"Elective" Inductions?

TallMomma29 · April 2014

For STMs who have been induced before, would you opt for an induction just to make sure your husband was there for the birth?

I would not opt for a CS just to make sure DH was there, but my new OB said she can induce starting at 39 weeks. DH is scheduled to be gone for a week starting at 39w1d. If I got induced at 39w, he would be there for the birth, and be able to skip leaving for that week (due to paternity leave). If I wait, I risk DH being gone when I go into labor. I know the baby could still be late, and then he would be here, but the thought of going through that alone and/or him missing it has been causing me a huge amount of stress (note: it is not an option for him to just take regular vacation that week).

My mom had all 3 of us induced a few weeks early because we were all huge babies and she had health issues and she thinks I should do it. But it seems like most people want to avoid inductions if at all possible.

Would you do it?

chevronseven · April 2014

I wouldn't. But I'm a FTM so not really who you were directing your question at. But all my friends in the medical community in addition to my birth class instructor say unless you have a medical reason to induce, you need to let that baby cook until (s)he is ready! Due dates can actually be incorrect by up to a month in either direction, so inducing when you think baby is ready could actually be harmful to his or her development. I wouldn't see the harm in trying natural things that people say encourage labor, like spicy foods or having sex, but would definitely steer clear of medical inductions unless absolutely necessary.

You probably don't have anything to worry about though; the average pregnancy actually lasts 41 weeks and 2 days instead of 40 weeks. I definitely understand your concern about your DH though! I wouldn't let mine apply to be a Cadet Training Assistant for Air Force ROTC this summer because he'd be out of state right up until my due date.

Shelleybell · April 2014

I personally wouldn't induce for that reason. Many inductions take much longer than 24 hours so if u didn't have the baby would your husband still be able to stay? Also fwiw about 8 out of 10 friends of mine that were induced ended in c section. It's basically forcing ur body to do something it isn't ready to do.

kjskjs · April 2014

Not a chance in hell. Induction sucked so bad!! I will say though that I was induced at 35 so it was super early but there's no way I would opt for that again.

bullybutt · April 2014

livelaughlove88 said:

I wouldn't. But I'm a FTM so not really who you were directing your question at. But all my friends in the medical community in addition to my birth class instructor say unless you have a medical reason to induce, you need to let that baby cook until (s)he is ready! Due dates can actually be incorrect by up to a month in either direction, so inducing when you think baby is ready could actually be harmful to his or her development. I wouldn't see the harm in trying natural things that people say encourage labor, like spicy foods or having sex, but would definitely steer clear of medical inductions unless absolutely necessary. You probably don't have anything to worry about though; the average pregnancy actually lasts 41 weeks and 2 days instead of 40 weeks. I definitely understand your concern about your DH though! I wouldn't let mine apply to be a Cadet Training Assistant for Air Force ROTC this summer because he'd be out of state right up until my due date.

I wasn't induced and carried until 42 weeks. I vote for the hold off as well. Babies will come when they are ready unless you have some necessary medical issue that requires it.

mamatomp · April 2014

For both of my children I was induced. With DS1, my OB scheduled it after I passed 40 weeks because I was having some pretty severe swelling. With DS2, when I went for my 38 week check up he asked me if I wanted to be induced at 39 weeks and I said yes. Mostly bc I liked knowing that MY doctor would be there, not another doctor in his practice that I don't know. My body handled induction well with DS1, it gave me a chance to wrap things up at work and make definite plans for DS1 while I was in the hospital, and my sister was able to make plans to come into town accordingly. Again, my body handled it very well and I'm hoping he offers me the same option this time. If it were going to determine whether or not DH may or may not be present then yes, I would definitely opt for it bc it's important to me that he be there.

mamatomp · April 2014

Also, I would like to add my first induced labor was 8 hours, my second was 5 hours, so I didn't have any nightmare experiences...

tealowl · April 2014

I personally would not induce unless for medical reasons. I was induced w/DD due to preclampsia, and while I was able to deliver vaginally, it was a pretty traumatic experience.

