I may be opening a can of worms but.....

Nicole1026 · July 2012

I have a Dr. appt Monday, and I know my Dr. will probably try to convince me to be induced. I'm already 3 days over due, and she says there is an increased chance of all kinds of stuff (don't feel like listing, way too much) if I let him stay in there much longer. I really wanted to let things happen naturally, but what if he doesn't come on his own. Then I would have waited all this time, and I could of got him out of there much sooner. I have read and researched until I can't stand it anymore, but I just want some advice from mom's who have been in this situation, or facing it now. What are you going to do or did do?

erbear · July 2012

I'd wait. No need to rush him out. Due dates are just an estimate, so as long as baby was fine (NST can show this), I wouldn't induce until 42 weeks.

bdbelladonna · July 2012

i was 40 w 3 days when my dr did a sweep with my first and i went into labour. but i was being scheduled for an induction 3 days later

dufferoo · July 2012

I was 5 days past my due date with my daughter and my doctor was going to induce me the next day, but then I drank raspberry tea and went into labor on my own. So my advice would be to go into labor! (Just kidding. But drink some raspberry tea! It can't hurt

MeatballEsq · July 2012

Does your PG have an increased risk of certain things (more than the normal PG) if you wait a little longer?

hmartinez0809 · July 2012

I would wait! 41 weeks 1 day is considered normal. as long as you and baby are ok go to at least 42 weeks. LO will come! :-)

Tash13 · July 2012

I would push to 42 weeks, unless you have other complications that put you at a higher risk. Going late, especially with a first baby, is totally normal.

jade7kb · July 2012

When I was pregnant with my first one we only went 2 days overdue and they induced me. My Dr. said that there is no benefit to waiting. She is 5 now, never had so much as an ear infection and is very smart, expecting her baby sister in a few weeks! I don't think I would wait personally, but it's really a personal choice. If you feel better waiting, then see what you Dr. says about it.

Eleventy11 · July 2012

I was 41w1d when we induced. I had shown no progress at all...maybe just a little thinning. I ended up with an emergency c-section because LOs heart couldn't take the pitocin. My doctor thinks she was due a little earlier than we even thought. We have had tremendous skin problems that started with all the peeling from her being overdue. There is also a higher risk of them passing meconium the longer you wait.

Obviously, labor is different for everyone. Full term is 40 weeks and anything after 36 is not really a preemie. There are more risks the longer you wait, and not really any reason to keep cooking after 40.

OUKatie · July 2012

If I have not gone into labor by Tuesday (40w, 2d), I'm going to schedule an induction for my 41st week. My ob will not let me go past 42 weeks and has a very low c-section rate so I'm confident in her advice.

Sawyerplus1 · July 2012

erbear:
I'd wait. No need to rush him out. Due dates are just an estimate, so as long as baby was fine (NST can show this), I wouldn't induce until 42 weeks.

Me too.

queenie521 · July 2012

With my first my MW sent me to an acupuncturist to get things moving without induction. It worked for me. See what alternative methods you could use.

mamahawk12 · July 2012

I personally wouldn't go past 41 weeks, and my doctor agrees. There's no harm in scheduling the induction, it's really just a placeholder in case the hospital starts to fill up. With DS I scheduled my induction for 41 weeks at my last appointment (40 weeks, 2 days). He came on his own at 40 weeks 6 days - I think he knew he was going to be evicted

Nicole1026 · July 2012

meaknigh:
I personally wouldn't go past 41 weeks, and my doctor agrees. There's no harm in scheduling the induction, it's really just a placeholder in case the hospital starts to fill up. With DS I scheduled my induction for 41 weeks at my last appointment (40 weeks, 2 days). He came on his own at 40 weeks 6 days - I think he knew he was going to be evicted

LOL, love the "going to be evicted". Maybe my LO will get the eviction notice!

Saran · July 2012

courtnif:

I was 41w1d when we induced. I had shown no progress at all...maybe just a little thinning. I ended up with an emergency c-section because LOs heart couldn't take the pitocin. My doctor thinks she was due a little earlier than we even thought. We have had tremendous skin problems that started with all the peeling from her being overdue. There is also a higher risk of them passing meconium the longer you wait.

