Induce or Not?

You don't need to induce. That would make the Dr.s scheduling easier, but does nothing for you or the baby. I would wait AT LEAST one week past the 30th before considering it.

I think that until you get well over due, there is no reason to induce. I was induced twice, at 42 weeks each time, and I wish I could have gone naturally. If I were you I would wait it out and see how things go. Also, 9 pounds is not that big, I know woman who have delivered 11 and 12 pound babies vaginally. I think the doctors just like to make everything fit into their schedule.

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I don't know why people are talking about preeclampsia! I don't think they're reading your post correctly.

My first daughter was born at 41 weeks, 3 days and only weighed 6lbs. It was hard to wait for her, but my OB didn't induce before 42 weeks so I went into labor naturally. The thing is due dates aren't set in stone, and by the size of my baby I know she wasn't late at all. Women's cycles vary hugely and my cycles are long (35 days+), but they didn't take that into account when dating. So now I realize that if I'm "overdue" with this pregnancy, it really doesn't mean I'm past my due date, but rather the due date was inaccurate.

So for your case, I would tell your doctor you want to wait. Have your blood pressure monitored, and do the fetal stress tests every few days once your due date has passed. You can always be induced if there is an inkling of a problem, but why do it preemptively? Pitocin is a nasty chemical and I don't blame you for wanting to avoid it! Good luck, Mama.

I have mixed feelings about inductions. With my first, my water broke at 37 weeks, and because I hadn't dilated much on the way to the hospital they started me on Pitocin. I really think my doctor did it because he wanted to "schedule" my delivery first thing in the morning before his office hours and not during the night. It backfired on him though. I am one of those people that react very strongly to epidurals, and I dilate to 10 as soon as the epidural goes in. He ended up having to deliver me at 1 AM. For my second, I was 4 cm dilated for over 4 weeks in the middle of the hottest July we had in years. I begged for an induction at 40+ weeks. when I got to the hospital that morning I had finally gotten up to 5 cm. So I wonder if they would have just broke my water or stripped my membranes, would I have been able to do it on my own. (I never felt any contractions until Pitocin with either of them, I must have been contracting, but maybe my body just doesn't contract as much or as hard) Again, as soon as I got my epidural I went to 10 cm immediately. My son was almost 9 lbs, so if I had to wait another week, he may have gotten too big. If I were you, I would wait until the 30th and then ask if he can try some other things like stripping your membranes or a little bit of cervidol that is a medicine squirted into your uterus I think.

I'm not sure if anyone mentioned this, but the predicting of weight with an ultrasound is such a guessing game. It seems to me that they always think the baby is bigger then it really is. So don't go by that. And yes, you will go into labor. It doesn't matter that you were induced before. Each pregnancy is it's own thing and your body knows what to do. Just trust your instincts and let your body do what its going to do. I'm so sick of doctors trying to convince women to speed it along when it comes to something as natural as having a baby. Labor at home as long as you can and just keep telling yourself, "this is what are bodies are created to do." We did this long before pitocin was available. You can do and you've paved the way with 2 other children. That baby may just fall right out.

Unless there is a medical reason, I wouldn't be induced or let my doctor talk me into it.

High blood pressure in late stage pregnancy is nothing to fool around with. Women can die or suffer permanent brain damage when left untreated. Anything could happen. You have two beautiful children and another bundle on the way. Is it worth the risk? Natural is not always better.

I really struggled with this question myself. With my first, I was induced a few days earlier than my due date because the doctor was afraid that she was close to 9lbs as well. That, and I was miserable. Lol. My labor was AWFUL! 22 hours of pain and agony. The pitocin really does make the contractions more painful. I did have an epidural, but it only really took the edge off. With my second baby, I was determined to wait until I went into labor on my own. Two weeks later, I finally relented and let them break my water. I did start having contractions very shortly thereafter. They put me on the lowest dose of pitocin, and bam! Three hours later, with no pain intervention, there was my son! The only risk with going this late was that my placenta had started to fail (unbeknown to us) and the baby had actually started losing weight in the womb. It actually wasn't a big deal once he was born (weighing in at 6lb 15.5oz) and we were all out of the hospital 24 hours later (and having supper at Applebees that same night). I couldn't believe how good I felt after not having the epidural (and a terribly long labor). Good luck to you! :)

I would say wait two more weeks but if its 9lbs already you are going to be miserable in delivery. but also keep in mind that the ultrasounds can be off by a pound either way. ps this weekend is a full moon go for a long long walk. most babies are born during a full moon. walking induces it. happy walking and if anything else take a kid trick or treating. on the 30th which would be more accurate by your books.

if you want to wait, wait. Your body will know what to do when it's time.