BP607 · April 2014

I had a good experience with being induced. I was 40w+1d when I went in for the induction. I went to my appointment at 40 weeks and he asked if I wanted to have a baby the next day. He stripped my membranes at that appt and when I went in the next morning I was already 4cm. I went in at 630 and had my baby (9 pounds 11 ounces) at 4:41 that afternoon. The pitocin was pretty intense, but overall it was fine.

I would say it would depend on what your status is at 39 weeks, if you are dilated and it looks like your body might be gearing up, I may consider it then, however if you are still locked up tight I might would hold off. I know some people whose inductions did not go that great, they had to have the cerival ripening the night before and then just wouldn't progress. How far away would he be if you did go into labor while he was gone?

AKbadwolf · April 2014

I had to be induced for all three of my kiddos when my water broke but there was no progression.

By inducing early there are risks involved including failed induction that can lead to a C-sec. I think I would wait and see. If come 39 weeks your body shows changes that indicate birth is imminent (starting to efface and dilate) then I would consider it. If not, I would wait till your body decided to go on its own.

cookieinva · April 2014

Well, here is my experience. With DS, I was induced. My due date came and went with no signs of labor. At every checkup I was 0% effaced, 0 cm dilated (nope, not even a fingertip). My ob only lets you go 10 days past your due date so we had to talk about inductions; they only schedule inductions at my hospital for weekdays so because of how dates fell the latest I could go in was one week after my due date. I scheduled the induction for then, hoping that I could wait until the last possible minute really wanting things to just happen naturally.

Nothing happened naturally. My induction went so great though. Progressed steadily, active pushing for about 45 minutes and then vaginally delivered a 10 lb, 2 oz healthy baby. The size was a shock to everyone, including my obs.

Because of his size, my ob has already advised me that should I so desire, they will induce no earlier than 39 weeks. They also offered me the choice of a late sizing ultrasound to see how this baby is looking in terms of size, with the caveat that if this baby looks large they have to recommend a ca-section for legal/insurance reasons.

I am not sure yet what I think, and have plenty of time to consider it. But I will say I went from not wanting an induction and waiting until the last possible minute with DS to at least not ruling it out this time. It really went well and I have no complaints about my induction. In my case since I have actually already had one big baby I feel like it is at least worth considering; of course there are secondary factors like being able to have my exact ob there, being able to arrange for my parents to come in from out of town to care for DS, etc. However, I should also add that I have seen so many people get advised of the possibility of a large baby when that turned out not to be the case at all. Will you feel upset or deprived of the birth experience you wanted if you opt for an induction because you are concerned about size, and it turns out your baby is perfectly normal-sized? Because that is a very real possibility.

tourqeyes · April 2014

How far away is your husband going?

abchittam · April 2014

I was induced for medical reasons and it honestly wasn't that terrible. I was able to deliver vaginally. Labor was very quick, as well as the actual push time.

If I were in your situation I would definitely consider it, but I would wait until closer to time to decide. I would want to see how baby and I were progressing and have an ultrasound to check on baby first. Along with the how far away question, how quickly could he get back if you were to go I to labor? Would it be possible that he could make it before delivery or shortly after?

jnnfrrose6 · April 2014

Why is your husband being scheduled for a trip that he may very well miss anyways if your baby comes early/you choose induction?

flmomof4 · April 2014

I definitely would not. I would only consider an induction for a real medical problem that required baby to be born at that point. Otherwise I want to wait for my body and my baby to be ready. I have met many women through ICAN who ended up with c-sections because of failed inductions. It doesn't seem worth it to me to risk a c-section for a non-medical reason. Baby is also using that time to finish growing and developing and is adding a lot of brain connections in those final weeks and I wouldn't want to cut that short if I didn't have to.

lowerygirl · April 2014

jnnfrrose6 said:
Why is your husband being scheduled for a trip that he may very well miss anyways if your baby comes early/you choose induction?

