OB might make me go past 38 wks??!!

emma12210

I was REALLY annoyed w/ my OB today... for the past 4 months, all we've talked about is that I will not go past Jan 25 (38w1d), and we would either do a c/s or induction at that time depending on babies' positions. I have di/di twins, and a very uneventful pregnancy.

Today he said if I don't opt for a c/s (which is scheduled for Jan 25 due to them being breech for a while - now they're vertex) then I may have to wait til 39 wks to deliver b/c the "hospital frowns upon inductions prior to 39 wks"

I know it will all turn out fine, and I could go into labor at anytime, but January 25 has been my goal forever, and it's so discouraging to hear I may have to wait another week. Plus, my MFM has recommended that I do not go past 38 wks.

Did anyone's Dr make them wait past 38 wks? Thanks ladies

tootlebug

try not to stress to much about it right now...you could very well go into labor on your own over the next couple weeks.

it might be a good idea to have your MFM connect with your OB to see where the disconnect here is?

my MFM told me today that our goal is 38 weeks.....but at 38 weeks they are coming out one way or another basically.  i think everyone doc/MFM seems to have a slightly different viewpoint on this. 

punkin06

I was in a similar situation.  personally, i think the ob's are used to women with multiples not making it to 38 weeks so they tell us this crap based on their experiences of twin pregnancies not usually getting to 38 weeks anyhow.  my ob tried the same thing.  i pushed him and he was actually going on vacation soon, so he stuck to his word for me and induced me at 37 weeks, 6 days.  everything was great and both babies came vaginally and relatively easily.  once the babies were here, i of course felt like i could have kept them in another week without a problem.  my baby b was smaller at 5lbs, 8oz and her blood sugar kept fluctuating. 

i know it's discouraging and anxiety provoking, but just go with it.  38 weeks is not a long time for gestation.  i have no regrets, but i do appreciate the alertness of a 40+ week old baby, compared to my sleepy head sweeties    not that i'm pushing you to keep them in there past 40 weeks (dangerous for multiples!) ...

allisonmarie22

My doctor doesn't induce a healthy twin pregnancy until 39 weeks. He told me his twin moms often beg him to induce at 38 weeks, but he prefers to wait until 39. He did say that if I was overly stressed about it (in pain, couldn't move or breathe, etc.) and requested it he would induce me at 38.

He just likes them to cook as long as they can provided they are healthy. I can see his point.

politelypink

I'll be waiting till 38w3d till I deliver mine. He said there is a slight possibility that I'll have to wait a day or two if any emergency csections come in that day, but the wait wouldn't harm the babies. It seems to be up to the doctors preferance as to when to deliver.

ninjabridemom

I think in general, spontaneous labor is preferred anyway.  But -- I would have your OB and MFM chat and see what's what.  I have heard of more hospitals not inducing before 39 weeks.

 

I know it's the end and you're discouraged but it could be best.  Just get more info.

 

And good luck!!  Either way, you're so close  

macchiatto

I know that has to be frustrating at the uncomfortable end to be told something different than you were initially. I agree with having your MFM and OB talk.

hunt2005

A friend delivered at 41 weeks with her twins. The hospital she was at didn't do inductions or non-necessary c/s prior to then. She ended up being induced at 41 weeks. It would definitely be frustrating to be told 38 and get there and find out you have to wait another week. Once you get there, every day seems to last forever, but by the end of the day you realize just how strong you are and that one more day might not be *so* bad!

naflmj

Obviously I am not there yet but my OB said if I am complication free, they won't induce or schedule a c/s until 39 weeks. The MFM said he doubts I will make it that far but he's supportive of the plan since the longer they cook, the better. While I know I am going to be so uncomfortable, I would prefer to go into labor naturally anyways (provided the babies are in the right position) and DS was born at 38 weeks so I think there's a good chance it will happen on it's own by then. Hang in there.

finallyreilly

Same thing happened with us.  We had planned all along 38 weeks and at 35 weeks the OB changed it to 39 weeks because of hospital policy.  I freaked out.  After I calmed down I realized two things: 1. I was probably never going to make it that long based on the MFM and 2. The longer they are in there the more they grow and will be ready to come home.  As the MFM predicted I ended up with a csection at 37 weeks because of DD's IUGR issues. 

