I say I'm okay with induction because, I know it's a 21 year difference, but my mom had me 2 and a half weeks late. I was 8.5 pounds and they had to pull me out with forceps by my head, and my umbilical cord was wrapped around my neck 3 times. Not saying that all happened because I was so late, but I do know that I want to avoid that if at all possible.
FTM and being induced sounds stressful. It was one of the questions I asked my OB the first time I met her - how she felt about induction and how late she was comfortable waiting until inducing. I worry with my LMP DD and dating ultrasound DD being so off that they'd want to induce me before baby is really done cooking. So I would be okay at 41+.
My water broke 40 + 3 but after resting overnight, the contractions hadn't really started so pitocin was used to get things moving. Yes I had a long Labor that ended in a csection, but mostly because DD's head was so huge she wasn't going to come out no matter how hard I tried. I voted 40+ But I think whatever your doctor or midwife thinks is best for you and baby is what really matters.
With DS they would let me go to 42 weeks. I was 41 and 2 days when I set my induction date for the next week. However, I went home from that appointment and that evening actually started having contractions here and there. The next day I went into labor and ended up having my son at 41 weeks 4 days. Since I didn't want to be induced and the docs were ok with it, I did have a couple non stress tests to make sure he was fine and an ultrasound to check fluid level and placenta. I trust my office and knew the wouldn't put me I a bad position. My son ended up only be 6lb 10oz when he was born, so I'm glad I gave him the time he needed in there. Every body is different and it's hard to say what you plan now is what will happen then. Our bodies are amazing and know what they're supposed to do (for the most part )
I chose SS. I have no beefs with folks choosing to get induced once they hit 39 weeks (even if not for a medical reason), but I'm torn on whether I would personally recommend it or not.
I was induced at 39 weeks with both babies. It was considered medically necessary to get the babies out, and both times it was recommended that I get CS, but my OB was ok with letting me try for a vaginal birth, so I opted for an induction instead. Baby #2 was over 10 lbs even at 39 weeks, so I was super glad she came out a little early!
I said SS because although I don't judge someone for even an elective induction after 39 weeks, and even though my inductions were medically necessary and overall not bad at all, I felt reaaally guilty both times for trying to force the baby out early... I don't think I would have felt that way if I was 40 or 41 weeks. Also, going in the night before to get things rolling just made me sooo much more tired once the babies were ultimately here the next day. It's impossible to sleep with all the random beeps and being monitored!
I voted 41+ weeks...I would really prefer not to be induced due to the possible added labor pain and that I like to think our bodies know when they're ready (at least for the most part), but I think if I went past 41 weeks I would start to worry about something going wrong as well as how big she's getting (DS was born 39+6 at 8lbs 6oz). That being said, I I trust my OB, so her recommendation would weigh heavily on my decision.
My OB practice will let you induce at 39 weeks if you want and I personally dont side-eye people who choose to induce just because. I really dont see it as being any different than those who get RCS at 38 weeks. Seems hypocritical to me in some aspects.
I was induced at 38 weeks with DS because of pre-e and everything went super fast and easy, so I had a great experience with that induction. I was also GBS+ and it takes 4 hours to get both doses of antibiotics in and then they consider it "safe" for them to be born. Well, because my labor went so fast that they had to pump up how quickly the antibiotics were going in, I was really nervous when I was pregnant with DD2.
So with DD2, I was GBS+ again and really nervous about not getting the antibiotics in in time for delivery. I expressed this to my OB and she said I could schedule an elective induction for the next week, that way I could start the antibiotics before getting Pitocin and starting the induction. Which I did schedule it, but I felt super guilty about it. Didnt matter though because the membrane sweep she did that morning put me into labor and I had DD2 later that day. And guess what? By the time I was 10cm and ready to push, I was only 3 hours into the 4 hours of the meds. I held her in for a freaking hour because I didn't want to chance her contracting GBS. Now I most likely wont elect to induce this time around if it comes to it, but I will be having a serious talk about how long they wait to admit me once I come in when I know I'm in labor. They farted around for 2 hours before finally admitting me, so I could have had just enough time to get all the antibiotics had they not stuck me in triage for so long
@sjohns908 I'm terrified of being GBS positive because I don't know how I'm going to labor with an IV in since I have such a bad needle phobia. Do you know whether they have to leave the IV in the whole time? Or were you able to take it out after you got both doses of antibiotics?
This is literally what I am scared of the most out of the entire childbirth process, which I know is ridiculous. I just can't do needles, I really can't.