If I remember correctly, her husband is military and they don't have much of say (if any) on when they are scheduled for trips.

TallMomma29 · April 2014

Thanks so much for all of the input so far everyone! I guess I shouldn't have said STMs only... I only said that because I know STMs would have already experienced the potential pain/complications from it... Although there are definitely other risks to consider that FTMs are aware of so I definitely welcome opinions from fellow FTMs too. This has already given me so much to think about!

I'm required to be vague about exactly when he will be gone and where he will be going, but he will not have the option to get home if I go into labor while he's gone. However, if I go into labor before he leaves, my understanding is that they will get someone else to cover for him for that trip.

I am very torn about the whole thing, but luckily I still have plenty of time to decide. The thought of going through labor the first time on my own, and having DH miss it, is just awful to me. I know people do it if they have to and they survive just fine.. But I really, really don't want to if I don't have to. I'm leaning toward keeping the option open and seeing if I have progressed at all, and not doing it if it's still Ft. Knox down there when the time comes ;-)

ghostof5letters · April 2014

Being a FTM, odds are overwhelmingly in your favor that you won't have a baby during week 39

katnipeverclean · April 2014

Unless it was medically neccessary I wouldn't induce before 40 weeks.

My BFF had her first two with no induction (they both came a few weeks early) then her third just decided he didn't want to come out. I think at like 41 weeks our OB was like yeah, lets get him out and it was her easiest fastest labor of all three. So an induction doesn't promise a terrible labor.

TallMomma29 · April 2014

ghostof5letters said:

Being a FTM, odds are overwhelmingly in your favor that you won't have a baby during week 39

This is slightly complicated by the fact that my estimated due date was based on when I guessed I had my last period... I had stopped paying attention that month because I knew DH was leaving anyway, and we'd already tried for 12 months without success so I had dramatically decided I was infertile. However, I am 99% sure of the date I ovulated (the symptoms were too strong to miss but I wasn't charting), and both the date I think I ovulated and the measurements of the baby put the due date smack in the middle of when he'll be gone. Ugh.

Ylvelill · April 2014

Try taking it extra easy for the last two weeks, drink lots of water, keep your legs together so the baby can't come early

But really, I totally get your hesitation. However as others have said, it is very likely you will not go into labor before then, have your doctor check you out and good luck!

flmomof4 · April 2014

I forgot to add that just because you're induced on a certain day doesn't mean baby will be born that day. At least 4 of my friends that I can think of offhand had 3-4 day inductions that ended with c-sections.

INmommy871278 · April 2014

I have. Iced feelings like many PPs. I was induced at 37 weeks 2 days due to BP. I was 0 effaced and not dilated at all. They started cervadil at 5pm Wednesday evening, my water broke on its own at 4:20am Thursday morning, they started pitocin around 7am Thursday morning, I got my epidural around 8am, started pushing around 10:30am and delivered at 11:25 am Thursday morning with no issues other than my BP. DS was jaundiced and had to have several billy Rubin checks before he was good. My mom was induced with my brother, her 6th child and it took over two days for her to deliver. Like PPs have said you don't know how your body will react to the induction and you may end up with a failed induction or a c-section both things you should look into before making a decision. Like many others have suggested, I would wait and see how you are progressing and make a decision at that point.

lindslalala · April 2014

That's a bummer of a situation. I would personally not induce, pitocin is a bitch.

Huahine · April 2014

On average, first time moms who are not induced and who do not have scheduled c-sections go into labor 10 days after their EDD.

I forget where I read that, but that little nugget has been stuck in my brain since I was pregnant with DS1 and was reading every book on childbirth I could get my hands on.

Jing22 · April 2014

Don't do it! I am one of those who was medically induced and it ended in a c section.

drunkenhandstand · April 2014

TallMomma29 said:

Thanks so much for all of the input so far everyone! I guess I shouldn't have said STMs only... I only said that because I know STMs would have already experienced the potential pain/complications from it... Although there are definitely other risks to consider that FTMs are aware of so I definitely welcome opinions from fellow FTMs too. This has already given me so much to think about!

