Would you ask to be induced?

Question

I had a doctor's appt this morning-- I'm 39 weeks, 1 day. I'm normally a very active person, and this pregnancy is just getting increasingly uncomfortable and frustrating, and i'm very anxious to meet my daughter! I've been 2 cm dilated/almost fully effaced for 4 appts now. The days are dragging by so incredibly slowly. Today is my last day at work,[I'm getting too tired to stay much longer] so each day that goes by without the baby is a day of "wasted" leave.

My doctor set up an appt for next thursday, at which point I'll be one day overdue. She said she doesn't routinely just induce everyone, but smiled and said she could "be convinced" if I was "miserable".

It's incredibly tempting for a thousand reasons, but I worry I'll regret it during labor. . . since they SAY its more painful/longer.

What would YOU do? Have you ever been induced? Thoughts/experience? I'm driving myself nuts.

--- just to add--- i'm not going to ask to be induced between now and my next appt. I would wait until I was 40 weeks, 1 day. I'm just hoping I go before then so i dont have to ask! (also this is a first baby, and everyone keeps saying, "Oh, I was 2 weeks late with my first!" I know i can make it to the due date....but 2 weeks after that?)

Answer 1

I would do it in a heartbeat! I'm miserable and uncomfortable too (but unfortunately only 35 weeks pregnant)!! If my doctor could be "convinced" I would have flash cards and a powerpoint presentation for her!!

Good luck!

If you're doctor is comfortable with it, then that's all that should matter. People on her don't have the medical knowledge to judge your decisions...this is up to you and your physician!

Answer 2

Having 3 boys I understand how you are feeling right now. It is very hard near the end of a pregnancy and the waiting can drive you nuts!

I was induced for 1 of my boys. It was because my water broke but I never went into labor. Thus, it was medically necessary. Both ways (induced or not) are painful and about the same. One was not easier than the other in my case. Each subsequent labor for me was shorter than the previous so I cannot say whether or not you would have a long or short labor. I was induced for baby #2 so it was still shorter than #1 so for me inducing didn't affect the length of time.

When you are induced (at least my experience) they start an IV, and in about 30 minutes you are in labor quick and hard. And I do mean quick and hard! There is no "easing" into it in induction. Every 30 minutes the doctor comes in and ups the med to put you into harder labor. Be prepared for this and discuss it thoroughly with your doctor. I had no medictions for any child and felt everything so I can honestly say either way is painful. Do not be discouraged by this, I am just trying to be 100% honest...and remember you will have a beautiful baby after a few hours of working! It's the best thing in the world!

If the doctor is willing, and you are willing, then I see no reason why you shouldn't. This is YOUR decision mom! :) Good luck and God bless.

Answer 3

I was induced with my first son - after he was 10 days late. I know the waiting is agony, and you're tired and uncomfortable, but I would wait a little longer if possible (and if your doctor is in agreement).

My induction took over 24 hours - I was hooked up to a monitor the majority of the time (so I couldn't move around and help with the labor process), and after 16 hours I decided to get an epidural because of the sheer discomfort and exhaustion. However, this slowed down my labor even more. Finally, the doctors were able to break my water (the baby was too high up before that, and there was a fear that if they broke my water before he could get lower that the umbilical cord would prolapse) and then there was the 3 hours of pushing. I was exhausted - I had been up for over 36 hours and kept falling asleep in between contractions/pushing.

All in all, I am happy I had a vaginal delivery and the outcome was good - but it was a grueling process. Since I was 10 days late, I would recommend that you hang in there as long as you can, and maybe explore safe options that may help move labor along (sex, certain foods, etc.) Why not check out various old wives' tales to see if they really work (provided they are deemed safe by your doctor).

Best of luck to you!!!

Answer 4

Trust me, I totally understand wanting to hurry up and give birth.... my first was 10 days late, talk about torture! But getting induced when your body is not ready is like the baby ramming against a brick wall as my doctor said. You are increasing your odds of needing a C-section. I think too many doctors go ahead and do inductions because it helps babies be born at a "convenient time" for them - i.e., they're not getting called in the middle of the night to deliver. Unless there is an issue with the baby, I'd wait it out.

