I'm not sure if it's policy throughout the practice, but with my last pregnancy my OB started offering me one at 38 weeks. I declined until 40w. I've seen a few other drs in the practice this time and no one has mentioned it yet.
Not sure who said it but I don't think anyone was "outraged" and being that this is an Internet forum no one is making you justify why or why not to induce. I'm glad that we were all able to keep it civil. Clearly from the votes and most of the comments it seems that ACOG guidelines are being adhered to and that makes the science based medical practitioner in me happy. Thanks to everyone for your responses.
In the UK I think it's fairly standard policy that in a complication free pregnancy they wont induce until you are 2 weeks late. So if I need to be induced i'll be 42 weeks.
Mine will not do an induction unless medically necessary. I haven't had a chance to officially ask yet but my guess will be 41 weeks. I was in the hospital at 38 and a half weeks in the worst pain of my life and he still refused to induce. I just want to add this is one of the reasons I think he is a good doctor.
Ok I apologize "outraged" was a harsh word to use. It's just been a heated subject for a long time. Just going with the fact that just like every pregnancy and every delivery... Every doctor will have different thoughts on induction. Didn't mean to ruffle feathers!!!! Happy thanksgiving y'all!!!
I believe my OB does at 41 weeks unless medically necessary. I wish I would make it close to that, but unfortunately I believe this little girl will be delivered via c section next Friday the 6th at 39 weeks 1 day.
Think that will be my day as well! I'm pretty excited about it!!
Mine said we will probably talk next week about scheduling something for week 40 (I'm at 38w now). I am AMA, though, which raises the risk of the placenta suddenly pooping out. They don't usually do it before 41 weeks without a specific medical problem.
I'm not outraged just generally confused. And like all your doctors have medical degrees so does mine and the others that prefer to wait till 41/42 weeks. Just sayin
I'm sure it's probably a convenience thing. And they do make more money for an induction than a regular labor. So I can see why doctors do it.
As for moms, I've said before that after the complications following my post date induction with S, and with statistics showing I probably won't go into labor this time either, I'd rather do an earlier induction to hopefully avoid meconium and nicu time.
Doctors are salaried. Whether their hospital receives more pay for an induction or a spontaneous labor ethically wouldn't affect the doctor's decision-making, and there's a reason it wouldn't affect the doctor's bottom line.
ETA: Honestly the convenience thing bothers me more than any other reason. I'm fine with being induced at 40w because my doc thinks my body/baby are ready for it, but I wouldn't be fine being induced because she's going out of town for the holidays. I'd much rather my baby be delivered by another doc than have medical decisions be made based on doctor's schedule, unless that doctor is a specialist who doesn't have an appropriate stand-in (like if you need to be induced so a pediatric cardiology team will be there or something.)
@watercolor5, Doctors are not always salaried. It depends if it is their practice and/or how their contract with the hospital is written.
Fair enough- my brother is an OB/GYN and is salaried and doesn't make decisions based on how much the hospital makes because that would be unethical... a hospital policy to encourage medical decisions to make more for the hospital would be extremely unethical and lawsuit worthy. I guess that's part of why I love my teaching hospital so much.
I realize private practice docs who have admitting rights at a hospital may make more if they induce a patient vs if they don't, and I think these docs are also way more likely than doctors who work for the hospital directly to want to induce a patient so they'll be the physician who delivers the baby, because that makes a bigger difference to how much a private practice doc makes than inducing vs spontaneous labor. I don't know what the profit margin is for one type of birth vs the other, since inductions cost more to perform as well.
All that to say, sorry I got this post off track, this wasn't the OPs question at all...
42 here and even then I get the option (if baby tests are good normal) of induction, waiting a few more days, OR drinking a magical concoction my midwife makes...she says its 100% effective of inducing labour naturally within 24 hours hehe. It's got some apricot juice along with some other shit AND a shot of vodka I will try the drink before I say go, to induction.
I'm with the PPs that don't see an issue with inductions for "convenience" if that is what you personally want. I get wanting your doctor there or whatever other reason (childcare, birthday, I don't care). If a doctor did something that was inherently unsafe, he would be opening his practice up to a world of lawsuits, IMO.
