Can My Doctor Force Me to Be Induced?

You should let him know asap that you have no intention of being induced. A lot...A LOT.... of doctors now are doing this. Very, very often it ends in a C section. There is nothing that says that you have to be induced. I would have my husband/mom/bff go with me and tell him if I thought I might weaken in the face of his "authority".
FYI: I was induced with my first, ended up with a C section and planned a C for the second. It worked out fine for me. I wouldn't change it. But that is just me.

Short answer is NO.

Discuss it with your doctor. Find out his reasoning. There are medical reasons for induction...but I personally believe that women are being induced much more than they need to be. That is, of course, my opinion.

Please, do not be affraid to stand up for yourself or to ask questions. You need to be proactive in your healthcare. If your doctor is not open to that...then consider finding a new one that is willing to work with you with YOUR health decisions.

I have a friend whose doctor was trying to force her into an induction right at 40 weeks. She had told her that she wasn't going to be induced and then just didn't take their phone calls until she went into labor naturally. Gave birth to an average size baby, five hours of labor, completely un-medicated...so there...lol.

Normal human gestation is 38-42 weeks...40 is just the average. We always talk about past 40 weeks being "overdue" but it may be what is exactly normal for an individual woman.

Don't let your doctor force you into something that you are not comfortable with nor is medically necessary. If your doctor is trying to accommodate something in his schedule (like vacation) and you go into labor naturally, you'll end up with whoever is on duty at the hospital. BUT that happens to plenty of women anyway.

Personally, I would go see another doctor...... It sounds crazy that your doc wants to schedule an induction this early for no truly good reason.

As one poster said that each progressive baby is bigger, THAT IS NOT TRUE. It can be, but it is not for sure.!.

Some doctors like to push their weight around. I stood up to our doctor when our daughter was 2 months old and he tore me to pieces! When I say stood up, all I did was say that my husband and I were not going to do vaccinations at that appointment! (It was awful. Told me I was playing Russian Roulette with her life. That she was going to die if we didn't. Etc. Etc. I KNOW he would have NEVER spoken to me like that if my husband was around.) We changed practices and LOVE our new clinic/hospital!

No he can NOT force you. The only medical reason that he wants to induce you is because you might have a big baby? If so, that's not a good enough reason in my opinion.

I had gestational diabetes with my daughter. My Dr. told me he wanted me to have a c-section because she might be too big. I told him I didn't want one. At my next appointment, he tried to scedule an induction for the day of my due date. Huh? Why can't I be given the chance to go into labor on my own? I asked. He said because my baby was going to be over 10 pounds. I said but my ultrasound just measured her at around 8. He said ok, he'd let me have the weekend and sceduled my induction for Monday. I didn't show up. He was furious! I went in and let him bully me into re-sceduling for a couple of days later. By this point I was scared and stressed and just gave in.

So I was induced and 8 hours later I gave birth to my daughter who was...just a little over 6 pounds. He was completely wrong about her size! FOUR pounds off! By the way, I didn't have an epidural. I did have a couple of shots of pain meds in my IV. But when I pushed her out I felt the whole thing which was great. I'm glad I didn't go for the epi.

Anyway, go with your instincts and get a second opinion on the induction. Talk to your Dr. and tell him you don't want one. However, I don't think you should go more than a week past your due date in case the baby has a bowel movement while in utero. Good luck with your decision and your birth!

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No, he can't force you. And if he chooses to drop you because you won't "cooperate" with what HE WANTS to do to YOUR body then really....no great loss there. The first response is silly. By all means, if you trust your doctor and you feel good about what he is saying (assuming you have done some research on it yourself)...then go for it. I do not agree to any medical procedures without researching it first....I went into both of my births having done a lot of reading to prepare myself for what might happen in different situations. The epidural having problems really has nothing to do with induction. I had a partial induction (partial meaning I really was already ready to go they just gave me a tiny bit of pitocin and my body went into overdrive) which I only agreed to because I was group B strep positive, my hospital was almost 45 min away and I was already like 3-4 cm dilated before any real labor started due to several early labor scares. I felt for the safety of my baby I needed to get the antibiotics to prevent rare, but possibly serious infection from the Strep B. And they took some time to administer.

Up to that point I had felt nothing from the contractions I had had from early labor even though they had managed to progress me to 3-4 all on their own. My midwife broke my water and told them to wait 1/2 hour before starting any pitocin...it was more like 15 minutes which irks me to this day. My contractions were EXTREMELY strong and right on top of each other with no breaks. It was my first baby and I only labored for 3 1/2 hours total with a 1/2 hour being pushing.

