Pregnancy and Induction (Update on Pg 4)

FunkHouse9 · Post by **FunkHouse9** » March 6, 2008 1:47 am

My wife is pregnant and her due date is this Sunday. Her doctor has told us that she does not let babies go past their due date. She is currently scheduled to go into the hospital on Monday and start an induction Monday night or Tuesday. She's perfectly healthy and several sonograms, including one yesterday with a BP, have shown that everything looks perfect with the baby.

My wife is not sure that she's ready to throw the towel in and be induced yet. She would prefer to give nature some more time to run its course instead of having it be on a schedule and we feel presured to go in and get this done. Have any of you been in a position where you (or the mother) were induced right at the due date or had to resist the doctor to go beyond the date? Is there really any harm in giving nature another week or two beyond the due date to hopefully run its course before essentially dragging the baby out? We know people who have just recently gone as much as 2 weeks beond their due dates. If everything is fine, why couldn't we do that too? It's all starting to add a lot of last minute stress and confusion.

creeky · Post by **creeky** » March 6, 2008 5:11 am

Never had a child ...

but CONGRATS And all the best!!

Summerlover · Post by **Summerlover** » March 6, 2008 5:26 am

Jeff, hi and congrats!!! I by no means am an expert just going by my experience. I was induced with my first pregnancy because my labor just wasn't moving along. Didn't have the epidural and it was pretty bad I must say.
I am somewhat suprised that this Dr. wouldn't just wait and see. Maybe you don't know it but she was with you two at the time of fertilization and knows the time to deliver is, NOW.

Can't blame your wife or you for wanting to wait. I think Dr. are so worried about lawsuits etc. that they do things that are unnecessary. Especially Ob/gyns.
It's your baby and if everything is going great, just tell the Dr. you want to wait another week. I'm on your side with this.

phinsupinWC · Post by **phinsupinWC** » March 6, 2008 5:39 am

I've had two babies, and both times I was two weeks late. For both pregnancies I was scheduled to be induced on the first day after being two weeks late. Both times, both girls said they were coming on their own and made their amazing arrival before I had to be induced. And let me tell you - still to this day they do things at their own pace!

I'd ask the doc why she wants to induce your wife when she isn't even late yet.

Either way - Congrats and good luck!

Caribbean Soul · Post by **Caribbean Soul** » March 6, 2008 7:43 am

Did she give you guys any reason other than her "I don't let pregnancies go past their due dates" one?
With my second I had a sonogram at my due date and it was determined that the amniotic fluid level was very low. My doc had me meet him at the hospital that evening (I had to go home first to arrange the overnight care for my first) where he stripped the membranes and started labor that way - no pitocin needed, thank goodness.
If there is a medical reason involved, then induction right at a due date makes sense - if it is just the OB's preference ... then I'm not so sure.

shakerofsalt · Post by **shakerofsalt** » March 6, 2008 8:01 am

I was induced (cytotec) two weeks before my due date for the first one because he was getting too big. They started the induction at 8pm, told me it would be a while -probably the next day before anything started happening. I was holding him 4 hours later. No problems.

Second one came on his own 3 weeks early.

Third one, I went in and ASKED to be induced 2 weeks early because I was so big and miserable. Left the appointment and went to my room at the hospital. Started the induction (Pitocin and breaking my water) at 6pm, was holding her at a little after 8pm. No problems. I heard stories of how bad the contractions would be with the Pitocin, but for me, they were the same as the sporadic contractions I had been having for weeks.

Good luck and Congrats!

shakerofsalt · Post by **shakerofsalt** » March 6, 2008 8:33 am

I should also note, in case not wanting pain management is a factor, I did not have any meds or an epidural for any of them. It was never too unbearable until it was time to deliver and it was too late, but then over quickly!

we4phlocks · Post by **we4phlocks** » March 6, 2008 8:44 am

I would have to agree with all of the above. My first by the time I got into the hospital at 11am I was already 80% effaced and 2cm dilated, my water had not broke so they put me on pitocin, finally they broke my water and she was born 2 hours later at 1pm. No epidural either. The 2nd I was 7 weeks early only because I was leaking amniotic fluid and was forced to deliver her Cesarean. Certainly go with what you both want unless the doctor can provide a more definite reason to deliver on time. Either way, congrats and heres to a happy & healthy baby.

