Inducing four days before due date for anxiety

ladyteach0505 · April 2015

I'm hoping to get insight. My OB suggested, after he found I was 2 cm and 90% effaced last week, that we schedule an induction for me. He said with the baby's head being totally down in my pelvis and the way I've progressed so far he thinks the induction would work well and help with lessening the anxiety he predicts I would have with going over. He said we could do it on the due date but he wouldn't be on call that day so if I went long I would have the on-call person.

I was ecstatic about this idea at first because my anxiety has been a genuine battle throughout my entire pregnancy. It has gotten worse the closer I've gotten to delivery because I'm so afraid something will happen to the baby before she gets here.

That said, I've read some posts lately about the good and bad aspects of being induced. Some people are so strongly against it and some are okay with it. What would you do from a coping standpoint? My number one priority is the baby's safety; does that automatically mean an induction is the wrong choice? I would be 39w3d for what it's worth.

tdart14 · April 2015

I was induced with my first after my water had been broken for 18 hours and no contractions. I didn't enjoy the experience that's for sure, everything I've read after the fact suggest that the contractions from induction are more painful (obviously I have no insight to if that is actually true or not). But we ran into the issue where I wouldn't dilate past 4cm, and they ended up givong me an epidural early in hopes it would push things along. From the time they started the drip to when I had her it was 14 hours.

Would I do it again if faced with the necessity? Yes. But I would I choose induction over laboring naturally and being late? No.

But I also don't suffer from anxiety, so I can't really speak to how you would feel.

icajesica82 · April 2015

I think a lot of people are against it for the convenience reason. For you I wouldn't say its a convenience. Your health is also for the babies health and if anxiety is a really big issue an induction might be the best way to feel good about going into the labor. Ultimately its your decision and who really cares what a bunch of strangers think. You know what is best for you and your baby. If your anxiety is causing that many issues for you then do what is best.

canadianmom89 · April 2015

Part of me was hoping to be induced at 39 weeks because between my gestational diabetes and the fact that my family makes big babies I'm very anxious about the size of the baby if I go past my due date. My doctor agrees I shouldn't go past my due date but doesn't like to induce her patients because of the added risks. At my 38 week appointment yesterday she checked and said I was 2cm dilated and 60% effaced, she did a membrane sweep and said if I haven't delivered by next Thursday she would do it again and she's hopeful that will work if not I will be induced at 40 weeks.
Maybe you could ask your doctor for a sweep to see if you can get labour moving that way first?

klaG101 · April 2015

I deal with anxiety as well, if doing an induction helps you cope with that than I say go for it!

ladyteach0505 · April 2015

It's so funny...the thing that's supposed to make me feel less anxious is now also causing me to be anxious in deciding about it.

My mom told me the other day I'm not going to calm down until she's here so I might as well stop looking for something to make me feel better. She has a point.

kristaelaine86 · April 2015

With my third we did a sweep the night before my due date, and then I came in and they broke my water the next morning. I had been having contractions from the sweep anyway and baby and my cervix were ready. I didn't have any drugs like pitocin as I was having a Vba2c. My labour was quick and I had no issues with the induction. The reason was to keep baby on the smaller side, but it was also convenient because I knew my doctor would be there to deliver and not just whoever was on call, as my situation was a little unique and several doctors in the call group refused to treat me unless I took a c. I had a good induction experience really.

dec2018mom · April 2015

I have really bad anxiety too, but my doctor isn't inducing for that reason. She's inducing for gestational diabetes related reasons. I'm okay with it and it's exactly what I wanted.

My thoughts were I was at risk for having a larger baby, complications from the GD treatment, and increased chances of still birth from what my doctor told me. I was freaked out to say the least. I told my doctor that I was wanting to be induced because of those reasons.

Two weeks before they set my induction date I was super nervous because my doctor suddenly wanted to play it by ear. Every horrible thing possible shot through my mind and I started having mini panic attacks. I didn't tell my doctor this, but I asked twice per week at my appointments if she could set a date.

Finally she did. I'm being induced May 4th which is 2 weeks early. I'm ecstatic, but I'm going to tell you my secret. I'm still nervous. I still have anxiety about something going wrong. It really won't go away until you have your baby in your arms and that's okay. Yiuve got to take it one day at a time and if it gets overwhelming then you need to mention it to your doctor again. Things will be okay.

danibii · April 2015

As a co-sufferer of anxiety I will say, mental health is super important! Just as important as "the rest of your body." So while I can't speak for pros/cons for an induction, if your doc thinks it's a good idea, and you feel less anxious because of that idea, then place heavy value on your mental health!

ldmw · April 2015

My desire is to avoid induction. I learned in childbirth class that the contractions from induction are intense and strong every single time. There is no peak. In a normal birth, contractions are strong but the strong part peaks and then declines which isn't the case with induced contractions. Granted, this all sounds better in theory and sometimes there are medical reasons for induction.

ryemo · April 2015

I have anxiety and have had PPD after both births. The first time, my disappointment over how my birth turned out (CS) was a factor. I really don't think inducing is a good idea. It's a long and drawn out process, a lot of which you spend waiting for things to happen...and that's lots of time to think and worry.

You can do things to feel less anxious before she comes. If I were you, I'd see a psychiatrist right away and come up with a plan for dealing with the immediate and PP anxiety. Getting good help for prenatal anxiety and PPD is hard but it's worth it.

FeroceFamily · April 2015

I agree with pp about getting help. I have depression and anxiety and have a whole team of doctors to help me through this pregnancy and postpartum. I have been able to drastically reduce my medications and manage my anxiety attacks while doing so. I couldn't have come this far without my doctors. But being in the home stretch I'm realizing new triggers to my depression and anxiety so I'm increased my visits. I play with the idea of induction but the possible side effects scare me more than waiting for nature. BUT my doctor knows my anxiety and depression issues and if she said induce I would absolutely do what she felt was best. I might trust her to much but she knows me best and knows what's best for my baby. I haven't faced that exact situation yet so I can only say what I would if it came to that. Good luck to you! And you'll be in my T&P.

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