Inducing me for labor at 39 weeks?

Question

My OB doctor just informed me that no matter what, they induce all patients at 39 weeks. They said there is no reason to let a woman go past 40 weeks because it's harded to deliver the baby. I'm also diabetic and we want to avoid a huge baby. But, is inducing a week before 40 weeks safe? I never heard of this before and my mom thought it was ridiculous they are doing this...have you heard of this before?

Answer 1

I have never heard of them saying they "will" induce for anyone that is 39+weeks. I guess this is a matter of your doctors choice; however, you have a right as well and if you don't want to be induced they can't do it. The baby will come when he is ready and unless they see a medical problem they shouldn't be wanting to induce you. It is fine for a baby to be born after 40 weeks - this does not make them less healthy. I would really talk this over with family/friends and make sure it is what you want done.

Answer 2

If you are going to a high-risk pregnancy clinic because you are diabetic, this may be their practice. A general obstetrician with low-risk patients will not induce labor at 39 weeks no matter what. I did not have diabetes prior to my last pregnancy, but I did develop Gestational Diabetes. I was transferred to a high risk diabetic OB practice since I was also 38 years old. Their practice was to have their patients have a weekly non-stress test and ultrasound beginning at 32 weeks. At my appointment when I was 40 weeks, they said if I didn't go naturally into labor by the next week, they would begin by giving me a gel insertion to soften my cervix since I had not began dilating or effacing. I was 41 weeks when I went in for a vaginal check (still no dilating or effacement), had a non-stress test (baby was fine, but sleepy), and an ultrasound followed by the gel insertion. I had a bad reaction to the gel and began having 6 minute contractions and my baby's heart rate dropped dangerously low. They prepped me for pitocin drip, but a subsequent vaginal check showed I was dilating on my own so they didn't start the drip. I had the gel insertion at 1:00 PM with no signs of impending labor and our daughter was born at 7:39 PM!! Even though I was 1 week past my due date, my baby only weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces. They continually predicted at every ultrasound that she would probably be my biggest baby, she was really my smallest. So, not all babies born to diabetic moms are larger than normal, but there is a potential for that to happen. I would question if an induction is really needed if your baby is not too large. Express your desire to go into labor naturally if that is what you want. You do have a right to express your birthing experience desires but always be prepared that what you plan is not always what you get. I don't believe there is any danger to being induced at 39 weeks. Babies can come anytime between 37-42 weeks and still be considered full-term.

Answer 3

Well, it is safe as most women deliver between 38-42 weeks anyways. But, forhim to say all doctors induce women at 39 weeks is bull. I went straight to 40 weeks with my son and 42 weeks with my daughter. I went into labor by myself on the day they were going to induce me. Given that you're diabetic, I don't know the stats on pregnancies and induction rates but I know that non-diabetic women don't ALL get induced at 39 weeks unless there is a problem. They typically let you go 10-14 days past your due date before they induce.. but, it could just be that because you are diabetic,it may be common practice to induce at 39 weeks. I would ask your GP and maybe,just call a differen OB and ask over the phone what the typically do as long as there is no known problems with mom or baby, other than being diabetic. Good Luck, baby is coming soon!! Wishing you a fast and easy delivery!!!!!!

Answer 4

In the uk (where i am from..) they do not usually induce till between weeks 41 and 42.. Are you sure they are not inducing you a little early because of your diabetes?? I have heard that they will induce earlier with diabetes due to babies being larger.. Good luck, i'm sure it will be fine..
I am 39 weeks +1 day and i wish i could be induced, i am so tired of being pregnant.. LOL!! Xx

Answer 5

Find another doctor. Due dates are estimates only and many things can throw them off. The reason to "let" a woman go past any arbitrary cutoff is to deliver a healthy full term baby without the stresses of induction and the associated greater risk of c-section.

Aside from the idiocy of picking a date and inducing, I would never stay with a doctor of any specialty who tried to "inform me" of what he was doing to my body "no matter what" or spoke of "letting me" go into labor naturally. You are a patient, not a specimin in a lab, and I wouldn't trust him to respect you right to make informed birth choices in the future if he's trying to treat you this way now.

Answer 6

It's harder to deliver a full-term baby...?!?

I agree with your mother. Induction carries its own set of risks. Especially inducing on a whim well before term; due dates aren't a science, first pregnancies are 41 weeks and a day, and trying to induce somebody whose body is nowhere near going into labour naturally is just strange (if there aren't sound medical reasons for it).

There're good articles about it here:

http://hencigoer.com/articles/

I'd be not asking for a second opinion, but completely walking out the door to find a different doctor. (Or to find a midwife; they are extremely unlikely to be induction-happy.) It makes me wonder what other unnecessary and sometimes harmful interventions he does 'no matter what.' The 'Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth' --

http://hencigoer.com/betterbirth/

would be worth a read.

Answer 7

Mmm interesting. Although it is quite safe for a baby to be delivered at 39 weeks it's hard to understand why the doctor always induces at 39 weeks, have you considered a second opinion. I would go for one if I were you. Good luck hun.

Answer 8

That is normal. 39 weeks is completely safe, but If you dont want to be induced I dont see why it cant be your choice. I was induced at 38 with my second son and am looking to be induced by 39 weeks with this baby. My 4th. I had my 3rd son early at 34 weeks and he was completely healthy, breathing on his own, etc and went home with my 2 days after he was born, so 39 is completely a safe time to be induced.

Answer 9

Firstly, this may just be your doctors preferred method. But dont worry its perfectly okay to have a baby at 39 weeks. My oldest was taken C-section 8 days before his due date. And he has always been healthy & never affected in any way because he was a week early.
As to the delivering an ovedue baby... my third son was 2 weeks overdue here and he had to be emergency C-sectioned. He came out at a whopping 10 lbs. 7 oz. So overdue babies are definitely larger.. but probably not this big on the average. lol He definitely didnt fit out of my 5'6, small size frame body.

Answer 10

For my first child I was induced at 39 weeks and it had no ill effects on my baby. Are you dialated or effaced at all? I wasn't and ended up having a c-section.

You're baby is developed enough to survive outside the womb at 21 weeks.

It sounds ridiculous to your mother because people weren't blaming doctors for issues like cerebal palsy back when she was having kids. Now a days people will sue a doctor for any little imperfection. At the first slightest suggestion there might be something wrong doctors are performing c-sections just to avoid lawsuits.