I had a bad experience with pitocin with my first and didn't want it again with my second. I ended up having the pitocin again because it was that or a c-section. My midwife watched the dosage and used as little as needed to get the labor going (my water had broken and no contractions started for several hours).

Ask your doctor what the risks are with waiting and if there is anything about your pregnancy she or he is concerned about. I know size is a consideration. I was told that 41 or even 42 weeks was okay but after that there were some risks that increased with postmaturity. Maybe you can work something out like you will induce if you have not had the baby by Nov. 1 (or whatever date you pick) as long as you have no complications.

With my first one, she wasn't induced until she was 2 weeks OVERdue. Even at that last ultrasound appt we had at her due date, the dr. measured her to be close to 9 lbs. However, 2 weeks later, she still was only born at 8.12 lbs. I personally would wait it out another couple days if I could.

I went into natural labor after two inductions. I went into labor a few days earlier than my due date also. Well, about a week early I guess? The doctors were always worried about me having a bigger baby, but, they were always wrong. They never really know how big the babies are. Do what you feel is best. I went almost completely natural and survived. I did need some pain intervention so that they could cut me. I had two pretty bad episiotomies, so they didn't want me to tear with all the scar tissue. I was OK with that decision. My only main issue was even at 10 centimeters my water wouldn't break, but, it was easy to break at that point. Good luck! I will say that the day I went into labor, it was the last thing I thought would happen when I woke up that day! But, what a great day it was!

Here's my two cents...
I ended up being induced with all 3 of my babies and I really regret it :(
I was induced with the first because I was overdue and had been in pre-labor for 72 hours, was vomiting and dehydrated and only 2 cenimeters.
I was induced with the second because of selfish reasons really, I had help lined up for my 15 month old, I needed to know when my husband would be off etc....
With my 3rd I was induced because it was all I knew. Therefore I never really had the oppertunity to go into labor on my own and work through labor without being in the hospital. If I could go back and do it over again I wouldn't have been induced with my third simply because I feel that I robbed myself. However, I do not beat myself up over my decision because it felt right at the time.
Best wishes to your and yours and for a happy healthy baby!

do what you feel is right, im suppose to have a c-section in three weeks, but im starting to question my choice. i know what can happen (i had problems with my first) but i think natural is best for mom and baby :) my doctor understands how i feel and is very patient with me changing my mind(he does however make sure i know exactly what could happen, again). u just need to tell your dr how u feel about it, and tell him when its time the baby will know and u will have it. there will be a point that if you dont go into labor, you may have to be induced- i would discuss this with doc and set a date 2 weeks after your due date. Dr's need to remember that they are causing needless c-sections by inducing too early, and that having ababy shouldnt be put on the scheduler, it needs to happen on its own, natural and healthy! do what u feel is right!! dont back down!!

Our neighbor had the same situation - with her first 2 pregnancies, her doctor induced her at 40 weeks. She had miserable labors that went on for 24+ hours. With baby #3, she refused to be induced. She finally went into labor at 44 weeks (yes, really) and her baby girl was healthy and beautiful - and she was in labor for only 2 hours start to finish. Her body just takes longer to "cook" her babies! She did the same with baby #4 with similar results. The same way my babies were both a little early, hers were meant to be late. As long as you're healthy and your baby is okay, why not wait and see when your labor starts on its own? It WILL start on its own; you can't be pregnant forever. =)

Congrats and best of luck!!

I just wanted to reassure you that your body knows what to do!!! I was induced wth my first 2 as well. With my 3rd I went into labor on my own. I spent most of the day at home and much less time laboring in the hospital. So, Yes after 2 inductions I had one without being induced.

