Thoughts on Inducing for Convenience?

Don't do it if you don't need to. Inductions often result in longer, more painful labors and frequently end in c-sections. If everything is fine with you and the baby, let it stay in until it is ready.

My induction experience was very unpleasant and I would not want to go through that again.

K.
http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/karenchao

While I wasn't induced, I did have a scheduled c-section for the birth of my twins, who were my first children. It really took the stress out of wondering if I was in labor or not knowing when/if to call the doctor. I felt very relaxed just showing up to the hospital to have my babies.

My first was induced due to gestational diabetes and it was a long painful labor 14 hours with 2+ hours of pushing to end up with a major episeotomy and he was only 7 pounds...they were predicting over 9 pounds.

My second was not induced...my water broke around noon...but I didn't realize that was what it was until later. Started active labor around 6pm while out at dinner...didn't realize it yet...thought it was Braxton Hicks...went to a bookstore wandered around for an hour and a half...finally realized contractions were 2 minutes apart and constant....headed to the hospital...checked in at 4.5 cm...contractions totally breathable through them until I had to get in bed to be monitored then they got painful...was checked was at 9.5cm...pushed three times baby was here...easy peasy.

Go natural!!

I used to work in the ob/gyn field and noticed and increase in emergency c-sections and also babies with colic with induction. My opinion is that you should let nature take its course unless a medical emergency makes it necessary to intervene. Doctors who induce for "convenience" are doing so because 1) they don't get called in the middle of the night to deliver you and 2) they don't have to share the delivery cost with the on-call doctor.

There have been some good conversations about this issue. Search the archives for some good thoughts on it.

I vote no induction without a medical reason. It greatly increases your chances of a C-Section... And for me (one induction - two totally natural) the induction was the pits compared to a natural normal birth.

Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy.

J.

I can't speak from personal experience, but it seems like it's not worth it to me. I wouldn't want to risk having the baby early if there was a chance I was wrong about when I conceived or if the doctor's measurements were off. A baby born a little early should be just fine, but why risk it unless there's really a need for it? Just my opinion though!

Repeating here but please dont do it unless medically needed! I had a c section after being induced (no medical reason doc just was in a rush) It was horrible and I would never do it again! Because of my docs rush I have had 2 c sections and yes it was my doc who was ready. I was so nervous about going through labor! I really wanted to let it happen natural, but we dont always get what we want. We get what we need and I got 2 healthy babies and a loving husband. Again pleasse just let nature take its course :)

I was induced mid-labor because although my water had broken, labor did not progress at all for 10 hours, and I do think it was good that we did it. I also had a friend who was induced early because her baby was so large - and the baby was 10 and a half pounds! I think if they had waited until the baby came naturally, she may have had to have a C-section because the baby was so large, and so the doctor made the right call. However, I had a friend who wanted to be induced on her due date just because she was tired of waiting, and I don't think this is a good reason. I think in most cases, the body knows when the baby is ready. Her doctor refused to do it, which made her cross but I think it was the healthiest option.

My fist child was induced and let me tell you the experience sucked. #1 the only reason it was done was because my B/P was slightly elevated...my last prenatal visit coincided w/ my OB being out of town so his partner actually made that call. Convenience...oh sure I'm sure to someone it was, but not to me!
I checked into the labor ward at 8:30 am where they shortly after started the IV drip w/ the pitocin. I didn't start dialating until about 2:00 that afternoon and it was very slow. Periodically they'd up the amount of pitocin adding another IV drip. By that evening I started having contractions and they were bad. I got an epidural, but the first one didn't take, finally got the second one around 10:00. Started pushing around 10:30 but nothing really happened because the last lip of dilation was preventing the baby from coming down. Finally he got over the lip. By then he was having a little distress. I delivered him at a little after 1:00am, and he came out looking and facing slightly sideways which indicated that he hadn't quite engaged fully as facing anyway but up or down is unusual. So basically what that says to me is he wasn't ready to come out. Which really pisses me off. But he was 8lb 12 oz. and healthy...still, in retrospect it was unnecessary to force the issue. And I was lucky I didn't have to have a c-section as 1/2 hour more of that I probably would have. Still, it was 16 1/2 hours of labor that obviously neither I nor my son were ready for.

