Induction Question

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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I'm not a nurse yet but I have a question.

How do you ladies feel about induction just for convenience?

I'm 38 weeks pregnant and my doctor is letting me get induced at 39 weeks if I want to. I have 4 other children and have thought about getting it done because it would be easy to plan for babysitters.

I'm just wondering if it is really safe for the baby to come a week early if they are being forced to and not coming naturally. Are babies born at 39 weeks usually fine without problems?

I was always induced with mine but not until the due date. Any advice would be appreciated. I'm not sure if I should do it or not.

Fergus51, if you don't mind me asking what kind of problems have you seen.

I know I was induced 10 days early with my 3rd and he ended up fine but later on he had bad colic and a milk allergy. We wonder sometimes if coming a bit early was the cause because maybe his digestive system wasn't ready.

I've seen a lot of those babies turn out to be a little premature looking and wind up in the NICU with respiratory problems (grunting, retracting, TTN, etc). Nothing deadly, but all things I would rather avoid if it were my baby. I have never seen digestive problems related to those babies.

Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
I was thinking about induction this week for some reason. What if you go past 42 weeks? Induction would be inevitable then, right? Is it b/c the baby gets too big. What if you don't want to be induced? Since I am GBS + I am really against any induction unless necessary.

Size of the baby is one factor in considering induction for post-dates, but not the only one. The placenta is the only organ in the body that is not intended to last a lifetime. Its useful lifespan is about 40 weeks. Towards the end of pregnancy, its functioning can begin to diminish, leaving the baby with a less efficient supply of oxygen and nutrients. When a mom goes post-dates, it is common for the CNM/OB to do frequent monitoring of fetal and placental well-being to assure that the baby will not get into trouble for lack of an adequate supply of 02 and nutrients. These assessments take the form of kick counts, assessment of fetal movement, non-stress testing, U/S, and bio-physical profile, and can help to indicate when a fetus is better off delivered as opposed to remaining in utero.

Best of luck to you as you near term. Please keep us posted.

I really appreciate all the responses. Thank you.

I think we have decided to wait at least a week.

Thanks Jolie for that info. I never knew that. :)

Specializes in L&D.

Thirty nine week babies do well. The problem is, are you really 39 weeks? Due dates are usually accurate +/_ 2 weeks; so at 39 weeks, you could be 37-41 weeks. Early ultrasound makes the due date more solid, but you never know for sure what you'll get until you see the baby.

AWHONN has a task force researching the Near Term Infant. These babies usually do well, but have more problems with maintaining their body temperature, feeding, blood glucose, mild respiratory problems.

Stripping membranes is a relatively innocuous procedure. If you're ready for labor, it may be enough to make your body kick in. If not, labor just won't happen. The good thing about it is that you're not committed to anything. If your body isn't ready for labor, labor doesn't happen. Some inductions start with AROM. You're then comitted to getting the baby delivered in 24 hours, one way or another.

Most of the nurses posting on these boards are not fond of elective inductions. I'm glad you decided to wait another week.

I'm not a nurse yet but I have a question.

How do you ladies feel about induction just for convenience?

I'm 38 weeks pregnant and my doctor is letting me get induced at 39 weeks if I want to. I have 4 other children and have thought about getting it done because it would be easy to plan for babysitters.

I'm just wondering if it is really safe for the baby to come a week early if they are being forced to and not coming naturally. Are babies born at 39 weeks usually fine without problems?

I was always induced with mine but not until the due date. Any advice would be appreciated. I'm not sure if I should do it or not.

Being that it is your fifth baby - I think you would be fine. If it was your first - I would say otherwise - but you know your cervix can do it and you mention that you have been induced before... I think you would do just fine getting your membranes stripped, stay on your feet alot this next week - and then going in for your induction next week... (if you can - have sex too - it may stir things up) 39 weeks really isn't all that early - if your doc had said 37 weeks - I would say otherwise. You mention that you don't want Pit though - and really must inductions end up with pit....

Good luck with whatever you decide...

I was always induced with mine but not until the due date. Any advice would be appreciated. I'm not sure if I should do it or not.

Hi there:

I am not a nurse, but here's my 2 cents...I only have 2, but my first was induced, I was 42 weeks and my placenta was not looking good, so I was hooked up to the pitocin...It was much harder than I thought. Keeping in mind this was baby#1, of course. The contrax that were pitocin induced were so much harder, more painful etc! With my son, I went into labor myself. It was SO different, I can't even begin to explain! I really didn't think I was in labor, went to the Dr for a labor check. He came into the room, I was reading a book. He said' You can't be in labor, you look way too comfy!' :chuckle Lo and Behold I was already 6-7 cm, away to the hosp I went and had my lil' peanut 3 hrs later! I know #2 was just that, second birth, but really I'd recommend waiting, if you can. This is just my exp, of course, but it might be worth it to try and wait...Good luck either way! Sending you labor vibes~~~~~ :)

Yeah, when I showed up at the hospital for my scheduled c-section with baby #2, I was already in labor and had absolutely NO idea. They figured it out when they hooked me up to the monitors.

I was always induced with mine but not until the due date. Any advice would be appreciated. I'm not sure if I should do it or not.

Hi there:

I am not a nurse, but here's my 2 cents...I only have 2, but my first was induced, I was 42 weeks and my placenta was not looking good, so I was hooked up to the pitocin...It was much harder than I thought. Keeping in mind this was baby#1, of course. The contrax that were pitocin induced were so much harder, more painful etc! With my son, I went into labor myself. It was SO different, I can't even begin to explain! I really didn't think I was in labor, went to the Dr for a labor check. He came into the room, I was reading a book. He said' You can't be in labor, you look way too comfy!' :chuckle Lo and Behold I was already 6-7 cm, away to the hosp I went and had my lil' peanut 3 hrs later! I know #2 was just that, second birth, but really I'd recommend waiting, if you can. This is just my exp, of course, but it might be worth it to try and wait...Good luck either way! Sending you labor vibes~~~~~ :)

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

you received excellent advice. I wish you a wonderful and safe delivery.

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