38 weeks and 2 days...?

Question

I'm 38 weeks and 2 days today. I've got a doctor's appointment tomorrow. My due date is June 16th, about 12 days away. I'm so incredibly uncomfortable! My ribs feel like they are all broken in half! I'm going to ask my doctor to set an inducement date tomorrow, I'm just wondering if anyone has been induced early and if they will induce you before your due date. (I have a friend that gave birth in February and she was induced at 38 weeks, no prenatal complications at all, her pregnancy was not high risk at all).

Answer 1

"I have a friend that gave birth in February and she was induced at 38 weeks, no prenatal complications at all..."

She's not you.

Induction is far from risk-free.

Ask about ways you can be made more comfortable; see what options there are for pain relief _now_. Discomfort is a lousy reason to risk the major pain of a c-section, a not particularly unlikely outcome of an induced labour.

Here:

"Statistical significance was evident when the apgar scores of the infants were compared; those induced had lower apgars at 1 minute..."

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/jan/2000/00000031/00000002/art01335;jsessionid=nj7xt2bh4qkl.alice?format=print&token=00451fd2a89f20276583e1372752d7b5e437a63736a423147465d7a7625245c2a3e0c

"Although induction may seem attractive when the discomforts of late pregnancy occur, women need to become informed of the risks of induction..."

http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/plabor/0,,midwife_4888,00.html

"Caldreyo-Barcia concluded that induction is medically required in only 3 percent of pregnancies and that therefore approximately 75 percent of all inductions put both the mother and baby at risk...
Labor should be induced only when medically necessary, never simply for convenience or because a woman is sick of being pregnant. The risks in these situations far outweigh the perceived benefits."

http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_preparation/inducing.html

Answer 2

I know you are in pain, but if you can wait to go on your own it might be better., unless there is a medical reason. I was induced. The contractions are 10X harder, than if you go on your own. Plus it's better for baby to go on your own. Most doctors say they'll induce only if you are 39 weeks. When you are induced it can take anywhere from 12-24 hours till baby comes. Since this is your first baby,I think, it will be closer to 15-24 hours,and you have to be in the hospital the entire time.Doctors will do a plannned inducement for the feeling you are having. Warning make sure with your Doc that your insurance will cover it.If I were you, I would schedule a inducement when you turn about 39 weeks that way you have a set plan with your doctor and hospital.Then you might go into labor on your own before that set date or you can Always change your mind on the inducement. Either way your set. Good luck!

Answer 3

I was induced with my first child and had no problems, but I was not induced before my due date. I don't think that any good doctor would induce you early unless you or the baby were having medical complications. Being uncomfortable isn't a medical complication, it's just part of being 38 weeks pregnant. Just be patient and good luck with the delivery. I know you are ready, but you really don't want to have the baby before he/she is ready.

Answer 4

You've lasted this long, hang in there. Baby's come when they decide so even if the doc does try to induce there's no guarantee that it would work and could make your labor and delivery just that much more difficult (think of back when you were a kid and trying to pull a baby tooth that was wiggling but not ready to let go, hurt a lot more than the teeth that just fell out when they were ready didn't it?).

Just take it day by day and know that when the time is right you will have your baby. All of this discomfort will be worth it!

Answer 5

I was induced with my last child. there wasn't any complications. I would ask the Dr. I'd deffinately tell him how uncomfortable you are. when I was induced, it was great because we knew exactly what day I was going to give birth and we didn't have to be woken up at 2:00 a.m. I wish I had known about inducement with my other two kids.

Answer 6

I know what you mean. I am almost 38 weeks and there are days I don't know if I will make it. I had my first at 39 weeks, so you never know. There is no harm in talking to your doctor about your concerns.

Good luck!

Answer 7

i've actually considered induction too and i'm only 36 weeks along. i'm dying of pain and discomfort too. but i know i don't want to be induced because i know it just raises the chances of more interventions. i am just praying that this little one wants to come early! try walking, sex, raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose oil, heck try everything daily, frequently and see if that gets him/her moving. good luck.

Answer 8

it just depends on your doctor. some doctors will not induce unless your past your due date, others will do it early. just ask him at your app.

Answer 9

The longer you go, the better for the baby. Just suck it up for another week or two. We're ALL extremely uncomfortable that far along. Just think - you're almost done!!!