I'm required to be vague about exactly when he will be gone and where he will be going, but he will not have the option to get home if I go into labor while he's gone. However, if I go into labor before he leaves, my understanding is that they will get someone else to cover for him for that trip.

I am very torn about the whole thing, but luckily I still have plenty of time to decide. The thought of going through labor the first time on my own, and having DH miss it, is just awful to me. I know people do it if they have to and they survive just fine.. But I really, really don't want to if I don't have to. I'm leaning toward keeping the option open and seeing if I have progressed at all, and not doing it if it's still Ft. Knox down there when the time comes ;-)

Tough call. Both of my boys were induced at 39 weeks. DS1 was very difficult and a very long labor. DS2 was very easy and very short! But, I must say when I went in for my scheduled induction for DS2 I was already contracting on my own and didn't even realize it so they said he was coming on his own regardless. I will most likely induce again at 39 weeks with this one but I may not. I don't see anything wrong with inducing electively so your DH can be there just make sure you know your risks as a FTM. Your chance of having to have a CS will be a lot higher as a FTM being electively induced early than it would be with subsequent children.

seells · April 2014

No. I was induced early (for pre-e). If was long, painful, and ended in a csection after 36 hours and FTP. DD was OP so I'm sure that contributed.

I would say have the doctor check you at 39 weeks. If you're favorable I might consider it if it is really important to you.

shanaynerz · April 2014

I would not choose to be induced. I wasn't induced with either of my other pregnancies (DD came right at 39 weeks, too, FWIW), but I know it sucks and quite often ends in a C-section anyways. It also tends to be more painful. Pretty much what everyone else said. If it's unnecessary I'd hold off.

TurtleMonsters · April 2014

NO - baby's health trumps me wanting DH there. Its not my place to mess with that. I don't even agree with OB practices that induce if you're over your date by a certain amount, but that's me. DS1 was 10 days late- it was a hellish wait, but looks like we were normal, ha!

Huahine · April 2014

The crunchy birth center that I tried to have DS1 at had a policy against induction.

My new highly-interventionist OB practice (that switched to after the C-section with DS1 risked me out of the birth center) also does not induce. You either go into labor naturally or they schedule a c-section. In their experience, inductions do not yield good results.

TallMomma29 · April 2014

Thanks so much everyone, for information regarding both negative and positive experiences! I wanted to ask here before googling, since googling a pregnancy related symptom sent me into a panic attack on Sunday ;-) I really appreciate the honesty of the women here and trust it more than the other boards I've found when googling things to see opinions of other pregnant women!

I'll definitely ask the new OB more questions about it at my next appointment, and I'll see what DH thinks. Ultimately I will likely just wait to see how far I've progressed (if at all) when the time comes. I am pretty sure I would rather go through a potentially longer, more painful labor that is more likely to end in an emergency c-section with DH there, than have a shorter, less painful labor without him (especially when it could still potentially be long, painful, and end in an emergency c-section even if I wait)... but there is definitely a lot to think about!

TallMomma29 · April 2014

ashleysyn2 said:

Can you see how you're doing at week 38-39 and make a decision then? It seems really early to have to make that call. I've never been induced, but it doesn't sound like something I'd want to do unless I absolutely had to. If at 38-39 weeks your doctor thinks you're close, then maybe you could decide to do it. But if there's no sign of labour starting, you could hold off?

This is what I'm leaning toward after reading comments here and researching a little bit! I definitely don't have to decide now. If there is no sign of labor starting the day before he leaves, I'd be more inclined to just hold off and take it super easy for the week he's gone and hope the baby wants to wait!

