Induction at 41 weeks?

hocutt

I am 39 weeks today. No complications with the pregnancy so far. I am due Oct 7th. Getting my first dilation check this Friday (39w+2d) on Oct 2nd. Doc told me if I'm dilated (favorable cervix) that she could induce me anytime between Oct 8-14 and it would pretty much be like I went into labor on my own. If I'm not dilated then she could still induce but it maybe be a less "natural" labor. Either way she wants to induce by Oct 14th (41w) at the latest due to increased risk of stillborn and baby's first bowel movement. Thoughts? I'm thinking I want to wait until the 14th to try to avoid an induction. Induction scares me. I've heard good and bad stories about increased pain and stress on baby. Also worried that the longer I wait the bigger the baby will get and increased chance for bowel movement. I'm still working full time at an office job as well.

NathanheartsKim

I highly recommend waiting. The lungs develop last and the due date is just an estimated date. Besides, you could still go anytime!! Hang in there mama!! ♡

xpaperx

It's so hard to know what the right thing to do is. My dr is very laid back and typically won't induce until 42 weeks. I told him yesterday about one of friends that lost her daughter last year because she inhaled meconium when born at 42 weeks. I literally cannot sleep thinking about this even though I know it is rare. He told me that he would be fine with induction at 41 weeks to ease my fears. I still have two more weeks for baby to appear on her own. My son arrived on his due date, so I'm hoping for a repeat! Good luck with your decision!

1stComesLove421

I'd wait it out, on the agreement that everything continues to look good and the placenta doesn't show signs of aging.

With my first, labor naturally started at 42 weeks and she was born the next day. She did have meconium while I was pushing her, so she was suctioned cleaned just in case she swallowed it.

*She was only 7lbs, so it's not like she was too big. However everyone is different, so keep an eye on that.

Krina18

I'm in exact same position as you. My due date is the 7th also. Dr said he won't let me past 41 weeks. Mine was more due to my age that after 41 weeks my chance of still birth goes up slightly. The way I look at it is that the dr is not going to do anything to put baby or me at more risk. We haven't set a date yet. I figure when he schedules it I'll go in. I have had the easiest pregnancy ever so far and baby is doing excellent. Did our first non stress test yesterday and all was fine. I have not shown any progress of her making a move yet other than she has dropped. Good luck!

ROrtiz07

I'm feeling similar about being induced. Up until recently, I had no idea that the chance of still birth and other complications increases over time & it's been putting me a little on edge. I'll be 40w tomorrow and had my 40w appointment yesterday where my ob told me I'm still not dilated & my cervix is still a little too "firm". I have one last appointment next Tuesday at 40w5d & if there's still no baby, we'll schedule the induction for 41w. At this point, my fear of complications due to being "overdue" far exceed my fears of being induced. I know I shouldn't worry too much though. Good luck to everyone these next couple of weeks! Our LO's will be here soon enough

babymazzei

My doctor won't allow me to go past 41 weeks either for reasons other PP have stated as well as a decrease in the quality of the placenta. If there is no progression at week 40, we are automatically booked for induction at 41 weeks. I trust my doctor's judgment and believe (well, would like to believe) that each doctor does what's best for mom and baby. Being that your doctor has given you the option on when to induce, I would wait until the 14th. At this stage in pregnancy a lot can change in a matter of days, even hours so I personally think its important to at least give your baby ample opportunity to exit on his/her own. 

hocutt

Thanks everyone!

cindykinnear

I was induced with both of my daughters. One was at 41 weeks and the other at 40 weeks. It's not my favorite choice, and I'm hoping this one comes on her own, but I trust my doctor.

Rikki_5

My doctor won't let me go past 40 + 6 days...there are some kind of medicine they can give you vaginally that can start labor that doesn't include pitocin .... either way I'm hoping he comes this weekend!  If not, I will go to the hospital on Tuesday and have him on Oct. 7th.  I'm so out of it lately just ready to be unpregnant! 

MandahGirly

I am feeling anxious as well. Tomorrow is my due date and I also have my appointment. I am meeting with my OB and I'm hoping she will check me to see if anything is happening. I originally did not want to be induced but I'm nervous about going past 41 weeks. I have GD but it has been diet controlled and a few high blood pressure spikes so I'm concerned about my placenta to be honest. I have had weekly NSTs and every time baby has been perfect. I have to say I don't think I would complain if my dr wanted me to be induced this weekend. I'm hoping that if I do have to be induced that I can avoid pitocin.

cmjn94

Rikki_5 said:

My doctor won't let me go past 40 + 6 days...there are some kind of medicine they can give you vaginally that can start labor that doesn't include pitocin .... either way I'm hoping he comes this weekend!  If not, I will go to the hospital on Tuesday and have him on Oct. 7th.  I'm so out of it lately just ready to be unpregnant! 