Obviously, labor is different for everyone. Full term is 40 weeks and anything after 36 is not really a preemie. There are more risks the longer you wait, and not really any reason to keep cooking after 40.

This is what happened to me with my 2 year old. She was 4 days overdue when I finally went into labor but she had a bowel movement and dr said it's one of the risks to letting a pregnancy go too long. But I can see how some women dont want to be induced.

jennadoll87 · July 2012

Sawyerplus1:
erbear:
I'd wait. No need to rush him out. Due dates are just an estimate, so as long as baby was fine (NST can show this), I wouldn't induce until 42 weeks.
Me too.

Agree. a due date is just an educated guess. Without an urgent medical reason to induce it doesn't seem like an option to me.

bellag8212 · July 2012

I don't think you need to think about this until you are 42 weeks. It's just a couple more days.

Girolle · July 2012

I'd trust your Dr. over a bunch of strangers on the Internet.

krisdan1609 · July 2012

I would listen to your Dr.

themodscientist · July 2012

Personally, I would talk more with my doctor before making the decision. As someone above said, you can always schedule the induction as far out as you're comfortable with and then try alternate methods to jump start labor (sex, walking, and spicy foods seem to be the favorites).

It's true that the due date is just an estimate. My doctor doesn't like waiting long past 41 weeks because of this, since all babies are different and can reach full term between 37 and 41 weeks, she wants to be very sure the baby doesn't go post-term. In the end, of course, they can do NSTs and whatnot, so it's up to you and your doctor.

Best of luck with everything- hopefully LO will come soon on its own.

drubie · July 2012

My doctor won't induce until 41 weeks or later, and will leave it up to me (up to 42 weeks) on when to be induced. Different doctors have different philosophies on when to induce and why (as you can see with all of these responses). Since I know that inductions lead to higher risk of c-sections, I would hold off as long as possible (given that my baby/body weren't in distress). The "average" gestation for first time moms is actually 41w1d, so keep that in mind when making your decision.

laurakaz13 · July 2012

I would have gone 5 days past my due date and then been induced. My OB would not let me go longer than 41 weeks. I went into labor on my own 2 days before my EDD.

Eastie156 · July 2012

If you don't have a medical neccesity to be induced or start the process, I'd talk to your Dr and stress how important it is for you to wait it out. GL!

monica92603 · July 2012

Yes, there are increased risks of things happening. If you insist on not letting them induce, you should have NST or BPP daily. Have them check the placenta and blood flow. Odds are on your side all will be fine but there is always a chance of something going wrong.

byrne15 · July 2012

I am having a VBAC (and they won't induce). Even with that, my OB will let me go until 41 weeks before doing a RCS.

brandyleighxx · July 2012

I would ok being induced @ 41 weeks. Placenta can starts breaking down around 42 weeks.

Hyaline · July 2012

I have my fingers crossed I won't be in this boat. But I would have a chat with your doc about her reasons for the three-day recommendation. As far as I know, there is no ACOG or other standard for doing it that soon, and it sounds like you've read and researched and are well-informed--bring it to the table and talk it out with your doc. (BTW, one more great article that breaks down the risks statistically in a way even a dunce like me understands is this one: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/2012/05/03/if-you-dont-have-this-baby-by-42-weeks-we-have-to-induce/)

Yes, she's the doc--but it's your care, your health, your body, and your baby. Don't be shy about getting involved in the decision-making process. Even if you end up inducing at 3 days you can feel confident about the decision.

BTW--You say "for an increased chance of all kinds of stuff"--does your doc mean *for you specifically* or just the standard, placentas start to degrade and babies get bigger kind of stuff? If it's for your specifically because of health issues, etc, that's something you should be in the loop on and definitely talk about! And if it's the standard stuff, you can be monitored to make sure the baby isn't in distress and go a little longer before induction--if it's needed at all!

I may be opening a can of worms but.....

Re: I may be opening a can of worms but.....

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