Dr Wants to Induce in One Week

Unless there is a medical reason for the induction or you are past 42 weeks, don't do it. I have heard of some Mom's going to 43-44 weeks even. No one is pregnant forever.

I'm not a fan unless there's medical necessity or the pregnancy is postdates- 42 weeks or beyond. It increases the risks of complications for both mother and baby.

My doc wanted to induce me to keep me at my due date. I said no. We did a stress test for the baby and she was fine. I had another one and she was fine. When I was almost 3 weeks late she scheduled me for an induction. I didn't want one. It was horrid. She was not ready to come out. The pitocin wasn't working. Breaking my water didn't work. She got stuck in the canal for a long time. I was in full pushing labor, not just the contractions part, but fully dialated and pushing for almost 4 hrs. They had estimated her to be over 8lbs, another reason to want to induce but she was only 6lb 13oz at birth. I would never be induced again. I went in at 9am, pitocin at 930am, baby born just before 3am.

I was induced at 41 weeks. It was scary for me too cause it was my first, but i had all the faith in the world in my doctor. And honey, as long as you have faith in your OB and you know that you are in good hands, it will go smoothly. Good luck to you

Unless you have pre-eclampsia... REFUSE REFUSE REFUSE!! Some pregnancies are done in 38 weeks, some at 42 weeks. Since due dates are only projected estimates... an OB saying you are definitely due by a certain date is wrong. Most Midwives (who have better results of healthy Moms and Babies WITHOUT medical interventions!) tend to give at least 1 week before and 2 weeks after just to make sure they don't panic if baby isn't born on due date.

Inductions are hard on the body and fetus... seriously!! They also increase your chances of a cesarean drastically.

I really recommend you go to your library and check out "Business of Being Born" and watch it right away. Also, never forget - Drs are not omniscient nor infallible. OBs are also trained pathologists and surgeons of the natural processes of pregnancy and child birth and are trained to see problems even in normal situations.

You pay the OB... he is giving you a service. Never forget that too! Never feel you have to willingly assent to every whim or recommendation your Dr gives too!

I wish I had someone to give me this same advice before I had my first child... I would have probably had a much better birthing experience!

I went into labor naturally with my first baby and my delivery was miserable. With my second, I was induced at 37 wks and my delivery was absolutley fantastic!! It was a breeze and I felt no pain what so ever! I think you should do what feels right for you. Don't listen to people's horror stories or great stories. Every pregnancy is different, so you need to do what feels right for you.

depends on why your dr want's to induce.
My second was induced due to my small size and his big size.
Everything went well until it was time for him to actually come OUT. He was infact so big he actually got stuck , my body did not strech enough for his LARGE 15 in head. my first got stuck as well w/o being induced but they just pulled her out. he was even bigger than his sister.
Anyway , long story short ended up in a emergency c section with stuck baby with dropping vitals. When he did get pulled out, he was purple and weighed in at 9lbs 4oz ,21 in long. he was induced 9 days early. Dr said that because he was so big I might have never gone into labor because my body knew it couldn't handle birthing him.
I am a very small person, 5,4" 115-120 lb.

And please don't be afraid of a c section, or be down on yourself if you end up needing one. I healed much faster from my section and breastfed my son with much success.
natural birth or c section , the result is the same a beautiful healthy baby.

I was induced with both of my children for medically necessary reasons. Both times I went to see my doctor and he was like, we're going to the hospital now because the baby is full term, 37w1d and it is healthier and safer for you and the baby to induce. My reasons were maternal high blood pressure, low amniotic fluid.

Okay, so just to get the facts straight. Yes, induction, especially in first time mothers, does increase your chances of a c-section. Approximately 40% of inductions in first time mothers end in c-sections, which is a lot, but is not "mostly all." If you would really like to avoid a c-section, try to avoid induction. If you don't really care about ending up with a c-section (I was never gunning for one, but it wasn't a big deal to me either way) than it's not that big of a deal.

I was induced with both of my children. The first I was a week late but my water broke, so I was at increased risk of infection. My second I was only 3 days overdue but was having iffy nonstress tests. Either way I _could_ have waited, but didn't think that it was wise to. Labor hurt. I hear that labor hurts even when it's natural. I didn't and don't have anything to compare it to, and, should you chose to induce, neither will you, it will just be your birth experience.

I would double check with your doctor about his/her reasons for induction. If they sound reasonable to you and the increased chance of a c-section is ok with you too, then good luck with your induction! If you think it's wiser to wait, that's probably okay too.

