Induce Early?

You've gotten a lot of negative responses, but I will say that I was induced at 39 weeks and thought it was wonderful. I also have an older child, so we could prepare family to come and stay with him. I got pitocin around 10:00 a.m. and my little guy came out by 2:00 p.m. It was a great experience.

I don't recommend induction for anything other than medically necessary. The baby comes when the baby is ready. My sister was induced and then had problems and had to have a C-section...can happen when not induced but still.

I was induced and it was beyond awful. I couldn't dialate so they just kept pumping in more medications. I had contractions coming in the middle of contractions. I would NEVER recommend you get induced for any reason other than medical neccesity for the safety of you or the baby. I have come to the conclusion that women have been having kids since the beginning of time, with or without all the options we have now, and done just fine. It took me over a month to fully recover from that delivery.

A lot of babies are not born on their due dates. You might go into labor on your own early or late (two weeks give or take is completely normal). Don't plan your birth around someone else s vacation schedule. Unless there's a medical reason your child needs to come out right away, just let nature take it's course.

This may sound harsh and you will get lots of thoughts on this, if you want the just ( I HAD to have my third induced for medical reasons and the labor was about the same as my other too, it depends heavily on the method of induction though....DO your research) Continue to read if you want my opinion. It just saddens me when doctors give this option. I mean seriously it's for convenience. Medically necessary inductions are about the only reason why I would. I had my first two without induction and then due to medical reasons I had to be induced with my third. My labors were all about the same but there is no way I would do an induction unless it was life or death. Is she the only doctor who can deliver a baby?...no! did she not warn you of the impending vacation? Most do. What is there fully to plan it's only one child...if need be your husband can take care of your older one. We didn't have family anywhere near for our first or second. It wasn't till a week afer the baby that we saw family. There is no Planning in having a baby. Why risk having something go wrong for "convenience".

I would lije ti add ub after readubg fir tiry response, remember you are flirting with the safety of you and your unborn child over conveience if you choose to plan for reasons of having childcare for your older child. Your older child it not going to be harmed if you don't have someone specifically set up to watch him if you happen to go into labor unexpectadly. Don't risk it.

This is just my opinion but I think you should let nature takes it course and your lovely baby will come when he/she is completely done cooking and is ready. Regardless of if your dr is there or not, really all they do is catch and pass you do all the work. LOL Good luck in your decision.

Both of my kids were induced, but for different reasons and both deliveries were fine. My daughter was a week overdue and they induced because they didn't want to go much past that since I used Clomid to get pregnant and they knew for certain when I conceived (so, they knew my due date was accurate). I was glad that they induced her because I didn't want to have any of the complications that come with a baby that is far overdue (such as meconium ingestion, etc).

Now, fast foward 2 1/2 years to when my son was due. He was due Memorial Day weekend and about 3 weeks before my due date at my appointment, my doctor walks in and says "so, when are we inducing this baby?". I was floored! I asked her why we would be inducing and she said that she was afraid he would get too big and that I would end up with a c-section (I am petite, but I had my daughter at 41 weeks and she was 7.5 lbs). She was ready to induce that week! I basically told her no and then went home and thought about it. Like you, I had another child and no family around, so I agreed to be induced when my Mom arrived, but that wasn't until I was 39 weeks along. While it was nice to have things planned out, I will tell you that I regret this decision. Not for any medical reasons, because as I said before, both of my deliveries went perfectly smoothly, but because I felt like she did it to avoid the possibility of dealing with it over a holiday weekend. I feel like I was pressured into it and in the end, she didn't make it in time for the delivery anyway! Oh, and my son who was supposedly getting "too big" weighed 6 lbs 9 oz when he was born. I really wish I had waited and let him try to come on his own. In the end, do what you're comfortable with, but if I had it to do over again, I would not have induced with my son unless we went over the due date by a week or so again. Good luck! I hope all goes smoothly for you whatever you choose to do.

