To be induced or not?

Question

I am currently 40 weeks and 2 days, and my doctor said he will induce at 41 weeks if my daughter hasn't arrived by then. Is this safe? I mean, I know tons of people have been induced and it has been fine. But I also hear arguments against it. Should I just let the pregnancy go on until she is good and ready? I'm confused and just want to make the best decision possible. OB/GYNs in my area are notorious for wanting to induce pregnant ladies, because it gives them a more normal working schedule.

Thanks for any input/advice. :)

Answer 1

I've never seen any research that indicates any unusual risks to induction...it's actually quite common. If your due dates are fairly accurate, if they've been confirmed by ultrasound measurements for instance, then your baby is very capable of leaving the womb.

There are risks, however, to going too far over term. With proper diet and nutrition, women are having larger and larger babies on average. Today, babies between 7 and 8 pounds are common, whereas a few decades ago that would have been extraordinary. The longer the baby is allowed to go past term, the greater the risk of complications due to the baby's size...large baby, small opening. This was the case with our first child, and it was a very tense experience until we finally went for an emergency C-section.

It's possible that better scheduling of deliveries may play a small part, but I don't think that your doctor would put your child at risk if he/she didn't believe that it was safe to induce. Besides, I know of many cases (ours included) where the first or second induction was unsuccessful, or where induction occurred in the morning and the actual birth didn't happen until well past midnight. Every woman's body reacts differently to induction...it's really more art than science.

That being said, never be afraid to ask questions when you have concerns about your safety or your baby's safety. Ask them to explain the risks, both for inducing and for allowing the pregnancy to continue past 41 weeks. Ask them to confirm whether or not your baby has turned and dropped, such that there's no risk of a breech delivery. Get all the information you can before deciding...and remember that it's ultimately your decision. The doctor can make a recommendation, but they can't force you to induce if you're uncomfortable.

Answer 2

I am 35 weeks and fully plan to be induced. My husband works nights and I have a 3 year old at home. I don't want to go into labor in the middle of the night and have to wait on the ambulance ( we live out in the country).
As far as it being safe of not, I beleve that there are good and bad to both inducing and going over term. I was induced with my first. I was forty weeks and 4 days. It was kinda scary because when they broke my water, it was green from where he had already had a bowl movement in the womb and he had breathed that in. My doctor said that mostly happens when babies go over term.
I would rather be induced on time and know when baby is coming, but that's just my opinion.

Answer 3

Your uterus doesn't provide the same for your baby after 40 weeks. It is absolutely unnecessary for a pregnancy to continue after 40 weeks. I got this from my mother who is an OB/Gyn registered nurse and has been for over 15 years.

I had all four of mine induced (all for different reasons) and had no complications. The length of your labor has to do with the person more than the induction. The person above claimed long labors while all four of my children were born in less than 6 hours.

Answer 4

The baby will eventually come out on it's own when it's ready :)
BUT, I would take the induction. If that's what your doctor suggests, I'm sure he has good reasons for it.
The downside is that when it doesn't progress naturally, sometimes it can come on so strong that you can't prepare yourself for the pain and fast labour.
There are drugs for this, hehe! Epidurals are great things!
Dr probably doesn't want the baby to grow too large either, the last few weeks the baby is pretty much just fattening up, so he may want to avoid delivery of a large baby. Who knows. You can ask him why he feels it necessary.
My husbands grandmother says that there is no such thing as a due date. She said back in her day, babies came when they were ready..not before :) Sounds convincing !

Good luck with this and congrats on the baby! I'm sure everything will work out for the best.

Answer 5

I wouldn't have an induction unless there was a medical reason for it. Being slightly overdue, IMO, is ot one of those reasons. A term pregnancy could go as long as 42 weeks so I would wait at least that long.

Yes, inductions CAN be perfectly safe, but in your body isn't ready to deliver, a perfectly "safe" induction can become an emergency c-section. There are a lot of factors to consider, but the mild discomfort of being "overdue" pales in comparison to a c-section recovery if the induction doesn't follow the doctor's timetable.

Instead of opting for the medical induction, you can try some non-invasive things to try and bring on labor. If you go to http://www.beyondpregnancy.com/is_it_time.htm there are several sites at the bottom with natural induction techniques.

Keep in mind that NONE will work until your body is ready. They may stimulate contractions, but not full labor.

As for the doctors, stick to your guns. Don't let them scare you into anything. You are in charge of your body and your baby.

Answer 6

I would call and ask a different doctor in a different clinic and get a 2nd opinion. My mom's doctors got mad at her because she wouldn't let them induce her for me. I was due by the end of August. I didn't come until October 15th. So...it could be awhile. But there is no harm in letting her choose when she wants to come out.

And technically, they are going by the first day of your last period, not how long you've actually already been pregnant. But, ultimately, the choice is yours. And there is no harm in waiting.

Answer 7

I have been induced before and also I have a had a baby that went to the 41 week mark. Most doc. push for induction because they don't want the baby to get to big. Check with your doc and see what your risk are every ones are different.

Answer 8

Well, as you get passed your due date the chances of complications arises. In the end do what feel most comfortable for youand the safety of thechild. Then again, you mightnot need it.

I know scheduling it in paper sound ackward but is more convinient for everyone. You go to the hospital on the asign day and you have the baby. To me it sounds better than waing up in the midle of the night at 245am and having to run around like a maniac arisk your life driving to the hospital. It is less stress.

Answer 9

no get induced after 42 weeks they would do it anyways they do this as the placenta deteriates and has no more nutrition for baby and baby gets to big for the womb, induction is safe.you can even ask that they pop your water and if that doesnt induce the labour they will put an IV in you to get it induced or they can add cream to your vagina that works just as well as the IV

Answer 10

I agree with your last statement. Talk to your OB about the risks of carrying a baby over term and what the margine of error could be to your due date. Inductions hurt a lot more then regular labor. I had one with my son and I will have to be in serious medical jeapordy to have another.