No matter what, if you end up with a baby, you were successful. You don't get any bonus points for bringing the baby in "naturally" or via c-section : )

I would not be induced unless i was 2 weeks past my due date or some other medical reason. I was given pitocin with my first and never again. OUCH! Best of luck with your new baby!

I have been induced with all 4 of my kids - it's no biggie.....

I am a former NICU Respiratory Therapist and now a homebirth midwife. Unless there is a true medical need to induce then don't do it. And when I say true medical need I mean like you have high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia or the baby has a serious problem. True medical need does not include; "your baby is big," the doctor is going out of town, you have family coming into town, you are tired of being pregnant, you are one week past your due date, you are two weeks past your due date, you have low fluid etc.
It is extremely important that you let your baby choose its own birth date. Only your baby knows when it is truly ready to be born. The baby will release a chemical from its lungs to let the mother know it is ready to be born. The lungs are the last organ to fully develop, so before this chemical is released your baby is NOT ready. And I don't care what your "due date" is. It is actually a due month. Since this is your first pregnancy you have a high chance of actually going over 41 weeks which is completely normal. I have worked with so many babies in the NICU that were induced and not because of a medical need. Many of them were induced because mom was at her due date or just over it and the baby had trouble breathing at birth because it was not ready. Also, your baby is two weeks behind the number of weeks pregnant you are because the first two weeks of "pregnancy" you are not pregnant. So at 40 weeks your baby is actually only 38 weeks. Also induction greatly raises your risk of c-section. If your body is not ready and your baby is not ready then nothing will put you into labor. The drugs used to induce labor come with side effects. Many times hyperstimulation of the uterus occurs and this causes the baby to go into distress and they will do a c-section then. C-sections are also hard on the baby and many of them have trouble breathing at birth because the fluid that fills the lungs does not get expelled like it would during a vaginal birth. This fluid can lead to pneumonia.
Trust me it is not worth it to go through nine months of pregnancy, be induced and then have your baby end up in the NICU. We are talking about a matter of days before you will go into labor on your own... and you will go into labor on your own. No one is pregnant forever. Your baby and your body know what to do. You have to trust in yourself and your baby. A friend of mine recently had her 3rd baby. The first two came right before 40 weeks. This baby came at 43 weeks and 2 days. Perfectly normal and perfectly healthy.
Believe in yourself and tell your doctor no that you will not be induced.

I would ask the doc to explain why they want an induction. If it's for the doc's convenience/scheduling then there is no way I'd do it. If it's medically necessary that's another thing altogether. Seems though that most inductions are for the doc more than the patient. I'm a big believer in letting baby come when they are ready. Maybe I feel that way because that wasn't in the cards for either of mine and I really wish that it could have been that way. Check out statistics on inductions, how they end up-meaning vaginal birth vs. c-section.

Just depends on why dr wants to induce. If it is for health reasons, or you're already past your due date, I wouldn't worry over it at all. If it is for convenience, then I would hold off. Some drs really like to schedule their deliveries, and I just don't like that. Having said that, both of mine were inductions. The first was pretty hard, had to have lots of pitocin with no pain meds...not too fun! But the second was no big thing at all. They broke my water and I just went right on into labor, no pitocin needed. The only thing I would say is that if you are being induced before your due date bc the dr is worried about a big baby, I would try to hold off as long as possible. My dr has induced me both times for this reason, but I try to get her to wait till the last second before she is totally freaking out so that I would not end up in a c section bc the baby just wasn't ready. It worked for me and I have had both vaginally:D I am now pregs with number three and I sure my dr will end up wanting to induce, but I will do everything I can to give my baby every day in there I can :D Congrats and don't worry, little one will be in your arms before you know it!

Congratulations on your baby!!

Don't let all these horror stories scare you. The fact is, labor is different for everyone- regardless of how it starts. I went into labor naturally, and it was still horrible- 2 days of labor, 2 hours of pushing. My best friend went into the hospital @ 8:30 am for her 1st delivery, and her baby was born @ 5pm- she wasn't really even in much pain until around noon- and then got an epidural anyway. My neighbor's first baby came in only 4 hours total of labor AND delivery. The truth is, there is just no way of knowing how it will be for you, but getting anxious can only make it worse. The calmer you can keep yourself, the less pain you'll be in, and the better your odds of dilating faster. You'll get through it :)

I found an article that you may find interesting though:

http://www.emaxhealth.com/2/84/32984/induction-need-not-i...

