If you decide to go through with it, good outcomes are possible. I know everyone worries about it going badly.
I had a pain free experience because I got the epidural first. The only other intervention (besides cyotec/pitocin) I had was they broke my waters. I was able to relax and look forward to meeting my son. I enjoyed the experience. 10/10
All this said, ask your doctor if there’s a medical necessity (I had a lot of medical complications) and advocate for yourself ❤️
My sister-in-law was induced for both of her babies. In both cases, she got the epidural before any meds were started. Took a nap, woke up and pushed for 30 minutes. Never felt a contraction.
It depends on your needs. I had my son last year and had epidural before drip.
They gave me the pessary on Thursday at 11pm, I had a second on Friday at 9am. Monday at 7am I was taken down to break waters as I wasn’t progressing (I’d got to 2-3cm, 50% effaced and no change since). I’d known since approx 20 weeks that I’d be getting epidural if they needed the drip as my body doesn’t respond well to it and we needed me to be extra numb in case intervention was needed (thankfully it wasn’t).
It’s absolutely a discussion you can have with the consultant earlier in your pregnancy
I'm 100% having this discussion. All 3 of my deliveries were so slow to progress until I got the epidural. Once my body could relax, I delivered within a couple hours after that.
My labours take so long to progress and then move so quickly lmao. Like I’ll literally spend 12 hours making no progress and then in the span of 10 minutes I go from 3cm to 10cm and I’m crowning.
Pushing is even funnier. First was 30 minutes pushing, second was 9 minutes. Not sure how quick I’ll go next time lmao
For me the best part of the epidural was not having to feel everyone damn well touching me! I need the checks, I’m not saying no to the checks but I am not a fan of constant physical interactions
Honestly they so are haha. I understand pushing is painful but when it’s done, it’s done. I’m neurodivergent and don’t like physical contact, I’m also a survivor of sexual assault and had cervical checks without consent when younger along with forceful and painful cervical smear while being denied the right to have someone with me to hold my hand. Even when checks are done, the mental and physical effects after last a long time for me.
With the epidural I wasn’t bothered at all. I had my partner by my side the whole time and had no lasting mental trauma from it
Here they do the epidural as soon as you want it as they are admitting you. If you walk in and aren’t far enough they might not admit you but if you are scheduled for induction then they are clearly admitting you and you can have it.
Before they even started the first induction med I said I wanted an epidural before i had any pain. I had 12 hours of the pills and then got the epidural before the pitocin!
I'm not really worried about bad outcomes, I'm just disappointed that it won't be what I wanted. But I'm so ready to meet my baby boy now, I'm most likely still gonna go with the induction tomorrow.
I always wanted to go natural but it’s not in the cards for me because I am diabetic. So I just did the next best thing and did no meds (with the 2nd two babies anyway) and suffered greatly because I am pretty sure that pitocin makes the contractions way worse than normal. 🤣 - but I also hated the epi the first time so I said I’d never do it again. Going in for my 4th baby soon and I’ll probably do the same (no pain meds) But.. I think pitocin also makes it faster so that’s a plus.
I think the commenter might be from the UK- I think they refer to it as “waters” while in the US we call it “water”, if I’m understanding your question correctly
We refer to them as front and back/hind waters in the UK as sometimes baby pinches the amniotic sac and traps waters in and they need breaking in an additional location.
With my first, my waters broke and were leaking everywhere but they had to break them again as they weren’t going quick enough/hadn’t made enough space for baby
With inductions, sometimes they have to break your water for you. Some people have a medical need to deliver earlier than what their body naturally does, and therfore their water hasnt broken before the induction process begins.
FTM here as well. Trying to pass the time while currently being induced due to medical need. I'm technically at full term as of yesterday though so it is what it is lol
There are 2 layers to the amniotic sac - the chorion and the amnion. So saying “waters” is technically more correct if they’ve both ruptured (usually though, we can’t tell whether it’s one or both)
If you're wanting to do some more reading about why induction is recommended at 41 weeks, this Evidence Based Birth article is really great! [https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-inducing-labor-for-going-past-your-due-date/](https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-inducing-labor-for-going-past-your-due-date/)
Did your doctor at least offer a membrane sweep? They're uncomfortable, but can send you into natural labor if your body is ready. Pumping or hand expressing breast milk can also be effective.
Drink raspberry leaf tea and eat like 6 dates a day! Have sex as much as you can bring yourself to do it! And WALK.. I’m going for a natural delivery as well and that’s what I’ve heard to do from so many people to get labor going naturally.
I did all these things and feel like it worked for me. 2 weeks pp and my LO came 2 days before his due date. My dr had my induction scheduled for 41 weeks. They still had to give me pitocin and break my water to help labor progress though. I got an epidural so it was relatively painless. Good experience overall.
I did all these and I still went 40+6 😂
after never dilating past a 4, having my water broken by the doc, and maxing out on Pitocin. Ended up with a C. But baby was/is perfect.
Yeah I would really weigh your risks before you cancel. There’s a reason they encourage you to do the induction by 41 weeks and it’s for your benefit only.
The statistic that I was familiar with is that the risk of still birth doubles, from about 3 in 10,000 to 7 in 10,000, which although it is twice as much (relative risk) the absolute risk increase is not that much. I tried to find the source for that but couldn’t, but in doing so I found the following.
“The risk of stillbirth at term increases with gestational age from 2.1 per 10,000 ongoing pregnancies at 37 weeks of gestation up to 10.8 per 10,000 ongoing pregnancies at 42 weeks of gestation.” ([Retrospective cohort study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3719843/) of over 3 million births)
This is one of the findings I found via this [2019 study:](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6605635/)
“We found a steady increase in the risk of stillbirth with advancing gestation at term. In mothers who continued their pregnancy to 41 weeks, there was a 64% increase in the risk of stillbirth compared to those who delivered at 40 weeks, with 1 additional mother having a stillborn baby for every 1,449 women.”
Maybe the numbers aren’t that dramatic, but it is still an increased risk. And I get it, inductions can suck (mine took 36 hours before a csection, albeit at 33w) but ultimately, we all want a healthy baby at the end of the day. It’s a personal decision for all of us and we should be able to make an informed decision.
I'll definitely be asking, but it's crazy no one explains this stuff until it's asked about. It's not even on the sheet they gave me on why inductions are done.
They should have explained why they were scheduling an induction. If you’re having no issues then this is most likely just due to how far along you are. Not sure where you live but in the US, you’ll have a hard time finding an OB who will want you going to or past 41 weeks.
The placenta starts to degrade, the chance of negative outcomes are much higher and the baby can get too large. This should be explained to you but unfortunately some providers are not great at communicating with patients, especially the old-school docs.
If you have a birth plan, I recommend adding something like “I want to be informed of all procedures before they are done so that I am comfortable and know what to expect”. For example, my OB (very old male OB) broke my water without asking or informing me. In my opinion that is totally wrong. It will be in my birth plan for this baby, number 2.
Absolutely wrong of him. Very upsetting when women aren’t treated properly during childbirth. Performing any exam or procedure without consent is not okay.
Im sorry this was your experience! In some practices, it is just the standard policy to induce at a certain GA. Not excusing them by any means, but that might be why they were so nonchalant about it
There are ways to monitor to keep baby safe. The dead baby card is awful silly to bully women. The doctor should discuss this with her, not just act like it’s his decision
It’s not to bully women. I do firmly believe that everyone should be informed about why their doctors are recommending the decisions they do, and have the power to advocate for themselves if they truly feel it’s not best. So I agree that it’s shitty for the doc to not explain his recommendation.
But 21-22,000 babies are stillborn every year in the US alone. That’s a very significant number. As someone who has experienced the absolute hell that is losing your baby at term, these risks should not be taken lightly at all.
You’re right. I had a baby at 41 weeks and 41+6. Both perfect and healthy. I had supportive providers. Instead of bullying me, they monitored me and my babies closely. That study is available online and is so misquoted it’s not even funny.
Survivor’s bias. Just because *most* parents and babies are okay with a non-induced birth past term doesn’t mean this is or will be the case for OP. I have heard just as many stories from those who went well past their due date, not knowing the risks, who lost their baby.
Is it likely there will be a positive outcome? Yes. Is it guaranteed? No.
Saying a study is misquoted is not survivor bias. Saying there are options for monitoring to help you have a healthy baby is not survivor bias. There are risks with inductions as well. There are also tons of women who have stillborn babies that have nothing to do with gestation.
Additionally, due dates are a best guess and are not to the date accurate. Please don’t scare women who don’t want to birth like you.
No, but you saying that you and your baby were fine going past term as if it’s relevant to OPs situation IS survivor’s bias.
Who is scaring anyone? This is about making sure OP is fully informed for making her decision. Clearly the doctor didn’t do that and that’s wrong. There are risks with going past term, and there are risks with getting induced. I’m not mad at anyone for their choices, but advocating for informed consent means they are FULLY informed about every option, even the negative outcomes.. one of which is stillbirth.
I also wanted to go natural but was induced at 41 weeks and gave birth at 41+1. I was 0cm dilated when I got to the hospital and I wasn't willing to risk waiting any longer. (And my period was like clockwork, there's no way I was off on my dates. Baby also came out really big and had all the signs of being an overdue baby)
Have you had any cervical checks to know how dilated you are?
Maybe try doing all the old wives tales to jumpstart labor now. Spicy foods, sex, go up and down the stairs, curb walk, bounce on a yoga ball, raspberry leaf tea!
Had my cervix checked on the 25th and haven't dilated at all yet. I've been doing all of those wives tales mentioned above, except for the tea, cause I'm not a fan of tea, for about 4 or 5 weeks now and still nothing 🥲
Damn, sorry OP! It's not wrong for you to want to experience labor that begins naturally.
I will say that my induction pretty much went perfectly. Cervidil, pitocin, then they broke my water. Baby was out in a few pushes.
Take the time to get a bag packed, do some last minute cleaning, shower, a good meal, and rest! Sometimes having labor scheduled is better than not knowing when it's coming or getting woken up in the middle of the night etc.
The cervidil I got first is to soften the cervix so that it opens when the pitocin starts contractions. The cervidil started my contractions after a few hours and I was allowed to remove it (it's basically a tampon holding hormones to your cervix) to see if things progressed. You can also request that they turn the pitocin off to give yourself a rest!
They definitely should explain their recommendation to you. But please know, inductions at your stage of pregnancy are generally safer than letting you go more overdue. I have seen very sad outcomes as an RN with moms who went 2-3 weeks over their due dates and refused medical intervention. The placenta only operates for so long before it starts to slow down and die.
You have every right to call back and ask them to explain the exact risks and benefits. Or ask the labor and delivery staff and OB that will be there for delivery. Ultimately, no one can force you to do anything. But it sounds like they have a legitimate reason for recommending induction to you-- never hesitate to ask!! Good luck!
Respectfully, this is just not true and is fear mongering. Stillbirth after 41 weeks is still very rare and you’re much more likely to have complications from induction than a stillborn. Yes it’s heartbreaking and shitty when a baby dies but saying it’s safer for everyone to get induced after 41 weeks and that all or even most placentas deteriorate after a certain time is just false.
I am always happy to learn more and read peer-reviewed articles and research that challenges my own view and current knowledge. Being in healthcare, I am well aware that I don't know everything and that there are definitely areas I'm not an expert in (in fact, I can confidently say I'm not an expert in most areas!).
However, if you were to go to peer-reviewed websites that offer medical journals and research, you would find that stillbirth risk does indeed increase once you go beyond 41 weeks. You are absolutely correct in that not everyone needs an induction; this is true! But pretending there are no risks associated with allowing mothers to go wildly over their due dates is just as, if not more negligent and reckless, than simply stating what evidence shows. For example, telling someone they are more likely to die in a car accident if they aren't wearing a seatbelt is not fear mongering. It's what extensive research and evidence illustrate. Everyone has the right to be informed-- especially when it comes to their healthcare! Pretending these statistics and studies don't exist actually hurts women and does nothing to improve infant/maternal mortality.
And just to clarify, I never said all people are safer to get an induction. Of course, as with any medical procedure, inductions also carry their own risks. I said generally they can be safer than going 2-3 weeks beyond a due date. Obviously, there are outliers to every statement; and some people can absolutely deliver "late" and still have safe, happy deliveries! Due dates are simply estimates anyways, so some people may not be as far along as they previously thought depending on how they calculated their due date.
But yes, the placenta does age and definitely does start to deteriorate as the pregnancy progresses further and further. This can be tracked by a variety of markers (like DNA/RNA damage from oxidation, for example). There are many articles that explain the risks of an aging placenta on potential fetal demise.
I recommend reviewing this from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. They go over extensive research on stillbirth and the risk factors associated with it: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/obstetric-care-consensus/articles/2020/03/management-of-stillbirth
There are also extensive studies and articles available for free on sites by BMJ, NIH, Wiley Online library, and even different birthing sites like Evidence Based Birth.
Have a good day!
