induction for no medical reason?

AACraven85

Today at my 39 wk appointment the doctor says to me, are you anxious to meet your baby? I was kind of caught off guard, like, of course I am..? What do you mean by that? She's like well we can step into my office after the exam and start discussing a date for induction if you'd like. WTF? I'm still a week from my EDD.. heavy emphasis on the "estimated".  I kind of thought that induction was only done if there was a medical reason. I politely declined and said I'd rather wait it out, and if LO wasn't here by 41 weeks we'd start to discuss dates then.

Do they get paid more for inductions or what? I know she isn't pushing for it due to it fitting better into her schedule- my practice has five doctors with two on at the hospital at any given time no matter what.

Wondering why everyone freaks out if your baby is two seconds late too.. due dates are not an exact science! After 40 weeks I have to have an NST twice a week until baby comes for some reason. I also had a friend (a nurse) tell me if I go past 41 weeks my placenta and cord will start to like, disintigrate. Taking this with a grain of salt.. I don't think that's the norm.. I would be more inclined to think dr was off on my due date and not that I'm some freak of nature with a baby that won't be born without medical intervention.

babylizz

My OB did an u/s at 36 weeks and could tell my placenta was at a stage 3. I made him explain to me what that meant and he said the placenta was fully mature, a sign baby is almost ready/is ready. Then he said he wanted to schedule an induction for 3 days before my due date. I agreed b/c he also said I will probably go on my own before then; I was 2cm at that appointment and LO is measuring huge. You should ask your OB why he is wanting to induce and why the NSTs would be needed.  

twirlyjack73

Maybe you're dr is a planner & just wants to get the date on the calendar.  Maybe you're dr wants to be the one to deliver you (for your sake or hers out of kindness or money) & the difference of scheduling may just be 1 day in either direction.  I wish my dr would do that for me.  Instead I have to wait for week 40 before he'll break out the calendar.  & you do have medical reasons for the induction simply that drs don't let you deliver usually past 41 weeks b/c of exactly what you're friend said about the placenta, higher rates of stillborn, etc...  My dr explained so many reasons that having a very late baby is just as bad as a preemie.  If you wait until 41 weeks to make a date then you're already past what most drs would let their patients go as you'd be delivering in your 42nd week. I wish we didn't have to have so much medical intervention also, but if you think back to when we didn't birth was a very dangerous event. To me it sounds like you actually have a good dr who simply needs to be better at explaining their reasoning with you.

AACraven85

I guess my issue is that I have no medical reason and the doctor stated there was no medical reason either, just asked if I wanted "help" if I was anxious. I really do not believe very many people have true post term babies (which I definitely understand can have just as many issues as a preemie)  but that in more cases than not it's probably an issue of the EDD being off a bit.

I guess I just trust my body to go into labor when it's ready, and I'm not sure why this is so "dangerous" if I have zero indication of having anything  but a normally progressing pregnancy. I'm sure in some cases going past your due date can result in complications, but you also can't discount the risks associated with induction/possible c-section as well.

I have no problem taking the extra steps and having twice weekly NST's if just for peace of mind, but I certainly do not want to be pressured into pumping my body full of artificial drugs for any reason other than mine or my babies health actually being in danger.

cheerio9

my doctor and i scheduled an induction date only 4 days after i'm due. if you're not comfortable though def don't do it sooner then you want.

Bluescarf

AACraven85:

I guess my issue is that I have no medical reason and the doctor stated there was no medical reason either, just asked if I wanted "help" if I was anxious. I really do not believe very many people have true post term babies (which I definitely understand can have just as many issues as a preemie)  but that in more cases than not it's probably an issue of the EDD being off a bit.

I guess I just trust my body to go into labor when it's ready, and I'm not sure why this is so "dangerous" if I have zero indication of having anything  but a normally progressing pregnancy. I'm sure in some cases going past your due date can result in complications, but you also can't discount the risks associated with induction/possible c-section as well.

I have no problem taking the extra steps and having twice weekly NST's if just for peace of mind, but I certainly do not want to be pressured into pumping my body full of artificial drugs for any reason other than mine or my babies health actually being in danger.