Very best wishes!! :)

If there is one thing I truly regret about having my first is that i let the Doctor induce me. I REGRET this so much. My body just was not ready and I should have just waited and let nature take it's course. It's ok to go past your due date. It's best to wait till your body is nice and ready - then things go sooooo much better during labor. I know it's hard to go against what your Dr is saying (I didn't want to - she had what seemed like good reasons and I was scared at the time). But if there is one piece of advice I could give you it would be to just wait and let it happen naturally. I was induced on my due date and it took 39 hours of hard labor (inducing me made labor start off pretty fast and hard). After 5 and a half hrs of pushing I had a c-section. I really wanted a natural labor and birth and I realize now that my body just was not ready yet. In the end I had a wonderful healthy baby boy and that is all that matters, but sometimes I wish I could go back in time and do it differently.

Don't do it unless it is medically necessary! Labor when your body is ready for it is so much easier! Pitocin will make your labor progress faster than your body is ready for...therefore it will hurt more! I know some people really need it, don't get me wrong...just don't do it unless you have to. If you go two weeks past your due date and baby is getting huge, then I'd reconsider, but for now, just let your body do its thing.

My first two pregnancies were inductions. They were horrible! I had long labors and was stuck in bed the whole time. I couldn't even sit up. They wanted me on my back or side the whole time.

My last two pregnancies I went into labor naturally. After I called my midwives, I walked around, I took a shower, I did whatever felt good for me. Both of those labors took three hours or less from start to finish. My last pregnancy, I actually had to stop myself from pushing because my midwives hadn't arrived yet. The moment they walked in the door, I rolled from my side and the baby's head popped out, and one push and the rest of him was out.

Unless there is a medical reason for the induction, don't do it. There are so many complications that could arise because of an induction.

Don't do it, unless medically necessary. Especially on your first and especially if it's before your due date. Your chance for a cesarean goes up by 40%. And even at that, you better look into what the "medical" reasons are for being induced. A lot of times they can figure out something to tell you that you need to, but you really don't.
You are the one that needs to be making the decisions for yourself. Don't put all your faith in your OB because he is not you. He does not have your body or your instincts. You need to keep your own health in mind. Start reading! Educate yourself and get the right information. Ask for reasons why and then research them. Pitocin is not good for you or your baby and should only be used in absolute medical situations. It's used wayyy to much these days.

Even the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have a formal statement that says we should NOT be inducing women before 42 weeks if they and the baby are healthy and there's no medical complications. They can't even measure accurately the size of your baby. Some docs will say, "Oh, your baby is getting close to 9 pounds, we better induce you so you can have a vaginal birth." Not so true. My second baby was supposed to be 9 1/2 pounds. That's what was measured in the ultrasound. He was induced and came out 8 pounds. I have learned so much more since then!

Please don't be afraid to discuss it with your doctor, and to put your foot down and decide for yourself what YOU want.

Here is the article from ACOG that you can discuss with your doc if you need.
http://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/press_releases...

With my first pregnancy I believed the doctor when she said I needed to be induced. I was less than a week overdue and I ended up with a c-section. I was really heartbroken to not have the chance to bond with my son right away and was so drugged up I hardly can remember it. In the end it turned out my doctor really only induced me because she was leaving for two days. I would've much rather have waited and chanced it with another doctor than go through what I did. I was not properly informed and trusted my doctor too much. You're doing great to get all the info and good luck with everything!

Well, first of all, the decision to have an induction is a personal one for you to make with the help of your doctor. Beware those who will bash the very notion. It is very viable for some people.

I was induced with my first at 41 weeks gestation. I was barely even dimpled. Cervidil got some mild contractions going, but no real progress. I was hyper-reactive to the Pitocin and had very powerful, very frequent contractions for about 8 hours, and didn't quite get to 3 cm. We discussed the options and decided we had given it a shot but my son just had no intentions of coming out that way. I was a little disappointed that once I decided on the c-section, the contractions didn't stop. I wasn't really in my right mind at that time. The c-section went quickly and I was so relieved when they administered the spinal, I was actually able to relax and enjoy my "birth experience."

They brought me my son in recovery and nurses helped position me to attempt nursing. When I had my twins, policy had changed and I was told that babies were not permitted in recovery. Found out once I was there. I was pretty pissed. You may want to check on that first.