ConchRepublican · Post by **ConchRepublican** » March 6, 2008 8:46 am

I have no experience regarding inducing, but my wife and I have not been lucky with three pregnancies so I come from this standpoint:

Don't do anything you don't feel comfortable with. Doctors are not gods, they are people. You both are ultimately responsible for your, and you little ones, lives. As stated by some above, the doctor may very well have a good reason for inducing early, but get the explanation. Last time I checked they work for you and are there to help you, but you are to make the informed decision. You, your wife and the doctor are partners in this.

That said, congrats! Best wishes for a happy healthy little one!

green1 · Post by **green1** » March 6, 2008 9:24 am

My wife went 1.5 weeks past due date for both of our children. Both came on their own and are perfectly healthy. (Well usually, not right now) The doc said that we would need to talk about induction if 2 weeks past the due date had passed. I will second, third, fourth . . . everyone else's advice. Find out why the induction needs to occur 1 day after due date. Then make the decision. 40 week gestation is an average, not the rule. That means babies come early and late. Maybe your baby is not completely ready right now.

Remember you guys are your child's best advocate. The docs will say one thing or another, but you guys are the ones that must make the decision, because you are the ones that will be living with and caring for your child for the next 18 years at least. Don't be pressured by the doc. If baby and mom are doing well, and you want to wait a little bit, then wait.

krusin1 · Post by **krusin1** » March 6, 2008 9:34 am

We're the blessed parents of two wonderful kids.

When dear daughter came along, she was just a day or two past due. Labor went FAST... no time for an epidural. Baby was large (8 lbs. 12 oz.) Tough on dear wife.

When dear son came along, he went a day or two past due, and they scheduled dear wife to be induced. We went in at 8 AM, got hooked up, got the epidural. Whole thing went like clockwork. (Baby still large - 8 lbs. 6 oz.)

My wife liked being induced. Gave her a sense of control over what could be a rather uncontrollable situation.

Anyway, take that for what it's worth. Prayers for you and your family-to-be.

Dezdmona · Post by **Dezdmona** » March 6, 2008 9:50 am

Definitely get a reason other than her "general practice".
As someone else mentioned that practice may be based on a fear of lawsuits...are there more complications in pregnancies that go post term? (I don't know)

If the baby is getting too big or there is another medical reason that is acceptable to you then that would be a realistic reason to induce. Otherwise, wait a bit.

My son was induced a week early because I had pre-eclampsia. The induction went well and DS was born healthy, 9 hours later.

Salukulady · Post by **Salukulady** » March 6, 2008 10:20 am

I have had four kids, some induced some not....unless there is a medical reason, find a second opinion....don't let the doc do something you're not comfortable with. By my last birth I was finally happy with how things went because I put myself in control of the room, it was great. Inducing is great if it is necessary but if the baby ain't ready....it ain't coming inducment or not. And then you have the chance of a c-section....not the end of the world (2 of mine were) but it is still surgery. Find another OB or midwife and talk it over with them. Your doc should NOT be offended....if he/she is, you want a new doc. Good luck. If you want to talk PM me and I'll give you my number. Take care.

FunkHouse9 · Post by **FunkHouse9** » March 6, 2008 10:24 am

We have not been given any other reason for induction other than theoretical concerns. She talks about fluid level concerns, but it's at 11.5 (co, mm?) as of Tuesday which the doctor at the sonogram office said is fine. She's also been extremely concerned about the cord being around the baby's neck which multiple sonograms have shown is not currently the case. My wife was even admitted to the hospital for a weekend for that and it turned out that absolutely everything was fine and there was no reason for her to be admitted. The doctor says that the longer you wait, the more possibility there is for the cord to get around the neck. Everybody we talk to says that frequently happens and it's almost always not an issue.

I'm sure to a certain extent, there's time management/control involved since the only doctor in the practice and she does ALL of her patient's deliveries no matter when. I can understand this, but we're not sure that we want to rush it for our first child.

flyboy55 · Post by **flyboy55** » March 6, 2008 10:25 am

Congratulations!

Our daughter came out in her own sweet time - almost a week past due date. There was some discussion about induction but our doctor at the time was in our corner and didn't push it (no pun intended).

As most have already said, it is fairly common for ob/gyn's to treat childbirth as an emergency that has to be 'managed', rather than the natural act that it really is. Part of that is a CYA attitude on the doctor's part which has nothing to do with any one patient's particular situation.

If there is no legitimate medical justification for inducing labor, I'd say give it some time.

Easy for me to say. I've never passed a watermelon.

Good luck and have fun.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » March 6, 2008 10:25 am

There isn't any harm in giving nature a little more time to do it's thing, and there's a few things you can do to help move it along more naturally *cough*nookie*cough*. A female orgasm contracts the uterus just as in labor.