I went through this same exact thing- my doctor convinced me to do it for "my safety" and at that point in the pregnancy, it is appealing to know when the baby is coming and to just "finish". Now we did not use drugs- they broke my water and we did the old fashioned way of inducing contractions(I can share those in an e-mail if you want a semi-natural induction). I am extremely afraid of pitocin and epidurals so that part of the induction was a huge turn off. Have you seen Ricki Lake's move about pitocin and epidurals? It leads to many more c-sections and all of this is more $$$ for the doctors.

After inducing, I wish I had not done it. I wish I had waited. It was for my doctor's convenience not mine. I think my due date was calculated wrong so they may have taken her 3 weeks early instead of when she was due. There are differences in her personality vs my son that may not be due to this, but I sometimes wonder if delivering early has caused her to be a little more "intense". Good luck with your decision.

Please consider that induce labors are much more likely to end in c-sections for things like "failure to progress." (Statically, induced labors are far more likely to end in c-sections and labor that begins spontaneously; c-section babies are more likely to develop asthma/allergies than vaginally birth babies, among a myriad of other health issues that can happen due to c-sections, for you and the baby).

Before you decide, please google "induction cascade of interventions" because this will help you see the possible ramifications of going this route.

Nature (or G-d, depending on how you see it) has designed your and your babies bodies to work the way they are supposed. Labor begins spontaneously in a health pregnancy, when the baby is ready to arrive. If you are healthy and the baby is healthy, then every day in the womb is better than a day outside, because that is the best environment for the baby.... the only reason human babies don't stay in the womb longer is because our heads/brains are so big that if we waited longer, the head wouldn't fit through the pelvis....

Line up your support system and your back-up support, and then let nature take its course. Don't rush this if its not medically necessary. because it could have lifelong ill effects for you and/or your baby.

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now.....

G-d bless and good luck to you.

I was induced. I see that you are not having complications, which I had PIH, so I was on bedrest. I went 3 weeks early. My labor lasted 8hrs and my son was perfectly fine. I don't really like the idea of being delivered by a dr you don't really know. So, if you are wanting the option of your regular dr doing the delivery, I say go with the induction but you have to do what works best for you.

If you get induced, you are more likely to end up with a c-section, so make sure that is something you are comfortable with before you make your decision. Babies who are induced often aren't ready to come out, so no amount of pushing is going to get them down the birth canal if they are too high up (not to mention that just dilating to 10 cm is sometimes harder with inductions). Labor is almost definitely going to be longer, as you said.

The pitocin that they put you on to bring about contractions often makes the contractions more forceful/painful. Also, some babies do not react well to pitocin while in the womb, so they may have to turn it off, which would then slow the labor down.

I would talk to your doctor about all the pros and cons before making your decision.

K.
http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/karenchao

Of course the choice is yours - don't get coerced into anything you're not comfortable with - but please be aware that induction doubles your chance of C-section.

With my first, I was induced on my due date. Took cytotec every 6 hours for 24 hours before being switched to pitocin. Then @ 1 pm the next day, my water was broke. At 7 pm, I was told that since my labor wasn't progressing, that I would have to have a c-section (NOT emergency; I was awake the whole time & had an easy, speedy recovery). 38.5 hours after being induced, my daughter was born via c-section.
But every pregnancy, mother, & child are different. You can't really base your expectations on someone else's experience because yours may be completely different.
Good luck!

I don't know how old your first is but...spend as much time with him/her now that you possibly can...while is is just you two. That is something you will not regret. Even if you go past due date when your Dr is back. Let things happen naturally.

Hi Danielle, I haven't read all the other responses, but I just wanted to give you my thoughts. I am against inducing early, especially for convenience. I fully believe the baby will know when it is ready to be born. I've also read up on nearly-term babies that struggle after being born because they were induced early. I was totally against induction, but with my second I was 9 days overdue and finally gave in. However, my body was ready for it. I was already contracting on my own so they started pitocin and broke my water. My labor was quick, about 4-1/2 hours and they completely turned off the pitocin because I was contracting so close together. Personally, I would wait until your baby is ready. Good luck!

