Some of you may know I have a 24 year old daughter (only 15 when I had her). She lives in Seattle and is pretty much the only family I have. We are very, very close. I would really love for her to be at the hospital when the baby is born. I only want my husband and I in the delivery room, but I want her to be the first person to meet the baby after she is born.
My doctor had mentioned he is open to induction one week early, at 39 weeks, which we had discussed if my husband was offered a new job out of state that he would need to start as soon as he could in the month of January. We are still waiting for word about the job, but I started to wonder if it may be a good idea to plan the birth so my daughter can plan to be there.
She can get 10 days off of work and they are willing to work with her on changing the dates around, but if I go into labor naturally, the chances of her making it to the hospital by the time the baby is born are slim to none. My labor with her was only 7 hours. I could just have her fly out on my due date, but I know most women don't have their baby on the exact due date anyways. If I go into labor before 39 weeks, then none of this matters anyways.
But what would you do? Would you schedule the birth to try to ensure that a loved one could be there or just let it happen when it happens?
Layla 01.08.12
Chloe and Vivian 07.23.13
My Gang. Halloween 2013
Re: Would you get induced for this reason?
"Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it the more it will elude you but if u turn your attention to other things it will come & sit softly on your shoulder."
BFP! 04/26/11 - DS born 12/28/11 - BFP #2! 04/02/13 - DD born 12/11/13 -
My Ovulation Chart
If you and your doctor are comfortable with it then go for it.
This.
To answer your question, I wouldn't choose to induce for anything except a legit medical reason. However, your circumstances are different. If the benefit of having your daughter around for the birth outweighs the risks of an induction, then go for it. 39 weeks is pretty reasonable to induce without risk of the baby being premature.
This.
BFP #1 5/07/11, DS 01/19/12
BFP #2 08/09/12, M/C 08/10/12
BFP #3 10/30/12, EDD 07/11/12...please stick!
Good luck!
Make a pregnancy ticker
That will likely be beyond my control. My husband has a huge family, and I am sure there will be 30 people in the waiting room, like every other birth in the family. His mom came to our elective u/s to find out the sex and his 14 year old sister had it all over facebook before I even got off the table and pulled my pants up. I am not looking forward to it, as I am a bit of a loner and would prefer quiet family time. But I realize if I start laying down rules like that, I will never hear the end of what a b!tch I was at the hospital.
I really hope I have the baby in the middle of the night so I can have those hours to myself.
Layla 01.08.12
Chloe and Vivian 07.23.13
My Gang. Halloween 2013
BFP 2/25/09
HCG 3/6=518 3/8=1230
1st Ultrasound 3/18 FHR=103
2nd U/S 3/20 FHR=118!!
3rd U/S 4/1 FHR=169
BIG U/S 5/22=IT'S A BOY! FHR-148
DS Born October 30, 2009
BFP 5/27/11 Stick baby, stick!
HCG 5/31=140 P=9 HCG 6/2=292 P=11
1ST Ultrasound 6/15 FHR=109!!
U/S 8/18=IT'S A BOY! FHR-141
For those reasons? I would if both the doctor and I were comfortable with it.
My doctor told me if I am dilated at all they will induce me at 39w if I want and I am toying with the idea as well. I know that having a newborn means plans go out the window and you have to just go with the flow, but having everything planned, especially when there are a thousand other factors is nice for so many reasons.
Thank you all for the input. I still can't make up my mind. If the baby comes before Christmas, she will have a very hard time getting here at all (she works in retail), so I am still thinking of leaving it to fate. Mostly because I am afraid of complications and a long labor. My first was really not that bad, and was hoping the second would be easier.
This would change, however, if my husband were to get the job that needs him to move as close to the first of the month as possible. There is no way I would make a decision that could make him miss the birth of our baby. In that case, I would absolutely get induced...no question. I would rather risk a c-section than him missing the birth.
Layla 01.08.12
Chloe and Vivian 07.23.13
My Gang. Halloween 2013
Since you want your alone time with your DH, daughter and your new LO, just don't tell anyone else you're in labor. They don't need to know, you have a right to your peace and privacy. Don't tell anyone about the labor, deliver your baby, have your daughter meet the baby and whatever else you want to do, and then let everyone else know you had the baby on your own time. Just say it was a a very fast labor and you and your DH were very busy and distracted.
As far as whether or not to induce, I personally wouldn't. But I'm pretty anti-intervention unless it's medically necessary. Do what makes you feel happiest and most comfortable, it's your body, your baby, and your choice.
If it was just my decision, I would. But I have to respect my husband's wishes as well, being as it is OUR baby. I can't just allow my one family member in and not his. I am sure his mother would be extremely hurt not to be called. And it is the kind of family where if one knows, they all know. I just have to accept that. I will ask for an hour or two of privacy, then let everyone else in as a compromise. I know my husband will be bursting with excitement for his family to meet the baby and I can't be selfish and make it all about me. There will absolutely be no family around when labor gets bad. I will be selfish then.
Layla 01.08.12
Chloe and Vivian 07.23.13
My Gang. Halloween 2013