Declined Induction

CraftonKirkpatrick

I am 38 weeks pregnant, and my dr wanted to induce me next week because of my location to the hospital and having group B...I declined because I am not dilated and still have not dropped. I do not want to go and try and have a failed induction and end up c-section. Has anyone had a dr recommend this too? I trust my dr and I know I am 2 hours from the hospital. with my first I labored so long and went 41 weeks that I at least want to wait until I am 40 weeks before trying to induce with this baby. I also have a long torso so would that impact being able to see baby drop? 

AdorkablePixie

I can't stand it when doctor's want to try to induce just for themselves.  Your location to the hospital is such a crappy reason. Good for you for declining. Baby will come when he/she is ready. I agree, you should at least wait until 40.

CraftonKirkpatrick

Well he says because I am 2 hours away, and I have Group B just so I can get the antibiotic. But I feel like an induction is just asking for problems at this point. lol

Merciel

I don't think this is a case of the doctor wanting to "try to induce just for themselves." I'm GBS+ too and one of the things my doctors recommended was being sure to get to the hospital within two hours if my water breaks, because there is an increased risk of infecting the baby after that time period. This isn't an idle concern; a friend of a friend lost her baby to a similar problem earlier this year (there may have been complicating factors in that situation and I'm not close enough to the family to know all the details, so I'm not entirely sure about that, but certainly the delay compounded by bacterial contamination was an issue if not the issue).

I don't think that automatically makes it unreasonable to refuse an induction, especially for a mom with a history of late and prolonged labors and a baby that's not favorably positioned. IMO it's a gray area. There are good reasons to accept the offer and good reasons to refuse.

At the very least, though, I don't think it's unreasonable for the doctor to make the offer in this situation. Of course you can decline, and maybe you should. But it's good that the offer is on the table if you want it.

AdorkablePixie

@CraftonKirkpatrick Is there a place you can stay closer to the hospital once you get close enough that you may go in labor? Two hours is a LONG trip to the hospital, and might be made worse by traffic.

@Merciel I didn't realize how far she is from a hospital, that is really far. Still, I'd wait until at least 40 weeks, especially since her first went to 41.

TXmamatobe

I'm not being rude, I promise, I'm just curious to know how you wound up with a hospital that's two hours away? 

CraftonKirkpatrick

@TXmamatobe Well I actually moved not too long ago, and I wanted to keep seeing the same dr. I like being where I am most comfortable. I feel like you never know what to expect, but I have a little idea with this dr because he did deliver my first.

hellogoodbye2

I think you have absolutely every right to decline an induction at 39w. I'm sure if you go into the hospital at any point from here on out they are going to try and push induction on you because of your situation.

lionstigersbears

Nothing to add other than that my midwives have told me that while first time moms tend to "drop" a couple of weeks before going into labor that 2nd+ time moms don't typically until in labor. It's not super intuitive to me, but she explained that everything moving out of the way in there needs time the first time, and the second there's less resistance overall. 

TheThornBird

I'm also far from our hospital and GBS+. I asked my MW if I needed to be worried if, say, I gave birth on the way to the hospital, or so quickly that I didn't have time for the full course of antibiotics. She said not to worry at all- the transmission rate is still pretty low (1/250, which is 0.4%) and that LO will be tested and monitored for 48 hours after birth. I got the overall impression that it isn't a huge deal. 

lalala2004

With the small percentages of transmission along with the small likelihood that your water breaks before
labor (10% I think) I totally think it makes sense go decline induction. I'd just say don't wait to go to the hospital when it seems like things are happening, though!

girlaskew

My docs have been offering an induction at 38 weeks since I was 11 weeks long. I have chronic HPB that was well controlled pre-pregnancy and has stayed controlled this whole pregnancy. No spikes, no protein, no swelling. Knock on wood. I realize how fortunate I am. But they have expected me to spike and have problems since the start. I am 36+6 and just yesterday after our 3rd perfect BPP and after 2 perfect NST's said they want to induce me at 39 weeks. I said no. We are not scheduling now.  As long as my BP stays fine and there continue to be no signs of PreE and the baby is fine, I will not be induced. 
I was upset about the extra testing, but decided to play their reindeer games if for no other reason then as evidence not to induce. 
All that said, I told my husband that if he felt I was getting too hard headed about this to talk to me about it. 

avidkeo

CraftonKirkpatrick said:

I am 38 weeks pregnant, and my dr wanted to induce me next week because of my location to the hospital and having group B...I declined because I am not dilated and still have not dropped. I do not want to go and try and have a failed induction and end up c-section. Has anyone had a dr recommend this too? I trust my dr and I know I am 2 hours from the hospital. with my first I labored so long and went 41 weeks that I at least want to wait until I am 40 weeks before trying to induce with this baby. I also have a long torso so would that impact being able to see baby drop? 

I haven't read the other comments but am also a 2hr drive from the hospital and am attempting a VBAC. I have an induction booked for 41+1 weeks but hope to go into labour before that. I would feel that distance is a stupid reason to induce at 39 weeks. 

Stick to your guns! And good luck. 

ETA for those curious, i live very rural. We do have a local hospital thats only 20 mins away but because im VBAC im not allowed to deliver there due to increased risk.