I was induced and they did a gel vaginally straight into the cervix. I only need a little bit of pitocin to supplement.

jrb2015

It also depends on the kind of birth you want. If you want a natural birth I'd stick to your guns and push for 41-42 weeks. I'm actually due sept 24 and will be 41 weeks tomorrow. My midwives won't induce until 41weeks 3 days at the earliest and I think I will be shooting for that. I've really wanted to go natural this time around (I have 2 other kids) but honestly the longer I wait the more I worry and maybe that is the medias fault with all the "don't wait too long" stories. I know my chances of needing pain meds are much higher if i'm induced as I've been there before and had epidurals with my other two. With my son they just broke my water ( as I was 4 cm dilated and 41 weeks but not in active labor) and he came 3 hours later but because he was not in a favorable position when they broke my water he got stuck and still has issues to this day with speech and delays. Just ask a ton of questions and make sure it's what YOU want and feel comfortable with. honestly after 41 weeks you can't wait to get them out

krae771

For my first, I ended up inducing at 41 wk 3D and it went just fine.  I wanted to wait as long as possible because I hoped to go into labor on my own and my OB was fine w/ 42 weeks but we ended up picking that date so she could be on call when I had the baby.  I wouldn't go longer than 42 weeks but I can't see a problem with 41 weeks. 

devonsd315

I have a scheduled induction next week at 41+2. I thought I would want to wait longer than that, but I'm starting to have more worries about meconium, having a large baby, etc. so I'm happy to not go past that. Of course I'm hoping that labor starts on it's own before that!

tuinstrab

Has anyone been induced with Pitocin and had a successful birth without pain meds? I just worry that I will have to be induced but wont be able to handle the pain. I made it through fine with my daughter but I can't imagine it being MORE painful lol!!

komorebi

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-inducing-labor-for-going-past-your-due-date/

This is a great read. Very informative.

erinboehme

tuinstrab said:

Has anyone been induced with Pitocin and had a successful birth without pain meds? I just worry that I will have to be induced but wont be able to handle the pain. I made it through fine with my daughter but I can't imagine it being MORE painful lol!!

Yes, I have. It was more difficult than just going into labor naturally, but totally do-able! It's just harder because you're required to be strapped to monitors, so your options to move through contractions are limited.

tuinstrab

erinboehme said:

tuinstrab said:

Has anyone been induced with Pitocin and had a successful birth without pain meds? I just worry that I will have to be induced but wont be able to handle the pain. I made it through fine with my daughter but I can't imagine it being MORE painful lol!!

Yes, I have. It was more difficult than just going into labor naturally, but totally do-able! It's just harder because you're required to be strapped to monitors, so your options to move through contractions are limited.

Its good to hear its been done. Gives me some confidence in case it happens! Hopefully I won't even need to worry about it!

hocutt

Just a follow up from my original post. Went to the doctor's office today to get some discharge I was having checked. All is fine. Just a lot more vaginal discharge than I'm used to. She checked me for dilation for the first time. I'm 2 cm @ 39w+1d, she said the baby is really low, and she touched the baby's head!!!!! Didn't get to see my normal doctor, just a nurse practitioner since my doctor was not in today. I have my regular appointment tomorrow. Seems things are progressing! I've decided to be induced on the 14th (41w) but hopefully she comes before then. She's got 13 more days!

Soashwifey

I'm 40 weeks today and my doctor just scheduled me to be induced on Sunday Night . (I'll be 41 weeks the next day). So far, I'm not making any progress and my body is showing no signs that baby is coming soon. No contractions... not even BH. My doctor is going to check me again this Friday, but says if I haven't progressed any by then... inducing me could take 2 days in the hospital! I wasn't expecting to be in the hospital for 2 days just for being induced... but I trust my doctor. Anyone else been in this situation?

danixbanani24

komorebi said:

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-inducing-labor-for-going-past-your-due-date/ This is a great read. Very informative.

Wow thank you for posting that article. Very informative and I feel more prepared to talk to my doctor about induction.

kim1228

My doctors want me to be delivered by 41 weeks, so if I am past my due date (Halloween!) I'll be induced at 40w, 4 or 5 days. 

capricelili

My dr wanted to induce at 41wk 3dy also, but I had plans for a natural birth without pain meds so I put it off till after 42wk. I'd read the info on the evidence based birth site and decided it was a matter of statistics so I agreed to be induced if I went past 42wk. I ended up going into labor on my own at exactly 42 weeks after my water broke. Funny thing is my placenta didn't have any signs of being too mature and was still super healthy. My baby was also not as big as the ultrasound tech had guesstimated. point being due dates can be off sometimes, I think babies come when they are ready. It all depends on what your ultimate goals are and how comfortable you can be with the evidence and statistics. I'll tell you for myself, even though it was my choice to wait it out an extra week, I was a nervous wreck worrying about LO being okay in there. I had to constantly check his movements to reassure myself he was okay.