@migdala I hateeee needles too however, since I've had to get so much blood drawn during pregnancy (not "so" much but it feels like a lot) my fear is kind of calming down a bit. Last time I had one lady who was awesome I barely felt it. I need to find out her name!
@migdala I don't mean to stress you out, but I think at my hospital they start an IV for you when you are admitted as a just in case (for everyone, not just GBS+ moms), so that if there is an emergency its one less thing they have to do (I'm trying to recall what the nurse said during my L&D class a couple of years ago)...not sure if this is the case everywhere, but its something you should talk to your OB about (as they may be fine with you not having one).
@migdala fwiw, I used to be so terrified of needles that my mom gave me valium before a procedure and didn't tell me it involved an injection of dye. I was 16 and despite the valium, I still managed to have an anxiety attack. While I was pregnant with my first, something just told me to chill out because there were going to be a lot of prices. Plus I had to get 2 steroid shots with her at 27 weeks. Since then, I've just figured out a way to cope and they really don't bother me anymore.
Now that that talk is out of the way, the bad news is this. If you deliver at a hospital, they will most likely require a hep lock (the catheter that the IV lines hook into) in case of emergency, if not also require saline to keep you hydrated. If you were to decide on an epidural, you have to have IV fluids as well. They also do a blood draw upon admission and if you have a good nurse, they'll take the blood from the hep lock. I'm sure it varies between hospitals, but mine also requires you to keep the hep lock in for 24 hours after delivery in case of emergency (like needing meds for a hemmorahge, etc).
In my case, I had to keep mine in because of hospital policy and because I had an epidural. Plus once the antibiotics were finished, DD2 was out with 6 minutes. Not exaggerating. I say this as lovingly as possible, also as someone who had anxiety attacks over needles, but the sooner you accept the idea of an IV, the better. There are so many scenarios where it could be needed in an urgent situation and it's so much better if it's already in and one less thing to worry about
@MCraig1484@sjohns908 Thank you both for trying to give me a gentle heads-up ... I'm sure I'm making myself out to be even MORE of a crazy person here, but one of the reasons I chose this hospital was because they specifically told me I wouldn't need a hep lock unless I was GBS positive or wanted painkillers/interventions. So in my head it's just the GBS thing that is in my way -- I know there's definitely a possibility I'll end up with interventions I'm not planning on, but I hate the idea of going into the beginning of labor with the IV in, I'm afraid it'll send me into a panic attack and slow things down so much that more interventions will become necessary. I don't know how to get over it before October @sjohns908 You're totally right, the number of blood draws between this pregnancy and my last one have definitely inured me to an extent, so shots don't freak me out anymore but the IV idea still really does ... something about the needle just sitting in there makes me feel so faint. I wish there was like an aversion therapy or something I could do to be ok with it. Boo.
I was induced due to EPROM. They let me wait for 48 hours then induced me. I had no signs of labour. So it was BAM! Contractions were about 30s apart from the get go. It was awful. Avoid it if you can. Get induced if you need speed things up but once your body has adjusted to its own pain level and labour.
I could be wrong but, I think once you go in to labor you won't care about any needles lol. That's how I am envisioning it. I can just imagine myself screaming, "get the epidural!!" And not caring about anything else...
@migdala it is not an actual metal needle that stays in your hand/arm, if that helps. It's a small flexible catheter that is surrounding the needle that stays in you. It is definitely your choice to have an IV or not, although I would suggest strongly considering having at least an IV access. I have seen too many times people without IV access get into sticky situations. Like another PP said, probably when the moment comes, the IV won't be as big of an issue as you are imagining it to be now.
@migdala trust me, I understand your anxiety. But I do highly suggest having the hep lock put in anyways. Like @stefanirn06 said, it's not a needle sitting in your arm, it's a plastic catheter. My nurse with my last baby was so good that I barely felt her put the thing in. I may have also told her she was my new bff lol.
And I never thought I could get an epidural because of my anxiety of needles, but in the thick of labor, there wasnt enough energy or shits to give on how they did it, I just wanted relief. If you dont have any IV fluids and decide you want an epidural, you could end up SOL, since you'll have to have fluids beforehand.
funny story, my sister had some complications around 34 weeks and had to go into L&D i was with her. they had to put an IV in her and they asked me to leave. so i was wandering around LABOR AND DELIVERY you know where people are shoving watermelons out of their hot dog hole who has. and i hear this terrible screaming. like a shrieking, nails down a chalkboard, something is terribly wrong wailing. all the sudden i was terrified of giving birth (i was 6 months pregnant with my first) then i noticed it was coming from my sister's room. so i go stand by the door. it was my freaking sister carrying on like that about the freaking IV haha. anyways they used the smallest size needle they have and she managed...and had another kid where she got an IV again. so you will be fine. but dont be my sister, i am still embarrassed for her.
also note the complications were side stepped and baby cooked 5 more weeks.
