My cousin wants to induce labor early.

AmberLoryn2629 · July 2011

Because she is uncomfortable, not for a medical reason. I am trying to find some links for her, because she asked what I thought, and I don't want to just scream NO at her face... I'm finding mostly opinion-pages and not fact-pages. Can anyone help me out? Some old bookmarks maybe? TIA!!!

ETA: She is 37 weeks along.

vermont7 · July 2011

I would probably scream in her face if it was my cousin. Tell her everyone is uncomfortable at the end of their pregnancy but that doesn't mean it's okay to make the decision to stop "growing" your baby. It's not about her anymore and she needs to seriously realize that. I would explain that baby's decide when they are ready to emerge into the world, not us. The bottom line is she needs to do what is best for her baby.

AmberLoryn2629 · July 2011

I tried the scare tactic right off, spouting off that indiction increases the possibility of other interventions, forceps, vacuum extraction, c-section, etc. I'm glad that she's asking for opinions because I honestly think she's just uneducated. I'd really like to present some facts from reliable sources so it's not just her crazy-AP cousin. You know?

ILoveRunning · July 2011

I know that the march of dimes is actively campaigning to put an end to medically unnecessary early inductions. I found this article (sorry, no hard numbers) that discusses early induction in some detail:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/glenn-d-braunstein-md/electively-induced-labor-tips_b_890838.html

You could also direct her the march of dimes website.

https://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/vaginalbirth_byrequest.html

Hope that helps!

pinksweetpea2 · July 2011

Hopefully her Dr. is aware of the risks of early inductions.

AmberLoryn2629 · July 2011

That article is perfect! Thank you so much.

Dreamsicle23 · July 2011

Will her doctor even do it? It might not matter what she wants. My doc wouldn't entertain the idea of inducing w/o medical issues until 41 weeks.

mr+ms · July 2011

I agree about sending the March of Dimes link. The final weeks of pregnancy are prime-time for brain development and that's a fact.

Also, you might point out that if she is uncomfortable now, "just you wait" until the baby is on the outside. Tell her to go out and get a pedicure, take a long bubblebath with a trashy novel, a romantic dinner out, or something like that while she can

AmberLoryn2629 · July 2011

mr+ms:
Tell her to go out and get a pedicure, take a long bubblebath with a trashy novel, a romantic dinner out, or something like that while she can

LOL! I will!

I don't know anything about her doctor, but she says she wants to ask to be induced this week at her appt coming up. I reallyyyy hope she reconsiders.. and I really hope her doctor isn't an idiot.

blueyez09 · July 2011

Dreamsicle23:
Will her doctor even do it? It might not matter what she wants. My doc wouldn't entertain the idea of inducing w/o medical issues until 41 weeks.

This...I had to be 41 weeks before they'd even consider putting on the books for an induction...granted I ended up being induced at 41 weeks and 1 day and ended up with a c-section.

Matildasun · July 2011

There was a piece on NPR about this earlier this week.

https://www.npr.org/2011/07/18/138473097/doctors-to-pregnant-women-wait-at-least-39-weeks

GHBEA · July 2011

I was induced and wouldn't wish it on any one. It was for medical reasons and was horrible being forced into labor. I prefer a natural birth.

FrauElyse · July 2011

I don't have an exact article but I believe the ACOG just released new/reminder recommendations about this. I'm sure if you searched it, you could find it on their website.

anna7602 · July 2011

Ditto above poster on telling your cousin to use the time that remains to treat herself to a pedicure or movie or whatever. I went into labor on my own at 38 weeks and I felt like I missed out on a final two weeks of "me" time that I will never get back...

ITGurl0626 · July 2011

AmberLoryn2629:
I tried the scare tactic right off, spouting off that indiction increases the possibility of other interventions, forceps, vacuum extraction, c-section, etc. I'm glad that she's asking for opinions because I honestly think she's just uneducated. I'd really like to present some facts from reliable sources so it's not just her crazy-AP cousin. You know?

I went into labor on my own at 37 weeks & 1 day. I wish my baby girl would've waited a little longer, I could still be on maternity leave right now. Wink I did need help with a vacuum extraction, my little girl was sunny side up. However, she is perfectly healthy.

If you think your cousin will listen to you tell her that is not a good idea & cite the articles that were provided to you. I hope her doctor wouldn't be dumb enough to induce her just because.

waterfly · July 2011

MandJS:
Especially now that I already know I will be induced for all future kiddos due to a medical need to take blood thinners.

They don't have to induce you for being on blood thinners, it's just one of the two most common practices for a pregnant patient on blood thinners--schedule induction, then take the patient off of lovenox a certain period of time beforehand, so it's out of the system. The other option, which my doctors(both high-risk OBs and hematologist) went with, is to switch the patient from lovenox/enoxaparin sodium to standard heparin at 36 weeks. The heparin has a much shorter half-life, and can be neutralized at the hospital, if neccessary, allowing for both spontaneous labor(I was aiming for a med-free birth) and epidural, if the patient wants one. I did end up getting induced(kind of--was already in early labor when they admitted me, and they didn't start any induction-type stuff until hours later), but it was for a totally unrelated reason(low fluid), and they had already agreed to let me go to 42 weeks before they'd insist on induction.

numeria11 · July 2011

Yeah tell her Pitocin is not your friend. My water broke at 37w 6 days and after no contractions to speak of for close to 14 hours they started me on Pitocin at 3 centimeters and 80% effaced and by 12 hours later I was at 28 units of pitocin and still no further along and just in massive pain. Finally at 6:30am the next morning I delivered but seriously unless someone was holding a gun to my head I wouldn't be volunteering for a Pitocin induced birth again ever.

ITGurl0626 · July 2011

numeria11:
Yeah tell her Pitocin is not your friend. My water broke at 37w 6 days and after no contractions to speak of for close to 14 hours they started me on Pitocin at 3 centimeters and 80% effaced and by 12 hours later I was at 28 units of pitocin and still no further along and just in massive pain. Finally at 6:30am the next morning I delivered but seriously unless someone was holding a gun to my head I wouldn't be volunteering for a Pitocin induced birth again ever.

This...my water broke at 37w 1d & they hooked me up to pitocin immediately. After 10 hours of back labor contractions, I needed that epidural.

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