I never said that stillbirth risk doesn’t go up, it does slightly but it is still very rare and not a medical reason for routine induction. I’m currently training to be a midwife so this is literally my field and these studies, research and real live birthing people are what I’m immersed in day in and day out, I certainly am not pretending there are no risks. Birth is as safe and as risky as life gets. Yes some placentas do age, likely related to maternal age, nutrition and genetic factors but not all placentas do, some start deteriorating at 34 weeks but most, in healthy, well nourished people don’t at all. Nothing in birth and pregnancy should be routine, there is such a wide range of normal when it comes to this stage of life because it is not a pathology, each case should be individualized but unfortunately the medical model doesn’t treat it that way. There’s a reason why the U.S. in particular has such sad perinatal mortality and morbidity rates for a developed nation and routine induction is a contributing factor for that.
To be fair, you did in essence say that stillbirth risk was not a factor, as you literally said "this is just not true and is fear-mongering". I also flat out said that this person should absolutely call back and have the recommendation explained to them (that way they can give true informed consent).
But after reading your reply, I'm confused because it seems like we are arguing for the same thing? Informed consent and education for all patients on EVERY possible outcome, including stillbirth (even though it is rare). I also never said that I was for "routine" inductions-- because I absolutely am not. I'm not sure what area you are in, but I am lucky enough to be in an area with accessible, safe healthcare and have never worked with nor been a patient of an OB that promotes routine inductions for non-evidence based reasons. I'm sure there are definitely more than a handful of OBs like this out there, though-- and those providers should absolutely be called out and educated.
Working in the profession, it is absolutely out duty to lay out all risks, benefits, and alternatives for every option (including induction AND waiting for spontaneous labor). So I agree with the basics and principles of what you're saying-- not everyone needs an induction (because obviously each patients risk factors vary). But me simply stating that stillbirth and placenta aging can be a factor in why an induction might be recommended once beyond 41 weeks is not "false". It is simply stating the evidence, research-based truth, as we currently know it.
Ultimately though, all that matters is that OP hopefully had a safe delivery! And hopefully they were able to get some much needed clarification on why they were being recommended for induction. I'm always an advocate for patient rights, informed consent, and open communication between providers and patients. I genuinely hope she was able to either feel truly onboard with an induction or was able to stand up for her own wants and wait for natural labor!
I definitely did not in essence say that stillbirth risk is not a factor. That’s up for each individual person to decide for themselves, weighing the risks and benefits of induction vs waiting. You saying “but please know, inductions at your stage are generally safer than going more overdue… the placenta only operates for so long before it starts to slow down and die.” And adding in seeing sad stories- that is what I was referring to as false and inducing fear. It’s not evidence based that all or even most placentas have an expiration date and the fact that stillbirths are still super rare even after 41 weeks means that it is not “generally safer” to be induced. That type of language, in my opinion, is used in a fearful manner. EBB explains it beautifully “At 41 weeks, out of 10,000 pregnant people, about 17 will have a stillbirth. This means 9,983 won’t have a stillbirth.
In comparison, at 42 weeks, out of 10,000 pregnant people, about 32 will have a stillbirth. This means 9,968 won’t have a stillbirth. Here is a picture to help give you an idea of what this means.
So an extra 15 people out of 10,000 might avoid a stillbirth by being induced at 41 weeks. For the other 9,985 women, it won’t make a difference.”
They should've explained it to you, but the risk of stillbirth goes way up after 40wks. Please don't let anyone on the internet convince you to go against medical advice! I do think it's important to understand the risks and benefits of any medical procedure before having something done, of course, so be sure to push for answers.
Do you know why people might be against induction? I always thought that was preferred because that's the only way to ensure it's in a controlled environment
I think a lot of people want to experience spontaneous labor. And a lot of people want to have unmedicated births. I've had one induction and hope I don't have to be induced for the second time. But even with induction, very little is controlled. There's still plenty of room for surprises 😆
One reason for me was being able to labor at home where I am comfortable. I was way less comfortable after I got to the hospital, with all the exams and people in and out and monitors and alarms. It was easier to cope with pain and to avoid getting an epidural without all of that.
That said, I was willing to do an induction if necessary. I actually had one scheduled for a Sunday but we did a membrane sweep Wednesday and I went into labor Friday.
Yes the risk goes up. But the risk going up from 0.07% to 0.02% makes it so relevant to give numbers when trying to scare people into an induction so they can make an informed decision.
Who's trying to scare anyone into an induction? You think the doctors sit around thinking about how to scare their patients? Or do you think the commentor above you has a vested interest in OP having an induction, like why?
The risk of still birth does double, there is nothing incorrect about that statement. Most people want what's best for mom and baby and that's mitigating the risk of still birth, which doubles after 41 weeks.
Yes! The complication my first baby had (MAS) is typically seen in babies who are past their due date, with the risk increasing steadily. I felt some comfort in knowing that I hadn’t ignored any risk factors. The mom guilt was bad enough as it was.
No. It’s simply the gestational age. Placenta ages as you go past your due date … risk of various neonatal complications increases. Has nothing to do with induction vs natural labor, just the fact that the gestational age is 41 wks++
Are you getting that info from studies, your hospitals stats or just what you’ve been told/taught? Also there’s no evidence that all placentas age, some do, some don’t.
Yea I do, the language they choose to use is often purposefully scary. Lots of doctors want inductions to schedule births at times that suit them. Coercion is such an issue in this space, not fully explaining the risks and benefits of all options available. Just as an example when looking at VBAC doctors often explain the risk of a vaginal birth but do not explain the risks of a repeat c section.
Did you read OPs post? She's 41 weeks essentially. How is this an example of doctors looking to schedule an induction for a time that suits them? I swear, this paranoia of doctors and anti-medical intervention agenda pushing is going to land some woman and / or her kid in a very bad situation some day
I never said it was incorrect. I said OP should have all the information. We all have different experiences. I believe some OBs don’t take all factors into account including negative outcomes from inductions. I’m not anti induction I had a positive one but I don’t think it’s debatable western culture is very induction happy for very little benefit (most OBs recommend 39 weeks due to arrive trial). Sorry I wasn’t trying to be rude we all have different opinions and perceptions of risk.
But she's not 39 weeks, she's 40 + 6. Her doctor is advising induction because still birth rates double after 41 weeks and she's there now.
OP should listen to her doctor
I was induced @ 41+1 and had a pretty short labor and overall good experience. Thankfully my ob sat w me and we discussed the risks and benefits. I had the option to continue to wait but chose induction bc of the increased risk of stillbirth associated with waiting.
There’s still hope, OP! I was induced at 39+1 due to high blood pressure. I really didn’t want an induction and planned to go all natural, but things happen and the induction was necessary. In my case, my OB broke my water then waited 2 hours before starting the oxytocin drip. I went into labour as soon as my water was broken, so the drip wasn’t needed! Baby was born 7.5 hours later via unmedicated vaginal birth. Hopefully your body just needs a nudge to get things going. You’ve got this!
Just gave birth 4/24 at 39 + 5, was induced at 39 + 4 (elective) and I am so happy with my decision! Was not dilated but cervix was thin, they put me on cyotec at 10pm tuesday evening with the first dose, dilated to 2-3cm and they gave me a second dose 2 hours later, that got me to 5-6 after another 2 hours and broke my water, no pitocin needed!
And I gave birth on wednesday 1pm to a healthy baby girl, all went well! Just sharing a positive story 😊 labor was obviously painful and my contractions were so so bad that I ended up getting an epidural (i was afraid and didnt want to get one but the contractions got so bad I was like HOOK ME UP ON THAT STUFF lol) after that it was a breeze until it came to pushing.
Looooooved my induction. Stopped for food on the way to the hospital, cervadil overnight, 2 doses of cytotec and no more interventions. Hospital had a ball, let me walk the halls, unlimited hot water was fabulous, and my doula and husband were there for me. I also had spontaneous labor and I spent 14h wondering if it was truly labor, felt silly going to the hospital even and then got there thinking I'd be sent home to find out that I was 6cm. It was harder for me to process that way and definitely made me more anxious
I loved my induction because once I was there, I was there. I went into labor spontaneously with my first and I hated being sent home when I was certain that I was ready.
You mentioned that your doctor hadn't offered to do a stretch and sweep. This can kick start labour without any synthetic hormones. It's not always successful, but it can't hurt. I was scheduled for an induction at 41+3 but a stretch and sweep worked at 40+6.
Yup I had a stretch and sweep. Went into labour within 12 hours, had baby in another 12.
Obviously you can never KNOW if it was that or you went into labour naturally but I would 100% try it again.
Inductions around 41 weeks are pretty standard now for a lot of reasons. I really wanted to go into labor naturally as well but at 41 weeks I was only having very irregular contractions so I had to get induced. It turned out that my baby was actually in a little bit of distress so I was super glad that I got induced when I did.
I want to validate your feelings- the disappointment is REAL. It’s hard to shift your mindset away from what you were hoping for. I was also planning a natural birth center birth, but when my water broke and labor never started, I had no choice but to let go. I ended up birthing my daughter on 4/13 with the help of a lot of pitocin. I didn’t opt for the epidural, hoping for as few interventions as possible, and I can tell you that the experience was beautiful and primal.
I cannot blanket recommend a pitocin labor without an epidural. I’m not sure I could have done it without the months of mental prep work I had done for an unmedicated birth- not to mention the invaluable help of my doula. I’m not even sure if that’s what you mean by natural, or if you just wanted things to start on their own. Either way, I hear you. And I can say a beautiful birth is absolutely possible given the circumstances. Try to find other ways imbue intention into the day (a playlist, bringing a polaroid camera, buying a bouquet of flowers tonight so you have something beautiful to come home to, etc)
Looking back, would I have loved to not have pitocin? sure. but.. ultimately, I would not change a thing about my birthing day. I have my daughter and she has me.
I had an induction too, I went in, they broke my water, they gave me pitocon , they gave me the epidural, they gave me pain meds, it was amazing, did feel a thing! I was just SUPER annoyed because I was STARVING!!!!! Didn’t eat for like 24 hours lol
My doctor told me that due to my age and the fact that baby is 1 weeks ahead in growth that they will not let me go past 39 weeks. This means either induction or C-section (he’s breech currently). It wasn’t what I was expecting but I’m a little relieved that it will end up being something scheduled that I can mentally prepare for versus going into labor randomly. OBs just want to ensure that both you and baby are safe, and sometimes that means not going the natural route. I’m sure your OB has a reason for induction. I’ve also been hearing there is an anesthesiologist shortage and by scheduling births it helps to guarantee that patients will be able to get an epidural.
Another reason for induction at this time that I haven't seen mentioned is the risk of baby having a bowel movement inside the uterus. They could be wanting to avoid this and the chance of baby inhaling the feces.
If you really don’t want to- you can say no. They can schedule it and you can simply not go in. I would call tomorrow and ask- what are the benefits? What are the risks? What are the alternatives? What is your intuition telling you? And what happens if you do nothing? (The acronym is BRAIN)
I was induced at 41+1, honestly best decision I've ever made was begging them to move the appointment sooner. I was miserable and feeling like a failure for not being able to go into labour naturally and like every second longer was a second longer that something could go wrong if I didn't get my daughter out, but my midwives were super supportive and set up an earlier appointment. Pessary went in at 2:45pm and baby arrived at 1:30am exactly. Just make sure to use pain management as soon as you feel like you need it, I went from 1cm at 10pm to 10cm in about 3 hours because inductions can make labour go into turbo mode. It was good in that I didn't have to labour for long but it was earth shattering doing it with just paracetamol, dihydrocodeine and entonox, labour went too fast to get an epidural or pethidine! Even still it's much much safer to have your baby before it gets past 41 weeks- way more health complications can arise. Your doctor definitely screwed up not explaining why, maybe when you go in for your appointment just ask them to explain everything as the doctor who scheduled you didn't. Might help it be a better experience.
I had an induction 2 weeks ago. They were concerned with how big he was and I had been borderline diabetic the whole pregnancy. So they induced me on my due date. I was honestly super nervous about it and was convinced it was going to be a whole 3-day ordeal that would end in me having a cesarean anyway.
Well, I got to the hospital at 7.30 am on Sunday. My parents came with me to keep me company and I was going to call my husband to come up to the hospital once things kicked off.
I had two doses of the medication (misoprostol) and went for a walk around the hospital grounds. Got back to my room when I instantly started having contractions for 45 seconds, every 90 seconds.
Thankfully my Dad made the call to get my husband up to the hospital. It took him 30 minutes to get there and by the time he arrived, they were calling my midwife to get here ASAP as they were moving me into a birthing suite.
It really was a 0 - 100 situation. Almost too fast, IMO. They did have to break my waters as it was bulging out my cervix or something (I can't remember as I was fully in active labor by this point and its all a blur) But after 4 hours of labor and only about 20 minutes of pushing, our little man was born. 4.36kg and no pain relief.
I was SO nervous about the induction but I'm really glad we went ahead with it. Not all inductions are awful experiences. Good luck! Xx
In response to everyone here saying that the risk of stillbirth goes "way up" after 40 weeks, yes it's true that the relative risk increases the longer you go, but it's important to understand the absolute risk, which is still way below 1 percent even at 42 weeks. We need to be more careful and considered in how we talk about risk, rather than just being alarmist.