When I had to go to the emergency room for bleeding a few months ago, they put in a hep lock. I had no idea why they were doing that. I think they thought I'd have to stay overnight instead of being discharged a few hours later. I'm definitely not a huge fan of having my blood drawn (needles in general are okay since I went through a year of allergy shots). I had absolutely no problem with having it put in. The girl did a fantastic job and I hardly felt it. I'm often surprised as how well I'm handling all these medical things. I think it's that I have a really good reason to suck it up and deal.
@ariz17@JessDG I'm the same way with getting my blood drawn... prior to pregnancy I had only ever had blood drawn once, and I hate needles. But with the number of times I've had to get it done throughout pregnancy, it's not a big deal anymore. I'm choosing to be thankful that maybe it's preparing me for an epidural and the associated needles/pricks, haha.
I was induced with #2 at 40.5w. I decided to do it because I'd already had a successful vaginal delivery with my first, and I was like 70% effaced. All it took was a little bit of pitocin and baby girl was out in a few hours. I'd be ok with it this time around as well if I'm more than a few days overdue, because this baby needs to be out before the 41w mark or else we won't make it to my sister's wedding (April next year and baby needs to be at least 6 months or else he, and the rest of my little family, can't come)
@ariz17@JessDG I'm the same way with getting my blood drawn... prior to pregnancy I had only ever had blood drawn once, and I hate needles. But with the number of times I've had to get it done throughout pregnancy, it's not a big deal anymore. I'm choosing to be thankful that maybe it's preparing me for an epidural and the associated needles/pricks, haha.
The epidural really doesn't hurt at all!! you feel a tiiiny pinch when they numb the area, and then some pressure as they insert the flex needle into position. And the relief is so worth it!!
With my first two my water broke right around my due dates, but I needed pitocin to get the contractions going. I'm never sure if I should consider those inductions or not.
With my third my doctor asked if I wanted to induce at my 40 week appointment so we scheduled it for 40+5. She was my biggest at 8lbs and ended up having the cord wrapped around her neck so tightly the doctor had to cut it instead of DH. I'm not sure when the cord got wrapped around her neck and her heart rate was always fine, but I'm glad we induced when we did.
As a FTM I was all about judging those that didn't let baby bake as long as possible but with experience I say different strokes for different fokes. Just remember they are quieter on the inside
My water broke with my first at 39 weeks, she was 9 pounds 5 ounces. So I was induced at 39 weeks with my second hoping she wouldn't be as big and she was 9 lbs. 5 oz. I was induced with my third at 39 weeks and he was 9 pounds and I was induced with my 4th at 39 weeks she was 7 lbs. 15 oz. The inductions were to prevent 10 pound babies. I labor down with my second and she was born 12 minutes after my water was broke. Husband made me laugh during the induction with my third. He was born 45 minutes later. My fourth was born 19 minutes after my water broke. I did not know about laboring down with my first and my water broke at four in the afternoon. She wasn't born until three in the morning. My practice has my main doctor and three other doctors that are on call. We have to rotate through all the doctors before delivery in case our doctor is not on call during delivery. With our first the Doctor Who delivered was not my main doctor. He made me mad in the middle delivery and said it was going to take hours when he left the room I told the nurse I'm not doing this for hours you got one hour out of me two tops. I was tired I was cranky and I had taught all day long. She was born one hour 15 minutes after he made me mad. Because of the inductions all of my others have been with my main Doctor Who I absolutely for his no nonsense attitude. So I would definitely go with induction at 39 weeks again with this one.
I had prodrimal labor with both kids for about a week before I was induced at 40 weeks, 5 days with my first and then 40 weeks 4 days with my second. It blows. If they would have offered me an induction earlier, I would have done it. The end is super uncomfortable with terrible sleep and everything hurts and you just want it to end and to meet your baby already. But my body wasn't ready to deliver a baby when prodrimal started. I wasn't dialated or thinned enough. Induction would have taken a long time and possibly not even worked. I go to an OB that I trust. If my OB is comfortable inducing at 39 weeks and my body was preparing for labor, he's the expert, and If he thinks it's perfectly safe then I think it's perfectly safe. if you want to wait for your body to go naturally, that's perfectly cool. Good for you. But my body needs a little help along, and I don't feel a smudge guilty about that.