angelfire02

I talked to our MFM doctor about this yesterday and here is what he told me.  (We are having mono/di twins and it sounded like that made a difference).  He said that he won't let me go any farther then 37 weeks, no matter how I end up delivering.  He said that he advocates and would recommend a  vaginal delivery if at all possible, but if not then a scheduled C-section would be set up from 37 weeks.  He said going into it, the type of delivery they schedule depends on the babies positions and if one is pressing on my cervix, or any of that, but he will not go past 37.  He also said that the old studies suggested delivering twins between 34-36 weeks, but the newer data says the longer they can stay in the better.  Which I thought was a little odd because why wouldn't they then try to go farther then 37?  Anyway, that might not make a ton of sense, but I would make sure that your OB and MFM doctor are talking and on the same page about their plan of care for you so at least you can have some understanding of why they are saying what they're saying!  Good luck and I hope it goes quickly for you!

august8080

I have di/di twins that I hope to deliver vaginally and without pain meds. My MFM will let me go to 40 weeks as long as everyone is healthy and I will absolutely not ask for an induction prior to that unless it's medically necessary.

I know it's hard to have a goal in mind and think about going farther when you're uncomfortable and anxious to meet them but there are lots of health benefits to the babies for them to a) cook and b) come when they/your body are ready. Hang in there!

KellyD01

I know it's frustrating and at this point enough to make you break down and sob since you've had a goal all along and now are being told that goal is moving farther out. With me, my singleton came on his own at 37 weeks so that coupled with the supposition that twins always come early had everyone including me believing I'd be lucky to make it to 36 weeks... haha on me when I was still majorly pregnant at 39w3d. BUT, that's a GOOD thing!!!! Honest it is! As long as babies are doing well there's no real reason to induce or deliver a healthy di/di twin pregnancy early, tho believe me when I say I know how you feel. I was utterly miserable from around week 32 on.

My MFM (who is one of the top in my city) would have let me go as far as 41 possibly even 42 weeks before inducing as long as my girls looked good. As it was E was breech (babyA) and we delivered via c/s at 39w3d. My hospital also doesn't allow inductions or c/s for the sake of inductions or c/s prior to 39 w even with twins.

macchiatto

august8080:

I have di/di twins that I hope to deliver vaginally and without pain meds. My MFM will let me go to 40 weeks as long as everyone is healthy and I will absolutely not ask for an induction prior to that unless it's medically necessary.

I know it's hard to have a goal in mind and think about going farther when you're uncomfortable and anxious to meet them but there are lots of health benefits to the babies for them to a) cook and b) come when they/your body are ready. Hang in there!

I would've said the same thing when I was 19w.

In the end, we ended up scheduling my induction for 37w6d. I hope it goes well for you though!

macchiatto

august8080:

I have di/di twins that I hope to deliver vaginally and without pain meds. My MFM will let me go to 40 weeks as long as everyone is healthy and I will absolutely not ask for an induction prior to that unless it's medically necessary.

I know it's hard to have a goal in mind and think about going farther when you're uncomfortable and anxious to meet them but there are lots of health benefits to the babies for them to a) cook and b) come when they/your body are ready. Hang in there!

I would've said the same thing when I was 19w.

In the end, we ended up scheduling my induction for 37w6d. I hope it goes well for you though!

emma12210

*sigh*... thanks ladies! I know, all of you are right, the longer they cook the better, although I saw MFM today, and he did say he wanted me to deliver in the 38th week, and is going to reiterate that in his note, but ultimately it's up to the OB. So... we'll see. My BP is also starting to creep up - 130/90, so we'll see how that goes...

I keep telling myself, the longer they're in, the more they'll weigh, and the sooner they'll STTN!

The main thing stressing me out is that my parents are supposed to watch DD when I go to deliver, but they're going out of town when I'll be 39w1d... we have friends that can watch her, but she won't sleep well at their house, and I know she'll probably have them up half the night, meaning DH probably won't be able to stay with me a lot at the hospital. We just never planned for this, b/c we've been told 38 wks all along!

Ah, life w/ multiples, right??!!