Either way it works out for you, I wish you a very happy birth experience and healthy baby.

Well, after hearing a friend tell of how painful her labor was with pitocin and no epidural, I was hoping to go into labor naturally and was cleaning the bathroom and raking leaves at 39 weeks hoping to get things started, but it wasn't happening so I was induced at 41 weeks (yes, I really made it to 41 weeks with twins) and it actually went quite smoothly - Dr. broke my water and started the pitocin at about 6 p.m., by 9 p.m. I was about at my pain threshold and fortunately my dr. said I was dilated far enough for them to start an epidural, and at about midnight they decided I was ready to push.

Every person's pregnancy and delivery is different - the main thing to keep in mind is that our bodies have an amazing ability to hold up to the stresses and strains of childbirth, and in the end when your baby arrives, you know the experience was worth it.

most doctors love to induce. it's convenient and keeps them in control. insist on induction only if the baby is in distress. it's not always a safe, easy procedure. it can lead to super-painful and hyper-intense artificial contractions which then often results in epidural, then the baby becomes distressed and many times a c-section is the ultimate outcome. it's called the "cascade of intervention." it's how the majority of births are done in this country these days. they also get to slap your insurance company with a big fat bill.

good luck mama!

All three of mine were induced to some degree. My first I had blood pressure and pulse issues. After going into labor at 27 weeks and then put on bed rest induction was started from scratch. I had cervadil inserted at noon on Saturday I was not making change come Sunday. They were going to send me home. They had sat me up to feed me before I left. Thank god they did this. My resting heart rate was 160 plus. Once they really got moving with pit and everything...I went fast. He was born at 551 pm Sunday.

My second. I was induced only to help move along. I had actually started labor and it stalled. They sent me straight over to L and D. Pit again. Was admitted at 200pm Friday. Born 801pm Friday night.

Third. was my hardest. I had been in a really bad car accident at 5 months. I Blame the fact I was in labor for three weeks on the drugs i had to take after the accident. At 39 wks and 5 days my OB swore to me, if i came in to L and D Saturday. She would not send me home. I went jogging(well briskly walked) all morning Saturday. I was admitted at 3pm Saturday. born 1123pm Saturday.

My point to all this is, Does it hurt a bit more? yes that is what I am to understand. Is it faster? Yes. Does it have questionable risks? hard to say. Any way you birth a baby in to the world has some risk. I had three quick deliveries, once I actually got to pushing. No more then three pushes for each of them. Since you really only have us to base it off of I would make a list of things you are nervous about. Talk to your OB before you start anything. There options to help move this along. Homeo things are: sex, spice, caster oil(only use if desperate), the verdict is still out on evening primrose,walking/dancing and I am sure there are many more I am missing. So those are something to try in the mean time. If you doc does want to try induction, know her reasoning. Also ask to start with just cervadil. some people just need a little bit of push to get them to pop.

Good luck and I hope everything goes smoothly! You will do great!!

I had an induction with my first and it went great. I was started with cervadil the night before. The next morning around 6 am they started the Pitocin drip and at 11:46 am (4 hours later) I delivered a perfectly healthy baby boy, vaginally. Mind you I got an epidural that didn't work very well. I had a bigger issue with the epidural then the induction. I was told that the contractions could be more painful, but that was also person by person opinion. It depends on you, the doctor and how your body handles things. Trust your intuition and your Doctors advice, and make your best choice. Good Luck.

First baby ? first delivery ? how intimadating. I tried to remember the doctors have delivered 1000's of babies and their experience and knowledge far out weighed mine. You both have the same goal - to deliver a healthy baby in the arms of a healthy mom. C-section, drugs, no drugs, whatever. That's the very best end result. Stress is a major inhibitor of labor so do your best to breathe and talk yourself into a calm/comfortable state.
It's so hard not to expect a particular birth experience but try and release control, trust the professionals AND YOUR GUT (and speak out if your not comfortable about anything because you have the final say and you are entitled to it).
I have friends who couldn't speak about their birth experience for 6mths, I couldn't talk about my breast feeding experience (??) for a year without crying. The bottom line is try not to set your expectations of how things will be. Keep thinking about what counts, happy healthy baby happy healthy mom. Look after yourself

i had to be induced with all 3 of mine, all medically necessary.... the first time i was pre-pre eclampsia, my pressure started going up etc, i was induced with just cervadil, it took forever but it wasnt horrible. i got pictocin the second time thinking i could do it without an epidural, and all i can say about that is do not let them give you pictocin without an epidural. my 3rd time the induction probably saved him, the cord was in a knot, i got pictocin and an epi and it was by far the best delivery, but it was also my 3rd, so..... all i can say is that if its medically necessary then its medically necessary. i wouldnt choose to do it for any other reason, myself. and no pictocin without an epi first.

