Needing support...

Nrichards86 · December 2012

My husband is telling me that I'm blowing this out of proportion and everyone else seems to have the same opinion.

I'm due tomorrow (14th) and my doctor's nurse said she normally schedules inductions at 41 to 41.5 weeks. Fantastic right? Then she realizes that's Christmas time. They scheduled my induction for the 18th. I have 0 medical issues and I'm still happy being pregnant. I pushed not to be induced that early, but my doctor just sent me on my way.

My family practice doctor used to deliver babies so I asked for a second opinion. Overall she said it wasn't a big deal and I needed to talk to my OB again about it. I called yesterday (Wednesday) and left a message with the nurse and told her the earliest I'd be willing to do an induction was starting on the evening of the 20th so I'd be 41 weeks before I started the pitocin. I got a call from the scheduling lady that implied my doctor was angry that I didn't want to deliver on her schedule. I was told to wait some more until they sorted something out, but still no call.

I don't want to make anyone work over Christmas, but I'm not going to let someone induce me before it's necessary. Am I being a crazy pregnant woman? I'm trying to compromise by moving to the 21st even though I think that's even too early...

boonjie2 · December 2012

This is crazy to me. Your doctor works for you and around what you want and what you are comfortable with. Dont settle or go into anything you arent comfortable with ( as during labor everyone is going to be pretty uncomfortable as it is! Ha. ) Hope this helps. Don't let your doctor push you around. I had a bit of an issue with this when they wanted to use interns during some visits. I just said hey, I am not comfortable with this and its my body. Update about happened.

ilenegrace · December 2012

Even though I personally don't agree you have to trust your own gut and go with what you feel more comfortable with. 3 days difference isn't much though in the scheme of things. Good luck!

ShaunaT25 · December 2012

I'd be upset for sure. I for one really would like to avoid being induced at all unless complications were to arise and for the health of baby and myself it was a necessary route. For them to be forcing you to have an induction before you're even 41 weeks because its convenient for them is just insane to me.

Stick to your guns. I don't see any reason why they should fight you going in on the 20th if that is what you're comfortable with.

pregokat · December 2012

One thing I have learned from all the research I have been doing, is that "when the baby is ready, and your body is ready.. They will make it happen"

Don't let your doctor bully or control you into having that baby before it is ready... That is just ridiculous! You pay the doctor, this is what he/she signed up for when they went to med school...

Inductions can take a long time, are more painful, and have better chances of winding up in C-section... Is this your first kid? I've read statistics that the AVERAGE woman giving birth to her first child "naturally' no induction.. delivers at 41 wks and 1 day... That means some deliver before and some take even longer...

Dont let the doctor push you and your child around, dont let them make up excuses like "your baby is too big" or "low/high fluid levels" etc etc... they are all just scare tactics

chavatziporah · December 2012

I totally understand where you are coming from! I think that in general, guys cant understand the difference between being induced and going into labor naturally. My dr was on call on Tues and told me I could be induced if I wanted, or wait it out. DH was very into the induction and didnt understand why I would want to wait longer. I really want it to happen naturally. Thankfully, my dr didnt push me to go with the induction. She did tell me that if she wasnt the one on call, she cant garantee that she would be there, but it was my choice.

I dont think you are wrong at all for not wanting to be pushed into being induced. Yes, I understand that people dont work around the holidays, but that is part of being a dr. I think that when you become a dr, you know that you are going to have a crazy schedule, work weekend, nights and holidays. Thats part of the job. So yes, i know they want to avoid it as much as possible, but its not fair to put you in an uncomfortable position. I think you are totally justified in being upset. Maybe try speaking to your dr, and not the nurse, and telling her again, how you feel.

name1109 · December 2012

It's your money thats paying his/her your doctor's bills. Christmas or not your doc should be there for you.

AmyRI · December 2012

You are in NO way blowing this out of proportion. I'd be livid. I'm mad for you.

There's no way I'd schedule the induction before you hit 41 weeks. Being induced on the 21st still guarantees that your doc will be home for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. If she doesn't like working around the holidays, she should have picked a different type of practice or just be a GYN, not an OB!

Being induced is nothing to mess around with, and with no medical reason to induce it is just plain stupid. It's very clear that your doctor's motives are for her schedule and not your and baby's best interests.