To top it off, because they gave me so many bags of the IV solution w/ the pitocin in it I blew up like a balloon, literally in the few pictures I allowed of myself during labor my arms are the size of my thighs and my face looked like the moon. All that extra fluid in my system resulted in me coming down w/ Mastitis 2 days later. Horrible fever 103.5, and chills on top of trying to take care of a newborn?! Ugh. It wasn't fun I tell you.

So no, one could say i'm not a huge fan of inducing. I'm currently 36 weeks pregnant and if I have anything to say about it (and trust me I do) I will NOT be induced this time around if I can avoid it. Thanks Docs but no...just no. I hope to let this one come as nature allows him.

Induction is harder on both moms and babies. The contractions from pitocin are much stronger and more painful than natural ones. Don't do it! Nothing about being a parent is convenient, why try? ;)

I had to be induced with my first and had a necessary planned c-section the second time. While the planner in me loved the convenience of the planned section, I would not choose to have everything all mapped out perfectly if I have more children. Just make plans, have everything packed in advance, a phone tree, and arrangements for other children or pets well in place ahead of time.

I was induced with #2 & #3, but for medical reasons, not for convenience. If I didn't have the bad swelling that I had and the back pain I did than I would neve have been induced. Also, I was only induced 3 days early. With my first child I went 9 days over my due date.

Even with my problems with #3, my doctor wasn't sure if I was able to be induced because the hospital rules had gotten so picky, she had a laundry list of things to fill out in order to have me induced....

#2 was 9lbs 9.6 oz and #3 was 10lbs 4oz

If everything is going good with your pregnancy, than let it proceed until the baby is ready to come out, or your health becomes an issue.

We did this for our first pregnancy because the dr. was going to be going on vacation and we really wanted the guarantee that she'd deliver the baby. By that time I was so ready to deliver, any time sounded good to me so we let ourselves be talked into it.

We didn't know that pitocin can play with the body temperature of the baby, that I'd have to be monitored the whole time (they ended up putting a fetal monitor on the baby's scalp because the outer monitor kept sliding...caused a sore,) and that my movement would be restricted and that I couldn't use water (a hot shower) to help manage pain (I wanted to go as natural as possible and have a quiet birth.) When I went in that morning I was already having contractions 13 minutes apart and didn't know it. They said since I was scheduled we had to go ahead.
The contractions probably followed a natural progression though with the pitocin, labor was intense but thankfully over at 3pm (we started at 9 am with the induction) (Dr. was a little distracted because she was getting ready for her vacation...she took a call from her child while waiting for a contraction for me to push on) Baby was very "cheesy" Which showed that she had plenty of time left to develop before being ready to be born (our last 5 did not have the same thick vernex sp?covering) . I found with subsequent pregnancies that my babies tend to be born between 40 and 42 weeks and she was born at 39weeks and wasn't happy about it. Screamed/cried for 45 minutes and had a hard time latching for nursing. When she quieted she was perfectly sweet and wonderful, though and I'm so glad she was healthy :)
I also remember shaking violently after the birth, (part of the reason we had to wait a while to nurse...my arms wouldn't stop shaking so I could hold the baby...) which may because of the hormones from induction during delivery...don't remember having the extremeness of the induced pregnancy during the other 5 labors. The first was a hospital birth the other 5 were at home with a midwife and very peaceful (at least as far as labor can be :) I'd have a hard time with a doctor who does this as a blanket policy...might also ask if he does episiotomies as policy as well. Those aren't any fun (didn't need them after our firstborn, thank God!) He doesn't sound very patient.
I know you'll get a lot of opinions, but this was my experience.
Hope your birthing story is a wonderful tale of peacefulness and is just what you desire.
Blessings!