A.

Please, please, please do not induce early, unless it is medically necessary! It is a shame that drs. and/or mothers go this route for the convenience factor. My dr. wanted to schedule me to be induced just 3 days after my alleged due date. I got them to wait a week, but then let myself be induced, and (big surprise) ended up with an emergency c-section at the end of it all! The contractions were hard & fast (although I don't have a natural labor to compare it to), I was pushing (or trying) for awhile, before they ended up putting me under to take the baby out. It was my 1st baby, I didn't want to risk losing her, and so I felt I had to trust my Dr.

To this day, though, I don't feel a c-section would have been necessary if they hadn't wanted to do everything forced! Yes, some people will end up delivering just fine once they are induced. But is it worth the risk?? You may end up missing the birth entirely like I did, not seeing your baby for hours afterward, longer recovery, etc. Just my opinion, but it is not worth it! Next time I will find a new Dr. & do everything I can to avoid being induced. Nature will take it's course in most cases. Good luck! I hope you have a great labor when the time is right, and a healthy baby to take home!

Having an induction can make things alot harder on your body and for your baby. Contractions will be alot harder and more painful, you will have to be fully monitored with the heart monitors and contraction monitors and constantly have your blood pressure checked. If you can go naturally it is best for you and your baby. There isn't as much stress on your body if you go when your body is ready. I would ask your doctor more details of what pitocin does to the body and what other medical things come with it. Does it affect your baby etc.. and do some online research!
A due date is a "guess date" some babies need less time and some need more time to be at full term.
If your concerned with not having family in town, do have a really good friend thats able to help out with your little one?
I wish you the best of luck and you will do what is right for you and your family! Congrats on Baby #2~

I have 2 children and both were induced (first was 1 day early, second was 3 days early). Both labors were very different (first was 14 hours, second was 2.5 hours). I didn't have contractions prior to being induced so I can't compare but everything I have heard is that they are a lot worse after getting the pitocin. However, I still chose that for my second because I was dialated to a 3 for several weeks and we have no one in town to care for our daughter so it was easier for planning. No one can tell you what to do. Just go with your gut because only you know what is best for you and your family.

I would wait. I was a week overdue and was induced. That birth was WAY harder, more intense, and longer than my first (granted my first was 10 years before). I would only induce if medically necessary.

I was induced at 38 weeks because my water broke but I had no contratctions no other symptoms of labor. 14 hours and I had a baby. If you are only comfortable with this dr, then you should do what is comfortable for you. Make the date, since you went early with your first you might not make it to the set date anyway. Best of luck to you and your soon to be butterball!!!

I know this is late, but I was induced with both of my children and 38.5 weeks. In each case my labor and delivery was different, but I wouldn't call it long or troubled. With my son, I was in labor for 3.5 hours and pushed twice thru once contraction and he was delivered. I think that you need to do what is best for you and your situation.

i got induced after 10 months of being preg.had lite labor pains...they broke my water said itd be bout 10 hrs-was dilated 3...shoot that was at 2pm...had my daughter at 5pm...she was my 1st..it was hard back labor-with my son-same thing 10 months..but i waited-got to hosp.at 6;30am...he came out at 7;10am...both 12 pound babies...no drugs all natural....good luck

if you asked me, i would not induce. the reason being is that your baby is still working in there! the lungs are still developing. its important that you give your baby time. chances are high that your baby wont come on the due date anyway.
its probably simpler to just meet whomever is on call while your doctor is on vacation. at least then you have met them. the doctor working doesnt matter as much as you having the baby when baby is ready.

induction with pit makes contractions worse, stronger, and they will hurt more for both you and baby. it also can lead to intervention after intervention, and many times (no, not all, but many) pit actually increases your chance of having a c-section because if baby is truly not ready, its going to make it complicated to be "forcing" your body into labor.

you still have time too, you dont have to decide right now. i started dialating 3 weeks before my son was born. i was at 4.5 cms before i actually got checked into the hospitol and started active labor. it was so cool. ;) if you trust your body, and trust the process, you will have a much more fulfilling experience. birth is not a medical event; its a natural body process. ;)

good luck whatever you decide.