Also, induction and epiduralsl can very quickly send you into the cascade of interventions. Once they break the water, you only have a certain amount of time they will let you labor because then they start worrying about infection. So, if you go that long without much progress, then they start trying to force a C section on you. Epidurals can also slow the progress of labor because since your body is not feeling the contractions it can't do it's work as well and your body starts to stall out.

http://thefeministbreeder.com/why-i-wont-leave-my-births-...
http://www.ivillage.com/big-baby-induction-labor-necessar...
http://pregnancy.about.com/od/induction/a/pitocindiffers.htm

It is a bit late to take a Bradley class, but you can still read, read, read. A doctor is your employee, you are paying him and it is your body. If you are in an emergency situation you need to be able to trust him to give you his recommendation but you need to be given at least a few minutes to think it over and talk to your partner. You can disagree with them respectfully and any doctor who is worth anything should be able to talk to you about the risks and benefits of any given procedure and why they recommend what they do. But just realize they are going to be biased by what they want to do. And although they may say one reason, they may mean something more like "I want to know when this baby is coming so I that I don't miss my vacation/get woken up in the middle of the night/miss my child's birthday" or something to that effect. So you need to be educated for yourself and stand up for what you want. You can do this without being too confrontational though, just prepare what you are going to say ahead of time.

Some good books that I read:

http://www.amazon.com/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin/dp...
http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Womans-Guide-Better-Birth/...
http://www.amazon.com/Birthing-Within-Extra-Ordinary-Chil...

It is true that if you go past 42 weeks there is risk of placental problems. If you are getting close to that then the risk of induction is less and the risk of placental issues increases so then it should be a consideration. And having a big baby CAN lead to C section esp if you have a doctor that doesn't trust your ability to have your baby. But ultrasound estimates of weight are often wayyyy off. 9 lbs is a big baby....but it is not so big that a normal woman shouldn't be able to deliver naturally with no problem.

I would have a talk with your doctor. Tell him you don't want to do this unless it is NECESSARY. If he fights you on it, I would go to someone else. If you can trust him now, you def won't trust him in the heat of the moment, so to speak.

Hi C.,

No one can force you! I had 3 healthy babies...8.5, 9.9, and 9.1.... all full term, no inductions and no dreadful tears... however..I had the best, most wonderful midwives who were there every step of the way. I an 5 ft 4, 125lbs...it's remarkable what the body can do!
I HIGHLY recommend you check into midwife practices that are in your area..if not for this time, surely for the next...at least get informed.
It's a totally different philosophy where they belive that birth is a natural process..not necessarily a medical condition...safety is always first...but an incredible understanding and trusting of the woman's body to birth a baby...is remarkable. One of the top OB's in our city said, "Midwives are the experts in low risk births(the majority of births!) Trust your instincts, trust your body...and be honest with your feelings with your doc...if you don't feel listened to or supported..it may not be to late to find someone who will. It's your body and your birth...find a partner who will support you..and best of luck to you!

Hi C.-

At your next appointment just ask the doctor why at 31 weeks he is already talking about the need to induce? I'm not against induction (I was induced 3 times) but I made sure I knew why we were doing it and it was my decision in the end. Explain that you only want to be induced if there is a true medical need to do it.

As far as the baby's size goes, having one large baby is not really an indication of future baby's size. My first was 10 lbs. 15 oz. at 41 weeks, second was 7 lbs. 7 oz at 39 weeks and the last was 8 lbs. 9 oz. at 39 weeks. All delivered vaginally without any problems related to their size.

Good luck,
K.

No, he can not force you to be induced. He can not even force you to have a c-section believe it or not. The reason he is suggesting for you to be induced is because every baby grows bigger than the one prior. Also if you tended to go post dates with one, you have a good chance of going post dates with this one. (Now that is assuming your dates were correct the first pregnancy). So there is a good chance a 10 lb (they tend to be 6-10 oz larger); can result in a c-section. Believe it or not, doctors do try to keep their c-section rates/numbers down. Now if you are a fairly tall woman and having delivered a LGA baby before, I think you can be fine. At your next doctors appointment; just go in and tell your doctor that you have thought about it and you are aware that your previous history increases your chances of a c-section, but you would rather take that chance than to be induced. Tell him you are willing to watch very close the size of the baby and would be willing to take actions based on these results but you are not willing to scheduled to be induced prior to your due date. If put that way, he will respect it, it will be less stress on you and you can go on to deliver a beautiful baby. Now do be aware, if you end up with a c-section because the baby is too big to come down, they will have to do a spinal on you for deliver. Also know because you had a bad exsperience with an epidural once does not mean it will happen again. That has to do with the MDA?CRNA who administered it. My biggest concern is that you needed an epidural before, are you planning a doula this time whereas you will not have to result to one this time? Good luck and congrats!

You cannot be forced to get medical care. Period. Not if your life is in danger, not if baby's life is in danger. It is your decision. People refuse medical treatments all the time- people with cancer decide no to have chemotherapy, people choose not to have blood transfusions due to their religious beliefs, people choose not to have surgeries that have been recommended to them. A precedent has been set in the Supreme Court that a person cannot be compelled to get medical care to benefit someone else. Consider it from the perspective that a person cannot be forced to donate a kidney, even if it means that the person who needs the kidney will die. The same concept exists with forcing a pregnant woman into a medical procedure.

That said, there is no evidence to support induction to prevent big babies and c-sections. The "dangers" of having a big baby are most related to diabetes and other metabolic problems and those issues will be present whether you are induced or go into labor on your own. Having an induction increases your risk of a c-section. The professional organization of obstetricians, The Amercian Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology does not recommend induction for suspected big babies unless they are estimated to be over 4500 grams and then suggests that it be discussed, not a foregone conclusion. Induction doesn't improve outcomes- it actually makes them worse!