I believe in natural childbirth. When you mess with nature, you suffer the consequences of trying to force something to happen. Have you seen Ricki Lake's movie? Induction starts with pitocin- the pain of that drug increases the use of epidurals which slows down labor- does that sound like it makes the experience more enjoyable?

Medical evidence has shown time and again that, unless there is a medical emergency, babies who deliver closest to the due date generally have better APGAR scores and thrive more heartily than those who are pushed out before they are done "cooking". Personally, if I'm paying a professional lots of money to deliver a baby, they need to do it on our natural timing, not 'at their convenience'. I think the baby who has all the time it needs, and is ready to be born, (I think the phrase 'ready to be born' says it all) does better in the days that follow.

That said, I was 10 days past due and used a great acupuncturist (who is also a midwife) and was induced that way. She checked for dilation and effacement before needling points. My son was born at home, in his own time, and just fine. Due to some of my health issues (very slow chi), I think we just needed a little kick-start. These contractions were 'designed' by the acupuncturist to coordinate dilation as well, and the birth was wonderful. Nonetheless, we did wait until we were four days shy of being unable to birth at home, and acupuncture is so gentle that, if he hadn't been ready, it just wouldn't have worked.

I wasn't induced but I only had 1 and he came when he came. I say I wouldn't, but haven't been in that situation.

One friend of mine scheduled an "induction" with her first because her OB was going on vacation for 2 weeks and she wanted to insure this doctor delivered her baby. She didn't want some strange doctor she didn't know "looking at her business" as she put it. She ended up having a c-section. With her second child she scheduled her c-section. She was a teacher and wanted to have him and be back to work in time for the first day of the next school year.

Another friend was "talked into" being induced (in her words) at around 39 weeks. She kept being told by her dr. that she was measuring really big and they didn't want the baby getting too big. She wishes, after the fact, she would have just waited on the baby to decide instead of listening to dr. know-it-all, her baby only weighed 6 lbs 1 oz.

I was induced 2 days post dates with a large baby (9lb 1oz). This date happened to be my birthday. It seemed like the logical thing to do. My induction was very uneventful.

My first was induced because I was at 41 weeks, the doctor estimated that he would be close to 10 lbs and I was showing no signs of labor being imminent at all. We induced, he was 10 lbs. 15 oz. and was delivered vaginally without any problems. I had some minor tearing, but heck he was almost 11 lbs!!

Since the induction went well and I now had a 2 year old to make arrangements for when I had my 2nd child we scheduled an induction at 39 weeks. Again, went fine with no complications.

Next time I had a 5 year old and a 3 year old to make arrangements for which included flying Grandma in from out of state, so we scheduled an induction again. Again, went fine with no complications.

I don't regret my decision to induce at all.

Good luck,
K.

I induced for convenience 9 years ago at 39 weeks. I am a planner and it was easier to be able to have everything planned out. My doctor was fine with it so we did. The nurses at the hospital weren't very happy about it. They kept giving me attitude about it and saying "you know this probably won't work and you will have to go home and have her when she's ready anyway". Needless to say, 7 hours after the pitocin was started I was holding my baby girl and it did work. I think they should have kept their mouths shut because they aren't doctors and it wasn't their decision! She was 7lb 8oz and doing great! Don't regret it at all!

My first baby was induced because she was a week overdue and not really showing any signs of progress. It was a long day, but I was able to deliver her vaginally and avoid a c-section (my doctor was not overly convinced at the start since she hadn't dropped much at all, but he let me try). She was 7 lbs 8 oz.

