Scheduled Induction Concern

I would let her know your concerns and give her all the information you can. It's possible she doesn't realize that she has options here and doesn't have to go along with the induction if she doesn't want to. You need to find out what kind of birth experience she is looking for and try to support her in that. If she is looking for a natural birth you know that she is setting herself up for a BIG failure here. Would you be happy with yourself if she ends up with an "emergency" c-section from this induction and you didn't at least say something to her? Just make sure that you are there to support her no matter which route she is choosing but that there are other options even if her induction happy OB isn't offering them to her.

No. Everyone needs to stay out of it, as others have said.
It's their baby, HER body, and I'd be really upset if my MIL tried to impose her opinions on me.
It's one thing to share the opinion, other to try to force the issue.

Besides, she may not even NEED the induction. And if she does, it may go smooth as silk.
I was warned to high hell about being induced with my second. My SIL had an AWFUL first delivery due to induction. When I signed up for it, they all thought it was a really bad idea. I had no problems being induced, and have a very healthy little girl to show for it. (**Side note: I wound up with a c-section because I couldn't push DD out. Her head was stuck in my pelvis. My OB said I *could* have pushed her out eventually, but that I would've broken my daughter's neck. So there is something to be said about natural vs. medicine.) Everyone is different.

I know you're not judging and I applaud your insistance to stay out of it. I think your MIL needs to as well.

I would stay out of it. I'm sure they know your feelings on epidurals and if they wanted your side they would ask. I don't think you intended to come off judgemental but some of the things you said did seem that way.

On the C-section topic, I think Csections save lots of lives. Why would you risk a mothers life when there is a way to prevent it? I haven't had one but my sister had to have an emergency c-section. If Dr's wouldn't have did the c-section, I wouldn't have my sister here and possibly my nephew.

Yep - you're absolutely right! Stay out of it.

It's always best to think about the situation the other way around. Let's say you were pro-induction, pro-epidural and the mom-to-be was going to do a home waterbirth with a midwife. It would be completely inappropriate for you to question her over her choice of delivery methods.

Good for you for standing by your principles but also recognizing that there are many different ways to deliver safely without having to put the other person down. I think that is very open-minded of you!

Yes, you need to say something. The fact is inductions increase the risk of interventions, c-sections and even death. There was a story recently on a facebook page that I like of a mom that died due to ambiotic embolism following a cytotec induction. Here is a link to a foundation that talks about the risks of induction. This mom and her baby died following induction. www.tatia.org
If women are going to change how our maternity system is in America then it is up to us to educate. If following eductation she still chooses induction with all of its known risks then so be it. She will have to live with the consequences.
Induction for non-medical reasons is unethical. And any doctor who performs it should have his license revoked.
And to the poster that said doctors induce women of a certain age because the placenta starts to break down, that is total BS. The placenta does not have a turkey timer built in. It does not start to break down.

Lisa

C. T,
You are right on with everything! The risks of this induction are enormous and by far outway the benifits, AND you should stay out of it. So tempting to say something, but you've got it right here. Not your pregnancy, not your birth.
If I was the MIL I would say something, she has a different position.

Stay out of it. You sound a bit judgemental if you ask me. Every woman has the right to deliver her baby the way she sees fit. Just because she's not doing it "your" way doesn't mean it's the wrong way. I was induced a few days before my due date with my second child and I had a perfect delivery and perfect baby (with epidural). You wouldn't want someone judging your decisions, would you?

Nope, it's their baby and their experience. Stay out of it. I agree, you do sound judgmental. Epidurals were wonderful for me and one of my pregnancies was induced. I had my reasons, just like she probably has hers. She sounds like she has been doing a wonderful job with her pregnancy and her birthing decision is her choice. Induction and epidurals do not make a woman inferior to those who choose to go without them.

If you stay out of it... how will you feel when she has a traumatic birth experience because of a forced upon her 'emergency cesarean'? I WISH I had a knowledgeable woman or Mother tell me to watch "Business of Being Born", to read "Pushed", "Silent Knife - the Truth of Cesareans and VBACS" BEFORE I gave birth!!!

My birth story is so common... I trusted the medical Drs to know everything, trusted every lie they told me, wasn't sure I could refuse anything, was given intervention after intervention... even when I was crying to them how afraid I was a cesarean may be needed and that was the most frightening thing for me... They still did things that pretty much guaranteed I'd be put under the knife. I'm still traumatized by my daughter's birth - she is 5.5 years old.

I think it is your duty as a woman and Mother to let this woman know the facts and reality of aggressive induction, of epidurals (for both her and baby), of the increased rates of unneccessary cesareans that they now are 1 out of 3 births!! It's insane!!

Why not invite her over to watch Business of Being Born with you? It's at every Library I've checked at - so you don't have to buy it. Just say you want to share with her how your births have been,. and you feel that sharing some important knowledge with her is important. If she really is such a health nut, she'll pay attention. Cesareans completely ruin your core muscles and it will never be back to normal, and some women even never get feeling back in that area. I know I've never gotten the feeling back from belly button to scar.