Best wishes with your upcoming delivery. Stand your ground and do what you know is right for you and your babies.

he can't make you be induced. BUT seeing as your last baby was late you do face the danger of carrying later than that and at 42 weeks the placenta starts to die. I was induced with my second because he was so big and my first delivery was a big disaster, I was higher risk with the added size.
The induction is done with an IV not an epidural. You don't have to get an epidural with an induction.

He cannot force you to do something you are not comfortable with. Neither can husband. Your delivery is your decision. Although, I had both of my pregnancies induced, they never used an epideral for that. They only administered the epideral during labor, at my request.

Unless maybe you mean the administering of Patocin (sp?). My inductions never got that far. The 1st step of the overnight gel did the trick for me both times.

M.
M.

I'm sure everyone has covered this already but no, he can't force you to induce. He will document up the yin-yang that you discussed it and you declined and all the risks, etc. With my second my OB tried to get me to induce (size, post dates, and polyamnios) but I declined. They were wrong about size with my first so I figured they would be wrong with my second, too. I was at my due date at the time so I wasn't worried about post dates yet, especially since she was passing NSTs. And the polyamnios is really just a risk factor in labor, so I was very comfortable in my decision not to induce and was very happy - she came 2 days later and they were a pound off on size.

Hi C.. Please follow your instinct. No one can force you to do anything, especially when it comes to your own health and that of your baby's. You'll need to let your feelings known right away. If he still insists, I would find another doctor who is open and trusts the woman's choice. They do exist. I fully support your choice of not getting an epidural. I, too, had a bad experience with it. So, for my 2nd baby, I gave birth at home in a water tub - no needles, no drugs - perfect for me. Trust yourself and do what's best for you and your baby. Be strong. You can do it!

Of course he can't force you to be induced. I'm sure if there were an emergency and you had to be induced for the baby's health you would. Otherwise it is your decision. Inducing introduces a whole new set of worries. Why go through that if you don't have to.

I've never heard of a dr. planning and induction from the get go. They usually play it by ear. I am 36 weeks and this baby is measuring big. They think at full term he will be about 11lbs. No one has said anything to me about being induced. In fact the only thing my midwife has said is "well, good thing we know your good at having big babies!" My last was 9lbs.

You really need to tell your dr. your concerns and wants. It is not so much about sticking up to your dr. as it is being this babies advocate.

My doctor pulled this too, only she sprung it on me at about 37 weeks. She walked into my regular appointment and said "So, when are we gonna induce this baby?". I asked her why she thought I needed to be and she gave me the "I don't want the baby to get too big and risk a c-section" excuse. My first baby was a week late and was induced and she was only 7lbs 8oz, and I didn't have any trouble with that delivery. This was my last baby and I really wanted to go into labor on my own. She actually wanted to induce that week (at 37-38 weeks!) and I told her no. She did end up inducing at 39 weeks and my son was only 6lbs. 9oz., not big at all! I am still upset with myself for letting her do it. My son was due on Memorial Day weekend, so I am convinced that had everything to do with it. I guess what I'm getting at is that I wish I had stood up to her and said no. I wish I had waited and gone into labor by myself. I will never get that opportunity now since I am not having anymore kids. Big bummer for me! So, I would just push back and tell him what you want from your birth. Tell him that you don't want pitocin (because then you'll be basically forced into an epidural again). Maybe you can compromise and if you go over your due date by more than a week, you can be induced. I know there is a certain point where it becomes unsafe for both of you, but a week early isn't it!! I wish you the best and I hope you are able to have the kind of birth you want and not just what is convenient for the doctor.

C.,
You have choices when it comes to your care. Plenty of women have birthed larger babies with no problems. I think the most important thing to have in a healthcare provider is trust. Talk to your Dr about not wanting to be induced. See what he says, and if he insists that you be induced, seek a second opinion. Is changing doctors an option for you? It is SO important to have someone there at your birth to support you as part of the birth team - you and your baby are the ones doing the work, surround yourself with people who will keep you safe and take your decisions and desires into account.

My doctor told me no induction/c-section until the due date or later if it's even needed. I completely disagree with the other mothers who say that the rate of c-sections are low and that doctors look out for your best interest. Studies show the complete opposite and doctor's do have to answer to the hospitals who in turn push for c-sections because they are less liabilities for the hospitals. I got that straight from my doctor who btw, is supporting me for wanting a vaginal birth even though I had to have an emergency c-section the first time - despite her hospital pushing for the c-sections. And yes, being induce will increase the chances of you needing a c-section. If you want links for those studies let me know.

No! You are in charge; he is there to help.

I was pregnant w/twins & opted for a c-section. DR wanted me to deliver at 34 & then 36 weeks "just to be safe." I kept pushing the date back b/c I felt as though they weren't ready yet. We compromised on 38 weeks & both babies were delivered safely & were healthy.

DRs are overly cautious these days. I appreciate him having your best interests in mind, but, you know your body best. Advocate for yourself by being honest. He should understand.

Best of luck!

