Speaking of induction

chizekgeena

As a previous post stated, the word "induction" has definitely become a 4 letter word around here. Let me get your guys' opinion on my situation though. So normally I would never ever consider an induction unless I surpass 42 weeks but I was notified by DH today that he has to leave the day of my due date. He is in the army and although he is not getting "deployed" persay, he will not be allowed to leave where he is at and he will also be gone for about a month. This is our first baby and we both desperately want him to be there for the birth. I told my OB about my situation in just some small talk and she said that I could be induced after 39 weeks if I wanted. My mom is a LD nurse and also said that I should consider induction and that she rarely witnesses the horrible stories everyone talks about online. I feel guilty even considering it but my OB also told me it would be helpful since I live over an hour away from the hospital and I am GBS. So ladies, what would you do? Risk not having DH be there for the birth of your first child or opt for an induction despite the risks. I am honestly torn and I feel selfish for even mentioning it on here. I just want LO to be as healthy as possible but I definitely do not want to be alone during labor.

Demedoll

I just think it is wrong to mess with nature and induce for convenience. The 40 weeks is not a given, some babies need more time in there and sometimes the due date is wrong. Also, there are risks with being induced.

That being said, you could always skype the labor if you have a phone or ipad with that capability. Not the same but not terrible. You don't have to be alone, you can ask your mom or someone else to be with you. Have you considered a doula?

I am not in the military so I have no clue, but can he not submit a request to delay his assignment a week or at least be given leave the day/night you go into labor if he explains the situation since he isn't being deployed?

Maybe the baby will come early on its own

My opinion aside, if your baby is looking healthy and your doctor is comfortable with it maybe you can set the induction for the day before he leaves so you are as close to your due date as possible.

I recommend doing as much research about being induced as possible. Also talk about how many children you want in case the induction doesn't go well for you and you end up with a csection. If you only want like 2 or 3 kids then maybe that risk is worth it for you guys. The benefits so far from your post look like it being easier to plan, you pick the date, he can be there, and you dont have an hour drive while in labor. I would just discuss the risks with your DH and make your decision together.

 

mavs41

Personally, I would want DH there.  I don't think after 39 weeks, in your situation, is a "selfish" reason.

TAGSL710

I honestly have no idea what I would do in this situation.  That is really hard.  I think ClickActual might be dealing with something similar?

chizekgeena

Demedoll:

I just think it is wrong to mess with nature and induce for convenience. The 40 weeks is not a given, some babies need more time in there and sometimes the due date is wrong. Also, there are risks with being induced.
That being said, you could always skype the labor if you have a phone or ipad with that capability. Not the same but not terrible. You don't have to be alone, you can ask your mom or someone else to be with you. Have you considered a doula?
I am not in the military so I have no clue, but can he not submit a request to delay his assignment a week or at least be given leave the day/night you go into labor if he explains the situation since he isn't being deployed?
Maybe the baby will come early on its own [:]
My opinion aside, if your baby is looking healthy and your doctor is comfortable with it maybe you can set the induction for the day before he leaves so you are as close to your due date as possible.
I recommend doing as much research about being induced as possible. Also talk about how many children you want in case the induction doesn't go well for you and you end up with a csection. If you only wantnbsp;like 2 or 3 kids then maybe that risk is worth it for you guys. The benefits so far from your post look like it beingnbsp;easier to plan, you pick the date, he can be there, and you dont have an hour drive while in labor. I would just discuss the risks with your DH and make your decision together.
nbsp;

Ideally Skype would be awesome but he won't even have phone or internet capabilities so I won't even be able to tell him myself that our baby was born. It's really a sucky situation overall and I am honestly pissed out of my mind at how inconsiderate they are being. DH said he asked for at least a 24hr delay but he was denied because they wouldn't do a flight just for his sake.

mom2skh

mavs41:

Personally, I would want DH there.  I don't think after 39 weeks, in your situation, is a "selfish" reason.

I agree. I would consider it in your place. You would be very close to your due date, and I couldn't imagine having DH not there for the birth of your first baby. It is such an amazing and loving experience, it doesn't seem selfish to me.

redjetta22

mavs41:

Personally, I would want DH there.  I don't think after 39 weeks, in your situation, is a "selfish" reason.

I agree. I'm so sorry you have to face this decision. Hopefully you'll just go into labor the day before the induction. :-) But I'm sorry your husband has to go away during this time.

mlf625

I'd absolutely do it. Even if it ended in c/s, I'd rather have my husband there than not. If your doctor is okay with it, that matters a lot more than whether randoms online are okay with it.

PepperStick

I would 100% do it. If it's selfish that I would want my SO to meet his first baby when he is actually born and not a month later, then I guess I'm selfish. I personally have no one but my SO that I would feel comfortable laboring around.

rarazz

I would do it in a heart beat, along as my OB was on board.

ktnicole

If you need more support, I too would do it.  If your OB is supportive I would take the risk knowing that regardless of my plan, a c-section could happen anyways (or truly just about anything could happen).  Its too important for me to have DH there w/ me for the birth (especially of our first)

mommy510

I was induced at 39 weeks with DS because he was measuring big and we were afraid that if I went any longer I would have to have a csection. Since your Dr. is ok with it, I would go for it. I would also base this decision on your body's progress. If your cervix is ripe and you have started to dialate/efface, then your induction is more likely to be successful.

mrs.kapow

Late to the party, but I think if I were in your shoes, I would go for it as well.  I just can't imagine MH not being there for the birth of our child (any child), especially with the lack of control we have over any situation that would arise naturally.

If I waited, didn't have MH there and then still had to go through a c/s, I think I would really regret not just going for it. 

sweetiebird726

Also late to the party, but I would do it too if I had my OB's blessing.

My friend's husband missed the birth of their DD because he was underway with the Navy, and didn't get to meet his daughter until almost 4 months later.  In her case, there was no way she could have induced safely since he was deployed around 32 weeks.  She was really upset about it for a long time, and I know he was too.  It was also their first.

I think that it's a completely personal decision in your case, and I would want my DH there too for the birth of our first if it would medically be ok for our LO.