Nope. No tactful or gentle way to tell them that they are not adults that haven't done their research.

You were right when you told your husband to stay out of it.

Good luck to you and your SIL! Happy babies!

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I read a lot, but not all, of the responses so sorry if someone else already asked this. How old is your sis-in-law? Some docs will not let a woman over a certain age (usually 35) go much past her due date. They say the placenta breaks down more quickly the older we get. It might be that her doc hasn't really made her feel like she gets a say so in the induction date. Mine absolutely did not, told me in the beginning of the pregnancy, there are a few things I strongly believe in and a few things my insurance company strongly believes in. Discussed those with me and said if I couldn't agree with them, he couldn't be my doc.

Also, gotta say I LOVE their name. My DD is named Samantha too!

Good luck with your pregnancy and delivery and congrats!

Personally I wouldnt say a word unless specifically asked about it. Is she planning on getting an epidural? I had a successful induction, but dont know if I could have done it without an epidural. Even if she says she doesnt want one now, its still not too late, she can decide during labor if she wants an epidural if its too much. Bottom line, its their doctor, if they were against it, Im sure they would speak up. Its their experience and their lesson to learn. She still could go into labor and not need an induction. Like I said, between the couple and their doctor, I think they should handle the decisions. Im not sure I would have listened to anyone else anyways. And personally, the way my pregnancies go, if I was 2 days past my due date I would have been begging for an induction. I also had a scheduled c-section with my 2nd baby because he was too big, I was given all the facts, I had trouble getting my 7 pounder out vaginally, my doctor told me I had slim chances delievering him vaginally. I was always aware it was major surgery and aware of the risks and complications, but I knew my body and so did my doctor and together I felt like we made the best decision. I am pregnant now, (5 months) and have been discussing with my doctor vbac/c-section. We will do whats in the best interest of baby and I. We got this!

My 2 cents is to stay out of it. If she comes to you and asks you questions then I would say yes give her honest answers, but I wouldn't just go to her with your opinions unless they were asked for.

Congrats to the both of ya!! We just had baby # 3 in November... it is such a great experience.

Stay out of it. MIL can talk to her about it if she feels it's that important.

I think you could just mention that most docs wouldn't induce a first baby until you are at least a week+ post-date. 2 days late seems like a rush to me. I was induced 1 week late with baby #2. I plan to let baby #3 ride his course because I am doing a VBAC (2nd kid was a short cord, necessitating c-section after failed 20 hour induction). Due dates are estimates and I wouldn't want my baby to come out before it is ready.

Best wishes to both of you.

Well I would stay out of it...I maybe an not fully getting what you are saying but if she is sceduling an iduction for two days after she is due I don't see an issue. Most people schedule before the due date if anything. I just had a friend determined to go as long as the baby would cook 2 weeks late and ended up in an emergency c-section due to baby's stress...I truley don't think going over is necessarily healthy so I don't see an issue with it.

I had all three of my little ones with no medicine my third had to be induced 2 weeks early due to medical issues and even at that I did not use pitocin or other medecine like that. I walked in fearing the worst for the induction and just like my other two naturally progressing births they were identical and quick so I don't think that inductions necessarily mean the worst, I think it has a lot to do with the baby and how the moms body works. She is not your blood realitive so she may not be able to handle birth better or progress as well as you might have. Now myself, my sister and my mom all had easy drug free deliveries, with fast moving ones also my longest was 8 hrs and it was because my labor stalled as my son got shouldier dystocia so it pushed it a bit longer...my other two delivered in 3 hrs with only 3 pushes for all three even the stuck one....that doesn't mean that when another mom goes in and takes an hour to push the baby out they are doing anything wrong....sorry I just started going. But I an trying to get o ut that it is their choice good or bad in your decision they made it. They have the option to research into it if they wish. Leave that up to them.

Honestly I would let it go. My sister was induced with both pregnancies and both were successful yes she got an epidural but I don't hold that against her. Everyone is different just because you don't think women should have epidurals or be induced does not mean that those same feelings you have are the right birth choices for your sil. I went "natural" with both but it doesn't mean it's right or everyone especially if you are getting induced because you don't have he natural build up of intensity of contractions.
Edited: you might say you are not judging but you entire post sounds very judgmental.

Definitely stay out of it.

a scheduled induction 2 days after EDD is perfectly acceptable.
epidurals are no big deal. Some labors/deliveries are more painful that others and some women deal with pain better than others.
My first DD was facing the wrong way and I had back labor, the contractions literally never stopped. I had to get an epidural so I could have the energy to push when it came time 12 hrs later.
My son was a BIG baby for my size, he was induced 9 days early. Ended up with an emergency c section due to his head getting stuck. His head was 15 inches, I wasn't . I was completely dilated he was just too big.

I recovered a lot faster after my c section than I did after the traumatic vaginal birth.

to each their own.