I don't think your doctor can force you to do anything that isn't directly endangering you. He can warn you of the risks (c-sec) etc. I would let him know in advance that you do not plan to be induced. Would you be willing to do other things like have your membranes stripped, etc, to possibly help speed things along? Maybe that could be a compromise. But ultimately he is YOUR doctor and you PAY him so he needs to respect your wishes.

I will throw in though, that your chances of stillbirth go up after your due date and that if you have a big baby and are past your due date I would definitely ask for a NST and amniotic fluid check. I had stillborn twins and in my support group are two women who had stillborn babies after 40 weeks, one who had made the decision not to be induced. The chance of cord compression increases among other things. So advocate for yourself but also do what's best for your baby.

If you can avoid being induced I would highly suggest you do. Pitocin, the drug they use to induce is AWFUL!!! My contractions were a thousand times worse on the Pitocin and unfortuantely I did not progress on it. So ultimately I ended up having a cesarean section.
My suggestion would be instead of "standing your ground with him"with him about it, ask him what options you have. This will let him know that you do want to partner with him, just that you are not in favor of the option presented. After all, it is your body and your money. If the baby is not in any danger than this should not be an issue.

I do not believe they can force you...I do want to share my story (and I am not trying to convince you either way just sharing) I just had my third two weeks early (induction) because I was measuring big and was miserable. My first was 6.8 lbs, second was 7.14 lbs giving birth vaginally with no epidural. My third just born was 7.11 lbs two weeks early giving birth via induction at 38 weeks started the induction with cytotek delivered three hours after start of induction with no medicine again. I was so scared to be induced but new it was for the best for me and it went very well.

If you don't want to do it let him know now so they can plan accordingly. You odds of having a bigger baby are high, and a small amount of weight can make a huge difference, my 7.14 lb baby had shoulder dystocia and got stuck but I had no issues at all with my .03 lb lighter baby. And if I would have gone full term she would have been well into the 8.5 lb and higher weight.

I would let him know immediately. I had scheduled c-sections both times. First baby was frank breech for the whole month before delivery and we knew it, so no labor for me. The second was not breech and four years later, but I still went with the doctor's recommendation of a scheduled repeat c-section just to be on the safe side. I didn't want it but knew it was for the best for us.

Does the doctor feel the size of your baby was the reason your epidural failed? If he doesn't want to let you wait then maybe he would be willing to recommend someone who will and is trusted by your doc. Is he the one who delivered you last time? Will he be on vacation at the time of your due date? Unfortunately, sometimes that matters to the doctor or the patient. If you don't mind the on-call doctor helping you if your doc will be on vacation, then maybe he'll be okay with letting you go naturally. You'll need to verify that the on-call doctors at that hospital are in your insurance network before hand. I would also prefer meeting them. There is nothing wrong for expressing your wishes and being pro-active in your medical care. Most doctors actually prefer patients who take an active part in choosing medical care.

No he cannot force you to do anything, but do take into consideration that he only wants what is best for you and your baby's health. You have to sign a form giving him permission to induce you or do a c-section, etc. Plus, how can he force you when you don't even have to show up at the hospital for the birth at all. Talk to him, but be open-minded. :)

Congratulations!

I don't think he should force you to be induced BUT i wouldn't go too far past your due date! If it were me i'd be induced around 41 weeks if I hadn't gone on my own. It sounds like you'd prefer not to have ANY drugs and I understand that ut my friend lost her baby at 42 weeks. They said the placenta quits working at that time... it's not made to work longer! So... I definitly think you should tell him that you want to try to go on your own but maybe don't go too far past your due date! P.S. my sisters first baby was 9lbs 9oz and came out just fine but her 2nd was smaller and got stuck!

Updated

I don't think he should force you to be induced BUT i wouldn't go too far past your due date! If it were me i'd be induced around 41 weeks if I hadn't gone on my own. It sounds like you'd prefer not to have ANY drugs and I understand that ut my friend lost her baby at 42 weeks. They said the placenta quits working at that time... it's not made to work longer! So... I definitly think you should tell him that you want to try to go on your own but maybe don't go too far past your due date! P.S. my sisters first baby was 9lbs 9oz and came out just fine but her 2nd was smaller and got stuck!

He cannot not force you to do anything. I was induce because my last child was tipping the scales at 11 pounds. Having a baby that is way to big naturally is a good reason to be induced because of the havoc is will have on your body. I am not gong to get into details because I I want you to talk to your dr. and ask him why with reasons that he wants to induce you. His reasons might be good ones.

no he can not force you to be induced. i agree that you should have someone go with you as you speak with him about your decision. remember you hired him to be your doc not the other way around. i too was induced my first time do to pre eclampsia and ended up having a c section because i was not going as fast as they wanted. if there is a medical reason such as that then i would do it but if the purpose is only because he is a big baby then tell him you are fine with having a big baby. i think docs are afraid of "tearing" regardless of all this you should tell him on the next visit if not before. good luck with your new baby! god bless

Your doctor cannot force you to do anything, and he should only strongly suggest if there is danger to you or the baby (which it doesn't sound like in this case). I had a situation with a doctor, (who wasn't mine, but my doc was on vacation so another doctor from his group was filling in) during my labor. I was planning a natural birth, no drugs, no augmentation, etc. I was practicing hyonobirthing, which requires an emmense amount of focus on relaxation. He wanted me to stay on the monitor the entire time (20 hours of labor it ended up being). I refused, we argued on the phone, he told me if I didn't there was a greater chance my baby would be born with cerebal palsey or die, which there was no reason to believe in my personal situation. After lots of arguing and me standing my ground, I simply signed a refusal form and went on with my delivery, totally natural, perfectly healthy baby girl. Stand your ground, you get to make the final decesion on what kind of birth experience you get to have!