With my son, I really wanted to go into labor on my own. He was due Memorial Day weekend and at my 37 week appointment, my doctor (a new doc since we had moved) walked in and said "So, when are we going to induce this baby!". I was so caught off guard that I asked her why she thought he needed to be induced and she said because she didn't want him to get too big. She was ready to induce that week! I told her not yet because I needed my Mom to be in town at least and that she wasn't coming for another couple of weeks. So, she scheduled the induction for 39 weeks. My son was only 6 lbs 9 oz when he was born (so much for the "he might be too big" argument!). I'm really quite annoyed that I caved and let her induce me at all. Yes, it was convenient because we were able to have him the day after my Mom arrived to help, thus having her help for a longer period of time after he was born, but if I had it to do over again, I would never have let them induce me unless we got too far past my due date again and it became clear it wasn't going to happen on it's own. This was my last baby and I really wanted to see what it was like to go into labor on my own and have contractions and see what I could do naturally. Having had Pitocin with both of my labors, I wasn't really able to do that. An epidural was a necessity. The bottom line is that it was convenient (mostly for my doctor who ended up being busy when I delivered anyway and I still ended up with a different doctor delivering my son), but I would not have made the same decision again. Some things are just meant to be left to nature! I felt a little bullied by my doctor and I regret not standing up to her.

I guess I should mention that the delivery for my son went fine as well. I didn't have any medical issues that arose from the induction, just disappointment.

I was induced with my 1st at 39 weeks because I was on the border of having preeclampsia. With my second, I had him naturally at 37 weeks. I would say that being induced at 39 weeks or later is perfectly acceptable to me. I know by then with my daughter I was ready! I would not want to go over 40 weeks. But there are some people who say that the baby will come 'in due time' which is true. I would not plan an induction just to have a specific doctor or to have my child's birthdate on a specific day.

Being induced from the time they started the Pitocin to me holding baby girl was 7 hours (1 hour of pushing). I had some pain when the epidural was not holding on one side of my belly but that went numb after I rolled over. I could not control the pushing because I could not feel the pain so I think it took it longer to get her out. Also I ended up throwing up because of the meds.

With my son, no meds, it took 2 pushes and 20 minutes from the time I arrived until I was holding him.

If I had my choice a third time around, I'd do it naturally because it was shorter, faster recovery, no needles, etc. This is funny for me to say because I was one of those mamas who said I would NEVER do it naturally because i can't handle pain. I did pretty well those 2.5 hours from the beginning of my first contraction until he arrived!!!

My first came naturally and it was a very hard delivery. My second, I was induced at 37 weeks and it was a breeze. I could have easily pushed out a second baby, that's how easy #2 went. I will induce again in the future. Having said that though, I am glad the first came naturally so I could have the "honey, it's time!" experience!

I was induced for various reasons, the main being I wanted to deliver at a certain hospital with MY doctor, and 3 days after my due date, Pres. Bush was going to be giving a speech there so they wouldnt be admitting new patients because of it. Another was that I was super scared that I would go into labor at work and not be able to drive myself, I worked about 45 minutes from the hospital near my house, and it was the middle of winter. It went really well for me, it was the day before my due date, I was 3 cm dilated and over 90% effaced already, so they gave me a slow pitocin drip. I got there at 7 and had the baby at 5:15 ish, no problems. It even gave my dad time to drive the 7 hours from his house to be one of the first people to hold his new grandbaby.

I'm not saying natural isnt the way to go, I probably will next time, but inducing isnt the devil people seem to act like it will be.

My first was induced for medical reasons. I was 10 days over my due date. Went straight into full on labor symptoms within 2 hours of receiving the medicine. Was in labor for 15 hours.

My second was induced for convenience at my begging 2 weeks early. She was sitting on my syadic nerve. I couldn't sit right, keep anything down, sleep, etc. I lost 5 lbs in 3 days. I begged to be induced, dr. said no way before 38 weeks which was 4 days away. They gave me the medicine, I went home, didn't feel anything when I woke up. Got to the hospoital and they told me I was 4cm dialated. She actually ended up being born on the original (preg test calendar) guess date.

M.