As others have said, I will have a repeat C-section scheduled for 39 weeks. But with my prior pregnancies, my water broke well in advance of that. For my singleton pregnancy, my water broke at 37 weeks and within minutes, painful contractions started at about 5 minutes apart. So, we shall see. For a preemie mom, every week of baking is a blessing.
*Siggy warning - loss mentioned* Preemie ID DDs; then DS; then natural M/C; now due 10/17 High risk for pre-term: weekly Makena injections
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I was induced at 39 weeks with both babies. It was considered medically necessary to get the babies out, and both times it was recommended that I get CS, but my OB was ok with letting me try for a vaginal birth, so I opted for an induction instead. Baby #2 was over 10 lbs even at 39 weeks, so I was super glad she came out a little early!
I said SS because although I don't judge someone for even an elective induction after 39 weeks, and even though my inductions were medically necessary and overall not bad at all, I felt reaaally guilty both times for trying to force the baby out early... I don't think I would have felt that way if I was 40 or 41 weeks. Also, going in the night before to get things rolling just made me sooo much more tired once the babies were ultimately here the next day. It's impossible to sleep with all the random beeps and being monitored!
I was induced at 38 weeks with DS because of pre-e and everything went super fast and easy, so I had a great experience with that induction. I was also GBS+ and it takes 4 hours to get both doses of antibiotics in and then they consider it "safe" for them to be born. Well, because my labor went so fast that they had to pump up how quickly the antibiotics were going in, I was really nervous when I was pregnant with DD2.
So with DD2, I was GBS+ again and really nervous about not getting the antibiotics in in time for delivery. I expressed this to my OB and she said I could schedule an elective induction for the next week, that way I could start the antibiotics before getting Pitocin and starting the induction. Which I did schedule it, but I felt super guilty about it. Didnt matter though because the membrane sweep she did that morning put me into labor and I had DD2 later that day. And guess what? By the time I was 10cm and ready to push, I was only 3 hours into the 4 hours of the meds. I held her in for a freaking hour because I didn't want to chance her contracting GBS. Now I most likely wont elect to induce this time around if it comes to it, but I will be having a serious talk about how long they wait to admit me once I come in when I know I'm in labor. They farted around for 2 hours before finally admitting me, so I could have had just enough time to get all the antibiotics had they not stuck me in triage for so long
This is literally what I am scared of the most out of the entire childbirth process, which I know is ridiculous. I just can't do needles, I really can't.
Now that that talk is out of the way, the bad news is this. If you deliver at a hospital, they will most likely require a hep lock (the catheter that the IV lines hook into) in case of emergency, if not also require saline to keep you hydrated. If you were to decide on an epidural, you have to have IV fluids as well. They also do a blood draw upon admission and if you have a good nurse, they'll take the blood from the hep lock. I'm sure it varies between hospitals, but mine also requires you to keep the hep lock in for 24 hours after delivery in case of emergency (like needing meds for a hemmorahge, etc).
In my case, I had to keep mine in because of hospital policy and because I had an epidural. Plus once the antibiotics were finished, DD2 was out with 6 minutes. Not exaggerating. I say this as lovingly as possible, also as someone who had anxiety attacks over needles, but the sooner you accept the idea of an IV, the better. There are so many scenarios where it could be needed in an urgent situation and it's so much better if it's already in and one less thing to worry about
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And I never thought I could get an epidural because of my anxiety of needles, but in the thick of labor, there wasnt enough energy or shits to give on how they did it, I just wanted relief. If you dont have any IV fluids and decide you want an epidural, you could end up SOL, since you'll have to have fluids beforehand.
also note the complications were side stepped and baby cooked 5 more weeks.
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@migdala You can do this!!!
With my third my doctor asked if I wanted to induce at my 40 week appointment so we scheduled it for 40+5. She was my biggest at 8lbs and ended up having the cord wrapped around her neck so tightly the doctor had to cut it instead of DH. I'm not sure when the cord got wrapped around her neck and her heart rate was always fine, but I'm glad we induced when we did.
As a FTM I was all about judging those that didn't let baby bake as long as possible but with experience I say different strokes for different fokes. Just remember they are quieter on the inside
Rachel and Jeff Married 5.29.05
Jason is 8
Elizabeth is 6
Katherine is 18 months
Preemie ID DDs; then DS; then natural M/C; now due 10/17
High risk for pre-term: weekly Makena injections