I ended up getting semi-induced - my water had broke, but then never had contractions or dilated further. I got pitocin to induce labor, and it was horrible. I had a 30+ hour labor, with an epidural that wasn't workign right, etc....

My sister also insisted on getting induced, and she had a 2 day labor, and ended up hemorraging after giving birth and it was very dangerous.

I guess alls well that ends well, we both had healthy babies, but why risk it? Good luck and I'll be saying prayers you go on your own soon!!!!

Answer 5

I've had 5 kids and only one was induced. The pains were much worse..I refused an epidural as I usually progress very fast (first labor was less than 5 hrs and only about 2 were really uncomfy) I walked around for over 2 weeks slowly dilating. At 4 cm there is apparently some sort of infection risk increases. I had already made 2 trips to the hospital with false labor....it was a mutual decision. REALLY disliked it and the after pains were much worse than the earlier 2 kids had been.

Walk, sex (yeah, LAST thing on your mind), glass of wine...

Answer 6

I'm in the exact same position... every day at work gets harder and harder, but I hate to quit before baby gets here, because that's just less time I'll have with him before I go back to work. I'm 39 wks, 2 days...next thursday I go back, and I'll be 2 days past my due date!! He said if everything is still the same (I'm 1cm, 80% effaced--for 4 weeks) he will induce me Friday... I really just want him to come on his own, but I can't stand the idea of waiting any longer past my due date! I am going to let him induce me, should the baby not come naturally between now and next thursday. This is my first child so I can't say I have any experience, but a lot of ladies I work with say being induced isn't WORSE pain, the pain just comes quicker-- kind of like it skips the first "easy" stage of labor... I wish you luck though!

Answer 7

Everyone is different, so it is hard to say whether your labor would be worse or not. I was induced with my first, and had a really easy labor, and the pain wasn't bad at all. with my second I went into spontaneous labor (my water broke at home) and it hurt a lot worse than my first,plus we almost didn't make it to the hospital in time, even though we live 5 min away. Induction isn't a bad thing, and if you are miserable then that usually means your baby is miserable too, so induction may be your best bet.

Answer 8

You wont regret it at all. Either way you are going to have to deliver the baby. You will have to go through the same thing as someone that goes into labor naturally. You still will have to option for an epidural if the pain is too severe. If you are worried about the medication you can try to induce labor at home. A little sex with the Mr., maybe a long walk (if you can), some spicy food.

To drive the point home, a labor that is induced feels the same as a natural labor.

Answer 9

I probably would since I have asked to be induced before. I know people say you should wait and that its better for the baby but I was miserable. (My doctor let me be induced 2 weeks early) As for being longer... that may be true they induced me at about 7 or 8pm and wanted me to sleep. My son was out by 5 the next day. Pushing was easy it was only 3 pushes. The worst part was the watiting and listening to my husband complain about how he was bored. I didn't feel any pain except for some lower back ache but thats because I got an epidural pretty much right after they induced me. You don't have to wait if you're being induced. I was so glad I was induced. I'm hopeing I can convince my new doctor with my current baby.

Answer 10

Personally...i would be ALL for it!!! Im 38 weeks and 4 days pregnant and i have been begging for almost 2 weeks now to set up a date to be induced. haha I HATE being pregnant....and since im 38 weeks i know that all wuold be well with the baby if he were born now. Although some say it is more painful when you get induced...when is birth NOT painful? Honestly now..haha So im willing to put up with the "extra" pain i suppose if i can just have my baby out. Otherwise i feel like i just waste my days sitting here at home because i dont have a baby to take care of but i dont have the energy to do anything else. And gee..i would take a nap to "Get the energy" but...sleep..your kidding right? I haven't seen sleep in weeks!!!!


So yes. I personally would go for it! Your lucky..i wish my doctor would offer me induction!

Answer 11

I wouldn't induce unless it was completely necessary and recommenrded by your Dr for your babies health. I know that the meds they give you to induce can put the baby to sleep which is why the labor is longer and more complicated.Also 1st time pregnancies are usually longer since your due date is just an estimate not accurate.

FYI.
My husband was induced and he fell asleep his mom almost passed because of this. She had never had any complications with any of her other children but decided she wanted to induce since she was already at the hispital..She regreted it. Might add my husband spent a good amount of his first days in the hospital after that too.