Can you refuse induction/c-section?

Scout1218 · January 2009

I am not talking about refusing induction/c-section if baby is in distress or if there are other reasons to medically intervene. I'm wondering if I am 7 days overdue, and my doctor insists on an arbitrary induction, if I can refuse, or decline.

I keep having nightmares/panic attacks about being induced. I KNOW it's not the end of the world, but I really, really don't want an induction if it can be avoided...and I know that my doctor will only let me go 6-7 days after my EDD before inducing. Stats at my hospital are 85% of inductions end in c-section. I also know not every birth ends the way you want...but don't we all have ideas on how our babies' births will go?

I am not trying to sound ignorant, but...I just don't know about the whole process with induction. Do you even have a choice? Is it completely your doctor's say? Now that birth is getting closer (tomorrow is double digits for me) it's something on my mind alot.

lazysusan · January 2009

Absolutely you have every right to refuse. Unless the baby is showing stress or something along those lines, I'm all for letting things happen naturally. It's your body.

KelliLynee · January 2009

You are the patient and you have a right as to what treatment you will or will not accept. That being said, your doctor has the right to refuse to treat you if he thinks you are putting yourself or baby in jeopardy (he wouldnt be recommending the induction if he didnt feel it was necessary).

brandistrionfo@gmail.com · January 2009

how do you know so much about trident?

man I've got to do my research!

(but I have no idea what the answer to your question is)...

izzybella · January 2009

I was induced and it was fine! You're not going to be allowed to go longer than 42w, but I guess you can refuse.

Jeff&Angie · January 2009

YOu can refuse anything you want. A lot of drs routinely say you need an induction if you go past 40 weeks. Just make sure you are educated on your decisions and do what is right for your body.

HisLobster · January 2009

It was my understanding (however I am definitely not an expert) that you can refuse your doctor's suggestion for induction but he/she can then refuse to be your doctor (to be involved in your delivery). Also, I thought I was once told (again, grain of salt here) that if you go against medical advice that your insurance can refuse to pay.

Again, I am not sure, but it's something to think about or look into.

Scout1218 · January 2009

bran-flake: Learned all of this in our childbirth class last weekend. Learned way more than I thought I would. I have seriously been thinking over everything we covered. The class was taught by a doula who gave us those statistics. Apparently at Roper/St. Francis the induction to c-section rate is even higher.

And now that I read my original post, I need to rephrase. Not so much worried about refusing c-section, because most likely that would be medically necessary...but more concerned about refusing induction. I have no idea why I am so worked up over it...but I am. :: need to relax, I know ::

yngsacbride · January 2009

I think by being 6 days overdue, you will be asking to be induced at that point. I don't know of anyone personally having a c-section after an induction.

Mama Jan · January 2009

One other thing to think about / research is why doctors want to induce at that point. There are some scary things that can happen if babyies are in there too long, so it's important to know when you've gotten to the point where it's just better to induce.

Mama Jan · January 2009

yngsacbride:
I don't know of anyone personally having a c-section after an induction.

I did Smile

brandistrionfo@gmail.com · January 2009

*Mimi*:

bran-flake: Learned all of this in our childbirth class last weekend. Learned way more than I thought I would. I have seriously been thinking over everything we covered. The class was taught by a doula who gave us those statistics. Apparently at Roper/St. Francis the induction to c-section rate is even higher.

I have GOT to sign up for that class!

Scout1218 · January 2009

yngsacbride:
I think by being 6 days overdue, you will be asking to be induced at that point. I don't know of anyone personally having a c-section after an induction.

I was really shocked to hear how many inductions end in c-section (then again, not sure where the instructor got her numbers...) and I know being 6 days overdue will really drive me insane...but I sort of want things to progress naturally.

Thanks for all the replies, everyone!

DaisyAdair · January 2009

I had an appt at 40w1d and they offered me an induction for 40w3d and I said no. I said I'd wait until 41wks. I ended up going into labor exactly 12hrs before I was supposed to show up at the hospital.