Stay strong!

no you do not have to be induced, and even if you are induced that does not mean you have to have an epidural or any other medication.
also Dr.s are scheduling births now to their schedule and not letting it happen when it is supposed to, it is more convienant for them

If you haven't told him how you feel, then he's probably assuming that you will welcome the idea of an induction. Many pregnant women do, and sometimes men, yes even OB's, have a hard time understanding how individualized an experience pregnancy is for us. You need to talk to him and let him know how strongly you feel. Make sure you tell him that the last delivery didn't bother you and you feel confident in your ability to successfully deliver this baby. Many women deliver 10lb. babies naturally. It's totally possible and you sound like you've got the right attitude for it.

And to answer your question, no, he can't force you to be induced. No one can FORCE you to do anything (except for the baby of course! lol!). You always have the AMA (against medical advice) option, or a second opinion as an option. And I can't imagine that he'd drop you as a patient for refusing an induction. He did take a hippocratic oath after all.

I hope everything works out for you.

Unless medically necessary I would not let him. Ask him why you absolutely need one.

My dr told me that I couldn't give birth without an epidural, but I certainly proved her wrong and my son was a day late. You know what is best for your body, go with your gut.

Hi C.,
You have already gotten lots of good advice on how to handle the situation with your doctor. I just want to second the other mom that said that being induced (or having pitocin for other reasons) does not necessarily mean that you will need to have an epidural.
I went into labor with my second daughter naturally, but despite miles of walking, etc. things just went slowly. I finally agreed to a pitocin drip because I was so HUNGRY! (Lesson there...don't go to the hospital too early since they won't let you eat.) Anyway, I stuck with my no epidural plan, despite the pitocin. I don't know if it is any harder than without, but just want to encourage you that you can have a natural birth, even if you end up needing an induction (for medical reasons and/or of YOUR chosing).
M.

You can object and refuse, just be willing to take responsibility if it does not go well.

When the doctor was not around I asked the nurses privately questions about how they felt my delivery was going. I told them to tell me what they had seen in their experiences as nurses and also while giving birth to their own children. They answered very truthfully. It reassured me that my Doctor was doing all of the right things. I also adored my Doctor, she was awesome.

I had a baby last september, was induced, and had zero painkillers. Just because you are induced doesnt mean you HAVE to have an epidural. Also I have heard that if you or the baby is in any danger, they can force you, but that is uncomfirmed, just something I've heard. And just remember it can be done without epidural if thats your wish. (I've had 2 other kids, 1- 29 1/2 hrs of loabor and other 13 hours of labor, both had epidural. I just felt i coudl do it without and boy it went by so much faster.)

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck.

Here is how I see it: your doctor is a provider of medical services. You as the patient choose to obtain those services or not.
Anytime a doctor or any other medical or other provider tries to force or coerce something on you, you need to find yourself a different provider.

Especially since you are not the kind of person who will stand up for herself, you need to find someone who will not make you have to fight for the care you deserve every step of the way.

Personally I would suggest seeing a midwife as your care provider. They generally practice a more patient/woman centered approach to care and are more likely to listen deeply to your wishes and trust in your ability as a woman to birth naturally (which you have already PROVEN that you can do).
But any provider that you feel comfortable with will do.

I hope you will be able to enjoy the birth of your child like I did, thanks to my awesome and supportive midwife.

Good luck!

I raised a similar question during a birthing class (if I could request stitches vs staples for a section) and got the following answer from a 30-year veteran nurse "Don't play doctor and tell him what to do, be assured they know what's best - you certainly don't want to pressure them into doing something they're not comfortable with."

My doctor also induced me but because I had sudden onset of preeclamsia - I was in no position to object and truth be told, it wasn't as bad as I expected and made for shorter labor. This time around I have twins on the way and I was told under no circumstance would they let me go past week 39 because the babies would get too large - when I objected and said my mom went to week 42 with twins, my doctor said that in olden times that was the reasons infant mortality was so high, that now they know better.

My gut feeling here is that since you had difficulties with the epidural last time the doctor is trying to avoid issues this time around, and possibly a malpractice lawsuit. Larger babies can in some cases be injured at birth, you were lucky.

Of course you can & should stand your ground about being induced. Induction is such a push these days. I stood my ground & I'm glad I did. Look for a doctor who will be open to letting baby come in it's own time.

Just like others have said, there's no need to induce for a "large baby", especially when you've birthed a "large" baby already without issue. The doctor cannot make you do anything without your permission. They can't even cut you open without you signing a form saying you want them to.