I wouldn't do it. I was given pitocin when my labor slowed and my daughter reacted badly. I was given 30 minutes to push her out or else they would need to do an emergency c-section. I pushed and they ended up using a vacuum and forceps for delivery and she was in the NICU for 24 hours. She was gray when she came out and silent and her apgar scores were a 1 and a 2. It was awful. Most induction/pitocin stories I've heard end up in an emergency c-section. I would advise staying far away from that drug.

I was induced at 41.1 weeks with my daughter, i think i was in labor somewhere along the lines of 14 hours (ive heard the first is always the longest) 3 of the 14 hours was pushing, the dr finally had to tear her out of me since she was too big to fit but decided since he wanted to get home for thanksgiving he wasnt going to take the time to do a c-section. i say go for it. my induction wasnt bad at all. i slept most of it away.

i was induced with my first son. had to be at the hospital at around 5:30am when they started the pitocin they started it out to high. that was the worst experience ever. when i got my epidural they slowed the pitcocin down. and it went smoothly from there. i would say make sure they don't start it to high other wise it will feel worse than natural birth.in my opinion. no complications from being induced though.

I've had 3 kids. The first 2 were induced and the last was not. I think the induced ones were harder for a couple reasons. My first (and granted it could be because she was first) took forever even with induction. I was induced at 6 am on Thursday morning and had her at 6 PM FRIDAY. 36 hours later. We almost had to do a c-section until she finally decided to come. With my second son I was induced at 6 am again and had him at about 5 pm that eveining (11 hours later). With both my inductions they turned on the pitocin at about 6:30 and would taper it off or not use as much at certain times of day. With my son I was already having a few contraction on my own so the pitocin was off by 12. I don't remember how high/low/length of time with my first. Here is something to think about though. It has been my expirience that when you are induced they reduce the pitocin at certain times to make it convienant for the doctor. So the pitocin and contractions were higher later in the day (Say after 5-office hours) and earlier in the morning (Say before 8) That way the doctor can deliver when they don't have patients or have to take away from something in the day/lives. Now, my 3rd child a son came naturally. I don't know how far away your family lives, but my MIL was coming to watch my other 2 kids while I was at the hospital having my 3rd. She lived 7 hours away and I was very worried she wouldn't get there in time. For me, I woke up the morning and had slight cramps. They didn't feel like contractions just normal period cramps. I called my MIL and asked about it and said I don't know what this means (I'd never had one "naturally" before.) She said well it could be the beginning of labor, I'd better come. And she told me to take it easy and not do too much (I was doing laundry at the time) She made it there by about 6 pm. At 7 my contrations were getting harder and closer.By about 7 :30 I called the doctor by 8 I was at the hospital. It still took until 4:44 until I had him, but I spent 8 hours at the hospital with things going on the entire time and as much time at home as I could in early labor without much going on.
Those are my 3 expiriences, but after all that I guess in the end is do you only know your doctor? In the practice that deliered my first 2 I had 1 doctor and one nurse midwife. So the midwife could deliver and it wouldn't matter who the doctor overseeing was because I still knew the person delivering. Also, you may want to think if you know the person who will be covering for your doctor at the time and if you are comfortable with them/someone besides your doctor delivering your baby. Another thing to think about is how long will your doctor be gone? If it's only for a couple days it may be worth it just to wait and see. I went into labor with my son 2 days after his due date. Granted it was only 2 days, but still... So I hope this helps some and Good Luck in your choice and with the little bundle of joy.