I think nature is the only one who really knows our due date, so I'm on the waiting side - for a while anyway. Due dates are wrong and so are estimates of weight from ultrasounds. I'd give it time, but if you are more than 2 weeks or so past your due date think again. Of course, if your BP changes that's a game changer.

I'm agonizing over this too b/c I have to have a c-section for medical reasons and don't like going before nature says. I'm going to be talking to the doctor about any tests possible to make sure the baby's lungs are developed enough. I had a friend induced a week early, and the baby ended up on a vent in the NICU b/c his lungs weren't ready. Who knows if a week would have made a difference, but I don't like rolling the dice.

I totally support your decision to make this a wonderful event but please be careful with the preeclamsia. If you decide to have a home birth please make sure that you have a blood pressure machine and urine testing strips for protein.

With my second baby, I had a planned c-section scheduled (after the first born was an emergency c-section at 42 weeks; after 31 hours of labor little progression; I don't like pitocin either). My doctor at 34 weeks said that everything looked great so I did not need to come in until 37 weeks. Well, I went in and never came out of the hospital for six more days. I gave birth by emergency c-section that day after they discovered I had HELLP syndrome which is a very dangerous form of Preelamsia

So please, don't assume that your blood pressure will remain good. Things happen very quickly with preeclamsia. With my third I was put on modified bedrest and a nurse called every night at seven to get my daily reading even after the birth. She was the only non emergency c-section and as close as I will get to having a comfortable birth.

Good luck, just be careful and congratulations!

I was induced with my first and didn't like the expereince either. You already know you don't want an induction...you may have to repeat yourself to your dr. I had higher blood pressure (not to the unsafe range, but close) the last couple of weeks with both of my pregnancies, after months of very low safe bp. My midwives said it was normal and nothing to worry about. I would stick it out to the 42 week mark, assuming you have no sudden health developments, and continue to decline induction. Go with your gut.

i fully support you to not induce!

and yes, im going to say you will probably go into labor on your own. as far as i know, pitocin doesnt affect the body in such a way that it is unable to go into labor on its own.
in fact, its rather rare that a woman would actually have a medical condition where she couldnt go into labor on her own. its just that for some reason, doctors and etc think that we should hurry it up. i see no reason for this!!

besides that, there are a lot of unknown effects of using pitocin in the first place! i mean, its a fake hormone, taken from cows!! what do humans have in common with cows when it comes to attachment and parenting? not a whole lot!!
i believe labor totally changes and affects your parenting experience! every part of labor, every hormone, every pain, everything, all works together to help us bond with our kids, and jump starts our instinctual feelings toward our child. dont get me wrong; it can happen without a natural labor, its just harder and takes longer. there are emergency reasons to induce or c-sec i suppose, but they are much more rare than we would think!

heres 2 links you might be interested in. one is on c-sec and the other on pit and autism. i havent seen it yet, but i would also like to see some research done on pit and SIDS. if the lungs are the last to develop, and they set off a hormone that starts labor, then isnt inducing early causing a baby to be born with "unfinished" lungs? and dont we think that "unfinished" lungs could cause a higher risk of not only respiratory diseases but also of SIDS?

http://ican-online.org/pregnancy/cesarean-fact-sheet
i like how this gives you a list of reasons a c-sec should be performed, and then follows that with the reasons that are given these days for why c-sec are being performed. and mostly, they are unnecessary!

http://pregnantmommas.tribe.net/thread/76c5ff1e-5445-44a6...

the last link is why labor is good for babies.
http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/laborbirth/a/aa042300a.htm

anyway, im not posting these things or saying these things because i think that people who dont do it naturally are stupid or something, im simply giving you information to encourage you and strengthen you in your journey. you have every right to tell a doctor NO, and you should be able to know whats going on and still be able to make your own medical choices. after all, they can schedule you for the induction if they must, but you dont have to show up!

it might be too late, but finding a doula is a good idea... at least then you will have someone that supports your path, and can speak for you during a time where you might not be able to. or finding SOMEONE who can be there for you and with you and can help you be strong enough to say "NO pit!" without you being pressured into it!

anyway.
good luck! however this turns out, just remember you have the right to stand up for yourself, you have the right to say no to anything you dont want, and they dont have the right to push you into it! :) :)
and congrats on your soon new arrival!

