Too many inductions?

krissi813 · August 2012

I am a regular on the August 2012 boards, but hesitate to post here because I haven't had my natural birth yet. I am due on August 26th and I am hoping for a natural birth, but of course, the most important thing is that's have a healthy baby. Plans can change at the last minute and I will try not to beat myself up if everything doesn't go according to the plan I've set out in my head.

That being said, the amount of mothers on the August 2012 board that are being induced terrifies me. Sometimes medical interventions are necessary, but certainly not all the time. The doctors always seem to come up with excuses to induce and there is just NO way all of these women need to be induced. I've never heard of a woman being pregnant forever.

Thoughts?

tokenhoser · August 2012

Yup.

It's wise to ask your caregiver when/why they induce early on rather than have it be a surprise that they do it at precisely 40 weeks (unless that's a weekend, so inconvenient to have to work a weekend).

judahsmommy1 · August 2012

I'm an August 2012 induction! 40 hours left! (Bed rest until then...) I'm being induced because of pre-e. So I consider my induction to be medically indicated. But you're right, inductions happen like crazy. I would suggest that you talk about it with your doctor know and ask what criteria he uses to determine if a woman needs to be induced. That will give you an idea of what you're dealing with.

MamaC2b2011 · August 2012

There's statistical proof to your observation on your BMB. The number of inductions is steadily on the rise in the United States. More so for OB convince than the health of mother or baby.

I was one of them. When I have my second baby, I am going the complete opposite route. I have now done the necessary research and have educated myself as how to avoid unnecessary medical intervention. Unfortunately it's not the mama's fault (usually). They trust in their dr's and if they're told "it's induction time" they believe that's what needs to happen. Hopefully this trend will end soon and some light will be shed on the harm that this can potentially cause.

All the best to you on your delivery!

Nechie122 · August 2012

It's true that the induction rate has doubled over the past decade. I'm not sure we can blame it entirely on doctor "convenience." I think this is also one of those situations where interventions beget interventions. We have more ultrasounds than ever, leading to more closely monitored pregnancies and more false "medical reasons" to induce like the "big baby" fear. It's a multifaceted issue, not an "all doctors are evil" issue.

MamaC2b2011 · August 2012

Nechie122:
It's true that the induction rate has doubled over the past decade. I'm not sure we can blame it entirely on doctor "convenience." I think this is also one of those situations where interventions beget interventions. We have more ultrasounds than ever, leading to more closely monitored pregnancies and more false "medical reasons" to induce like the "big baby" fear. It's a multifaceted issue, not an "all doctors are evil" issue.

To be clear, I wasn't blaming doctors "entirely".

I completely agree it is a much more complex issue than OB's wanting to be home with their families by 5pm. Medical intervention is sometimes necessary and there will be many times over it saves lives, and that's a wonderful thing! I just want to clarify, since my comment was taken out of context.

krissi813 · August 2012

I completely agree that these things are not the mothers' faults. If they are told, "we have to do this to make sure your baby is healthy," it's going to be very hard for them to refuse.

SpruceGrouse · August 2012

I am on August 2012 too and I am being induced but still plan to be med free. I have to be induced to make sure the blood thinners are out of my system, it is the safest thing for me.

I am getting Cervadil Tuesday morning and they will break my water sometime on Wednesday if it hasn't happened yet. I will be able to move around and use the pool, ball, mats, etc.

The doctor said that the majority of women manage without pain meds at this hospital, they are very encouraging about this. It won't be a completely natural birth but I still feel I can post here because I won't be getting pain meds and have to get through the contractions some how.

I agree that it does seem to be overused and not needed in a lot of cases. I wish I didn't have to be induced but understand that it is better for me not to have bleeding issues during delivery.

lupineaura · August 2012

In defense of doctors, sometimes I think it's pushed more by the mother. If the baby is full term (39 or 40 weeks, not 37), and a mother asks for an induction, I think a lot of doctors are inclined to agree. Perhaps they see no major medical reason NOT to do it (assuming a favorable Bishop score) and want to adhere to the mother's wishes. Yes, there is an increased rate of C-section, but I have feeling most OBs don't see a C-section as a bad outcome. The culture of birthing is shifting to be more mother-driven, which is a good thing overall, but perhaps sometimes it leads to more interventions, not fewer.

As for me, I have GD and was worried my doctor would automatically want to induce me early (this is the procedure with many doctors, unfortunately). Luckily, he said as long as the baby looks OK, he is fine with me going to 41 weeks. I wouldn't want to go longer than 41w6d anyway, so being induced sometime during the 41st week is actually OK by me (although I hope to avoid it!).

lily225 · August 2012

I'm also an aug 2012 momma and i totally agree - our board is just FULL of inductions!!! Ive seen a lot that are for being "late", a whopping 2 or 3 days past their due dates. Or one I saw the other day was a mom who got induced because she had a history of fast labors. She spoke of one labor and it was 6.5 hours long. ????