I was induced with all three of mine. First boy, I was a week overdue, had a failed induction, went back for a second induction a few days later and it worked. Second boy, worked like a charm. Third boy, I was induced for scheduling purposes only- my mom is out of town and I needed help with my other two plus stepson and I had to make sure she would be there. I was induced at 38 wks and it did not go well. I went in for cervadil at 10pm at night, got pitocin and my water broken that morning and labored ALL day. I progressed VERY slowly. I finally delivered him at 4:45am, over 30 hrs after I got the cervadil (almost had to have a c-section). I had three very different experiences with inductions- I think it is definitely necessary if you are overdue- there is a higher risk for complications if you stay pregnant. If I ever do have another baby, I would opt to try for going into labor on my own.

Hi M.!
I was induced on my due date and it wasn't a big deal at all. I was measuring quite large and doc didn't want me to go any longer. I went in on a Sunday night and they gave me an inducing drug (pill) every 4 hours. Did have really strong cramps all night long. Next day, cramps were better, probably because I was use to them by then. Broke my water at 12:00 and then the pain came. Had epi soon after. Pushed soon after and had a 9 1/2 lb. baby boy! Hopefully my experience will help you and put you at ease with the inducing.

Why does the Doctor want to induce? Do you have some sort of complication that warrants it? Is it a matter of convenience? (to you or to your doctor?)...

Wow so based on the date of your post this may be a little late, If I were you I'd ask to not have my membranes swept for as long as medically safe, there's just more things that could go wrong. The pitocin SUCKS. Bad. I'm not gonna lie. I'd recommend you getting an epidural and if you do then you won't know the difference (i had two failed epidurals) the pitocin is basically labor on steriods but can seriously help speed things up!

Ive been induced 2 weeks over due with all 4 of my munchkins... It is not bad. Just don't expect things to happen very fast at the start...

I had 1 epidural and never again! That was with my first and smallest baby... It almost turned into an emergency csection cause I pushed for 3 hours and could not feel the contractions... For the next 3 I used the tub (and highly recommend it!) They won't let you deliver in the tub, but they will usually let you labor in the tub. They have submersable wireless monitors at most hospitals now...

The level of induction varies... just because they "induce" does NOT mean your getting pitocin... With 3 of mine it was just dialating and breaking the water and the babys were in my arms in 5, 7, 10 hours...

Nothing to be worried about. :-) Striping the membranes never worked for me. Neither did anything but breaking the water...

Remember to eat a big meal before going in cause some places won't let you eat after they start the induction!

Go for it! I've had 2 & they worked out great!

I was induced because I was terrified of going into labor at work and not being able to make it home to my doctor and my hospital. (45 minutes away). It was great. I got induced at 7, got an epidural at noonish and had a baby by 5. It also gave my dad time to get here from Northern Iowa in time to meet his first grandbaby.

Induction is only necessary if there are complications or the baby is getting too big to be safely delivered vaginally.

From all the responses, the main question is "why?"

I would NEVER be induced again. My labor stopped when I was 4 cm dilated. The doctor decided he wanted to hurry things along so I was given pitocin.
When the drug kicked in my son's heart rate fell very quickly. I was taken in for emergency c-section when his heart rate was in the 40s, it was in the 20s when he was delivered. Thankfully, it returned to normal soon after delivery.

Several of my friends had similar experiences with low fetal heart rates after being induce, and a lot of them said the drugs made their labor much more uncomfortable, if not down right painful.

Let nature take its course, and the baby will come when it is time. If there is an emergency then a c-section is the best answer rather than induction. Your body knows when it is time, so just try to be patient.

