Inducing Labor

Yesterday I was at the doctor and he told me something that surprised me -- he said about 80% of their patients choose to be induced!

He said that 1) They are afraid of getting stuck in traffic; 2) They want to know which doctor will handle the delivery; 3) It is easier to make arrangements; and 4) They want to get the baby OUT!

I told him I was really surprised. I had always thought that Induced Labor was something that you didn't really want and only did if something was wrong. He kind of chuckled and said I would feel differently when I was at 38 weeks!

He also said there's nothing unsafe, or less pleasant, about inducing (if you have an epidural, which I personally would want anyway) as long as you were at least 38 weeks along and your cervix was ... Something --- I forget the word.

I went home and looked at "What to Expect," which said labor shouldn't be induced unless there is a problem. Now I'm confused! Has anyone here induced just for convenience? What are the pros and cons?

Thanks,
Jen

[NancyM]

My impression is that it's mostly more convenient for the doctor. Check out some of the books by Henci Goer for better information on it, though.

for different docs, I guess! Mine won't induce for the sake of convenience, he only uses induction when it is medically indicated for either mom or baby's sake. But docs have different philosophies, that's for sure. As long as you and your doc agree on philosophy, that's what matters!

[Stephanie_B]

I have to say my doctor wouldn't induce either unless there were a medical need (like preeclampsia or fetal distress or something). In fact I didn't know until recently (the last two or three years) that you can request that AND doctors would do it!

But I have to admit at 38 weeks I was more than ready to have my last baby (No. 2) I spent literally hours a day broken up on my treadmill trying to "induce" to no avail...when the baby's ready they are ready.

What I have to wonder is what percentage of induced labors end up C-sections for failure to progress? It just seems odd to me.

Stephanie

[BLinda]

I don't know of anyone with a Dr. that would induce for the patients convenience. I think that is really a control thing. There certainly are a lot of reasons that are considered "medically necessary" by one Dr. that wouldn't by another. For some, not having delivered by your due date makes induction a medical necessity, which we all know isn't true, but by that time no longer care!

I would suggest not inducing unless your cervix is ripe- at least that way your body has given some indication that it is ready. I think that if you are 100% certain you are past 38 weeks (the closer to 40 the better), and planning to have an epidural anyway, there probably isn't much difference in a planned induction vs. "natural childbirth". Especially since lots of labors slow down or stop once the epi is in, and need the pitocin anyway.

That said, I chose not to have an epidural (either time) and not to have an induction (either time, although I had one the first time anyway, it was NOT my choice). I vastly preferred the feeling of doing everything myself, rather than being a passive vessel manipulated with drugs. Much though my body did all the same work the first time, I felt like a puppet. I had no control, I was being manipulated by the drip. Personally, I did not like that feeling at all.

[LeslieM]

<center><font size="1" color="#ff0000">LAST EDITED ON Sep-01-00 AT 09:27AM (EST)</font></center>

My main impression of the difference is that I went longer without needing pain medication with the natural labor. In fact, I went so long that by the time I asked for it, it was too late, he (#2) would be born before it took effect. (With the other kids I told them right up front not to let me go too long without pain medication-let's just say natural childbirth is not for me-ha!) I was always 1-11 days late, walking around for weeks with a ripe cervix. My reasons ranged from baby flunking heart stress test (turned out cord was around her neck 5 times) or my doctor was leaving town and I wanted only him (2 times). The last time was out and out convenience for us. I was induced on Fri, my husband had the next two weeks off on vacation and the baby was born 8/28. You see, the school cutoff date here is 9/1 and we wanted the option open to send him to school earlier (if he's ready of course) since my Dh was 48 and I was 39 when he was born. We'll have kids at home till Dh is 66! If I had not been overdue and totally ready to deliver each time, I wouldn't have chosen to induce, of
course, but it worked out fine for me-short labors whether induced or natural. Good Luck!
P.S. One of my induced labors ended up C-section because the umbilical cord was coming out first, but this can happen with non-induced deliveries also. Leslie

[NancyM]

I know it's a personal choice and everyone has to decide for themselves, but I hope to have my children as naturally as possible as well. I admire you for that!

[NancyM]

Sorry, my post appeared in the wrong place!

When you get to 38 weeks, you probably WILL want to be induced! I didn't want to be induced either, but I was so uncomfortable the last several weeks that there was no way I felt I could physically or mentally handle waiting until 42 weeks (when ACOG guidelines say that induction is indicated where no other problems have arisen).
My doc offered to induce me at my convenience once my due date had passed because she was concerned about the baby getting too big, which I assumed (but didn't confirm) would increase the chance of a C-section. I ended up going into labor the day before my scheduled induction anyway, although I still needed the prostoglandin pill and pitocin or I'd still be trying to get that baby out (she was at -3 station when labor began)!

I'd wait to see how I felt as the time draws nearer. Don't let your doctor pressure you into it just to fit his or her schedule (let's face it, the doc is only there for such a short period of time -- just make sure you get great labor and delivery nurses!).

[Heather Y]

I was induced with #1 and went naturally (with epideral) for #2. With my first I was 10 days overdue and my cervix was 100% effaced and dialated to a 3 for a while. I was more than glad to get him out at that point but it was not a pleasant experience. In fact, it took a few hours for the pitocin to really take effect and the nurses weren't checking me that well since they didn't see any change. By the time the anesthesiologist came with the epideral I was in pain. After I got the epideral they checked me and I was between a 9 and a 10. Yikes. Those contractions when you are induced are very powerful.

Ok, number two came 2 days early. I really wanted to let my body do the labor so bad that I wouldn't get induced unless I was way over again. I was so worried because I didn't know what labor was like and this wasn't my first child. I felt pretty dumb about it. But, my water broke in the middle of the night and the contractions started about an hour later. It was such a great experience. The anesthesiologist was already at the hospital and so I could have an epideral whenever I wanted - right away if I wanted. I waitied a couple of hours and felt like such a wimp asking for one because it wasn't painful or anything yet. I could have gone longer - but I didn't want to feel those terrible contractions again. It was a much more pleasant experience.

My friend has a doctor who schedules everyone's delivery. I call him Dr. Induction. It is frustrating to hear people who are due after you having their babies before you - even by 2 or 3 weeks before you. In fact, I had a waitress while I was pregnant with my first who had Dr. Induction and she was due April 20th and had the baby April 4th. I was due April 10th and had him April 18th. Some doctors think you babies should never get over 6 pounds. Mine weighed more and were no problem for me.

On the other hand, I have a friend who just had her third baby. She went into labor on her own with the first two and had miserable experiences, like being in labor for 3 days. She got induced this time and had a wonderful experience.

I would never tell a pregnant woman who was 38 weeks along that she has made the wrong decision one way or another. It really depends in the circumstances and how you feel. I would induce if it were a matter of beating a school deadline or if I had family in town to help and I hadn't delivered yet, but only if my cervix was ready.