Also, you might see instead of induction if the doctor will strip her membranes. It's less invasive and just kind of jump starts nature to do it thing.

There is also nothing wrong with just waiting and seeing a week--although I probably wouldn't go much longer than that.

With my daughter I went into labor :naturally" after the whole membrane stripping thing, although they gave me pitocin in the hospital when my contractions weren't very effective. I was induced 5 days early with my son because he was a ginormous child and I wanted him out. The induction was actually quite easy. You go in the night before and they insert a pill called Cytotec on your cervix to soften and dillate it and encourage contractions. You go to sleep, and hopefully wake up with some contractions that mean something--and maybe some pitocin to strengthen things up (I didn't need any pitocin with my son, I woke up that morning just about ready to push that thing out).

Either way, do what you feel is best for you. Your doctor can't MAKE your wife be induced.

Best luck with your new baby! (My sister is due the end of next week!!)

Mrs. Play · Post by **Mrs. Play** » March 6, 2008 10:30 am

I was induced with our first son about a week early and he was fine. Looking back now I know it was for convenience and not for any medical reasons. Then with my 2nd, I had another Dr. and he also wanted to induce, about a week before my due date, for convenience. I guess that's what doctors do these days. I thought it would be fine, afterall it had gone so well with our 1st. Well, it didn't go so fine this time. Our 2nd son had problems breathing and had to stay in ICU for almost two weeks. It took the doctors, (actually a nurse practitioner) a few days to realize that even though he was "full term" he did not have enough surfactin in his lungs. So, basically, I think his aveoli sacs were sticking together with each breath. He had to be given 4 doses of artificial surfactin through a ventilater just to keep him alive. I don't want to scare you, this is VERY, VERY rare with full term babies. But because of this, with our 3rd son I told my doctor, I was NOT going to be induced. Period. Well, at first he was okay with this. Then when I grew near two weeks past my due date, he got very nervous. He told me that if the ambiotic fluid starts to be too low it can be very bad, or if the baby is too big, I would have to have a C-section (which I did not have with the others). He told me about another patient who refused to be induced and went over two weeks past her due date and they thought everything was going fine, but the baby wasn't fine when he was delivered. So, I gave in and scheduled a date to be induced, hoping the baby would come before I had to be induced. He didn't of course, but Everything was fine this time. I can certainly understand how your wife feels. I think it's okay to be induced, if you are past your due date and there is a fear of complications. I wouldn't do it early unless medically necessary, but I wouldn't go too far past the due date either. I wish you both the best. Congratulations! Let us know how it goes.

Dezdmona · Post by **Dezdmona** » March 6, 2008 10:33 am

Just to note, while I was induced for another reason, my son's cord WAS wrapped around his neck.

He had already crowned before it seemed to start to affect the delivery, so they used this suction thing (a extractor?) and he was delivered in seconds. It did leave a pink spot on his head for a few days, but that was a small price to pay to get him out quickly and avoid any cord complications.

Salukulady · Post by **Salukulady** » March 6, 2008 10:36 am

FunkHouse9 wrote:We have not been given any other reason for induction other than theoretical concerns. She talks about fluid level concerns, but it's at 11.5 (co, mm?) as of Tuesday which the doctor at the sonogram office said is fine. She's also been extremely concerned about the cord being around the baby's neck which multiple sonograms have shown is not currently the case. My wife was even admitted to the hospital for a weekend for that and it turned out that absolutely everything was fine and there was no reason for her to be admitted. The doctor says that the longer you wait, the more possibility there is for the cord to get around the neck. Everybody we talk to says that frequently happens and it's almost always not an issue.

I'm sure to a certain extent, there's time management/control involved since the only doctor in the practice and she does ALL of her patient's deliveries no matter when. I can understand this, but we're not sure that we want to rush it for our first child.

Then wait...(some docs are so afraid of lawsuits) if her fluid is good and the cord is not wrapped and you're wife is not high risk, let nature do its thing. A second opinion from a professional might relax the two of you, you should not be stressed at this time.

Mr Play · Post by **Mr Play** » March 6, 2008 11:10 am

I know exactly what you're going through and how stressful it can be. I didn't want our 3rd to be induced either (see Mrs. Play's post above), but I left it up to her in the end.

Last I heard, due dates are not exact and every pregnancy is different. The bottom line is that your wife (and you) should get to decide what is best for you and your new baby.

We tried a lot of the wives tales for self-induction, and ended up 0-for-3

Congratulations, and best of luck.