I have never been induced, but my first was almost 2 weeks late before I went into labor myself. (I did not want to be induced because I knew the chances of a c-section were very high with it.) I ended up with an emergency c-section anyway after 19 hours of labor because her heartrate dropped and wouldn't come back up and she was in distress. It was the most awful thing to go thru. It took me a YEAR to feel semi-normal, and I had a great doctor at a great hospital. They just tore me open so fast to get to her that it ended up that way. My second I wanted to try a VBAC for but he got too big. We scheduled the c-section and that was a walk in the park!! My suggestion - wait it out. If it gets so far along that they want to induce I would opt for a scheduled c-section, because statistically speaking you have a good chance of a c-section if you get induced anyway. I DEFINITELY wouldn't get induced in your last week just because it is your last week. Where you are in your pregnancy is just a GUESSTIMATE on the doctor's part. Sounds to me like he/she just wants to make things easier on themselves. That's my 2 cents worth... :-) I wish you the best!!

So what happened??? did you make it, did you induce?

2 of mine were induced, with the 1st one, they just broke my water, with the 2nd, they had tried a "new" method with seaweed, well that didn't work, then it was potossin, which was started very slowly then increased to full on, took me altogether 5 days. Wish they would have done the potossin 1st, but once it got going didn't take but 3 hours to have him, (my 3rd) boy, don't be scared, just make sure to get the epidural early enough, if not you will have to go without like with my 2nd son AND that is not too much fun! good luck!

I was started on my 1st because he was sitting on my siatic nerve and I just couldn't take it anymore. I went into the hospital at 7 am and had him by 11 am. The doctor broke my water to get my contractions to go and started the drip in the IV. I thought about not getting an epidural but they baby's heartbeat at the monitors going off at the hospital but they gave me the epidural and then I couldn't move from my side until they said I was ready to push. They prepared me for a c-section but didn't have to do it. The cord was wrapped around the babys neck (this is not uncommon) but that is why the heartbeat monitors were going off. At the end, the doctor had to have me to stop pushing so he could get the cord unwrapped. He was a healthly boy. I wouldn't have changed it for anything. I don't think you need to worry and just relax and go with the flow. Good Luck!

I was induced with my first two. They tried Cervidol (I'm sure I spelled that wrong) first and then used Pitocin. With my third I actually went into labor (without the traditional pattern, so the nurses didn't think I was in labor until they checked and realized I was halfway dilated).

I had no issues with the Pitocin aside from the horrible pain. I ended up with an epidural with my first, which I had wanted to avoid, so be open-minded about pain management since the contractions are much more intense. I planned on the epidural if needed with my second two.

I don't know that it was because of the pitocin, but my younger sister was induced with her first baby and after 20 hours of labor (some on her own before the pitocin) she dilated 1 centimeter, so she did end up with a c-section. I don't think that is really all that common, but she was also 16 days past due when her baby was born, so that was another issue altogether.

Anyway, I would not worry myself about being induced again, but you also don't know how effective things are going to be. You could do all the "old wive's tales" for self-induction (spicy food, sex, and lots of walking) just because it's not going to hurt anything to try to get your body ready sooner. :)

I think they are kind of horrible...if you didn't want an epidural, being given pitocin makes it nearly unbearable without one. I wouldn't do it until you are at least 2 weeks post-date with your first baby. Baby should come when he/she is ready! As my OB pointed out to me, people can't wait for their first baby to be here and those of us on #2 or #3 need "just a few more weeks" for them to stay in there so we can get things done :) I ended up with a pitocin augmented labor and they broke my water with baby #1 (28 hour labor, 35 minutes pushing); induced 1 week late with baby #2 (it failed and got a c-section); now planning VBAC with baby #3 -- due in 3 weeks. Best wishes on welcoming your new addition!

I was induced with both of my kids. My daughter (oldest) was already a week overdue and since I conceived with Clomid, they knew that she was, in fact, at 41 weeks gestation. I was not dilated at all and she still had not dropped. My doctor was skeptical about whether I would be able to deliver vaginally, but we agreed that there were risks involved with letting her stay in too long, so we induced and I was able to deliver her vaginally with no complications.

My son was due on Memorial Day weekend. When I went in for my 37 week appointment, my doctor (different doctor from when I was pregnant with my daughter since we had moved) said "So, when are we going to induce this baby?". I was shocked and asked why we would need to induce and she said that she was afraid he was getting too big and she wanted to avoid a c-section, especially an emergency one. She basically bullied me into it and I fell for it hook, line and sinker. I managed to hold her off until 39 weeks since I had to wait for my Mom to come into town to help with my daughter, but I feel like I was robbed of the experience of going into labor on my own. I ended up having him vaginally as well and didn't have any complications, but he was only 6 lbs. 9 oz. when he was born (not big AT ALL), so I was pretty annoyed that she scared me into having an induction when it truly wasn't necessary. The other thing that I was really upset about was that she didn't even end up making it to my SCHEDULED induction. Her partner was the one that did it all....I never saw her that day at all.