 I am glad you said this! It seems like everyone wants to just say that their OB always has a good reason, etc. but it simply is not true. I was reading yesterday about how they have done numerous studies on induction due to going past DD and about 70% of those cases were actually EDD being off. I personally do think NST's are a good idea though. I chose a midwifery practice over my much beloved OB because of the culture of wanting to "get the baby out". There are lots of risks involved with inductions. Now, if I was told that there is a good reason to induce and it made sense, I'd do it. But....when there is no need? Doesn't make sense to me either.

JoyMarieLove

When I first met with my doctor she told me she didn't like to let her patients go over 3 days past thier due date... Seems odd right? Yeah... I have a new doctor : )

If Jon Jon stays in there up to 41 weeks THEN I will start think about induction only because I know there are risks with late babies, just like with early ones....

AACraven85

Bluescarf:

AACraven85:

I guess my issue is that I have no medical reason and the doctor stated there was no medical reason either, just asked if I wanted "help" if I was anxious. I really do not believe very many people have true post term babies (which I definitely understand can have just as many issues as a preemie)  but that in more cases than not it's probably an issue of the EDD being off a bit.

I guess I just trust my body to go into labor when it's ready, and I'm not sure why this is so "dangerous" if I have zero indication of having anything  but a normally progressing pregnancy. I'm sure in some cases going past your due date can result in complications, but you also can't discount the risks associated with induction/possible c-section as well.

I have no problem taking the extra steps and having twice weekly NST's if just for peace of mind, but I certainly do not want to be pressured into pumping my body full of artificial drugs for any reason other than mine or my babies health actually being in danger.

 I am glad you said this! It seems like everyone wants to just say that their OB always has a good reason, etc. but it simply is not true. I was reading yesterday about how they have done numerous studies on induction due to going past DD and about 70% of those cases were actually EDD being off. I personally do think NST's are a good idea though. I chose a midwifery practice over my much beloved OB because of the culture of wanting to "get the baby out". There are lots of risks involved with inductions. Now, if I was told that there is a good reason to induce and it made sense, I'd do it. But....when there is no need? Doesn't make sense to me either.

totally told DH yesterday that I think I might be more comfortable with a midwife during my next pregnancy; there definitely seems to be a whole different approach vs. your typical OB.

Bluescarf

AACraven85:

Bluescarf:

AACraven85:

I guess my issue is that I have no medical reason and the doctor stated there was no medical reason either, just asked if I wanted "help" if I was anxious. I really do not believe very many people have true post term babies (which I definitely understand can have just as many issues as a preemie)  but that in more cases than not it's probably an issue of the EDD being off a bit.

I guess I just trust my body to go into labor when it's ready, and I'm not sure why this is so "dangerous" if I have zero indication of having anything  but a normally progressing pregnancy. I'm sure in some cases going past your due date can result in complications, but you also can't discount the risks associated with induction/possible c-section as well.

I have no problem taking the extra steps and having twice weekly NST's if just for peace of mind, but I certainly do not want to be pressured into pumping my body full of artificial drugs for any reason other than mine or my babies health actually being in danger.

 I am glad you said this! It seems like everyone wants to just say that their OB always has a good reason, etc. but it simply is not true. I was reading yesterday about how they have done numerous studies on induction due to going past DD and about 70% of those cases were actually EDD being off. I personally do think NST's are a good idea though. I chose a midwifery practice over my much beloved OB because of the culture of wanting to "get the baby out". There are lots of risks involved with inductions. Now, if I was told that there is a good reason to induce and it made sense, I'd do it. But....when there is no need? Doesn't make sense to me either.

totally told DH yesterday that I think I might be more comfortable with a midwife during my next pregnancy; there definitely seems to be a whole different approach vs. your typical OB.

 

You might feel more comfortable there. Before looking into it I didn't even want a midwife to do a PAP because I didn't think they were as "qualified" as an OB. I realized after research and actually going to the midwives that they are very qualified for "normal" pregnancies, and mine is even qualified for VBACs and twin pregnancies too. Best decision I ever made.