Hi Angie, I'm a doula and yes you can still go into natural labor on your own! Unless you start to have any complications just let the baby be. A "due date" is a guess date, all babies take different amounts of time to be ready for the world. Labor is alot easier on your body and your baby if you can go without the pitocin. Prayers and best of luck! Your baby will be in your arms soon!
~M. C,

start doing deep squats-thats what my dr told me to do but i was a month over due-30 yrs ago they just made you wait it out-so i did do the deep squats-yep couple days later-there was my 12 pound daughter-the squats really help to open up the passage for the baby to come out also...good luck..i went all natural with both my babies-both 12 pounders..no drugs or nothin..hurt like the dickens...but we were all ok....

Dear Angie:

Absolutely not. Doctors can be off by 3 weeks and the human body knows when to deliver. Take warm baths and walk if you can 1/2 hour twice a day.

Good Luck

Kim

I never think induction should be done unless medically necessary for mother or baby. I especially don't think it should be done just because it is your "due date".

With my son, my due date was Oct 5 according to the doc but the ultasound said Oct 14 and I thought Oct 16. Because both were within the "two week" window they didn't change my due date but had me down to induce on Oct 17 if I didn't go before that (because they didn't want me to go past two weeks and I started w/ extreme ankle swelling on Oct 5). I went in on my own in the early am of the 17th so I think he arrived right on time. If they induced on Oct 5 I would have had him early (but what did I know!). With my daughter, my due date was Dec 10 and due to gestational diabetes, I was scheduled for induction on Dec 6 but went in on Dec 4th on my own (just as I thought my due date was anyway).

My point being, they don't know what your due date is. They are only able to guestimate it and if they are wrong you can end up having a premature baby for no reason which can result in a whole host of problems.

That said, talk to your doctor. Ask him if he is asking about induction for a medical reason and then discuss. Ask him if it is for comfort or convenience or because it is necessary for you or the baby. Decide based on his answers. Also considere what due date your earliest ultrasound saidbecause that is usually more accurate. Did it concur with your estimate or the doctors? Share that info w/ your doctor.

Typically, they won't let you go more than two weeks over your due date so if your due date is Oct 23, they would induce no later than Nov 6th anyway. Use that as a rule of thumb...if not medically necessary, tell your doctor that if you don't go on your own by Nov 1 he can schedule your induction for later that week (that way it is past your estimated due date but doesn't exceed the two week window after their estimated due date). You don't want to go too far past your due date because if you do there are issues w/ the placenta working properly/oxygen getting to your baby.

If you do not want to induce and there is no medicaly indication the induction is necessary, then don't. The ultrasound weight prediction is highly inaccurate. They predicted my son at almost 10lbs and out he came at 6lbs 8oz, definitely not a 10lb baby.

As long as your blood pressure is still in a healthy range that's not really a reason. Lots of women go past their due dates without issue. When you're a week or so overdue, then maybe talk induction. Meanwhile, walk a lot, lots of sex, spicy foods, pineapple, nipple stimulation etc. Do all the natural induction tricks ;)

I had pitocin with my first two and HATED it, but I had really really long labors. I did start labor naturally, though. With my third she came a few days before her due date and it was so fast I never made it out of their triage room and into a delivery room. They say the third is when they start just jumping out.
An elevated blood pressure that far along is normal.
If you look around online you will see that most of the time the weight guesses are just that, guesses, and often wrong.
Do keep in mind that if you don't schedule your labor you may not get your doctor. As long as you know this and accept it I see no reason to do it. I delivered to the emergency room doctor with my third.
I personally think that doctors today and way too quick to induce, I don't think it's a good idea at all the "schedule" a labor. There are so many things that your body needs to do to get ready, I really feel it's best to let things take place naturally. If you're lucky giving birth will be the most traumatic thing your body ever goes through.
You never know what they will find out 20 years from now, that all those inductions left some vulnerability in the children or some damage to the mothers...
You should do what you think is right, listening to your doctor's advice. If you're not comfortable it will make the whole process harder.
Reading another mom's post, I have to wonder about the possible links between pitocin and autism. My first child is on the autism spectrum, although not severe.