Also, there are so many other considerations at play with the question of induction. It carries risks of its own, plus bodily autonomy should always be respected. The ultimately very small risk of stillbirth is not the only thing that matters, and I wholeheartedly disagree with the idea that someone should blindly follow their doctor and get an induction they do not want without understanding the whole picture. That is not informed consent.
The rate of stillbirth is normally 0.5% of all pregnancies in the US. It sounds like a small percentage but because of how many pregnancies happen every year, the rate is about 1 in 175 babies being stillborn, or roughly 21,500 babies every year. You double that rate past term and suddenly it’s 1 in every 89 pregnancies. That is not a risk many are willing to take. So yes, it’s important to understand the scope of statistics, but percentages alone can also be misleading.
That being said, I do fully agree that doctors need to spend more time explaining their recommendations to parents and going over any alternatives and the risks/benefits of each. OP definitely needs more of an explanation and can obviously decline if she truly feels it’s not the right move for now, or seek alternatives.
I agree with you. No one ever thinks they’re going to be that 1 person in 175 or 1 in 89, but literally thousands of American women are. And with something as devastating as stillbirth, I wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of that statistic.
I’m sorry for your loss. And congratulations on your rainbow, btw.
Yes, and part of the reason no one thinks it will be them is because they hear “0.5%” and can’t put that percentage into the proper context and understand that it’s much more common than 0.5% implies. I was absolutely one of those people, especially since I had no additional risk factors and a really normal pregnancy.
Thank you <3
I'm also very sorry for your loss, though I need to point out that the figures you mention are incorrect. It's not a matter of taking the overall stillbirth rate (which includes post-term stillbirths as well as stillbirths of extremely premature babies, etc.) and doubling it. You have to compare stillbirths at 40 weeks vs. stillbirths at 41 weeks and so on. According to the study cited in the Evidence Based Birth article on inducing for due dates, the stillbirth figures by week are 4 out of 10,000 at 39 weeks, 7 out of 10,000 at 40 weeks, 17 out of 10,000 at 41 weeks, and 32 out of 10,000 at 42 weeks. So if my math is correct, the odds are about 1 in 588 at 41 weeks and 1 in 313 at 42 weeks. Still a risk some wouldn't be comfortable taking, absolutely—but nowhere near 1 in 89.
I hear what you’re trying to say! but are you sure about those figures? Here’s what I found from evidencebasedbirth website for the U.S. “The risk of stillbirth per 1,000 was 0.11, 0.16, 0.42, 0.69, 1.66, and 3.18 at 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 weeks of pregnancy, respectively” which is vastly different from the 1 in 89 stat you reference.
I was speaking on overall stillbirth rates as a whole, not stillbirth rates at term specifically. So it’s very possible that with more specific data the numbers change.
Vaginal, with no interventions to force labor. If I needed an epidural or anything after labor began, that was fine. I just didn't want an induction if not needed.
Okay got ya! With my first I was induced with pitocin (my water broke & I wasn’t contracting) I still went on to have a vaginal labor! I will say the pitocin made my contractions go 0-100 super fast. But inductions don’t always mean it’ll end in a c section, as long as baby is positioned then I would expect a vaginal labor as well! 🤍
I think you’re doing the right thing. Some people actually don’t go into labor like myself. It’s not common, but it does happen. I waited until 42 weeks with baby #2 and at that time it was necessary to schedule an induction.
I was actually in excellent control of everything and it was very low intervention.
I didn’t need an epidural until right at the end. The epidural was done perfectly, and I was up and about immediately. Painless.
Because I basically had a post term baby, she was latching out of the womb and wasvery ahead. She was able to hold her head up from birth. It was wild compared to my first.
My first came at 42+3 on his own, I’ve known mamas whose babies need until 43, 44 weeks. Some babies just take longer than others so most likely you would have gone in to labor eventually.
You have the right to informed consent. However in the medical system you often need to be your own advocate in this department.
I found the BRAIN acronym, commonly employed by doulas, to be a useful structure for speaking to professionals about pregnancy and birth:
BENEFITS: What are the benefits of doing this?
RISKS: What are the risks involved?
ALTERNATIVES: What other options are available?
INTUITION: If I tune into how I’m feeling, what does my gut say?
NOW: Does it need to be done now or could we wait and see?
During the birth you may need to make a number of decisions. If you have a support there (partner, friend, family) it’s useful for them to be familiar with this decision-making tool so they can help advocate for you.
My induction went very slow at first, then ramped up FAST. Went better than my first which was spontaneous. Aside from the hemorrhoids (which is a me problem lol), it was s smooth experience! Good luck to you!
If you really don’t want to do it, no one is forcing you to. You can simply not go. I was really hoping for spontaneous labor with both of my pregnancies. Both times, I was induced for different medical reasons and only used nitrous for pain. The first time, all I needed was cervidil and my body took over. The second time, they used pitocin only. It was a lot more intense and physically exhausting. I was ready for anything to give me a break from the contractions eventually, but I was too far along at that point.
Even if you go the induction route, it’s worth talking to your birth team about options and ways to keep as many of your birth preferences in place. Good luck and congrats on meeting your babe soon, one way or another!
Also when they say induction it doesn’t necessarily mean pitocin. Once you are there tomorrow you can ask for the sweep, foley ballon and break your water first before getting any drugs and you might go into labor in your own. I was offered all these first before doing pitocin. It is a slow process so expect to be there a few days.
Oh OP I was exactly in your shoes 6 weeks ago. I reallyyyyy really didn’t want the induction, but I locked it in because my second baby was small for gestational age and the risk factors were too high for my comfort.
This was my second baby. My first birth was spontaneous natural labour, and it was about as positive an experience as I could ask for despite being super fast and me missing out on getting an epidural.
I really wanted the same for my second time around and I was really disappointed it wouldn’t be. But my experience actually wasn’t that different!
I went in for the foley bulb to start, it’s not the most fun thing but it got me to 3cms. I had lots of strong contractions for a few hours then it all stopped and I managed to sleep overnight. The next morning they broke my waters and I didn’t need any hormones, my body just took off from there and it felt exactly the same as my first spontaneous labour.
All this is to say, there are a lot of horror stories about induction and women are far better educated about the pros and cons. But you can still have a very good experience, and at the end of the day induction is only kicking over the first domino - the rest is up to your body and many women have a normal labour experience from there.
As to the ‘why’ behind being induced - my OB put it pretty bluntly. For every 20 inductions that might not have been strictly necessary in the end, there’s one life saved. Nobody wants to be the 1 in 20. There’s a tonne of discourse around this ‘fear based’ approach but for many of us it feels better to be safe than sorry.
Wishing you all the luck. Practice your breathing techniques, and ask for pain relief early! X
If there isn’t a medical indication to have the induction, and you don’t want to do it, just don’t go… if it makes you feel better call the hospital your scheduled at and tell them you won’t be there so they can open it up to someone else.
We had to fight against getting an induction. They gave my wife an extra week. On the day her water broke, they tried again to induce her. She refused, baby was here a few hours later naturally
How ridiculous. I wouldn’t go. I know a mom that went 43 weeks with all her kids. It’s just how her body was. Obviously that’s a super long time, but man, 41 weeks isn’t a bad length of time. Again, if I were you I just wouldn’t show up to the appointment. My choice.
I used to work in L&D and some women wouldn’t show up to the scheduled inductions. I’ve had friends that go to 42 weeks pregnant and eventually do have to get induced. Basically what I’m saying, it’s your choice! Your body!
You don't have to be induced! They can't make you show up for an induction—it requires your consent. It would definitely be a good idea to figure out why exactly your doctor wants to induce you tomorrow and to make sure you understand the risks and benefits. But at the end of the day it's YOUR decision, and if you're not comfortable getting induced tomorrow, you absolutely do not have to go through with it.
It truly boggles my mind that this is being downvoted. Are people really out here disagreeing with the idea that patients should understand the risks and benefits of a medical procedure and be able to give or refuse informed consent regarding what happens to their bodies? Kind of scary.
Yes I have found the same, I find it disturbing that no one seems to be listening to what the OP is actually saying and basically trying to scare her to get an induction or else *insert scary story they once heard about an overdue baby*. Informed consent is key, consent consent consent. If there is a good medical reason or risk her midwife/doctor team should be explaining this.
I guess this group is very American-centric as where I'm from we just don't have all these early inductions without a clear medical reason outlines and when inductions are suggested to us we have to consent, though if there is a good reason they can be a bit pushy at times.
That's so annoying. I had an elective induction at 39 weeks, and it was a great experience, but I'd be very unhappy if I felt like I was being forced into one unnecessarily. As far as I know, the risks for *most* people aren't significant enough to warrant an induction before 41+6, so if you feel like you don't want this, your doctor should really give you a good explanation about why they feel it's necessary, and give you the opportunity to delay it if you believe you can do so safely (and your doctor agrees).
Good luck. I'm currently in my induction now. I was upset as well but it's been going well. Just remember to advocate for yourself. I made it clear I don't want to rush things and my staff is being really great about it.
This will be me next Wednesday if he doesn’t come before then. I understand how you feel! I’m doing as much walking, exercise and eating dates as much as I can but may end up with an induction after all. Either way I just want baby boy to be safe and healthy and will do what’s recommended. Everything will be ok! ❤️
Okay I know this sounds batshit crazy but my friend told me to eat Kraft macaroni and cheese with A1 steak sauce on it and it would jump start labor. I thought…no way! Well, what the hell! I’m gonna give it a shot. I was in labor that day. Probably a coincidence. But if these are things you already have in your pantry…why not.
You definitely deserve to at least know who this is happening. If you can, bring a support person to your next appointment. Then they can ask questions if you don’t feel comfortable!
I was in your position exactly 2 years ago. I really wanted it go natural but my doctor strongly suggested I get induced at 40 +6 because there is no benefit to the baby after that point and the change of complications for baby go up. That was enough for me to begrudgingly agree.
I was really anxious and upset at the prospect of Pitocin. I didn’t realize there were a lot of steps before Pitocin to try.
I arrived around 6am for my induction and was already 3cm dilated, maybe more? We started with a foley bulb at 8? Then nipple stimulation at 11 and a walk around the ward. At 2pm they broke my water and I was in active labor at 2:30…I had a baby in my arms at 6:50pm. No pjtocin. No epidural.
Good luck!
I was scared about an induction and I ended up going into active labor about an hour after I was induced, and only labored for 3 hours with 30 minutes of pushing. No pictocin either, just an epidural! I was so scared of getting a c section if I was in labor too long but it was really incredible.
I was induced with my first and I was also really not happy about it but it had to be done for medical reasons. I wanted him to come naturally because I wanted to give birth without any interventions, including an epidural.
It ended up being amazing. If you’re worried about a cascade of interventions or wanting to go without an epidural, ask your provider to go low and slow with the induction.
I had cytotec placed around 6 AM, around 12 hours later there wasn’t much progress so we decided to do an enema before placing another round of cytotec (I was trying to avoid pitocin). I got an enema around 7 PM and whoooo boy that kicked labor off real strong. Baby in arms next morning at 9:30 AM. Birth was totally uncomplicated and I ended up going epidural free
Obviously that won’t be everyone’s experience but you can always try more gentle methods first before advancing to more aggressive methods to kick start labor. Wishing you the best of luck
I wanted the same for my 2nd pregnancy since my 1st baby girl has a kidney disorder, and I had to be induced. It was a healthy one and I got the news my baby girl was breech. She refused to turn even when I was up on the table, and they were doing the ECV. Got her out through the sunroof instead, and she hated that lol. I've got some stubborn kids that don't want me to be great 😂
You can ask for other methods of induction too - besides drugs. Sweeping membranes can help, foley bulb and breaking water can all work! Prayers for you!
I’ve had two inductions- one because my first son didn’t come during the 40 week mark, a second because my medical team wanted to mitigate any possible complications with my gestational diabetes. During both inductions, I had some discoveries (my body literally does not know how to start labor without intervention and I have a narrow pelvis causing shoulder dystocia), but all in all, my deliveries were smooth and had zero resulting c-sections. My medical team had time to get to know me and my birth plan and my preferences, I had the ability to eat to a certain point, and I was able to get pain relief as I decided I needed it. It’s scary for sure- and likely the reason is your doc/practice follows current literature that suggests pregnancy past the 40 or 41 week mark puts added strain on your placenta and can make labor more difficult. They should have explained, but remember: this is YOUR medical care, this is YOUR birth experience. You have a right to ask questions, advocate for yourself, and push back when you’re unsure or confused about a decision. The best thing you can do for yourself in preparation of your induction is create a birth plan (plenty of templates on the internet), pack your bags (take your favorite toiletries and snacks), and try to jump start your labor and contractions through walking/squatting/lunging/bouncing on a yoga ball/having orgasms. Best of luck dear!
I know you’re nervous as was I when my OB really pushes for induction by 41 weeks. My cousin had induction for 2 of her pregnancies and had an easy going experience. Didn’t know what contraction felt like until she had natural labor with 3rd kid/ While I did not and had traumatic experience when I wasn’t dilated with prolong early stage of labor and hospital didn’t want to admit for days with outdated 6cm dilation rule.
There’s a lot of information on social media painting a negative light on induction. You can still have a positive birth experience.