Maybe he thinks you consider it a favor? If you tell him you don't mind having a large baby (again), maybe he will back off on the induction stuff. Even when a baby is "late", the only good reason to induce is if there is a problem. Otherwise, they tend to come when they are ready. Many times, dates are wrong or baby is just a few days behind "schedule". And ultrasounds are also known to be a pound or two off, so don't allow them to rely completely on that.

Good job questioning the doctor, I'm glad to see yet another mom who realizes that they are human too.

Another suggestion: get a doula!

Just to combat that big baby myth, I had my son 17 days late home water birth, and he was 12 pounds. I didn't have complications(except the placenta took a while to come out)But it was a nice birth. Have you taken any classes like Bradley? They educate you very well. it could be to late to take these, but may be just reading the books would help. Blessings for your birth

Hi C.,
I would speak up right away and just be clear about your birthing preferences. He cannot drop you as a patient or force you to be induced, unless you are a week past your due date, which is the cut-off for most MDs in most states. The reason he's probably pushing for this is to avoid a complicated delivery, and ultimately a lawsuit if something goes awry in your birth. Small babies are easier to deliver, and there are less risks. But I would really clarify with your MD what you want NOW, and be nice about it because you don't want to alienate him, but you must be firm and unemotional when discussing it. IF you go one week past your due date, you probably will have no choice but an induction, so that can be your compromise when speaking with your MD about it. I would say something like, "I know you're concerned about this baby being too big to deliver naturally, and that you think we should probably induce a week early, but I prefer to avoid an early induction if that's OK with you. If I'm a week past my due date, OK, no problem, I will want the baby out too, but I want to be sure you understand my preferences before we get any closer to my due date." Or something like that. Don't be afraid to say what you want! It's your body and your baby and you get to choose how you deliver! Of course the best laid plans could always change, but your PREFERENCES should be honored, and if you are gentle about it, you will have no argument from your MD. I also had a 9 lb 7 oz baby with my 2nd, and my OB kept suggesting a scheduled c-section, which I repeatedly declined several times, and was totally fine. Of course, I went beyond my due date and had to be induced anyway, but it was fine, and I got hooked up with the epi along with the pitocin and had a totally easy, pain-free birth, and I got to watch it in the mirror! Good luck to you......N.

I am not sure about being forced to get induced. I am personally against being induced. I was with my first and it was awful.
I can give you advice on your epidural problem. I also had a bad reaction with my epidural with my first and they said it was all normal and could not explain some other reactions I was having durning my delivery. I am pregnant again and about a week ago I was chatting with another pregnant friend of mine which is have her 4th. Well anyway we starting chatting about epidurals and she had very similar issues with her epidural and so she did some research. She learned that many of the other drugs they put in your epidural are unnecessary and cause similar side effects. She said you can request an all lidocaine epidural which will take away all the crappy side effects.
So it might be worth chatting with the anesthesiologist about. I plan on trying it with my 2nd. I am due to deliver anytime now. Hope this helps. Good luck.

You should let him know in advance because it is your body and then he an also inform you of any risk that he may feel you are taking by not being induced.

It is better to discuss in advance so you know everything about your situation and you can also then schedule an appointment with another doctor for a second opinion. But in the end you must do what is best for your baby and not what you had your heart set on.

I know you already got lots and lots of answers, but I just can't help but pipe in on this one! It so infuriates me that doctors do this!!! You went an average length with your first (41 weeks 1 days is AVERAGE the first time around, when women are left alone). The actually definition of "post-dates" is 42 weeks, NOT 40.
And you already birth a large baby the first time. If *you* had a problem the first time that your doc wants to avoid then that's one thing, but to make decision b/c "some women" have X issue is just so beyond making any sense to me. Although I do have some sympathy b/c of sue-happy people--oddly backwards that we accept interventions done unnecessarily b/c, I dunno, at least they were trying? But heaven forbid they actually consider letting a natural process develop, oh, naturally!
As for my own experience, my first came at 42w (9#3oz) and the 2nd was 40w2d (8#3oz). Both boys. No issues with either. The earliest my group of mom friends went that year was 6 days past the due date.
And...I was charting and absolutely sure of my dates (and u/s agreed). But both my boys were evaluated as 1 week less at birth, when they check the ear cartilage/finger prints, etc. So I just cook 'em slower--not everyone goes at the same speed.
As for the "big baby" scare tactic, I don't really get that one. After 37-38w it's mostly about putting on weight, not about skeletal growth. And fat squishes, it's the skeleton that would cause a baby to get stuck. A chubby 10#er isn't going to be harder to deliver than a skinny 8#er. Weight just is not that great a predictor of how your birth will go.
My advice, is to just be very matter of fact and ask why, assume they have a good reason. And if (when) your doctor doesn't give you a good medical reason for *your* situation, just smile and say "no thanks."
Doctors are trained to deal with medical situations, to fix problems. Unfortunately, OBs are all to often not well trained about normal birth processes. They are surgeons. The majority of their teaching is about managing birth, not supporting it.
It does suck to stand up to people, but if he gives you a hard time you might just have to decide if your relationship with him is more important than what your birth experience is. You are responsible for your child, not him.

I would just tell him. If he doesnt want to listen, switch doctors. I did, because my doctor would ask me dumb questions during my appointments. Like "so, what are we doing today?" which would make me mad, like, why make me schedule a fricking appointment if you dont even know why I'm here? Ive never had a baby before! Your doctor cant force you to do anything.