Will your family practice doc deliver you? Any chance you can switch providers, or would you be ok with getting the hospital's on-call doc and just not showing for the induction if they refuse to schedule on/after the 21st?

kristine618 · December 2012

You are NOT blowing it out of proportion. My dr says if you are healthy and tests show the baby is still thriving that there is no medical need to do an induction before 42 weeks, and some studies show even 43 weeks is okay (but their practice is 42 weeks). Anything before 41 weeks, if you're not having problems, is crazy, and you have every right to question them and speak up for yourself. If they won't listen, you should really consider seeking another provider if you can.

dee12807 · December 2012

I do not think you're over reacting at all. Personally, I would go with the 18th b/c it's only 3 days, and i'm selfish and I would want to be home for Christmas. But if you don't celebrate or care if you're home, then you should would wait. It really sounds like your doc is scheduling you out of their convenience and that is just not fair.

ZooCrewMom · December 2012

Your OB sounds like a real PITA. I had a similar conversation with my OB and he said not to worry about being in the hospital over Christmas, there are plenty of great people that are happy to work for time and a half (I was concerned I would get a bunch of angry grumps). I can't believe your OB would schedule something for their convenience instead of the health of your child. Is this a solo practice? If not I'd find a different OB to schedule with, on your schedule.

ateach · December 2012

I would take the back up doctor on the day you want. My doctor said if you aren't showing any progress (dilating/effacing) it is very likely you'll end up with a csection. So I would wait until that happens or as late as possible.

ddub09 · December 2012

I'm curious as to why your doctor won't schedule on the 20th? I have a repeat section on that day and will still be home on the 23rd. If all goes well it seems like you would be out by the 22nd so not really that close to Christmas?

Is it that your OB isn't on call that day? Could you just go with the back-up doctor if that is the case? I'm not sure if there is a huge difference of the risk of a section by going early those two days or not, but it doesn't seem like it would be that awful if you had to have it early, but I think you have to be your own advocate! Good luck!

kerbear135 · December 2012

No, you are not blowing things out of proportion. If you and LO are healthy, there's not reason to induce you just for your dr's convenience. My OB is hesitant to induce me before my due date (12/23) b/c right now my body isn't ready, and I'm an insulin dependent GD (even though it's standard practice to not let GD patients go past their due date)...so if you're healthy there's definitely no reason to rush things...you don't want to end up with a c-section b/c your body's schedule didn't fit your OB's schedule! Just be firm, stand your ground..you are paying them and you need to trust your instincts and do what you feel is best for you and LO. To heck with what's convenient for them- they are in the medical field and sometimes that means working holidays...

mama2many · December 2012

boonjie2:
This is crazy to me. Your doctor works for you and around what you want and what you are comfortable with. Dont settle or go into anything you arent comfortable with ( as during labor everyone is going to be pretty uncomfortable as it is! Ha. ) Hope this helps. Don't let your doctor push you around. I had a bit of an issue with this when they wanted to use interns during some visits. I just said hey, I am not comfortable with this and its my body. Update about happened.

this

SingleMom31 · December 2012

I've somehow had the opposite experience. My OB is the one that's on-call this year for Christmas Eve (my actual due date) and Christmas Day. She was all bubbly and happy to tell me that if I happen to come on my due date that she'll be the one that's there with me. I think that she figures that if she's on-call, she'd at least rather get to deliver her own patients instead of the other six doctor's. Anyway.... back to you. I know that our hospital won't do any procedures that aren't medically necessary Dec 22-25 (the weekend + the holiday) because there are less staff there over the weekends/on the holidays. Maybe your hospital is the same way, and scheduling an induction for that time period isn't even an option (like not the dr's fault that they can't, hospital rules). If your other choice isn't until the 26th, personally, I wouldn't want to wait that long. It would put you at 12 days past due, and I'd start worrying about the other complications - bigger baby, more tearing, more stress on baby, etc. I hate saying it, but I'd pick the 18th if those were my only choices. At least then you'd have baby home in time for Christmas. Either way, good luck... and I'll be crossing my fingers for a natural birth where it's not an issue.

itsmevkb · December 2012

I would agree with your husband but are you willing to deliver with a different doctor and what is your practice's policy with that? Is your doctor allowed to schedule an induction knowing a different doctor will be on call?

Hopefully you won't need the induction.

madiereid · December 2012

Sounds a lot like the second doctor I have at my practice! My baby Oliver is due in the 19th, I have no other health problems as well except im strep B positive. My doctor told me that she is scheduling an induction on my due date and that if it fails I would need a cesarian. I told her I wasn't comfortable with having a c-section unless it was an emergency. She proceeded to tell me that she has kids at home and didn't want to deliever my baby on christmas. I was flabbergasted. The doctor's need to work with us, and what we want. yes I understand it's christmas but they need to not be so selfish. For the expectant mother's sake and peace of mind just let her have what she wants. I understand where youre coming from. Go with your gut, if it dosn't seem right its probably not. You don't want your baby coming before he has to or wants to.

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