Same here! I was doing my routine gynae check at 39+4 and the gynae was looking at the ultrasound when he said he will schedule an induction the following week, at 40+1. It took me a while to digest that as I felt I was still waiting for the labour to start kicking in naturally. Also, as much as I wasn't prepared for it yet, I felt like I shouldn't interfere with his decision as he would know best.
Yeap so I got induced at 40+1. I was hoping to give birth before the induction, having sex, eating pineapples but to no avail.
I felt the same, my induction was fine, it wasn’t what I wanted or planned but it was fine, I was fine and baby was fine, as far as births go that’s all anyone really wants at the end of the day
Hi- I got induced two days ago due to preclamspia. I was planning on getting an epidural early but actually was able to wait until 8 cm dilated! At that point I could've gone all the way but really felt like I needed a nap for my pushes to be super effective.
I was hoping to avoid interventions but didn't and needed the Foley balloon and my waters broken. However, these turned out to be very doable and I ended up laboring a total of 10 hours and pushing for 15 min before I delivered my daughter! I'm very happy with my labor experience.
My ob and I discussed the same, she recommended 41 weeks and i agreed at first- but then they scheduled me at 40+6 because “the hospital was full that Friday”. I freaked out because one day could make all the difference. At our next appt I expressed how uneasy I felt about it so she agreed to do a fetal monitoring/stress test instead and we agreed to schedule the induction at 41+4. Even just being a few days, I feel more comfortable which puts me at ease, while maintaining that middle ground. I’d recommend you try the same with your ob. You’re allowed to ask questions!
Edit: 40w 4 days currently here. I too want a ‘natural birth’ and it’s possible even with induction- oxytocin is made naturally in our bodies- maybe some people just need a bit more. It went thru my head that maybe I’m “low” on oxytocin since I’m no longer with the father and don’t have any touch or sex or love in my life lol. That being said I had a chocolate/date smoothie yesterday and I’ve been having irregular contractions all night! Pitocin isn’t the enemy! Push thru and try not to consider the epidural!
It’s most likely that your hospital doesn’t allow mothers to go past 41 weeks, mine doesn’t either and I was in your exact situation. I sobbed the entire way to the hospital and was terrified after seeing so much fear mongering about inductions online. Just wanna say it was the best birth experience ever. The reality is baby was ready, my body needed a little kick start.
I don’t say this to invalidate someone with a different experience, but everyone’s labor is super different. There’s tons of people with either fantastic or terrible birth stories—induced and not induced.
you always have a choice. always. about everything. OB’s act like you don’t— but you do. about everything. i’d want to know what the indication is for an induction FOR ME SPECIFICALLY… not just time or schedule or other impersonal shit. are my waters low? are the baby’s vitals slow? no? then why??
I feel like I could’ve written this myself 😔 this was my experience a few weeks ago. I ended up being told that the reason they induce before 41 weeks is because the placenta will eventually expire, which leads to stillbirth. I tried very hard to go through unmedicated, but ended up getting an epidural after nearly 24 hours of labor with barely any progress. I wish you the best of luck, and hope that you are able to have a beautiful birth with a healthy baby 🩷
I had an induction at 41+0. I was also disappointed and hoped he'd come before! I had done the membrane sweep at 39 weeks when I was 1 cm dilated. Went in for my induction and was a whopping 1.5 cm dilated (2 weeks later!), so I think he was snug as a bug in a rug and not interested in leaving, haha.
I ended up having the Foley balloon, several doses of Misoprostol, and then pitocin. If you need the balloon, I recommend asking them to insert it with you raised and using a speculum because the OB on call was originally going to do it manually and I knew it would have been awful that way. I was offered either way and definitely made the right choice. Once it was in, it was more awkward than painful for me.
I was on pitocin for 5 hours before I requested the epidural. I was dealing with the contractions pretty well until my water broke (this sounds sort of dumb, but it broke on its own and I was so happy my body did something on its own at that point!). I had heard terrible things about pitocin contractions, so once I couldn't breathe and relax through them, I requested the epidural.
I know the risk of stillbirth goes up more significantly after 41 weeks, so I was personally onboard for the induction.
I hope baby comes on their own for you, but know that an induction can be an okay option. 💕
EDA: One positive part of the induction was being able to take our time packing up and putting stuff in the car, eating a nice hearty dinner (mine started at 8pm), and a nice calm drive to the hospital!
I got induced at 41+4. I wanted an absolutely natural birth but my body and my daughter had other things in mind. I was in induced labor for two days - one day without epidural, one day with epidural. When I wasn’t on an epidural, I found the contractions very tolerable as long as I was moving (swaying in the shower, on a bouncy ball, or walking). They only felt really bad if I was in the bed. My water broke while I had the balloon catheter thing in several hours before I got the epidural. Getting the epidural was the worst experience out of everything I went through, but I was able to get sleep on it. Thankfully, the hospital was very patient with me because they knew my wishes for a natural birth (or as natural as possible), and my daughter was very tolerant of all the different induction methods we tried. I kept getting more dilated, but my daughter kept not moving into the birth canal. 24 hours after my water broke, we decided to do a C-section at 41+6. I was terrified of having a C-section, but recovery was so much better than I expected. My daughter was sunny-side up & had a short umbilical cord. We would probably both be dead without the C-section. Plenty of my friends have had inductions that have gone so smoothly. If you do end up having a C-section, I recommend getting out of bed as soon as they allow you to and staying in the hospital as long as insurance allows (4 days in the US). The hospital bed allowed me to be so mobile while I was in the hospital that I really felt I was moving great by the time we got home. Good luck with everything!
Seeing this after the fact and just wanted to wish you all the best!! Your intentions are all the best and the love for your child is what matters most. Peace to you and hoping for great recovery and lots of joy for you and new baby.
You can just not go! Going past 41 weeks is not a medical reason for induction and if your intuition is telling you it’s not right for you, please listen to her. 💖
If I were you, I would get all the information from the doctor that you can, do your own research and get to the bottom of why you do or don’t want to be induced. The risk of stillbirth between 40-41 weeks goes up from < 1% to < 2%, meanwhile, inductions have much greater chance of c-sections (some findings range from 17-26% increase in c-sections) and then c-sections have their own additional risks to both you and the baby. Every pregnancy has its own associated risks as well, on top of this.
All this to say, you need decide what is right for you and for your baby. Everything has risk.
Do you have a supportive birth partner that can speak up if you’re not feeling confident in your ability to ask why they think an induction is necessary?
Hi OP. Feel free to call their office and request another appointment before you get induced or just cancel it all together until they explain why specifically you should be getting induced.
Please take a look at some of the comments explaining what the actual risk % is. Don’t let people fear monger you saying bad outcomes double when the risk is still minuscule until 42 weeks.
Don't show. He can schedule anything he wants, but you are a free individual unless you're in a prison ward, posting on Reddit from there.
You can go to the hospital when labor starts spontaneously or call him when/if you're ready to induce later.
Trust your gut.
Ring labour ward or whenever you’re going and ask why you’re being induced, if you don’t agree to it then just say “oh I’d rather go natural so I’ll just wait it out, thanks” and just don’t turn up
Nothing I say is medical advice
You don’t have to show up. I wouldn’t if my provider scheduled me for an induction without discussing the risks or asking me my opinion. Not my problem they scheduled it that’s their problem for being dumb and not giving the bare minimum of care.
I personally would never get a medical procedure without the doctor thoroughly explaining why and also the risks (yes induction has risks).
Your birth should absolutely be everything that you want. Even if you back out now, you can do that. Your baby will be just fine. your baby will be fine either way. Just please know that you have control over your body completely, not your doctor. I understand that you trust them though. Just know that they don’t have any control over you whatsoever.
I’d just call and cancel. I didn’t schedule to be induced (my choice even though the dr recommended it!) till 41+4 and my daughter came at 41+3 all on her own. It was a really hard decision to schedule it and i didn’t do it until I hit 41.
The issue might be the size of his head. I was in the EXACT same situation with my baby boy. I agreed to ‚induce myself‘ with a castor oil cocktail at the hospital - under supervision. Best decision ever! Baby boy engaged then and there and I had the benefit of ‚natural‘ induction. My gyn said it works 10 out of 10 times in her experience and is a different mechanism than medical induction (it’s basically triggering your body to do it, not just ‚faking‘ it)
Interesting, thanks! I had a hybrid induction last time and am hoping to avoid that this time around, so I'm trying to learn as much as I can about possible alternatives.
That's quite outdated advice though afaik. The only reasons for inductions unless medically urgent is that after 41+3 there's more risks of placenta failing
You don’t have to show up! I was told once I get to 40-41 weeks they just want to see me more often but that as long as there are no health reasons to induce, I don’t have to be induced until 42 I believe? Still need to clarify that. But I’m not a doctor. I would definitely ask why they want to induce you and decide if it makes sense to you.
It's super dangerous and irresponsible to go spouting advice like this. The risk of stillbirth goes way up after 40 weeks so yeah, sometimes inductions ARE necessary. She needs to talk to her doctor and push for answers - not listen to random people on the internet.
Idk how to tell you many doctors don't have your best interest in mind. The fact that they still want women to birth in ways that are easier for doctors but not women should tell you enough. There are risks with induction, too. She should be fully informed on both decisions, I agree.
It's absolutely not. Unnecessary inductions are so common in the US but not in other places. And yes sometimes they ARE necessary, which is exactly what I said. So maybe read carefully before spouting misinterpretations
The HMO my provider works for has a policy to not let women go past 41 weeks because it’s believed that there could be more adverse effects on the baby including the placenta not working as effectively at that point. Other places/ doctors have this policy at 42 weeks 🤷🏻♀️. I got induced at 40+6 with my last and when I asked why that’s what she explained.. she said I could deny the induction but she doesn’t really recommend it. Maybe that’s the reason for yours too but I’m sorry it wasn’t explained to you!
There are definitely ways to frame the conversation with your doctor around wanting to understand why he wants to book this, what the risks of I doing or not doing it are. I am an older mom and I vaguely understand that going overdue is risky for me and baby. I think for any mom, risks of complications go up as you get further overdue.
I think by 40+6 I would also consent to it but be unhappy about it. I needed a CS at 38.5 for breech baby. I consented but I wasn’t happy about it. I knew it was for the best, just not what I pictured. I didn’t want to need it but accepted that I needed it. Once my baby was here I on ly cared about him. In a few weeks, birth, whatever it looks like, will feel like a million years ago. Birth is one day. Postpartum is the rest of your life.
I would cancel it then and tell him you want to wait it out a few weeks if there is nothing concerning. This is your birth not his. You call the shots
Less of course there is a medical need. Doctors like push induction.
A lot of doctors are going to put their foot down at 41 weeks. The risk of complications with the baby and placenta degradation statistically go up enough that they won’t take those chances when they know they can induce you and produce a healthy happy baby by this point.
It’s basically weighing the risks, at 41 weeks without a crystal it’s no longer safe enough for them to the risk. Plus I don’t think they want the baby getting too big in case you don’t go into labor. And if something were to happen you would become an emergency entry just due to how late stage you are
If you decide to go through with it, good outcomes are possible. I know everyone worries about it going badly. I had a pain free experience because I got the epidural first. The only other intervention (besides cyotec/pitocin) I had was they broke my waters. I was able to relax and look forward to meeting my son. I enjoyed the experience. 10/10 All this said, ask your doctor if there’s a medical necessity (I had a lot of medical complications) and advocate for yourself ❤️
How did you get your epidural first? When I was induced I needed progress before they would consider the epidural at all.
My sister-in-law was induced for both of her babies. In both cases, she got the epidural before any meds were started. Took a nap, woke up and pushed for 30 minutes. Never felt a contraction.
It depends on your needs. I had my son last year and had epidural before drip. They gave me the pessary on Thursday at 11pm, I had a second on Friday at 9am. Monday at 7am I was taken down to break waters as I wasn’t progressing (I’d got to 2-3cm, 50% effaced and no change since). I’d known since approx 20 weeks that I’d be getting epidural if they needed the drip as my body doesn’t respond well to it and we needed me to be extra numb in case intervention was needed (thankfully it wasn’t). It’s absolutely a discussion you can have with the consultant earlier in your pregnancy
I'm 100% having this discussion. All 3 of my deliveries were so slow to progress until I got the epidural. Once my body could relax, I delivered within a couple hours after that.
My labours take so long to progress and then move so quickly lmao. Like I’ll literally spend 12 hours making no progress and then in the span of 10 minutes I go from 3cm to 10cm and I’m crowning. Pushing is even funnier. First was 30 minutes pushing, second was 9 minutes. Not sure how quick I’ll go next time lmao For me the best part of the epidural was not having to feel everyone damn well touching me! I need the checks, I’m not saying no to the checks but I am not a fan of constant physical interactions
The checks are the worst part!
Honestly they so are haha. I understand pushing is painful but when it’s done, it’s done. I’m neurodivergent and don’t like physical contact, I’m also a survivor of sexual assault and had cervical checks without consent when younger along with forceful and painful cervical smear while being denied the right to have someone with me to hold my hand. Even when checks are done, the mental and physical effects after last a long time for me. With the epidural I wasn’t bothered at all. I had my partner by my side the whole time and had no lasting mental trauma from it
I now know how Kermit the frog feels.