I'm sure my doctor will offer me an induction since he'll be out of town for awhile at the end of the month. He offered me one last time at 39 weeks 5 days (didn't make it that long).
I will say no to an induction for personal reasons. I had a quick labor last time and really don't want to do anything that will give me a prolonged one this time. I have no fear an induction would harm my baby.
@watercolor5, Doctors are not always salaried. It depends if it is their practice and/or how their contract with the hospital is written.
Fair enough- my brother is an OB/GYN and is salaried and doesn't make decisions based on how much the hospital makes because that would be unethical... a hospital policy to encourage medical decisions to make more for the hospital would be extremely unethical and lawsuit worthy. I guess that's part of why I love my teaching hospital so much.
I realize private practice docs who have admitting rights at a hospital may make more if they induce a patient vs if they don't, and I think these docs are also way more likely than doctors who work for the hospital directly to want to induce a patient so they'll be the physician who delivers the baby, because that makes a bigger difference to how much a private practice doc makes than inducing vs spontaneous labor. I don't know what the profit margin is for one type of birth vs the other, since inductions cost more to perform as well.
All that to say, sorry I got this post off track, this wasn't the OPs question at all...
Who said hospitals did that? We're talking about elective inductions, not inductions for medical reasons. So your statement about medical decisions is inapplicable.
Hospitals allow these elective inductions. Elective procedures are, by definition, elected by the patient. Elective inductions make them more money. Otherwise, what, are OBs lying to get their patients in? Are they performing inductions without hospital approval? That would be unethical.
Obviously, hospitals and doctors do not find it unethical to perform elective inductions at term. The fact that you think it is must be colored by your perception of it as a harmful procedure in some way.
I assume doctors at your teaching hospital perform no elective reproductive procedures? Abortions, IUDs, IUI, IVF, prescriptions for Viagra, etc.?
@Loolaide - you misunderstood me. I don't have a problem with elective inductions- I said my doctor was comfortable inducing me at any point after my due date, and allows me to choose when. I will probably choose to opt for an induction before 41w if I don't deliver by then.
I was just uncomfortable with the notion that the fact the doctor or hospital would make more money from an elective induction would make them more likely to offer it, as if they would offer it less if profit were not an issue. I don't think it's unethical to offer elective inductions, I do think it would be unethical to offer a medical procedure more often based solely on profit. But maybe I misunderstood what you were saying...
Re: When will your OB/MW induce you?
I just want to add this is one of the reasons I think he is a good doctor.
ETA: Honestly the convenience thing bothers me more than any other reason. I'm fine with being induced at 40w because my doc thinks my body/baby are ready for it, but I wouldn't be fine being induced because she's going out of town for the holidays. I'd much rather my baby be delivered by another doc than have medical decisions be made based on doctor's schedule, unless that doctor is a specialist who doesn't have an appropriate stand-in (like if you need to be induced so a pediatric cardiology team will be there or something.)
I realize private practice docs who have admitting rights at a hospital may make more if they induce a patient vs if they don't, and I think these docs are also way more likely than doctors who work for the hospital directly to want to induce a patient so they'll be the physician who delivers the baby, because that makes a bigger difference to how much a private practice doc makes than inducing vs spontaneous labor. I don't know what the profit margin is for one type of birth vs the other, since inductions cost more to perform as well.
All that to say, sorry I got this post off track, this wasn't the OPs question at all...
It's got some apricot juice along with some other shit AND a shot of vodka
I will try the drink before I say go, to induction.
I'm sure my doctor will offer me an induction since he'll be out of town for awhile at the end of the month. He offered me one last time at 39 weeks 5 days (didn't make it that long).
I will say no to an induction for personal reasons. I had a quick labor last time and really don't want to do anything that will give me a prolonged one this time. I have no fear an induction would harm my baby.
I was just uncomfortable with the notion that the fact the doctor or hospital would make more money from an elective induction would make them more likely to offer it, as if they would offer it less if profit were not an issue. I don't think it's unethical to offer elective inductions, I do think it would be unethical to offer a medical procedure more often based solely on profit. But maybe I misunderstood what you were saying...