I guess my point to all of this is that it depends on the reason why they want to induce you. There are legitimate reasons out there and I feel like being overdue with my daughter was one of them, but to induce weeks early for no reason other than the doctor's convenience is not. If you feel like you're being pressured into it, then you really need to pressure back and ask why it's necessary. I wish I had done that. My son was my last baby, so I will never have the experience of going into labor naturally. I don't know for sure if he would have come on his own eventually, but I didn't get the chance to try. I would hold off unless there is some medically necessary reason to do it. The pitocin contractions are really tough and you have to get an epidural to get through it. I'm pretty sure I would have gotten one anyway, but you have to get it a lot sooner with pitocin and then it can slow down your labor, etc. It just isn't the best option if it can be avoided.

I hope this was helpful! Best of luck with your delivery.

I had an induction and i wish i hadnt! they used the balloon thingy ( i have no idea what its called) and i was stuck in bed couldnt get up at all. My labor didnt progress at all and it took allmost 24hrs for the dr to come and break my water ( which was not nearly as painless as i had been told it would be) and finally after 36 hours i had an emergancy c-section. all because my body wasnt ready for labor but the dr thought it was time, i actually prefered to wait but dr guilted me into it

I was induced with both of mine. I was at 34 1/2 weeks with my daughter. Extremely low fluid levels (checked by specialist from Primary Children's Hospital) was the cause of the induction. Unfortunately, my body wasn't ready, but if I hadn't of been induced, the specialist said that there was a 90% chance that my daughter would have died. I checked into the hospital at 8pm I was given Cervidel & antibiotic fluids. Wednesday at 6am, I was given Pitocin. By noon on Wednesday, my water broke (what little amount there was left). At 2pm, I requested an Epidural. I was only dialated to a 3, but I was having hard contractions every 2 minutes. At 2:30, I got an epidural. Everything was progressing nicely, albeit slowly. Finally, at 4:07am Thursday morning, my daughter was born, very healthy. I only ended up pushing for 7 minutes. She was 5 lbs, 11 oz., 20 inches. She only had to be in the NICU for 15 minutes to be checked over again. (It is actually her 6th birthday tomorrow.) :-)

With my son I chose to be induced at 39 weeks. My husband worked 1 1/2 hours away from home (with NO traffic, 2 1/2-3 hours with traffic). Our hospital was another 25 minutes away from home. I didn't want to have to be alone during the delivery. I checked into the hospital at 11:30 am, Pitocin started. By 12:30, my water broke, 2pm, I requested the Epidural. But, because of an emergency C-section, I had to wait until 3:30 to get it. That was some pretty crazy intense pain until I got the Epidural. 6:38pm, my son was born, a very healthy & solid 8 lbs, 8 oz. I only had to push 3 times for him.

My advice is do what YOU think is best for YOU & YOUR BABY. Don't be bullied by a Dr. that wants to go on vacation or make it to his tee time. Don't be scared by all the horror stories some people will tell you. You can find whatever information you want to find on the internet. Whether it is "facts" about how dangerous being induced is, or "facts" about the safety of inductions. Use your mommy instincts. And, find out what the hospital's policy on when they will administer the epidural (if that is what you want). Both of our hospitals allowed epidurals once you were dialated to a 3.

Good luck & congratulations! The best is yet to come! Enjoy every minute!
Shellie

PS. I would also talk to your Dr. about his/her feelings on episiotomies. My first Dr. (with my daugther) gives them no matter what. I got a "stage 4" (as big as they get) even though my daugther was tiny. My second Dr. doesn't do them unless absolutely necessary. I didn't get one with my son even though he was a monsterous 8 1/2 lbs. Needless to say, the healing time & pain was SO much worse with my first baby. I had to carry around a "donut" and ended up taking pain meds for 3 weeks. With my son, I didn't even take so much as a Tylenol after he was born (not even in the hospital).

PPS. Nobody told me with my first that the meds, especially the pain meds, can make you extremely constipated. I found out the hard way with my first child. With my second child, I had my husband bring lots watermelon for me to eat. So, eat LOTS of fiber, and if you're still having problems, ask for a laxative. There's nothing worse than having to strain after you've pushed a baby out.