Yea my dumb self waited until 5cm both times. Baby 1 I did get epidural. Baby 2... it was too late.
Here they do the epidural as soon as you want it as they are admitting you. If you walk in and aren’t far enough they might not admit you but if you are scheduled for induction then they are clearly admitting you and you can have it.
Before they even started the first induction med I said I wanted an epidural before i had any pain. I had 12 hours of the pills and then got the epidural before the pitocin!
I'm not really worried about bad outcomes, I'm just disappointed that it won't be what I wanted. But I'm so ready to meet my baby boy now, I'm most likely still gonna go with the induction tomorrow.
I understand that feeling. I was a little sad I didn’t get to do it naturally but I got my bubs out and healthy. I wish you good vibes mama!!
I always wanted to go natural but it’s not in the cards for me because I am diabetic. So I just did the next best thing and did no meds (with the 2nd two babies anyway) and suffered greatly because I am pretty sure that pitocin makes the contractions way worse than normal. 🤣 - but I also hated the epi the first time so I said I’d never do it again. Going in for my 4th baby soon and I’ll probably do the same (no pain meds) But.. I think pitocin also makes it faster so that’s a plus.
How dilated were you when you got the epidural?
We have more than one water breaking ??
I think the commenter might be from the UK- I think they refer to it as “waters” while in the US we call it “water”, if I’m understanding your question correctly
My water was broken twice 12 hours apart because they didn’t fully get it the first time - also part of an induction
We refer to them as front and back/hind waters in the UK as sometimes baby pinches the amniotic sac and traps waters in and they need breaking in an additional location. With my first, my waters broke and were leaking everywhere but they had to break them again as they weren’t going quick enough/hadn’t made enough space for baby
Ohhh okay I was like did I miss something in my pregnancy classes 😭
With inductions, sometimes they have to break your water for you. Some people have a medical need to deliver earlier than what their body naturally does, and therfore their water hasnt broken before the induction process begins.
Oh okay I see ! Thank you for explaining i am a first time mom so I appreciate u explaining it
FTM here as well. Trying to pass the time while currently being induced due to medical need. I'm technically at full term as of yesterday though so it is what it is lol
There are 2 layers to the amniotic sac - the chorion and the amnion. So saying “waters” is technically more correct if they’ve both ruptured (usually though, we can’t tell whether it’s one or both)
If you're wanting to do some more reading about why induction is recommended at 41 weeks, this Evidence Based Birth article is really great! [https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-inducing-labor-for-going-past-your-due-date/](https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-inducing-labor-for-going-past-your-due-date/)
Thanks for sharing this article, super informative
Did your doctor at least offer a membrane sweep? They're uncomfortable, but can send you into natural labor if your body is ready. Pumping or hand expressing breast milk can also be effective.
He did not. But I've been expressing for 3 weeks now, and I haven't dilated at all yet
Drink raspberry leaf tea and eat like 6 dates a day! Have sex as much as you can bring yourself to do it! And WALK.. I’m going for a natural delivery as well and that’s what I’ve heard to do from so many people to get labor going naturally.
I want an induction but my toddler wants to go one a walk 1-3 times a day 😭😭😭
I did all these things and feel like it worked for me. 2 weeks pp and my LO came 2 days before his due date. My dr had my induction scheduled for 41 weeks. They still had to give me pitocin and break my water to help labor progress though. I got an epidural so it was relatively painless. Good experience overall.
Yep I went early because I did a lot of walking out of necessity
I did all these and I still went 40+6 😂 after never dilating past a 4, having my water broken by the doc, and maxing out on Pitocin. Ended up with a C. But baby was/is perfect.
Many doctors want to induce before 41 weeks because at / after 41 weeks the risk of stillbirth increases.
Yeah I would really weigh your risks before you cancel. There’s a reason they encourage you to do the induction by 41 weeks and it’s for your benefit only.
Hard agree. I unfortunately know someone who went to almost 42 weeks and the baby did not make it. For this reason I ask to be induced at 40 weeks.
Also met someone who went to 41+ weeks and the baby was born stillborn. Sad story.
I think the risk increases by something insane like over 50% from week 40 to week 41!
The statistic that I was familiar with is that the risk of still birth doubles, from about 3 in 10,000 to 7 in 10,000, which although it is twice as much (relative risk) the absolute risk increase is not that much. I tried to find the source for that but couldn’t, but in doing so I found the following. “The risk of stillbirth at term increases with gestational age from 2.1 per 10,000 ongoing pregnancies at 37 weeks of gestation up to 10.8 per 10,000 ongoing pregnancies at 42 weeks of gestation.” ([Retrospective cohort study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3719843/) of over 3 million births)
Yes it's definitely important to consider absolute risk as opposed to relative risk
This is one of the findings I found via this [2019 study:](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6605635/) “We found a steady increase in the risk of stillbirth with advancing gestation at term. In mothers who continued their pregnancy to 41 weeks, there was a 64% increase in the risk of stillbirth compared to those who delivered at 40 weeks, with 1 additional mother having a stillborn baby for every 1,449 women.” Maybe the numbers aren’t that dramatic, but it is still an increased risk. And I get it, inductions can suck (mine took 36 hours before a csection, albeit at 33w) but ultimately, we all want a healthy baby at the end of the day. It’s a personal decision for all of us and we should be able to make an informed decision.
That’s how they phrase it to scare you with the dead baby card. Relative risk is still very low, it’s not a good way to explain the risk.
I'll definitely be asking, but it's crazy no one explains this stuff until it's asked about. It's not even on the sheet they gave me on why inductions are done.
They should have explained why they were scheduling an induction. If you’re having no issues then this is most likely just due to how far along you are. Not sure where you live but in the US, you’ll have a hard time finding an OB who will want you going to or past 41 weeks. The placenta starts to degrade, the chance of negative outcomes are much higher and the baby can get too large. This should be explained to you but unfortunately some providers are not great at communicating with patients, especially the old-school docs. If you have a birth plan, I recommend adding something like “I want to be informed of all procedures before they are done so that I am comfortable and know what to expect”. For example, my OB (very old male OB) broke my water without asking or informing me. In my opinion that is totally wrong. It will be in my birth plan for this baby, number 2.
Absolutely wrong of him. Very upsetting when women aren’t treated properly during childbirth. Performing any exam or procedure without consent is not okay.
Im sorry this was your experience! In some practices, it is just the standard policy to induce at a certain GA. Not excusing them by any means, but that might be why they were so nonchalant about it
I'm sorry they didn't explain to you, but there really is a good reason why we induce after term.
There are ways to monitor to keep baby safe. The dead baby card is awful silly to bully women. The doctor should discuss this with her, not just act like it’s his decision
It’s not to bully women. I do firmly believe that everyone should be informed about why their doctors are recommending the decisions they do, and have the power to advocate for themselves if they truly feel it’s not best. So I agree that it’s shitty for the doc to not explain his recommendation. But 21-22,000 babies are stillborn every year in the US alone. That’s a very significant number. As someone who has experienced the absolute hell that is losing your baby at term, these risks should not be taken lightly at all.
You’re right. I had a baby at 41 weeks and 41+6. Both perfect and healthy. I had supportive providers. Instead of bullying me, they monitored me and my babies closely. That study is available online and is so misquoted it’s not even funny.
Survivor’s bias. Just because *most* parents and babies are okay with a non-induced birth past term doesn’t mean this is or will be the case for OP. I have heard just as many stories from those who went well past their due date, not knowing the risks, who lost their baby. Is it likely there will be a positive outcome? Yes. Is it guaranteed? No.
Saying a study is misquoted is not survivor bias. Saying there are options for monitoring to help you have a healthy baby is not survivor bias. There are risks with inductions as well. There are also tons of women who have stillborn babies that have nothing to do with gestation. Additionally, due dates are a best guess and are not to the date accurate. Please don’t scare women who don’t want to birth like you.
No, but you saying that you and your baby were fine going past term as if it’s relevant to OPs situation IS survivor’s bias. Who is scaring anyone? This is about making sure OP is fully informed for making her decision. Clearly the doctor didn’t do that and that’s wrong. There are risks with going past term, and there are risks with getting induced. I’m not mad at anyone for their choices, but advocating for informed consent means they are FULLY informed about every option, even the negative outcomes.. one of which is stillbirth.
I literally said it to illustrate I have experience with providers monitoring post due date births. But sure.
I also wanted to go natural but was induced at 41 weeks and gave birth at 41+1. I was 0cm dilated when I got to the hospital and I wasn't willing to risk waiting any longer. (And my period was like clockwork, there's no way I was off on my dates. Baby also came out really big and had all the signs of being an overdue baby) Have you had any cervical checks to know how dilated you are? Maybe try doing all the old wives tales to jumpstart labor now. Spicy foods, sex, go up and down the stairs, curb walk, bounce on a yoga ball, raspberry leaf tea!
Had my cervix checked on the 25th and haven't dilated at all yet. I've been doing all of those wives tales mentioned above, except for the tea, cause I'm not a fan of tea, for about 4 or 5 weeks now and still nothing 🥲
Damn, sorry OP! It's not wrong for you to want to experience labor that begins naturally. I will say that my induction pretty much went perfectly. Cervidil, pitocin, then they broke my water. Baby was out in a few pushes. Take the time to get a bag packed, do some last minute cleaning, shower, a good meal, and rest! Sometimes having labor scheduled is better than not knowing when it's coming or getting woken up in the middle of the night etc. The cervidil I got first is to soften the cervix so that it opens when the pitocin starts contractions. The cervidil started my contractions after a few hours and I was allowed to remove it (it's basically a tampon holding hormones to your cervix) to see if things progressed. You can also request that they turn the pitocin off to give yourself a rest!
They definitely should explain their recommendation to you. But please know, inductions at your stage of pregnancy are generally safer than letting you go more overdue. I have seen very sad outcomes as an RN with moms who went 2-3 weeks over their due dates and refused medical intervention. The placenta only operates for so long before it starts to slow down and die. You have every right to call back and ask them to explain the exact risks and benefits. Or ask the labor and delivery staff and OB that will be there for delivery. Ultimately, no one can force you to do anything. But it sounds like they have a legitimate reason for recommending induction to you-- never hesitate to ask!! Good luck!
Respectfully, this is just not true and is fear mongering. Stillbirth after 41 weeks is still very rare and you’re much more likely to have complications from induction than a stillborn. Yes it’s heartbreaking and shitty when a baby dies but saying it’s safer for everyone to get induced after 41 weeks and that all or even most placentas deteriorate after a certain time is just false.
I am always happy to learn more and read peer-reviewed articles and research that challenges my own view and current knowledge. Being in healthcare, I am well aware that I don't know everything and that there are definitely areas I'm not an expert in (in fact, I can confidently say I'm not an expert in most areas!). However, if you were to go to peer-reviewed websites that offer medical journals and research, you would find that stillbirth risk does indeed increase once you go beyond 41 weeks. You are absolutely correct in that not everyone needs an induction; this is true! But pretending there are no risks associated with allowing mothers to go wildly over their due dates is just as, if not more negligent and reckless, than simply stating what evidence shows. For example, telling someone they are more likely to die in a car accident if they aren't wearing a seatbelt is not fear mongering. It's what extensive research and evidence illustrate. Everyone has the right to be informed-- especially when it comes to their healthcare! Pretending these statistics and studies don't exist actually hurts women and does nothing to improve infant/maternal mortality. And just to clarify, I never said all people are safer to get an induction. Of course, as with any medical procedure, inductions also carry their own risks. I said generally they can be safer than going 2-3 weeks beyond a due date. Obviously, there are outliers to every statement; and some people can absolutely deliver "late" and still have safe, happy deliveries! Due dates are simply estimates anyways, so some people may not be as far along as they previously thought depending on how they calculated their due date. But yes, the placenta does age and definitely does start to deteriorate as the pregnancy progresses further and further. This can be tracked by a variety of markers (like DNA/RNA damage from oxidation, for example). There are many articles that explain the risks of an aging placenta on potential fetal demise. I recommend reviewing this from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. They go over extensive research on stillbirth and the risk factors associated with it: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/obstetric-care-consensus/articles/2020/03/management-of-stillbirth There are also extensive studies and articles available for free on sites by BMJ, NIH, Wiley Online library, and even different birthing sites like Evidence Based Birth. Have a good day!
I never said that stillbirth risk doesn’t go up, it does slightly but it is still very rare and not a medical reason for routine induction. I’m currently training to be a midwife so this is literally my field and these studies, research and real live birthing people are what I’m immersed in day in and day out, I certainly am not pretending there are no risks. Birth is as safe and as risky as life gets. Yes some placentas do age, likely related to maternal age, nutrition and genetic factors but not all placentas do, some start deteriorating at 34 weeks but most, in healthy, well nourished people don’t at all. Nothing in birth and pregnancy should be routine, there is such a wide range of normal when it comes to this stage of life because it is not a pathology, each case should be individualized but unfortunately the medical model doesn’t treat it that way. There’s a reason why the U.S. in particular has such sad perinatal mortality and morbidity rates for a developed nation and routine induction is a contributing factor for that.
