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Alabama Babies
MaryIshSmith
member
induced labor?
MaryIshSmith
member
My doc says that he induces labor at 38 weeks if I don't go on my own earlier. Has anyone else been induced? Also how long will it take- I don't want family to come too early and wait.
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Re: induced labor?
That sounds a little strange if that's just his blanket rule for all of his patients. Good candidates for induction are those who are past 38 weeks and have dilated and effaced some. And most times even those end up in C-sections. Otherwise, assuming you don't have any other complications I'd think you'd want to wait a little longer to see if you progress and go into labor on your own.
That being said, I don't have any experience with inductions so I can't really answer. Just wanted to provide you with the little bit that I do know.
I was induced at 39 weeks. Nothing was wrong with the baby, but I was having issues making it difficult to work, walk, etc. I was given pitocin at 6:00 a.m. and delivered at 8:52 p.m. My baby was over a pound larger than estimated and I think that is what made it take so long, but I'm not sure
If you are induced I recommend getting an epidural. Pitocin makes contractions worse than going into labor on your own. My epi ran out and I had to wait an hour for them to re-do it. It hurt like hell and I cried like a baby. Also, if you are planning to breastfeed, you may want to wait. Something they gave me made my nipples not harden and the baby couldn't latch on. I think it was pitocin, but I can't remember. Sorry.
Overall, I'm happy with my decision. I didn't realize it could hinder breastfeeding, but I'm sure that wasn't the only reason it didn't work for us. If I had waited another week I would have needed a c-section so I'm glad I went ahead and did it.
I was induced at 40 weeks (on my due date) at 11pm at night, and I had had 0 progress, but he induced me because my blood pressure was rising and I was starting to swell pretty bad.
The pitocin made contractions very rough for me...I agree with Amy on getting the epi...it was instant relief. I had back labor, because DD was sunny side up.
After nearly 14 hours of labor I was still at 0 cm and 0% effaced and Aubrey's heartbeat was decelerating if I laid any way except on my left side, my doc gave me the option of giving it another hour to see if anything happened or going ahead with a c-section. I chose the c-section.
Out of curiosity why does your doctor induce at 38 weeks?
he just blanket induces??? THIS is what is wrong with the medical field today. UGH!
If your body is "ready" to deliver at 38 weeks, then it's probably OK - but you have to consider that in the last 3 weeks of pregnancy, the lungs mature a LOT - just because one is medically "FULL TERM" - at 37 weeks, does NOT mean that the baby is ready. If it was, then they would deem a full term pregnancy at 37 weeks, not 40.
I was overdue at 40 weeks and 2 days - and I had ZERO progress to labor (like Candi) but my doctor would not induce since I was not "induceable". I would have gone thru a difficult labor like she had and ended up with a c-section. I had to deliver due to my BP starting to rise and had to have a c-section - but it saved me from 14 hours of no progress in labor.
Induction is a great medical advancement - but I think doctors (and patients) are over using it to try to schedule and control deliveries - but because inductions are forcing your body to go into labor, if it's not ready, you end up with a harder labor than you normally would have. Not in every case, but certainly in many of them.
the last month of pregnancy is a bit miserable. You're big, you're swollen, you're exhausted, you pee yourself when you sneeze, but really? I wouldn't trade it for the world. I wouldnt sacrifice my baby's health so I could deliver at 38 weeks because I was tired of being pregnant.
This. I was 40 weeks 5 days and went into labor on my own. I had what I would consider an "easy" delivery. I understand there are circumstances (high BP, no progress, protein, etc.) where you might would want to induce....but my doctor wouldn't even consider it for me (I never asked, he mentioned it at my 40 week appt and said he wouldn't recommend inducing since there was no medical reason to).
As a preemie mom I would really question your doctor as to why he feels the need to induce at 38 weeks. That is really not full term and your baby may have issues such as more susceptible to RSV and may get sicker in their first year of life b/c in those last full weeks, the lungs are developing as well as the immune system. This is critical for a baby and forcing your body to go into labor without a medical reason, really just doesn't make any sense to me.
I would be very cautious....there is a mom on the preemie board that was very close to 38 weeks and was induced due to high bp and they had her due date off a few days and her son's lungs were not mature. He spent a month in the NICU and has had numerous illnesses b/c of this. Granted, this is the exception, but it should make your doctor question why induce at 38 weeks.
I completely agree with everyone else... I would question why he induces everyone at 38 weeks. That seems very, very early.
If I were you I would ask your doctor to wait until at least 40 weeks (if not 41 weeks) before thinking about an induction. If induced, your labor will be harder because of the pitocin and if your body isn't progressing as far as dialation and effacement, it would likely lead to a c-section.
I know it's hard to wait when you get that far along, but it is best for the baby. Plus... for me at least... natural labor pains were not that bad. (I did get an epi at 8 cm, about an hour before DD was born.) At my hospital you could see a monitor that shows your contractions and the contractions of the women in the other delivery rooms. Mine looked like tiny little bunny hills on the screen compared to most of the other women. I asked the nurse why (because it scared me) and she said it was because most of the other women in labor at that point were likely on pitocin.
I would not get induced unless it was absolutely medically required or I was very overdue, IMO.
natural m/c and d&c at 10 weeks - 1/24/2014
DX w/ hetero C677t and A1298C MTHFR - 3/4/2014
I was induced for medical reasons at 37 weeks. My blood pressure started rising at 35 weeks and never went down. When I delivered DS my nurse agreed that it was a good thing I delivered when I did. My fluid was VERY low.
If I had not had those medical reasons I would have waited till DS was ready to come. I went in on a Sunday night and did not deliver him until Tuesday at noon. My labor was very painful. Pitocin can cause fetal distress in a baby.
Amy said that inducing labor could prohibit breastfeeding. I breastfed my son till he was 10 months old with no supplementing until I started to wean. My SIL was induced with all 3 of her children and she breastfed with no issues at all till they were a year old. DS did take some time to latch on, but I believe that was because he was so small when he was born.
As the others said I would question why your doctor wants to induce you at 38 weeks. That is still early and your LO may not be ready at all.
My 39-week induction was pretty normal (read:boring) with no issues, and we EBF. However, I agree with the others that it seems strange he would induce everyone at 38 weeks. I'd definitely question that - my doctor and I had specific reasons why we chose to induce at 39 weeks.
Going to beat the dead horse here - BUT, I really hope your dr has an actual REASON to induce you at 38 weeks. If there is no medical reason, I strongly urge you not to do it.
I was induced at 40 weeks, 2 days. My labor was extremely long and painful. Although it was my choice to be induced, I will not do it next time (unless medically necessary) unless I am at least 41 weeks. I was in labor for 16 hours and the pitocin made my contractions unbearable. After being in labor that long, I needed oxygen, Jenna became distressed, it was just not a good situation. I really wanted to *try* to go natural but there was not way that was going to happen.
The lady who runs the childbirth classes happened to stop by and see me while I was in labor. I was only about 3 cm but was having contractions that you would normally see during transition (I think 7-9 cm??) - horribly strong and close together.
I really think it's important to wait until your body is READY to go in to labor. I know there are several ladies here who had easy inductions, but just wanted to share my $0.02.