. Talk to your doctor more about it and remember you odn't ever have to be induced although it is safer for baby when you go past 2 weeks overdue.
An induced labour is more painful and more prone to complications.

Answer 9

it's standard to be induced when yuo're past your due date. Doctors usually don't let you go 2 weeks past the due date. It's healthier for baby and Momma!

i was induced 2 weeks early (just had a baby in dec), it went great. So don't be nervous! This way you know exactly when the baby is coming!

Answer 10

It sounds alot worse than it is. I had to get induced 3 days past my due date! In the end I knew why...My baby was 8.15lbs! If I waited any longer he could have been well into 10lbs. That would not have been a fun delivery. I was induced at 3am and didnt have my baby till 8pm! Basically you will be in labor longer than usual but it beats a C-Section anyday!