The only slight issue is that my dad and stepmom (who do not work) offered to fly down here for that week he is gone, just in case anything happens. We're not particularly close, but since they don't work they can always come back later to see the baby (the other parents want to hold off until the baby is actually here for sure since their time off is limited). I thought this was a good idea at first, but as soon as they actually bought their plane tickets I regretted it. We're not close enough for me to feel comfortable having them stay in my house when I'm 39 weeks pregnant. I'm going to feel so much pressure to entertain them and cook for them (or at least figure out what we can eat since they don't know the area). If I'm just going to be super pregnant and trying to do as little as possible to make sure the baby stays in as long as possible, I don't really want people here :-/

So now that I've heard about the induction idea, I'm thinking I could ask them to switch their tickets and come later in July or August when DH is going to be gone again so they'd get to see the baby and I'd be feeling better, and then I could be sure DH would be here for the birth, and have just DH with me that first week with the baby.

pantherRN · April 2014

I would probably do it. What does YH think?

TallMomma29 · April 2014

pantherRN said:

I would probably do it. What does YH think?

He's torn too. He doesn't like the idea of choosing when the baby is going to be born, or making her come before she is ready, but he also doesn't want to risk missing the birth or not being there for me. My SIL had a (second) baby while my brother was deployed, and even though she was surrounded by a bunch of supportive women (home birth), she said it was the hardest thing she's ever done and she'd never want to do it again without him there.

iris427 · April 2014

I would definitely consider it. 39 weeks is a pretty safe time to induce and having my husband at the birth would be very important to me.

But I'd probably wait until closer to the delivery to see what your cervix is doing. With a favorable cervix, I'd feel a lot more comfortable with inducing. You should also consider that inductions can take a couple of days, especially in FTMs, so will that be OK with your husband's schedule? Anecdote time: I will also tell you that I've had one Pit labor and one spontaneous labor, and the one with Pit was FAR more painful.

BBColt78 · April 2014

This decision just plain sucks. Sorry you have to think.

Part of me says I would avoid an induction at all costs. Then the other part of me sits here and thinks about how this is your first baby and doing it all without your husband? My husband was my rock for me. He held my hand while I was screaming in pain. He was my advocate when I my drugs weren't working. He was the contact for family and friends. He pushed the emergency button in the birth room when my DD literally fell out without a doctor present. He took care of DD while I was getting stitched up. He flew out of his recliner when DD was coughing up fluids and I couldn't move from a sore vag.

Can you do it without him. Of course you can. People do it all the time. Should you? Ugh, that's a tough decision.

AutumnBonfire · April 2014

I'd honestly consider it. I've never been a fan of the thought of inducing based on convenience, but in your situation I'd think about it.

My water broke at 38.5 weeks, but I wasn't having contractions, so I was induced after a few hours. It took forever (26 hours total) to go from being dilated a fingertip to 10 cm and I pushed for 4.5 hours and still needed forceps. It also hurt like a son of a bitch. I planned on a med free birth, but was asking for the epi before they would even consider giving it to me. So, my induction experience wasn't the greatest.

See how you are progressing at 39 weeks and maybe they can do an ultrasound to see how the baby is growing. Then make your decision.

slensic · April 2014

I wouldn't be induced unless your Dr. wants to. I would try and wait it out.

mrscurlygurl · April 2014

Everything has been said, and you sound like you've made a plan...but I'mma throw my 2 cents in anways :P

My caution was going to be one that has been mentioned...that some inductions can take days. I had to be induced due to GD and the night we went in, they warned up that it could be several days. Turned out not to be the case with me...my water broke on its own and I never even needed Pitocin. I had a super fast labor and all went well. Probably best case scenario for inductions. So...they don't all have to be bad.

But, like people said...it might not go that way. I would definitely wait till closer to 38-39 weeks to see if your body is ready at all. If they have started the induction process but there is no baby, would that be enough to get your DH out of the trip?

Soon2BMrsN · April 2014

That is a tough situation, OP. I think I'd take the advice of some of the PPs who have suggested waiting until closer to your EDD to see if you OB thinks circumstances are favorable for having a successful induction. I heard so many stories of failed induction, but my SIL had two successful ones. Good luck!

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