The only way they can force you to have an induction is if your life or the babies life is at risk. In that case, they would do a c-section.

Tell your doctor straight out, you want to carry this baby full term. Up to your due date, and ask him why that's not possible. What are the risks? If you need to, get a second opinion.

if you haven't even told him how strongly you feel about it, you don't know how he will react. i would mention it to him immediately. if the two of you have a serious disagreement about it you may want to get a new dr. but no, he can't force you to induce. if you try, and there are problems, they may have to do a c-section. i have a problem with all the inductions dr's do these days just on principle. they seem to want to herd new moms in and out as quickly as possible, and schedule inductions just to make it more convenient for them. talk to him and feel him out, see what he says. but no, no one should be "forcing" you to induce.

I don't know why your Doctor wants you to be induced. There may be many factors in your medical history of which none of us are aware. A large baby can be an indicator of other problems. My son was 9 lbs 2 oz. and at that size it was a very difficult delivery a week early. I am 5'6" and had prenatal care throughout all four of my pregnancies. My third baby was stillborn and after reading a lot on line, I realized that there were a lot of risks associated with large babies. I am not trying to scare you, but do get a second opinion. It is worth the money.

No your doctor cannot make your decisions, just give you his medical opinion. I would ask the doctor to explain his statement and if you are not happy ,change doctors immediately. I changed doctors with my first daughter because he told me my pelvis was too small for vaginal birth. Wrong. I had 2 children vaginally with very short labors. You do need to be comfortable with your doctor. Question his advice and just say no to what you don't want to do. Perhaps you need to bring a strong advocate with you to help you stick up for yourself. Do not be intimidated, some doctors use that tactic because many patients will not speak up or just say no.

Yes it is good to not be putting those drugs in our bodies or our children's. Try this for a doula. Wish I had used one. http://www.southocdoula.com/

If you're feeling too timid to tell the doctor what you want, have your husband go to the appointment with you and have him either back you up while you bring it up, or have him bring it up himself. It's always easier when you have support.

You might start out just by asking why he wants to induce early. If he sites medical necessity, ask him to clarify why. If he cites his own schedule, ask who he's got on-call for him while he's unavailable. My OB for my first baby was out of town for the delivery. I actually liked the on-call doctor better and would never have met him if the first doctor hadn't been out of town. For the second baby, I used the second doctor.

No No No No NO! Don't let this man bully you. It sounds like you are already clear that your body knows how to birth a baby better than any man with a degree. Oh this makes me boil!

I switched care from a Dr. group to a home birth midwife when I was 36 weeks preg. with my last baby. It was a VBAC and the OB group said they would not allow me to labor for even 10 hrs. So I was out. It was the best decision I ever made.

Have you read "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer? It is full of statistical information about the interventions that hospitals use. Being induced is the number one reason women end up with unnecessary c-sections. That was the case for me with my first baby.

I would switch doctors and never look back. How dare he! I would also find out if he is going on vacation around your due date. It really makes me wonder what his motivation is.

EDIT: Just a note on "big babies" because reading all the posts below shows this term to have a very subjective definition. My home birthed, VBAC son was 8.5 lbs and the birth and recovery was SO much easier than the induced (no pain meds) to c-section 7 lb first baby. My MIL had a 15 lb baby (no exaggeration. He was in the Weekly World News and every word of the story was true!) They did not try to induce her, but when it became evident that he wasn't budging they did a c-section. In that case, it was a good call, but she was allowed to try to birth naturally first and no harm came to either of them because of it.

You should inform yourself, because sadly Docs are so worried about malpractice that they don't often don't give you the information to make informed decisions. My OB who encouraged me to birth at home, but for insurance reasons could not take me as a client, told me that doc's hands are tied and they often do the WRONG thing because intervention looks good in court. It is much safer to go natural, but that doesn't look good in court if something goes wrong. Read the Henci Goer book. It's not a home-birth nazi book, just an easy to read compilation of statistical information regarding procedures and interventions compared to the natural outcomes of birthing. You will be able to ask informed quesitons and make educated decisions.

I wish you a safe and peaceful birth.

I have a question in response to yours: Who has made it a law that women were only meant to carry a child for 9 months or 40 weeks?

Believe it or not, I was pregnant with my daughter for nearly 11 months. I had a sonogram when I was 10 weeks along and again at 40. Yes, my midwives were panicking a bit, but I have always been determined to keep to a natural course.

Doctors do bully patients into doing what they want or what THEY think is right. Everyone has a different opinion and a different perspective on our lives; therefore EVERYONE should respect everyone else and allow each of us our own perspective and thoughts/desires.

I hope you stick to what you instinctively feel is right for you. And let everyone know what you want for yourself immediately and always.

Good wishes for you and the baby!

It seems you don't want to be induced so that you won't have an epidural? I was induced with my last baby (for a different reason) and did not have an epidural. I had done hypnobirthing and was just fine throughout the labor even though it was induced. That being said, my son was big enough that my pubic joint separated and I ended up going home in a walker. I'm pregnant again with my third and I'm considering an early induction if they think this baby is big. But your doctor cannot force you to be induced - just say you're not doing it. He can't make you.