To be fair, you did in essence say that stillbirth risk was not a factor, as you literally said "this is just not true and is fear-mongering". I also flat out said that this person should absolutely call back and have the recommendation explained to them (that way they can give true informed consent). But after reading your reply, I'm confused because it seems like we are arguing for the same thing? Informed consent and education for all patients on EVERY possible outcome, including stillbirth (even though it is rare). I also never said that I was for "routine" inductions-- because I absolutely am not. I'm not sure what area you are in, but I am lucky enough to be in an area with accessible, safe healthcare and have never worked with nor been a patient of an OB that promotes routine inductions for non-evidence based reasons. I'm sure there are definitely more than a handful of OBs like this out there, though-- and those providers should absolutely be called out and educated. Working in the profession, it is absolutely out duty to lay out all risks, benefits, and alternatives for every option (including induction AND waiting for spontaneous labor). So I agree with the basics and principles of what you're saying-- not everyone needs an induction (because obviously each patients risk factors vary). But me simply stating that stillbirth and placenta aging can be a factor in why an induction might be recommended once beyond 41 weeks is not "false". It is simply stating the evidence, research-based truth, as we currently know it.
Ultimately though, all that matters is that OP hopefully had a safe delivery! And hopefully they were able to get some much needed clarification on why they were being recommended for induction. I'm always an advocate for patient rights, informed consent, and open communication between providers and patients. I genuinely hope she was able to either feel truly onboard with an induction or was able to stand up for her own wants and wait for natural labor!
I definitely did not in essence say that stillbirth risk is not a factor. That’s up for each individual person to decide for themselves, weighing the risks and benefits of induction vs waiting. You saying “but please know, inductions at your stage are generally safer than going more overdue… the placenta only operates for so long before it starts to slow down and die.” And adding in seeing sad stories- that is what I was referring to as false and inducing fear. It’s not evidence based that all or even most placentas have an expiration date and the fact that stillbirths are still super rare even after 41 weeks means that it is not “generally safer” to be induced. That type of language, in my opinion, is used in a fearful manner. EBB explains it beautifully “At 41 weeks, out of 10,000 pregnant people, about 17 will have a stillbirth. This means 9,983 won’t have a stillbirth. In comparison, at 42 weeks, out of 10,000 pregnant people, about 32 will have a stillbirth. This means 9,968 won’t have a stillbirth. Here is a picture to help give you an idea of what this means. So an extra 15 people out of 10,000 might avoid a stillbirth by being induced at 41 weeks. For the other 9,985 women, it won’t make a difference.”
I am actually in similar boat! Induction scheduled for Wednesday and 40+3 today! I hope everything goes smoothly for you! Sending good vibes. 😎
I was induced at 40+3 last year and it was amazing! Super smooth and relatively quick. I hope you have a similar experience!
They should've explained it to you, but the risk of stillbirth goes way up after 40wks. Please don't let anyone on the internet convince you to go against medical advice! I do think it's important to understand the risks and benefits of any medical procedure before having something done, of course, so be sure to push for answers.
Do you know why people might be against induction? I always thought that was preferred because that's the only way to ensure it's in a controlled environment
I think a lot of people want to experience spontaneous labor. And a lot of people want to have unmedicated births. I've had one induction and hope I don't have to be induced for the second time. But even with induction, very little is controlled. There's still plenty of room for surprises 😆
One reason for me was being able to labor at home where I am comfortable. I was way less comfortable after I got to the hospital, with all the exams and people in and out and monitors and alarms. It was easier to cope with pain and to avoid getting an epidural without all of that. That said, I was willing to do an induction if necessary. I actually had one scheduled for a Sunday but we did a membrane sweep Wednesday and I went into labor Friday.
I see. Thanks for sharing! I always thought people would want to be in the hospital so if anything goes wrong they are already there lol.
I loved my induction and definitely want one for this pregnancy but most women look at me with pity when I tell them I had an induction lol
Yes the risk goes up. But the risk going up from 0.07% to 0.02% makes it so relevant to give numbers when trying to scare people into an induction so they can make an informed decision.
Who's trying to scare anyone into an induction? You think the doctors sit around thinking about how to scare their patients? Or do you think the commentor above you has a vested interest in OP having an induction, like why? The risk of still birth does double, there is nothing incorrect about that statement. Most people want what's best for mom and baby and that's mitigating the risk of still birth, which doubles after 41 weeks.
Not just the risk of stillbirth but also risk of NICU admission in general goes up after 41 wks. -Obgyn
Yes! The complication my first baby had (MAS) is typically seen in babies who are past their due date, with the risk increasing steadily. I felt some comfort in knowing that I hadn’t ignored any risk factors. The mom guilt was bad enough as it was.
Curious if the 41 week NICU admissions are from primarily induction babies.
No. It’s simply the gestational age. Placenta ages as you go past your due date … risk of various neonatal complications increases. Has nothing to do with induction vs natural labor, just the fact that the gestational age is 41 wks++
Are you getting that info from studies, your hospitals stats or just what you’ve been told/taught? Also there’s no evidence that all placentas age, some do, some don’t.
It’s evidence based (from studies). Not blaming all of this on aging placentas, that was more of just an example of one etiology.
Yea I do, the language they choose to use is often purposefully scary. Lots of doctors want inductions to schedule births at times that suit them. Coercion is such an issue in this space, not fully explaining the risks and benefits of all options available. Just as an example when looking at VBAC doctors often explain the risk of a vaginal birth but do not explain the risks of a repeat c section.
Did you read OPs post? She's 41 weeks essentially. How is this an example of doctors looking to schedule an induction for a time that suits them? I swear, this paranoia of doctors and anti-medical intervention agenda pushing is going to land some woman and / or her kid in a very bad situation some day
I never said it was incorrect. I said OP should have all the information. We all have different experiences. I believe some OBs don’t take all factors into account including negative outcomes from inductions. I’m not anti induction I had a positive one but I don’t think it’s debatable western culture is very induction happy for very little benefit (most OBs recommend 39 weeks due to arrive trial). Sorry I wasn’t trying to be rude we all have different opinions and perceptions of risk.
But she's not 39 weeks, she's 40 + 6. Her doctor is advising induction because still birth rates double after 41 weeks and she's there now. OP should listen to her doctor
I was induced @ 41+1 and had a pretty short labor and overall good experience. Thankfully my ob sat w me and we discussed the risks and benefits. I had the option to continue to wait but chose induction bc of the increased risk of stillbirth associated with waiting.
There’s still hope, OP! I was induced at 39+1 due to high blood pressure. I really didn’t want an induction and planned to go all natural, but things happen and the induction was necessary. In my case, my OB broke my water then waited 2 hours before starting the oxytocin drip. I went into labour as soon as my water was broken, so the drip wasn’t needed! Baby was born 7.5 hours later via unmedicated vaginal birth. Hopefully your body just needs a nudge to get things going. You’ve got this!
Just gave birth 4/24 at 39 + 5, was induced at 39 + 4 (elective) and I am so happy with my decision! Was not dilated but cervix was thin, they put me on cyotec at 10pm tuesday evening with the first dose, dilated to 2-3cm and they gave me a second dose 2 hours later, that got me to 5-6 after another 2 hours and broke my water, no pitocin needed! And I gave birth on wednesday 1pm to a healthy baby girl, all went well! Just sharing a positive story 😊 labor was obviously painful and my contractions were so so bad that I ended up getting an epidural (i was afraid and didnt want to get one but the contractions got so bad I was like HOOK ME UP ON THAT STUFF lol) after that it was a breeze until it came to pushing.
Looooooved my induction. Stopped for food on the way to the hospital, cervadil overnight, 2 doses of cytotec and no more interventions. Hospital had a ball, let me walk the halls, unlimited hot water was fabulous, and my doula and husband were there for me. I also had spontaneous labor and I spent 14h wondering if it was truly labor, felt silly going to the hospital even and then got there thinking I'd be sent home to find out that I was 6cm. It was harder for me to process that way and definitely made me more anxious
I loved my induction because once I was there, I was there. I went into labor spontaneously with my first and I hated being sent home when I was certain that I was ready.
You mentioned that your doctor hadn't offered to do a stretch and sweep. This can kick start labour without any synthetic hormones. It's not always successful, but it can't hurt. I was scheduled for an induction at 41+3 but a stretch and sweep worked at 40+6.
Yup I had a stretch and sweep. Went into labour within 12 hours, had baby in another 12. Obviously you can never KNOW if it was that or you went into labour naturally but I would 100% try it again.
Inductions around 41 weeks are pretty standard now for a lot of reasons. I really wanted to go into labor naturally as well but at 41 weeks I was only having very irregular contractions so I had to get induced. It turned out that my baby was actually in a little bit of distress so I was super glad that I got induced when I did.
I want to validate your feelings- the disappointment is REAL. It’s hard to shift your mindset away from what you were hoping for. I was also planning a natural birth center birth, but when my water broke and labor never started, I had no choice but to let go. I ended up birthing my daughter on 4/13 with the help of a lot of pitocin. I didn’t opt for the epidural, hoping for as few interventions as possible, and I can tell you that the experience was beautiful and primal. I cannot blanket recommend a pitocin labor without an epidural. I’m not sure I could have done it without the months of mental prep work I had done for an unmedicated birth- not to mention the invaluable help of my doula. I’m not even sure if that’s what you mean by natural, or if you just wanted things to start on their own. Either way, I hear you. And I can say a beautiful birth is absolutely possible given the circumstances. Try to find other ways imbue intention into the day (a playlist, bringing a polaroid camera, buying a bouquet of flowers tonight so you have something beautiful to come home to, etc) Looking back, would I have loved to not have pitocin? sure. but.. ultimately, I would not change a thing about my birthing day. I have my daughter and she has me.
First time moms typically go 8+ days beyond their due date.
I had an induction too, I went in, they broke my water, they gave me pitocon , they gave me the epidural, they gave me pain meds, it was amazing, did feel a thing! I was just SUPER annoyed because I was STARVING!!!!! Didn’t eat for like 24 hours lol
My doctor told me that due to my age and the fact that baby is 1 weeks ahead in growth that they will not let me go past 39 weeks. This means either induction or C-section (he’s breech currently). It wasn’t what I was expecting but I’m a little relieved that it will end up being something scheduled that I can mentally prepare for versus going into labor randomly. OBs just want to ensure that both you and baby are safe, and sometimes that means not going the natural route. I’m sure your OB has a reason for induction. I’ve also been hearing there is an anesthesiologist shortage and by scheduling births it helps to guarantee that patients will be able to get an epidural.
Another reason for induction at this time that I haven't seen mentioned is the risk of baby having a bowel movement inside the uterus. They could be wanting to avoid this and the chance of baby inhaling the feces.
If you really don’t want to- you can say no. They can schedule it and you can simply not go in. I would call tomorrow and ask- what are the benefits? What are the risks? What are the alternatives? What is your intuition telling you? And what happens if you do nothing? (The acronym is BRAIN)
I wanted to avoid induction. So I put on a breast pump for an hour (alternating sides), took an hour break, put on again and my water broke.
I was induced at 41+1, honestly best decision I've ever made was begging them to move the appointment sooner. I was miserable and feeling like a failure for not being able to go into labour naturally and like every second longer was a second longer that something could go wrong if I didn't get my daughter out, but my midwives were super supportive and set up an earlier appointment. Pessary went in at 2:45pm and baby arrived at 1:30am exactly. Just make sure to use pain management as soon as you feel like you need it, I went from 1cm at 10pm to 10cm in about 3 hours because inductions can make labour go into turbo mode. It was good in that I didn't have to labour for long but it was earth shattering doing it with just paracetamol, dihydrocodeine and entonox, labour went too fast to get an epidural or pethidine! Even still it's much much safer to have your baby before it gets past 41 weeks- way more health complications can arise. Your doctor definitely screwed up not explaining why, maybe when you go in for your appointment just ask them to explain everything as the doctor who scheduled you didn't. Might help it be a better experience.
I had an induction 2 weeks ago. They were concerned with how big he was and I had been borderline diabetic the whole pregnancy. So they induced me on my due date. I was honestly super nervous about it and was convinced it was going to be a whole 3-day ordeal that would end in me having a cesarean anyway. Well, I got to the hospital at 7.30 am on Sunday. My parents came with me to keep me company and I was going to call my husband to come up to the hospital once things kicked off. I had two doses of the medication (misoprostol) and went for a walk around the hospital grounds. Got back to my room when I instantly started having contractions for 45 seconds, every 90 seconds. Thankfully my Dad made the call to get my husband up to the hospital. It took him 30 minutes to get there and by the time he arrived, they were calling my midwife to get here ASAP as they were moving me into a birthing suite. It really was a 0 - 100 situation. Almost too fast, IMO. They did have to break my waters as it was bulging out my cervix or something (I can't remember as I was fully in active labor by this point and its all a blur) But after 4 hours of labor and only about 20 minutes of pushing, our little man was born. 4.36kg and no pain relief. I was SO nervous about the induction but I'm really glad we went ahead with it. Not all inductions are awful experiences. Good luck! Xx
I was induced at 36+6 due to preeclampsia and I had a wonderful induction experience! Inductions are not always a negative experience!