With my 2nd, I couldn't turn it down because my BP was going nuts. I did manage to hold them off until the day before my due date when my blood work came back not so nice.

iris427 · January 2009

You can always refuse any medical treatment.

Poplin2007 · January 2009

HisLobster:
It was my understanding (however I am definitely not an expert) that you can refuse your doctor's suggestion for induction but he/she can then refuse to be your doctor (to be involved in your delivery). Also, I thought I was once told (again, grain of salt here) that if you go against medical advice that your insurance can refuse to pay.

Again, I am not sure, but it's something to think about or look into.

I'm pretty sure this is true. I know my dad was in the hospital recently and couldn't leave because his doctor hadn't signed the discharge paperwork, meaning it would have been deemed 'against medical advice' and his insurance wouldn't pay if he left.

IselaCid · January 2009

If this is a concern, I suggest getting the book The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer. Yes, you can refuse an induction and just an fyi, but most women in their first pregnancy, if left alone and not induced would actually go into labor after the 41 week mark. Good luck to you!

Temp159135562506975 · January 2009

sure- but do know that if you go that late you risk your baby having severe issues or death - because they run out of amniotic fluid and also run a very high risk of passing merconium in utero which they ingest and can kill them..... there was a horrible story about this happening on the nest last year if i remember correctly. I would NEVER let myself go that late, personally.

I was induced at 36w due to some health issues. the birth went fine. No c/s here.

Chrysallys · January 2009

yngsacbride:
I think by being 6 days overdue, you will be asking to be induced at that point. I don't know of anyone personally having a c-section after an induction.

I do, several in fact.

ForForever · January 2009

Yikes! Those stats scare me. I'm planning on delivering at that Trident, too.

Tongue Tied

webMistress0609 · January 2009

I wouldn't stress about it too much - like many others have said, if you're past your due date, you'll prob be over it & want to be induced anyway. You could always ask for a few more days to see what happens. And try not to be afraid of a C section - I've known a few who've had them & they're not that bad.?

pharmacygirl · January 2009

actually only 50% of inductions end in c-section - I was induced and in labor for 24 hours and it ended in cs because the baby was in distress - cord wrapped 2x around DS neck. I know more women induced and it ended in VD and not CS. It really is not that bad. But you cannot go past 42 weeks due to the baby passing its first stool in utero which can cause major complications with the baby. Now is it worth the risk to your baby or would you rather have a healty baby. It is all about the baby at that point and not about what you like or prefer or dislike. All I cared about was getting my baby out before anything happened to him. I could have cared less about myself at that point.

kyoto · January 2009

I was induced and it was great. My entire family lives out of state, and I really wanted them there for the birth. This one will be an induction too. Don't panic about the possibility of being induced! It's really not a big deal at all.

DDKlar · January 2009

You can absolutely refuse induction if there's no medical necessity for it. Remember your due date is not set in stone, and the baby can come 1-2 weeks either way and be perfectly healthy!

If your doc is that insistant on induction you might want to consider a 2nd opinion...

And just as another viewpoint, get hold of the documentary The Business of Being Born.

Good luck!

Mama Jan · January 2009

Goldie_Locks_5:

sure- but do know that if you go that late you risk your baby having severe issues or death - because they run out of amniotic fluid and also run a very high risk of passing merconium in utero which they ingest and can kill them..... there was a horrible story about this happening on the nest last year if i remember correctly.

Yes, that was Loops - she was due just a week or so after me. I still think about her often. She was 41w3d or something like that and her baby aspirated meconium. The doctors could not save the baby, even after an emergency c/s. It was such a horrible, horrible nightmare. She has not been around since then (I still check to see the last time she posted).

shihtzu51 · January 2009

At my hospital, there is a higher c-section rate after induction when it is for a medical reason - like hypertension or diabetes. The c-section rate for either elective or postterm was the same as the c-section rate for patients in laboron their own.