Induction question

Katiedid81

Good morning! I am more of a lurker 'round these parts, but am curious about your thoughts.  I get frequent u/s due to pcos and have been told all along that LO is measuring big.  As of Monday he is measuring 8 lbs, 1 oz at 37 weeks.  While my peri did say they tend to be off, he is still recommending I be induced at 39 weeks.  My OB agreed, and we have scheduled an induction, but now I am concerned that this was hasty.  I want to do what's best for the baby and myself, and would love to avoid a c/s.  Basically, if the induction doesn't work as planned, I will most likely have a c/s, but if he gets too big in the last couple weeks, I could also have a c/s. 

Any opinions?

nosoup4u

Inducing raises the chances of having a c-section, frankly. You have a better shot at a vaginal birth if you go into labor on your own. Even if you know when you conceived, the dates could be off, and you could be inducing a baby that isn't even 39 weeks. Not to mention that u/s estimates aren't an accurate way to guess a baby's weight. This is a good post about shoulder dystocia/"big baby" issues: https://www.themidwifenextdoor.com/?p=867

peapine

I agree with PP. If you want to avoid having a c-section, I would wait to go naturally. U/S are always off. They told me my DD#1 was 8 pounds 9 ounces at my 40 week U/S. I went naturally 3 days later and she was only 6 pounds 5 ounces.

MSC03

Those measurements are notorious for being off and inductions when your body is not ready to go into labor frequently end in c/s.

I'm pretty anti-induction without a valid medical reason and guessing at a baby's size without letting you actually TRY to deliver a baby isn't a valid reason to me.

Kitiara5512

You may want to talk to your OB about this then, it doesnt sound like you are agreeable to an induction.

My doc will allow babies up to 11 lbs to be born naturally if thats what the mother wants.

Soap1

Inducing by itself doesn't necessarily increase the risk of c-section - it's a spurious relationship.  Basically, if you have a very large baby that you can't push out, you will likely have a c-section.  If your doctor is inducing you because of a very large baby, you might end up w/ a c-section, but it isn't because of the induction, it's because of the large baby.

I was induced a week early because the baby was measuring large and it went great.  My cervix was very favorable (2cm and 80% effaced) and baby was already at +1 station.  It took about 7 hours from starting pitocin until he was out.

Katiedid81

Thanks to all for your thoughts! I definitely have a lot to think about.  I just want to make the right decision, and not have the "i can't wait to see my baby" thoughts clouding it!  I really appreciate your help!

MJoy82

Induction does increase the risk of a C-Section - but that does not mean everyone who gets induced will end up with one.

Pitocin makes contractions much stronger, longer, and more painful than they would normally be; which increases the chance of the doctors suggesting an epidural. The first epidural shot already increases the chance of a c/s by 21%...that's a large jump. Not to mention the epi lowers the child's heart rate and slows the labor, which means they'll often give more pit. At that point, the child's hb is all wonky on the monitor, so if the child is "in distress" they will strongly recommend a c/s.  It's the snowball rolling down the mountainside.  It is not like that for every induction, again, but induction does increase the risk..

The fact is, except for during the 1800s when upper class women had significant Vitamin D deficiencies, there have been incredibly few cases of a woman not being large enough to move a large baby (You can see Ina May's Guide to Childbirth for that specific statistic). Varying baby size is exactly why our bodies produce relaxin, allowing the joints to spread enough to allow the baby to pass. I know small women who have had very large babies with no c/s and with manageable labors.