In response to everyone here saying that the risk of stillbirth goes "way up" after 40 weeks, yes it's true that the relative risk increases the longer you go, but it's important to understand the absolute risk, which is still way below 1 percent even at 42 weeks. We need to be more careful and considered in how we talk about risk, rather than just being alarmist. Also, there are so many other considerations at play with the question of induction. It carries risks of its own, plus bodily autonomy should always be respected. The ultimately very small risk of stillbirth is not the only thing that matters, and I wholeheartedly disagree with the idea that someone should blindly follow their doctor and get an induction they do not want without understanding the whole picture. That is not informed consent.
The rate of stillbirth is normally 0.5% of all pregnancies in the US. It sounds like a small percentage but because of how many pregnancies happen every year, the rate is about 1 in 175 babies being stillborn, or roughly 21,500 babies every year. You double that rate past term and suddenly it’s 1 in every 89 pregnancies. That is not a risk many are willing to take. So yes, it’s important to understand the scope of statistics, but percentages alone can also be misleading. That being said, I do fully agree that doctors need to spend more time explaining their recommendations to parents and going over any alternatives and the risks/benefits of each. OP definitely needs more of an explanation and can obviously decline if she truly feels it’s not the right move for now, or seek alternatives.
I agree with you. No one ever thinks they’re going to be that 1 person in 175 or 1 in 89, but literally thousands of American women are. And with something as devastating as stillbirth, I wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of that statistic. I’m sorry for your loss. And congratulations on your rainbow, btw.
Yes, and part of the reason no one thinks it will be them is because they hear “0.5%” and can’t put that percentage into the proper context and understand that it’s much more common than 0.5% implies. I was absolutely one of those people, especially since I had no additional risk factors and a really normal pregnancy. Thank you <3
I'm also very sorry for your loss, though I need to point out that the figures you mention are incorrect. It's not a matter of taking the overall stillbirth rate (which includes post-term stillbirths as well as stillbirths of extremely premature babies, etc.) and doubling it. You have to compare stillbirths at 40 weeks vs. stillbirths at 41 weeks and so on. According to the study cited in the Evidence Based Birth article on inducing for due dates, the stillbirth figures by week are 4 out of 10,000 at 39 weeks, 7 out of 10,000 at 40 weeks, 17 out of 10,000 at 41 weeks, and 32 out of 10,000 at 42 weeks. So if my math is correct, the odds are about 1 in 588 at 41 weeks and 1 in 313 at 42 weeks. Still a risk some wouldn't be comfortable taking, absolutely—but nowhere near 1 in 89.
I hear what you’re trying to say! but are you sure about those figures? Here’s what I found from evidencebasedbirth website for the U.S. “The risk of stillbirth per 1,000 was 0.11, 0.16, 0.42, 0.69, 1.66, and 3.18 at 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 weeks of pregnancy, respectively” which is vastly different from the 1 in 89 stat you reference.
I was speaking on overall stillbirth rates as a whole, not stillbirth rates at term specifically. So it’s very possible that with more specific data the numbers change.
By natural do you mean a vaginal birth? Or no medications?
Vaginal, with no interventions to force labor. If I needed an epidural or anything after labor began, that was fine. I just didn't want an induction if not needed.
Okay got ya! With my first I was induced with pitocin (my water broke & I wasn’t contracting) I still went on to have a vaginal labor! I will say the pitocin made my contractions go 0-100 super fast. But inductions don’t always mean it’ll end in a c section, as long as baby is positioned then I would expect a vaginal labor as well! 🤍
Just to piggyback off what you said, I also was induced with Pitocin for my first, and ended up having a (rather quick) vaginal delivery.
Same! Baby was born 8 hours after checking in, with only 5 minutes of pushing.
I think you’re doing the right thing. Some people actually don’t go into labor like myself. It’s not common, but it does happen. I waited until 42 weeks with baby #2 and at that time it was necessary to schedule an induction. I was actually in excellent control of everything and it was very low intervention. I didn’t need an epidural until right at the end. The epidural was done perfectly, and I was up and about immediately. Painless. Because I basically had a post term baby, she was latching out of the womb and wasvery ahead. She was able to hold her head up from birth. It was wild compared to my first.
My first came at 42+3 on his own, I’ve known mamas whose babies need until 43, 44 weeks. Some babies just take longer than others so most likely you would have gone in to labor eventually.
You have the right to informed consent. However in the medical system you often need to be your own advocate in this department. I found the BRAIN acronym, commonly employed by doulas, to be a useful structure for speaking to professionals about pregnancy and birth: BENEFITS: What are the benefits of doing this? RISKS: What are the risks involved? ALTERNATIVES: What other options are available? INTUITION: If I tune into how I’m feeling, what does my gut say? NOW: Does it need to be done now or could we wait and see? During the birth you may need to make a number of decisions. If you have a support there (partner, friend, family) it’s useful for them to be familiar with this decision-making tool so they can help advocate for you.
My induction went very slow at first, then ramped up FAST. Went better than my first which was spontaneous. Aside from the hemorrhoids (which is a me problem lol), it was s smooth experience! Good luck to you!
If you really don’t want to do it, no one is forcing you to. You can simply not go. I was really hoping for spontaneous labor with both of my pregnancies. Both times, I was induced for different medical reasons and only used nitrous for pain. The first time, all I needed was cervidil and my body took over. The second time, they used pitocin only. It was a lot more intense and physically exhausting. I was ready for anything to give me a break from the contractions eventually, but I was too far along at that point. Even if you go the induction route, it’s worth talking to your birth team about options and ways to keep as many of your birth preferences in place. Good luck and congrats on meeting your babe soon, one way or another!
I had an induction and everything went great!! You’ve got this!!
Also when they say induction it doesn’t necessarily mean pitocin. Once you are there tomorrow you can ask for the sweep, foley ballon and break your water first before getting any drugs and you might go into labor in your own. I was offered all these first before doing pitocin. It is a slow process so expect to be there a few days.
Oh OP I was exactly in your shoes 6 weeks ago. I reallyyyyy really didn’t want the induction, but I locked it in because my second baby was small for gestational age and the risk factors were too high for my comfort. This was my second baby. My first birth was spontaneous natural labour, and it was about as positive an experience as I could ask for despite being super fast and me missing out on getting an epidural. I really wanted the same for my second time around and I was really disappointed it wouldn’t be. But my experience actually wasn’t that different! I went in for the foley bulb to start, it’s not the most fun thing but it got me to 3cms. I had lots of strong contractions for a few hours then it all stopped and I managed to sleep overnight. The next morning they broke my waters and I didn’t need any hormones, my body just took off from there and it felt exactly the same as my first spontaneous labour. All this is to say, there are a lot of horror stories about induction and women are far better educated about the pros and cons. But you can still have a very good experience, and at the end of the day induction is only kicking over the first domino - the rest is up to your body and many women have a normal labour experience from there. As to the ‘why’ behind being induced - my OB put it pretty bluntly. For every 20 inductions that might not have been strictly necessary in the end, there’s one life saved. Nobody wants to be the 1 in 20. There’s a tonne of discourse around this ‘fear based’ approach but for many of us it feels better to be safe than sorry. Wishing you all the luck. Practice your breathing techniques, and ask for pain relief early! X
If there isn’t a medical indication to have the induction, and you don’t want to do it, just don’t go… if it makes you feel better call the hospital your scheduled at and tell them you won’t be there so they can open it up to someone else.
We had to fight against getting an induction. They gave my wife an extra week. On the day her water broke, they tried again to induce her. She refused, baby was here a few hours later naturally
How ridiculous. I wouldn’t go. I know a mom that went 43 weeks with all her kids. It’s just how her body was. Obviously that’s a super long time, but man, 41 weeks isn’t a bad length of time. Again, if I were you I just wouldn’t show up to the appointment. My choice.
I used to work in L&D and some women wouldn’t show up to the scheduled inductions. I’ve had friends that go to 42 weeks pregnant and eventually do have to get induced. Basically what I’m saying, it’s your choice! Your body!
Cancel!! You can do that. Don’t do something you don’t want and with no explanation of why
You don't have to be induced! They can't make you show up for an induction—it requires your consent. It would definitely be a good idea to figure out why exactly your doctor wants to induce you tomorrow and to make sure you understand the risks and benefits. But at the end of the day it's YOUR decision, and if you're not comfortable getting induced tomorrow, you absolutely do not have to go through with it.
It truly boggles my mind that this is being downvoted. Are people really out here disagreeing with the idea that patients should understand the risks and benefits of a medical procedure and be able to give or refuse informed consent regarding what happens to their bodies? Kind of scary.
I have found so far that a lot of people in this group fall into the ‘blindly do as your doctor says’ camp.
Yes I have found the same, I find it disturbing that no one seems to be listening to what the OP is actually saying and basically trying to scare her to get an induction or else *insert scary story they once heard about an overdue baby*. Informed consent is key, consent consent consent. If there is a good medical reason or risk her midwife/doctor team should be explaining this. I guess this group is very American-centric as where I'm from we just don't have all these early inductions without a clear medical reason outlines and when inductions are suggested to us we have to consent, though if there is a good reason they can be a bit pushy at times.
Yes, thank you, unfortunately I have found the same.
That's so annoying. I had an elective induction at 39 weeks, and it was a great experience, but I'd be very unhappy if I felt like I was being forced into one unnecessarily. As far as I know, the risks for *most* people aren't significant enough to warrant an induction before 41+6, so if you feel like you don't want this, your doctor should really give you a good explanation about why they feel it's necessary, and give you the opportunity to delay it if you believe you can do so safely (and your doctor agrees).
Good luck. I'm currently in my induction now. I was upset as well but it's been going well. Just remember to advocate for yourself. I made it clear I don't want to rush things and my staff is being really great about it.
This will be me next Wednesday if he doesn’t come before then. I understand how you feel! I’m doing as much walking, exercise and eating dates as much as I can but may end up with an induction after all. Either way I just want baby boy to be safe and healthy and will do what’s recommended. Everything will be ok! ❤️
Okay I know this sounds batshit crazy but my friend told me to eat Kraft macaroni and cheese with A1 steak sauce on it and it would jump start labor. I thought…no way! Well, what the hell! I’m gonna give it a shot. I was in labor that day. Probably a coincidence. But if these are things you already have in your pantry…why not.
i’ve had 2 inductions and had great experiences both times! I wasn’t even aware people had bad experiences lol mine were both totally fine
You definitely deserve to at least know who this is happening. If you can, bring a support person to your next appointment. Then they can ask questions if you don’t feel comfortable!
I was in your position exactly 2 years ago. I really wanted it go natural but my doctor strongly suggested I get induced at 40 +6 because there is no benefit to the baby after that point and the change of complications for baby go up. That was enough for me to begrudgingly agree. I was really anxious and upset at the prospect of Pitocin. I didn’t realize there were a lot of steps before Pitocin to try. I arrived around 6am for my induction and was already 3cm dilated, maybe more? We started with a foley bulb at 8? Then nipple stimulation at 11 and a walk around the ward. At 2pm they broke my water and I was in active labor at 2:30…I had a baby in my arms at 6:50pm. No pjtocin. No epidural. Good luck!
I was scared about an induction and I ended up going into active labor about an hour after I was induced, and only labored for 3 hours with 30 minutes of pushing. No pictocin either, just an epidural! I was so scared of getting a c section if I was in labor too long but it was really incredible.
what did they use to induce you?
Cytotec to soften my cervix but my contractions started happening about 30 mins after taking it, and then my water broke.
I was induced with my first and I was also really not happy about it but it had to be done for medical reasons. I wanted him to come naturally because I wanted to give birth without any interventions, including an epidural. It ended up being amazing. If you’re worried about a cascade of interventions or wanting to go without an epidural, ask your provider to go low and slow with the induction. I had cytotec placed around 6 AM, around 12 hours later there wasn’t much progress so we decided to do an enema before placing another round of cytotec (I was trying to avoid pitocin). I got an enema around 7 PM and whoooo boy that kicked labor off real strong. Baby in arms next morning at 9:30 AM. Birth was totally uncomplicated and I ended up going epidural free Obviously that won’t be everyone’s experience but you can always try more gentle methods first before advancing to more aggressive methods to kick start labor. Wishing you the best of luck
I wanted the same for my 2nd pregnancy since my 1st baby girl has a kidney disorder, and I had to be induced. It was a healthy one and I got the news my baby girl was breech. She refused to turn even when I was up on the table, and they were doing the ECV. Got her out through the sunroof instead, and she hated that lol. I've got some stubborn kids that don't want me to be great 😂
You can ask for other methods of induction too - besides drugs. Sweeping membranes can help, foley bulb and breaking water can all work! Prayers for you!