C.,

You very clearly stated how you feel about yourself, your body and your preferences for this situation. You were not unreasonable or hysterical. I think you should just as clearly state your preferences to your doctor. He cannot drop you as a patient, that would be unethical; he cannot force you to do anything that is not medically necessary, either.

I stated my preferences to my doctor many years ago when I was pregnant. I never had an ultrasound, epidural or amniocentisis. I said that I would allow him to do those things if he felt they were absolutely necessary; otherwise I was going to take my prenatal vitamins, rest and eat well and have a healthy baby. He agreed, both times.

Keep an open mind, and listen to your own heart. That's the best advice I can give.

It turned out that I had to have a pitosin drip during my second child's delivery, as my contractions "lost their steam". It was not as bad as all the stories I'd heard. It helped move everything along, which was fine. That's why I say have an open mind.

You are wise and strong and know your own body. Once you respect that and "own it" you will be more comfortable stating your preferences.

L.

I don't think he can force you to be induced unless he feels that there is a problem. You have to ask him "why" he feels the need to induce" when it wasn't necessary for the first one? Don't let him do what he wants if nothing is wrong. You are in your 31st week, on your next visit I would definetly ask "why". As well ask him the reason, "is there something wrong".
Tell him how you feel, that you don't want this. I don't think he will drop you as a patient, but you have to have an explanation. This is your baby and your body. You have every right to know. There is no need to be snappy about it with him, just let it out. If he is a reasonable Dr. he will explain either or. Then you will have the complete picture. Good luck!! Don't be afraid to speak up when it comes to your health and that of your babys'. Congratulations!!

Hello C.,

Have I ever been there too! I learned too late that I was the one who was going to nurture the baby in my womb and that I needed to speak to the outcomes I most wanted to see. So when it was time to have the baby I was so afraid of the experts that I wound up having a C-section. I have since learned that having the right network around me would have made all the difference. Check out this link below and you'll find a few resources I wish I knew about dear lady. It's the whole reason I've started to compile some of this information.

http://homeofficemommymagazine.com/?p=187

Contact a few of the resources you find there. If I had known some of these folks I would have had my youngest at home the way I had planned and paid 1,000's to do. It's time we started recovering the ground we've lost for our babies and our businesses!

Believe well!

A. Z.
Home Office Mommy
http://www.HomeOfficeMommyMagazine.com

They tried to push that BS on me... my babe turned out to be 7lbs 6oz at 40 weeks!! Don't let them pressure you into anything! They certainly can't force you to do something you don't want to do. It's YOUR body, YOUR pregnancy, YOUR decision! Especially if the baby isn't even measuring big! (Ultrasounds can be off by a whole 2 pounds anyway)

I don't think a Dr can make you do anything, but that is what they went to school for. Hopefully you picked your Dr because you liked him & are trust is work. I don't think he would try to do anything to hurt you...only help...and make things easier for you. In some worst cases there have been severe complications fron waiting to long. My sister in law just went thru this...she didn't want to be induced, but it ended up being her easiest delivery. Good Luck

I would find a homebirth midwife! You birthed your last baby just fine. A HB midwife won't pressure you.

No, the doc cannot force you to have induction. BUT If your doctor seems to think that your baby is to large for you I would listen.

I was induced a few days over due to baby size. My little one ended up being 7lbs 12 oz. I did have her vaginally and the doctor said she thought she was a little big for the canal but I was dead set against c-section.

Well let me tell you that child messed me up. I was cut and then I tore on top of that. 3 paqcks of sutures were used to put me back together 'down there' and I was sore for DAYS. The tearing/stitching/andsoreness was actually way worse for me than the actual birth. So justtake into account everything the doc tells yo then make a decision based on whats best for you.

If you have Netflix what the instant movie The Business of Being Born Ricky Lake produced it. I wish I had watched this before I had my child. Very helpful to pregnant Moms.

My first baby was 10 days late. Hours before i delivered one of the drs was sure the baby would be under 7 lbs, he came out at 8 1/2 lbs. They really cannot tell.
My second baby was 1 month late. Each week overdue the dr wanted me to schedule induction for monday morning. I just said i'd think about it, but i never felt like it so the mondays just came and went. She turned out to be 9 lbs. but still looked so little the my husband had them weigh her twice!
There is nothing wrong with a big baby.
Most dr's nowadays schedule deliveries and cesarians 1-2 weeks before the duedate to avoid possible complications even under normal pregnancies regardless of size. It's the new normal. It is there way of controling the situation and avoiding things like muchonium in the lungs or having the baby smaller to be able to manipulate in case of cord wrapping. These things can happen but they may not.
Personally, I believe, the best place for the baby is in the mother until the baby decides to come out.
But the time i had my 3rd child, I had a dr's appointment on my duedate and later that afternoon my water broke (i had never had my water break before usually it had to be done in the hospital), so i wonder if the dr "accidentally" did that for me.

You don't have to refuse to induce, just put it off. I would just tell the dr that you would like to go to full term or when contractions begin (sometimes they could go for days, and you know the baby is ready by then anyway)