Waiting list for induction?

Mizuiro007

I didn't have this come up last time and didn't even know it was a thing so it's really thrown me. My OB really wants to induce this upcoming week once I'm 39 weeks. The hospital won't allow induction to be scheduled more than 1 week out. So we picked a day and she said the scheduler from her office would call me.

I was told it's scheduled for Wednesday morning but I'm on a waiting list. They're supposed to call me Tuesday night if a bed opens up and I'll know then if I get to go in Wednesday morning.

My question is- has anyone else experienced this? Is it a common thing to have happen?

spottedginger

I've never heard of that. Let us know when you wind up scheduled though!

keiragann

Ughh that's not a nice thing to do to a pregnant lady.

KRH6829

This happened to me with my son. I scheduled for an induction on my due date due to size and them not wanting him to cook any longer. Once I scheduled, I had to wait for confirmation the night before. They said of all of L&D was full with moms going into labor on their own, then they would have to push back the induction. This didn't end up happening, but was a little annoying. Hopefully you get to keep your induction appointment and good luck!!!

colsen4

Depends on the size of the l&d at your hospital. For instance mine only has five rooms. They would have to cancel inductions if 5 women go into labor, it has happened. I got sent home from an appointment because 5 minutes before I got there a fifth woman went in and so all the Drs were busy.

sbbreen

I'm scheduled for an induction on Monday and have instructions to call 2hrs ahead to make sure there is a bed available. Seems pretty typical.

Mizuiro007

Thanks ladies. I hate the uncertainty of it but it's helpful to know it isn't all that unusual.

BostonBaby1

My friend showed up for her induction only to be told to come back in 6 hours because the floor was filled. It was fine. She went to a movie & a nice lunch, got a pedicure and looked fab after delivery.

Bombmom3

Mizuiro007 said:

Thanks ladies. I hate the uncertainty of it but it's helpful to know it isn't all that unusual.

Frustrating, but not unusual at all. My first two inductions were scheduled and were at totally different hospitals and I was told the same thing at both places - we had an appointment but would need to either call in before heading that way or wait for L&D to call us to ensure they weren't full up with spontaneous labor moms and babies and/or emergency delivery cases. A lot of L&D's will also triage their induction mommas (so they may be approaching full up with regular "walk-in" labors so will then see who on the induction list has the most pressing medical need for one).

Good luck on the big day!

BellaM110

L&D units tend to get busy the week before a major holiday. Lots of inductions and scheduled c/s on top of those who spontaneously go into labor on their own. It's not uncommon. Hopefully everything works out and they'll get you in. Good Luck!

prinloly

I can relate, i'm 38 weeks and 4 days with twins and my induction was scheduled at 38 weeks and 1 day. Showed up at the hospital and being told that the rooms are full and i have to wait for at least a couple of hours. After long waiting they send me home coz the waiting time is unpredicted and it could be several more hours. My doctor office rescheduled me for tomorrow and im really hopful to be induced that day l'm so scard to go beyond 39 weeks with twins. It is just not safe!!!!

Beckah31

prinloly said:

I can relate, i'm 38 weeks and 4 days with twins and my induction was scheduled at 38 weeks and 1 day. Showed up at the hospital and being told that the rooms are full and i have to wait for at least a couple of hours. After long waiting they send me home coz the waiting time is unpredicted and it could be several more hours. My doctor office rescheduled me for tomorrow and im really hopful to be induced that day l'm so scard to go beyond 39 weeks with twins. It is just not safe!!!!

Good luck tomorrow!

Mizuiro007

@prinloly That's exactly what I'm afraid of. My OB really doesn't want me to go to 40 weeks. DS wasn't a huge baby but I had so many issues delivering him because of size. After the growth scan they're conservatively estimating she'll be very close to her brother's size. If they think she's as big as he was my OB wants to do a c-section as she doesn't want a repeat of last time.

I hope it works out that they can get you rescheduled tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you.

MegStark

I think it's normal. Plus, it's a Holiday week. My L&D nurse friends said L&D gets overbooked around that time. A lot of doctors/patients decide on certain days for induction/scheduled C-sections based on "hopefully" getting the family home by the Holiday, and to work around an OB's vacation (right or wrong, that's just how it is). 

Mizuiro007

@MegStark I'm wondering if the holiday is why I'm encountering this this time and didn't with DS.

TomekiaB

@mizuiro007 Emotions also get weird around the holidays so even if it isn't inductions based on convenience some medical situations really just happen more around the holidays.

Medical professionals don't typically start careers superstitious but the longer you work around medicine the more superstition you become exposed to. Crazy things happen around a full moon (circadian rhythms), thunderstorms seems to get labor started (barometric pressure?), elderly relatives seem to hold on to say goodbye at Christmas and often die around the holidays...it doesn't always make sense but the patterns can be undeniable. I never thought much about full moons until I worked in hospitals--now I have to mentally prepare for them.

ZoeyRaeJames

Makes sense, being that the holidays are coming up. Though, I've never heard of this before...until now. But I'm a FTM. So I am not exactly "smart" on this stuff. Lol!

heatherkennedy021

I'm 2nd on the waiting list for Wednesday night but for sure on Thursday. I worked in L&D for a little while and we could only have so many scheduled because we never knew what was going to come in the door that would need a bed and couldn't have them all filled with "electives" so to speak. Hopefully you will get a bed Wednesday! Wishing you a happy safe delivery!

KRH6829

Hoping to go in at 7 am on Monday. I have to call at 5:30 to make sure they have room. My one friend was induced with her last one....she told me that when she called she was told they couldn't take her yet and and she started crying and they told her to hold on and a minute later told her it would be ok if she came in! Might be worth trying if I'm desperate by Monday morning.

NellieHarringtonCarter

Not much new to offer, but yeah, with my first I had to call ahead to see if there were any rooms available, and was told to call back later. Hour later, went into labor naturally, so my OB's office told me to go up anyway. Had to sit in the waiting room for a bit, but no biggie.

tmo51324

I'm due to be induced tomorrow and have to phone at 8 am for them to give me a time to go in. I'm praying that they don't say it's too busy and make me wait another day

Hector33

Im Booked in for a CS 4th Dec. As it it a scheduled CS they advised me if there was an emergency CS I would either get bumped down the list or cancelled all together.

keallenrmt

I had a foley cath placed last night and am top of the list for today but because there have been so many walk ins the rooms are full and I have to wait. On top of that, when I called to check in the nurse said no one is close to delivering so it's still going to be a while. Ugh.

Mizuiro007

As you can tell from my birth announcement, we made it in wednesday. Originally told 11:45am as the scheduled time to get me on the list. They called at 5 am and asked if I could be there at 7am. I took a longish bath and got a few things together in the diaper bag for my mom to have with DS and hubby and I left.

caityleigh92

Sounds like the military hospital! I was told that I'm down for December 30th, but have to call at 5am the morning of to find out when I can come in because they may be too busy if a bunch of people went into labor. I guess I can understand having to wait if people are already in active labor. It's sort of inconvenient though.