38 weeks...induce or wait it out?

Question

38 week appt today, have had "false labor" now for 2 weeks.
The last couple of days, contractions have been about 3-5 minutes apart..but according to doctor "not dilated"
(by the way - my abdominal muscles are killing me at this point. I feel like I've done a thousand sit ups!)

He gave me the option to induce this Sunday - but a part of me is thinking baby just isn't ready yet. And I've heard induced labor is more difficult than the real thing.

What would you do?

Medieval Knights: your are the only one, so far, that said you were induced at 38 weeks....was your baby healthy? Any complications with baby that led to longer hospitalization?

One more thing....this sunday would make baby 9 days early, and doc is going on vacation next week.
So it's either induce, or wait/hope he gets back in time to deliver baby.

Answer 1

I would wait personally. I was induced with my twins at 36 weeks and, though there were no complications long-term, babies are inside for an average of 41 weeks for a reason.

In the last weeks, baby is putting on fatty deposits to help regulate temperature while outside the womb, to supplement independent nourishment, and to facilitate continued rapid brain tissue development.

Contractions like yours ARE doing something, they are massaging baby, stimulating their bodies and increasing the production of hormones, antibodies, and red blood cell production. They are also loosening the mucousa lining in the babies lungs so that they have an easier time expelling it at birth and breathing on their own.

Also, for you, those contractions are producing hyaluronadaise and relaxin, two key hormones in making your joints and tissue limber and stretchy for birth and help facilitate speedy recovery and cell regeneration after birth.

You may not 'think' your contractions are doing anything, but they are doing a TON! After having 5 children, I can tell you that babies come when they are ready for a reason, and mother's instinct is usually right! Inductions carry many risks, and if there is no valid reason to 'risk it' (except being sore and wanting your doc to attend) why put you or your baby in risks way?

I know it is hard. Man do I know - my pregnancies (all except the twins) were way 'overdue' - but you are almost there... you have waited 38 weeks - what is a few more? My vote, give your baby and you the best start possible by letting nature pick his/her birthday.

Good luck and thinking of you during this time!

Answer 2

Hmmm. When is the doctor going on vacation? I'd wait to be induced, and be walking my butt off between now and when the doc leaves. I have had two babies at 38 weeks, and they were ready. But my body also went into labor, I was not induced. My sister was induced, and it was a real kick in the pants, for her and her daughter. They were watched VERY closely for the first 24 hours, and my neice had to have oxygen. Not fun. If you feel the baby is not ready, then trust that. But if you choose not to get induced, you could try walking and doing whatever else you can to naturally help your body along with labor. That is, if you really care if your doctor is the one that delivers your baby, otherwise you could just wait it out, and if your doctors' back, he's back, and if not, he's not. Good luck- sorry to hear about your abs- I'm only 33 weeks along and feel that way... uggh. :o)

Answer 3

Hi and congratulations on your new baby who is coming soon. I know it is tempting to take up the doctor and induce a little early especially since you are miserable. Induction sets you up for a csection especially if you don't dialate within the dr's timeframe and even more so if you allow him to break your water because then you are committed to delivery. Look up induction risks on the internet. Maybe your baby is not ready. If this is your first baby, those contractions you've been having are the ones that ripen the cervix and soften it so it can dialate when the time comes. In the meantime, rest, get ready for baby. Once he/she is here you will not be able to sleep like you can now. There are natural methods to encourage labor such as sex, castor oil (2oz in a shake or cooked into a scrambled egg)-this will make you have bad cramps and diarrhea which irritate the uterus and make you contract. Bad thing is if your cervix isn't ready, you will just make yourself sick and dehydrated. Best just to let nature take it's course and wait until baby decides it's ready. Most first time moms go to their due date and beyond if left alone. Good Luck to you!

Answer 4

I was induced at 41 weeks and that still didn't work. I ended up having to get a c-section, and it wasn't too big of a deal. Being induced really wasn't difficult for me. It was just a lot of waiting. You should do whatever you feel is right. If you think the baby isn't ready, just wait. If you feel you would like your child now, go ahead and try. Ask your doctor what he prefers.

Answer 5

Ok, induced labor is more painful because it is not a natural progression of labor it is basically synthetically drug induced. I would not induce because there is a possibility of being off by 2 weeks that could put the baby at 36 weeks. I personally would hold off. I do understand that prodromal labor, which is what it is called when you have contractions but do not progress in dialation, is painful because I experienced it with my second daughter. Hang in there and trust your gut instincts.

Answer 6

I'm 40 weeks (almost) 5 days pregnant and feel the same. I look at it like I've got no more than 10 days before this baby will be here and if I can take months of this discomfort, I can take a few more days. But at the same time, it's always exciting when you're not expecting your water to break or to go into labor and then you're like "Wow, this is really happening." I like the surprise. :)

Answer 7

i was induced at 38 weeks. i had a horrible pregnancy, i was in so much pain among other things. it was MY choice; my doctor didnt even suggest it. but they did an amnio to make sure he was developed enough; yes, 36 or 38 weeks is considered full term, but often babies born even at 38 weeks can have under developed lungs. would they be willing to do any types of test to make sure your baby is developed enough? i was induced with both my kids so far (first was 2 weeks late!) and i had amazingly easy labors with both. good luck, i say do what your heart tells you. if you dont think your baby is ready, dont do it; if you think medically you should do it now, go for it.

Answer 8

If you're only 38 weeks & not dialated I would wait it out probably also means that your cervix hasn't thinned out either.. All 3 of my children were induced @ 40 weeks. My first one I had to go in the night before they induced me & the dr had to put some gel in me to help my cervix to become thin the following day I went in & he broke my water around 6am & I delivered @ 6 pm. My second one he induced me around 8am & I had my son @ 12:15 pm. My third he induced me around 8 or 9am and my daughter was born @ 12:07

Answer 9

38 wks is still early. If I were you(and I've been there 4 times already) I'd just wait it out. Your baby isn't quite ready and he/she isn't going to come until they are and if you force a labor on your baby that isn't ready your risk for complications go up and your baby could be born collicky or have a higher instance of gastrointestinal reflux disease(they projectile puke every time they eat) because the muscles aren't strong enough in their esophagus to hold the food in their tiny tummies. The one child I did have early had both reflux and was collicky(probably from the refllux). It really just isn't worth it if there's nothing medically wrong with the baby and your life isn't in danger.

Answer 10

If the doctor says it's an option - it should be OK. But if it were me I'd wait to induce until the baby is overdo. Let her come when she's ready. I'm a bit biased, though, my son came 6wks early and spent 3wks in the hospital, so I'm all about leaving the baby in there.