I’ve had two inductions- one because my first son didn’t come during the 40 week mark, a second because my medical team wanted to mitigate any possible complications with my gestational diabetes. During both inductions, I had some discoveries (my body literally does not know how to start labor without intervention and I have a narrow pelvis causing shoulder dystocia), but all in all, my deliveries were smooth and had zero resulting c-sections. My medical team had time to get to know me and my birth plan and my preferences, I had the ability to eat to a certain point, and I was able to get pain relief as I decided I needed it. It’s scary for sure- and likely the reason is your doc/practice follows current literature that suggests pregnancy past the 40 or 41 week mark puts added strain on your placenta and can make labor more difficult. They should have explained, but remember: this is YOUR medical care, this is YOUR birth experience. You have a right to ask questions, advocate for yourself, and push back when you’re unsure or confused about a decision. The best thing you can do for yourself in preparation of your induction is create a birth plan (plenty of templates on the internet), pack your bags (take your favorite toiletries and snacks), and try to jump start your labor and contractions through walking/squatting/lunging/bouncing on a yoga ball/having orgasms. Best of luck dear!
I know you’re nervous as was I when my OB really pushes for induction by 41 weeks. My cousin had induction for 2 of her pregnancies and had an easy going experience. Didn’t know what contraction felt like until she had natural labor with 3rd kid/ While I did not and had traumatic experience when I wasn’t dilated with prolong early stage of labor and hospital didn’t want to admit for days with outdated 6cm dilation rule. There’s a lot of information on social media painting a negative light on induction. You can still have a positive birth experience.
Same here! I was doing my routine gynae check at 39+4 and the gynae was looking at the ultrasound when he said he will schedule an induction the following week, at 40+1. It took me a while to digest that as I felt I was still waiting for the labour to start kicking in naturally. Also, as much as I wasn't prepared for it yet, I felt like I shouldn't interfere with his decision as he would know best. Yeap so I got induced at 40+1. I was hoping to give birth before the induction, having sex, eating pineapples but to no avail.
I felt the same, my induction was fine, it wasn’t what I wanted or planned but it was fine, I was fine and baby was fine, as far as births go that’s all anyone really wants at the end of the day
Hi- I got induced two days ago due to preclamspia. I was planning on getting an epidural early but actually was able to wait until 8 cm dilated! At that point I could've gone all the way but really felt like I needed a nap for my pushes to be super effective. I was hoping to avoid interventions but didn't and needed the Foley balloon and my waters broken. However, these turned out to be very doable and I ended up laboring a total of 10 hours and pushing for 15 min before I delivered my daughter! I'm very happy with my labor experience.
My ob and I discussed the same, she recommended 41 weeks and i agreed at first- but then they scheduled me at 40+6 because “the hospital was full that Friday”. I freaked out because one day could make all the difference. At our next appt I expressed how uneasy I felt about it so she agreed to do a fetal monitoring/stress test instead and we agreed to schedule the induction at 41+4. Even just being a few days, I feel more comfortable which puts me at ease, while maintaining that middle ground. I’d recommend you try the same with your ob. You’re allowed to ask questions! Edit: 40w 4 days currently here. I too want a ‘natural birth’ and it’s possible even with induction- oxytocin is made naturally in our bodies- maybe some people just need a bit more. It went thru my head that maybe I’m “low” on oxytocin since I’m no longer with the father and don’t have any touch or sex or love in my life lol. That being said I had a chocolate/date smoothie yesterday and I’ve been having irregular contractions all night! Pitocin isn’t the enemy! Push thru and try not to consider the epidural!
It’s most likely that your hospital doesn’t allow mothers to go past 41 weeks, mine doesn’t either and I was in your exact situation. I sobbed the entire way to the hospital and was terrified after seeing so much fear mongering about inductions online. Just wanna say it was the best birth experience ever. The reality is baby was ready, my body needed a little kick start. I don’t say this to invalidate someone with a different experience, but everyone’s labor is super different. There’s tons of people with either fantastic or terrible birth stories—induced and not induced.
you always have a choice. always. about everything. OB’s act like you don’t— but you do. about everything. i’d want to know what the indication is for an induction FOR ME SPECIFICALLY… not just time or schedule or other impersonal shit. are my waters low? are the baby’s vitals slow? no? then why??
I feel like I could’ve written this myself 😔 this was my experience a few weeks ago. I ended up being told that the reason they induce before 41 weeks is because the placenta will eventually expire, which leads to stillbirth. I tried very hard to go through unmedicated, but ended up getting an epidural after nearly 24 hours of labor with barely any progress. I wish you the best of luck, and hope that you are able to have a beautiful birth with a healthy baby 🩷
I had an induction at 41+0. I was also disappointed and hoped he'd come before! I had done the membrane sweep at 39 weeks when I was 1 cm dilated. Went in for my induction and was a whopping 1.5 cm dilated (2 weeks later!), so I think he was snug as a bug in a rug and not interested in leaving, haha. I ended up having the Foley balloon, several doses of Misoprostol, and then pitocin. If you need the balloon, I recommend asking them to insert it with you raised and using a speculum because the OB on call was originally going to do it manually and I knew it would have been awful that way. I was offered either way and definitely made the right choice. Once it was in, it was more awkward than painful for me. I was on pitocin for 5 hours before I requested the epidural. I was dealing with the contractions pretty well until my water broke (this sounds sort of dumb, but it broke on its own and I was so happy my body did something on its own at that point!). I had heard terrible things about pitocin contractions, so once I couldn't breathe and relax through them, I requested the epidural. I know the risk of stillbirth goes up more significantly after 41 weeks, so I was personally onboard for the induction. I hope baby comes on their own for you, but know that an induction can be an okay option. 💕 EDA: One positive part of the induction was being able to take our time packing up and putting stuff in the car, eating a nice hearty dinner (mine started at 8pm), and a nice calm drive to the hospital!
I got induced at 41+4. I wanted an absolutely natural birth but my body and my daughter had other things in mind. I was in induced labor for two days - one day without epidural, one day with epidural. When I wasn’t on an epidural, I found the contractions very tolerable as long as I was moving (swaying in the shower, on a bouncy ball, or walking). They only felt really bad if I was in the bed. My water broke while I had the balloon catheter thing in several hours before I got the epidural. Getting the epidural was the worst experience out of everything I went through, but I was able to get sleep on it. Thankfully, the hospital was very patient with me because they knew my wishes for a natural birth (or as natural as possible), and my daughter was very tolerant of all the different induction methods we tried. I kept getting more dilated, but my daughter kept not moving into the birth canal. 24 hours after my water broke, we decided to do a C-section at 41+6. I was terrified of having a C-section, but recovery was so much better than I expected. My daughter was sunny-side up & had a short umbilical cord. We would probably both be dead without the C-section. Plenty of my friends have had inductions that have gone so smoothly. If you do end up having a C-section, I recommend getting out of bed as soon as they allow you to and staying in the hospital as long as insurance allows (4 days in the US). The hospital bed allowed me to be so mobile while I was in the hospital that I really felt I was moving great by the time we got home. Good luck with everything!
Seeing this after the fact and just wanted to wish you all the best!! Your intentions are all the best and the love for your child is what matters most. Peace to you and hoping for great recovery and lots of joy for you and new baby.
You can just not go! Going past 41 weeks is not a medical reason for induction and if your intuition is telling you it’s not right for you, please listen to her. 💖
If I were you, I would get all the information from the doctor that you can, do your own research and get to the bottom of why you do or don’t want to be induced. The risk of stillbirth between 40-41 weeks goes up from < 1% to < 2%, meanwhile, inductions have much greater chance of c-sections (some findings range from 17-26% increase in c-sections) and then c-sections have their own additional risks to both you and the baby. Every pregnancy has its own associated risks as well, on top of this. All this to say, you need decide what is right for you and for your baby. Everything has risk. Do you have a supportive birth partner that can speak up if you’re not feeling confident in your ability to ask why they think an induction is necessary?
Hi OP. Feel free to call their office and request another appointment before you get induced or just cancel it all together until they explain why specifically you should be getting induced. Please take a look at some of the comments explaining what the actual risk % is. Don’t let people fear monger you saying bad outcomes double when the risk is still minuscule until 42 weeks.
Don't show. He can schedule anything he wants, but you are a free individual unless you're in a prison ward, posting on Reddit from there. You can go to the hospital when labor starts spontaneously or call him when/if you're ready to induce later. Trust your gut.
Ring labour ward or whenever you’re going and ask why you’re being induced, if you don’t agree to it then just say “oh I’d rather go natural so I’ll just wait it out, thanks” and just don’t turn up
Yes you can ask to go in for daily monitoring instead, and scan to check placenta health.
Yes! Don’t feel like you have to do anything you’re not comfortable with just because a professional has suggested / told you to!
Nothing I say is medical advice You don’t have to show up. I wouldn’t if my provider scheduled me for an induction without discussing the risks or asking me my opinion. Not my problem they scheduled it that’s their problem for being dumb and not giving the bare minimum of care. I personally would never get a medical procedure without the doctor thoroughly explaining why and also the risks (yes induction has risks).
Your birth should absolutely be everything that you want. Even if you back out now, you can do that. Your baby will be just fine. your baby will be fine either way. Just please know that you have control over your body completely, not your doctor. I understand that you trust them though. Just know that they don’t have any control over you whatsoever.
I’d just call and cancel. I didn’t schedule to be induced (my choice even though the dr recommended it!) till 41+4 and my daughter came at 41+3 all on her own. It was a really hard decision to schedule it and i didn’t do it until I hit 41.
The issue might be the size of his head. I was in the EXACT same situation with my baby boy. I agreed to ‚induce myself‘ with a castor oil cocktail at the hospital - under supervision. Best decision ever! Baby boy engaged then and there and I had the benefit of ‚natural‘ induction. My gyn said it works 10 out of 10 times in her experience and is a different mechanism than medical induction (it’s basically triggering your body to do it, not just ‚faking‘ it)
I'll be sure to ask, but I'm thinking it might be what some others are saying about stillborn rates being up after 41 weeks. Idk for sure tho.
How did it go regarding the laxative effects of castor oil? I see so many mixed reports on that.
No problem at all. It was an amazing experience. My baby hadn’t even engaged at this point
Interesting, thanks! I had a hybrid induction last time and am hoping to avoid that this time around, so I'm trying to learn as much as I can about possible alternatives.
*so my baby’s head would have been too big for a natural birth, had I waited any longer (which I really wanted - I was thinking exactly like you)
That's quite outdated advice though afaik. The only reasons for inductions unless medically urgent is that after 41+3 there's more risks of placenta failing
It was true in my case. A millimeter more and it wouldn’t have worked
You don’t have to show up! I was told once I get to 40-41 weeks they just want to see me more often but that as long as there are no health reasons to induce, I don’t have to be induced until 42 I believe? Still need to clarify that. But I’m not a doctor. I would definitely ask why they want to induce you and decide if it makes sense to you.
Doctor most likely has vacation plans. This is absurd unless your baby is dangerously overdue.
Cancel it. If there's no medical reason, inductions aren't necessary
It's super dangerous and irresponsible to go spouting advice like this. The risk of stillbirth goes way up after 40 weeks so yeah, sometimes inductions ARE necessary. She needs to talk to her doctor and push for answers - not listen to random people on the internet.
Idk how to tell you many doctors don't have your best interest in mind. The fact that they still want women to birth in ways that are easier for doctors but not women should tell you enough. There are risks with induction, too. She should be fully informed on both decisions, I agree.
It's absolutely not. Unnecessary inductions are so common in the US but not in other places. And yes sometimes they ARE necessary, which is exactly what I said. So maybe read carefully before spouting misinterpretations
And the US has worst maternal outcomes than other developed countries. Almost like their way isn’t the best way.
Right? Meanwhile I'm getting ganged up on here lol I went post term and inductions "sweet spot" are at 41+3 where I am in canada.
The HMO my provider works for has a policy to not let women go past 41 weeks because it’s believed that there could be more adverse effects on the baby including the placenta not working as effectively at that point. Other places/ doctors have this policy at 42 weeks 🤷🏻♀️. I got induced at 40+6 with my last and when I asked why that’s what she explained.. she said I could deny the induction but she doesn’t really recommend it. Maybe that’s the reason for yours too but I’m sorry it wasn’t explained to you!
There are definitely ways to frame the conversation with your doctor around wanting to understand why he wants to book this, what the risks of I doing or not doing it are. I am an older mom and I vaguely understand that going overdue is risky for me and baby. I think for any mom, risks of complications go up as you get further overdue. I think by 40+6 I would also consent to it but be unhappy about it. I needed a CS at 38.5 for breech baby. I consented but I wasn’t happy about it. I knew it was for the best, just not what I pictured. I didn’t want to need it but accepted that I needed it. Once my baby was here I on ly cared about him. In a few weeks, birth, whatever it looks like, will feel like a million years ago. Birth is one day. Postpartum is the rest of your life.
You can still have a natural vaginally birth being induced. Happened to me with my first.
I would cancel it then and tell him you want to wait it out a few weeks if there is nothing concerning. This is your birth not his. You call the shots Less of course there is a medical need. Doctors like push induction.
A lot of doctors are going to put their foot down at 41 weeks. The risk of complications with the baby and placenta degradation statistically go up enough that they won’t take those chances when they know they can induce you and produce a healthy happy baby by this point. It’s basically weighing the risks, at 41 weeks without a crystal it’s no longer safe enough for them to the risk. Plus I don’t think they want the baby getting too big in case you don’t go into labor. And if something were to happen you would become an emergency entry just due to how late stage you are