Let nature run its course.

I was induced at two weeks past my due date (of necessity due to some merconium), and I wound up with a c-section. My sister in law was induced and wound up with a c-section. With Pitocin, the labor pains can be a lot more intense early on. I think I would let nature take its course and cross my fingers that the baby comes early. Good luck!

I was induced at 38 weeks because of complications. They started the induction medication (Pitocin) at 7 a.m. and I spent the WHOLE day waiting. No contractions until 4 p.m., then I got an epidural, waited a few more hours, at 7:50 p.m. I started pushing and my beautiful girl was born at 8:15 p.m. Every case is different, but based on my experience, I say go for it!

My second son was two weeks overdue, so I was induced. I react quickly to medication, so my labor was faster, but much harder. With my third child I had gestational diabetes, so my dr recommended she induce me a week early and he decided to come a week before that. I was looking forward to planning too!

You have been given a lot of good information. Please let your body decide when to go into labor! Non-medical induction can lead to all sorts of unwanted and unnecessary interventions and problems! It's not worth it, even though the idea of planning can be enticing.

Good luck :)

K

My docs want to induce me next week and I am not willing to schedule it...your chance of C-section is much greater (30% per my OB and 60% per my kiddos pediatrician) which I think is completely astronomical! I am holding firm, for me, it is not the right choice. Good Luck to you ;)

For what it is worth, I was induced for medical reasons with all 4 of my children -- between 3 weeks early to 2 days early. All were fine - babies healthy, mom happy. Babies are considered full term at 37 weeks, so inducing at 5 days early does not seem like a big deal. I had very easy labors, even with pitocin, so I cannot say anything negative about that aspect. Good luck!

You've gotten many responses already, but my two cents would be to wait if possible. (Although I know the concern of not having family in town since I'm in the same position, due with my second currently.) And, you're right, you could go early anyway, especially since this is a second.

That said, I think induction can be an okay experience if your body is ready for it. My first ended up being induced. My water broke and after over 24 hours my contractions were still mild and far apart. But because I think my body was close to being ready, induction went quickly with little pitocin. After a couple hours, my contractions were very close together so I had a very intense experience for one hour, contracting every minute and a half lasting a minute each, but was the extent of my active labor. They called in the delivery team, and that was that. I managed to get through without an epidural so delivery was relatively quick for a first baby.

I was induced at 38 weeks 1 day because I had blood pressure problems (it would shoot up for about 15 minutes, then bottom out), I was on bed rest, and I was miserable.
I went in at 6pm on Monday night and about 7 the nurse came and put the Cervadil in and it was SO painful. I had to stay laying down for the next hour and I started having mild contractions and I wanted to get up and walk so bad. I had a restless night with mild contractions all night. At 6 am, the nurse came in and started Pitocin. She came in every 15 minutes and doubled the dose, so in about 2 hours I was having screaming contractions. They were hard and on most of them, the monitor was peaking in intensity. I kept telling myself that if I could make it to lunch, the doctor would be back to check me and I'd be far enough to have an epidural. When he came in at lunch, I was 75% effaced and 1 cm dialated. He offered me the option to have a c-section, and not wanting to "suffer" any more, I took him up on it. My DS was born at 4:08 pm.
Looking back, I wish I had just let things happen naturally. I didn't want a c-section, but that was really the only other option I had.

I was induced and I have to say it was the worst pain of my life. Pitocin was not my friend. I have a very high tolerance for pain and I wanted to die. When I checked in at 3 am, I was 1.5 ct dialated. Whithin 5 hours I was 9.5. It was brutal and I for one will never journey down that road again. Plus, as a kicker my child was only 4 lbs 14 oz. He was 1 week early but I could have gone 2 more weeks easily. There was no way to get comfortable and nothing seemed to help the pain. Until that is I got my epideral. Smooth sailing from there on out!!! So, if you do induce, have the epi on hand!! Good luck and congrats!!!!!