I know not everyone has a natural birth in mind and plan on an epidural from the beginning, but the stress that an induction can put on your body and baby is something I would think more women would be more concerned about. I know not everyone is comfortable going this long, but I went 13 days over with my son before we had to induce for dropping fluid levels. I gave it my best and feel ok with how labor started. But I definitely would not feel that way getting induced a week or less past my edd if it wasn't medically necessary.

For sure talk to your dr. about what their views are and be clear about what your opinion/wishes are if it should come down to induction. I was able to go farther into my pg last time as long as I had NST's and fluid checks at least once a week. See if your dr. is willing to make a compromise like that. And really, if it comes down to it and you don't feel like you need an induction, say so and stick to your guns!!

cedenton · August 2012

Yeah, it definitely seems like the majority of the births so far have been induced or had some type of augmentation. I don't get it. The doctors just don't seem to want to let things progress naturally. It seems like pitocin is pushed even when the women are in active labor.

My doctor asked me at 39 weeks if I wanted to schedule an induction. FOR NO REASON. I haven't had a single issue during this pregnancy that would warrant an induction.

jfgreer · August 2012

Ive made the same observation and its definitely hard to see all the induction birth stories on my BMB because I'm "overdue" with little to no dilation and at this rate my doctor will not induce till 42 weeks....or even before then at any rate...because of the increased chances of a c-section. I didn't realize induction was that common. I really respect my OB, but I'm jealous of all the babies being born as well and really really want mine

Jenilyn and Matthew · August 2012

My first birth was a "convenience" induction. My Dr. was on call that weekend, I was going to be almost 40 weeks, already 4cm dilated, and I was quite frankly "tired" of being pregnant. I also thought it would be great on a weekend because ALL of our friends and family would be off work. It was offered...and I took it. That's what happens to lots of mamas. This time around I have declared I absolutely will NOT be induced unless necessary, because I hated being tied to the bed with constant monitoring and the crazy pitocin contractions. I ended up with an epidural, but my birth was overall great and pretty short. I want to go med-free this time by laboring at home as long as possible to avoid the unwanted side affects of the epidural/pitocin/IV this time. Different women have their reasons, doctors do too, but after having been induced, I don't recommend it unless needed!

poppyann · August 2012

I have a friend due in Nov. who is anxiously awaiting her induction 2 weeks before her due date. She says she has always wanted to be induced and has always gone into labor on her own before the scheduled induction. I think she is crazy and told her so but whatever...

Nechie122 · August 2012

Lupineaura makes a good point when she says many doctors don't see c-sections as a bad outcome. But they're ALL familiar with the research showing a greater risk of stillbirth after 42 weeks. So if a mom shows up at 39, 40 weeks anxious to get her pregnancy over with, well, why NOT induce?

You do see hospitals pushing back on the earlier side of inductions though. There's new research that inducing before 39 weeks results in more babies who spend time in the NICU. So many are now requiring doctors to document an official medical reason and even get department approval for the induction. I think that's a good start.

adoxyinherear · August 2012

I'm not active on the August 2012 BMB, but I'm feeling you on this. Unless there's a medical reason (and so far everything looks great for me and for baby), my midwives won't induce until 41 weeks 5 days, which makes sense to me. I just feel like I'll probably be the last pregnant August mama!

punkrockabye · August 2012

I too have thought it is really strange how many inductions seem to be happening for no particular reason. I have several high risk issues and even in my case, unless something takes a drastic turn, I found out today that I will be allowed to hit 41 weeks. I don't like it, but I also can't say I am completely opposed, given my issues; for months now I have just been hoping that they wouldn't fight me if I asked to be allowed to hit 40 weeks, so 41 is a bonus to me.

mjr12 · August 2012

I'm not an August mom, but I sometimes lurk on the NB board because I had one, and will again. I find it sad that so many mothers are being induced for convenience, either on behalf of the doc, or the mother, or for a reason that isn't truly medically necessary.

FWIW, check your state laws. Some states don't consider a mother to be "overdue" until 42 COMPLETED weeks, meaning 42w6d. Know the law in your state.

Also, the ACOG states that "post dates" is past 42 weeks.

https://birthwithoutfearblog.com/2011/08/22/what-acog-has-to-say-about-due-dates/

The March of Dimes recommends AT LEAST 39 weeks.

An "ESTIMATED due date" is not an EXPIRATION date. Baby doesn't have a calendar in there, and every day they are cooking is a day that helps them thrive earthside.

It makes me sad to see all of this unnecessary intervention, because it leads to more unnecessary intervention (c-section, NICU babies, etc).

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