Why are doctors so obsessed with inducing labor?

Question

Every time I have a friend who is pregnant, the doctors are threatening to induce her labor if she's even a few days past due. Heck, I was two weeks late and there was no problem. Do you think there's a valid reason for this, or do you think doctors are trying to have too much control over a natural process? After all, especially with women who don't have regular periods I'd think the due date could be a week or so off anyway.

Do you think inducing so often is okay, or do you think doctors should lay off more and let nature take its course? Why?

Answer 1

I think most of them who wish to induce labor at such an early stage are just wanting to get it done during business hours on a schedule so they aren't called out in the middle of the night, or in the middle of a golf game on the weekend. In my entirely non-professional opinion, there is no reason for early induction except for sign of distress, preeclampsia, the baby or mother rapidly losing weight etc. I do think they should lay off and let nature take it's course. When the baby is ready to come out, it will. Even one or two weeks can make a big developmental difference.

Answer 2

I was born two weeks late also, and thankfully there were no consequences with it. But, I'm a teacher and I have a student who was born late and he has severe developmental problems because of it. These problems are due to fetal distress which can occur if the baby is too large for delivery and he/she doesn't receive a good supply of oxygen.

This is why most doctors would recommend induction only a few days after a missed due date.

I do think there are some doctors who are inducement happy. I've heard of doctors urging induction even before the due date, this might be for the same reason, but keep in mind a mother always has the option of refusing!

Answer 3

I do think that doctors are a bit induction happy. I believe its out of convience for them. If they can SCHEDULE the day that you will have your baby, then they wont get called in, in middle of the night for a delivery. Think about it.

I dont think inducing is ok except for medical nessisity. I know its miserable being pregnant that late, but what if the date of conception was 2 weeks off and the baby is 2 weeks bigger on the ultrasound? So really they induce you at 40 weeks when your really only 38... I think people should let nature runs its course. Induction is so much harder on mother and baby.

I was induced for medical reasons (pre-eclampsia), and I didnt want to be. Next baby if I can safely go into labor naturally, I will refuse to be induced. I am not going to be induced so some doctor can get a full nights sleep, if they didnt want the job, should have went into a different feild huh?

Answer 4

I think in most cases they do enduce for a reason. Dont forget that they are the ones with 10 or more years of training and can usually see proplems before they happen. Most women i know want to be enduced to get the baby out!!

I was enduced and ended up having an emergency c-section because i couldnt dilate. I wish i hadnt been enduced but my BP was so high it was dangerous so it had to be done.

What i dont understand that it can sometimes take days before anything happens after you have been enduced. How do the docs know that in those few days, you wouldnt have gone naturally.

I thingk it is messing with nature slightly, a baby will come when it is good and ready. But if there is a risk to mother or baby, enducing is the sensible option. I would rather have just had a c-section though, instead i went through 24 hours of hell just to be in pain for a few more weeks!!

Answer 5

Sometimes it is really for health concerns that doctors try to induce or the babies weight might be a concern. Sometimes it is because the mother to be is anxious. Sometimes it is so the doctors week-end won't be interrupted. Sometimes it is because certain doctors are on-call at certain times and they want to handle the delivery either for patient/doctor bonding or sometimes for monetary reasons.

I'm really not sure how I feel. My first son was 2 week late and my water broke, but they still had to use inducing agents to get my labor going because after 12 hours I still hadn't dialated by 1 cm. He weighed 10 lbs 2 oz. Labor was horrible and they should have sectioned me. My 2nd I bugged the doctors until he induced me about a week after my due date, I didn't want another 10 lb baby. My labor went fast with him and he was right at 8 lbs, so if I would have waited, who knows.

I would just question the doctor about his reasons for wanting to induce. You can always decline.

Answer 6

Not all doctors are obsessed with inducing. I was induced with baby 2 at 39 weeks cause of her size and the risk of c-section. Going too far after due date is not safe. But I know many people where the OB refuses to induce so don't really think its all of them.

Answer 7

I think every situation is different. My doctor considered inducing me because I was swelling a lot and she was afraid my daughter was going to be too big for me to deliver naturally. Fortunately, I went into labor the night after I saw her. I am pregnant again and my doctor and I have already discussed inducing me early since I had really bad tears the first time and don't want to tear again but I do want a vaginal birth again.

Answer 8

the placenta can stop doing its job if you go to far past your due date this can cause many problems for the baby ( aunt was three weeks late with my cousin and he was sick due to that) . other reasons to induce would be for mothers health and for the babies health some times it is safer to get the baby out then leave it to nature such as if you have eclampsia or other health problems. i choose to use a midwife instead of an ob and she is steadfast on not inducing unless there is health problems or if a women goes pass 42 weeks she will not induce early just for a smaller baby and has said so in my earshot many times

Answer 9

When I was pregnant I was advised if I went past my due date i would be induced. it wasn't as if the doctor said.. that's it .. your a day late lets get you in and get that baby out. We waited and waited and 14 days after the due date with 2 days of going to hospital to get some prosten gel put on my cervix to prompt it on and nothing happening at all my doctor suggested we induce me. During my labour my baby started to get distressed. Thankfully I ended up having him quickly and a shot of oxygen later he was crying away. I thank my doctor for suggesting induction. Who knows what would have happened had I waited even longer.

Answer 10

being induced really depends on the doctor & what the circumstances are. i was 8 days overdue when i was induced.... & sadly being induced did not work for me. i was 11 days overdue when they finally decided to do an emergancy caesarean.
there may be a reason for the wanting to induce her. there might be signs of stress or there may be no signs of labour at all!!!
unfortunatly things like this happen all the time & sometimes they are just impatient!!!