Inducing...

So my friend is due to have a baby boy Dec. 17th...but she told me she's going to the doctors today to talk about inducing her in a few days. She wants to be induced because her DH isn't going to be around when her due date comes along but... in a few days I mean I wouldn't wanna induce this early. Sounds a bit risky, no? I mean when baby is ready to come out then he'll come out esp when she has til the 17th of December. I just think she's making a stupid decision.

While I agree with you that its a stupid thing to do, her due date is only 2 weeks away. 38 weeks is concidered full term. And she will probaby have to wait atleast a week for an elective induction. Very selfish in myopinion to force her baby out early for her own schedualling convenience (dh has known the dd for 9 months to plan around it) but probably not dangerous.

SisterforTyler:

While I agree with you that its a stupid thing to do, her due date is only 2 weeks away. 38 weeks is concidered full term. And she will probaby have to wait atleast a week for an elective induction. Very selfish in myopinion to force her baby out early for her own schedualling convenience (dh has known the dd for 9 months to plan around it) but probably not dangerous.

Yea, it is pretty selfish. I just feel that if there isn't a good reason to be induced then just let the baby come on his own.

I completely agree.  First off- due dates aren't always super accurate, if they're going by her LMP (which they almost always do) and she ovulated later in her cycle- her due date could be off by a week or more.  Inducing a baby at even 37 weeks can be risky.  I've had a cousin whose baby was born at 37 weeks need to be in the NICU for 8 days due to immature lungs.  They've also found there is rapid brain/lung/ central nervous system development from 36-40 weeks.  I am against inducing in general- unless mom is extremely overdue, then sometimes its just healthier for baby to be on the outside.  My first was born at 38 weeks- my water broke- and she would have highly benefited from being in utero 2-3 more weeks.  She was 5 lbs 12 oz and had horrific reflux, apnea and other breathing problems, which are highly common in babies born "around term".  Hopefully her dr. has sense and won't induce her that early!

I don't think there will be any serious reprecussions to the baby because of inducing at this time. Both of my boys were born at 35 weeks. The first one, I had pre-term labor at 32 weeks that they stopped and then they induced me at 35 weeks because they claimed IUGR (I have doubts about that though). My second son just came all on his own at 35 weeks. Both boys were healthy, though small, with no problems at all. BUT, I will say my induction was 10x worse than my natural birth. My labor was horrific with DS1 and it ended with an emergency C-section. I almost didn't make it to the hospital with DS2 because I thought the contractions would get much worse like they did with the pitocin and wanted to wait as long as possible so I could have the best chance of a VBAC with DS2. It certainly worked out well the second time around. It does seem foolish to induce that early for convenience, but I don't imagine it's the worst thing in the world either.

Moe*L*:

Sounds a bit risky, no?

It is. Studies have shown that inductions double the risk of a cesarean delivery.

nutterbum:

I completely agree.  First off- due dates aren't always super accurate, if they're going by her LMP (which they almost always do) and she ovulated later in her cycle- her due date could be off by a week or more.  Inducing a baby at even 37 weeks can be risky.  I've had a cousin whose baby was born at 37 weeks need to be in the NICU for 8 days due to immature lungs.  They've also found there is rapid brain/lung/ central nervous system development from 36-40 weeks.  I am against inducing in general- unless mom is extremely overdue, then sometimes its just healthier for baby to be on the outside.  My first was born at 38 weeks- my water broke- and she would have highly benefited from being in utero 2-3 more weeks.  She was 5 lbs 12 oz and had horrific reflux, apnea and other breathing problems, which are highly common in babies born "around term".  Hopefully her dr. has sense and won't induce her that early!

Same with my aunt. She was 38 weeks when her water broke and her son was in the NICU for 2 weeks due to immature lungs. My water broke for my DS when I was 36 weeks but luckily he was healthy. Though I don't think this girl is gonna care much, she's been drinking sometimes during this pregnancy also. "Its hard to go for awhile without a drink" according to her. Super selfish

trishalinn:

I don't think there will be any serious reprecussions to the baby because of inducing at this time.

There can be. One of the last things baby does is finish developing his/her lungs. Inducing is forcing them out before they may be completely done with that task. Also, due dates aren't very accurate. They are simply an average of when a women will give birth. If left alone, a first time mom will go to something like 41 weeks 3 days on average. Your babies may have been fine at 35 weeks (and I'm so glad they were! ), but that may not be the case for every mom... simply because everyone's body and baby are different. Babies that are induced early do tend to have more respiratory issues down the road than babies that come on their own time. There may be no serious NICU time, but I do find the risk of a cesarean a serious repercussion for both mom and baby.


And just for the record, I'm not bashing inductions. There are times when it is genuinely medically necessary to have an induction - and thank goodness we have the technology for when we do. However, they are far, far, far too overused these days

decemberbaby:

And just for the record, I'm not bashing inductions. There are times when it is genuinely medically necessary to have an induction - and thank goodness we have the technology for when we do. However, they are far, far, far too overused these days

I was induced with several of my children and their deliveries were all vaginal and the recovery better than with my all natural baby I had this summer (who was 40w1d).  I don't think inducing at 38 weeks to spend time with family, especially the dad, is bad.  If my husband was going away then I'd want to be induced at 38 weeks.  I'm sure her doctor knows more about her medical needs than people like us.  People often say edd are off, but the fact is that most woman have an early ultrasound and they are extremely reliable.  

CoJoMa:

I don't think inducing at 38 weeks to spend time with family, especially the dad, is bad.  If my husband was going away then I'd want to be induced at 38 weeks. 

Sorry but you gotta think of baby before hubby. Yea it sucks that he possibly won't be there for the birth. Its not a definate thing that he's going to miss it but really, she wouldn't be the only woman out there to not have her husband present for the birth. At least he'll be there for her after the baby is here unlike men in the armed forces who miss out on the birth and the 1st year of the baby's life.

Oh and her OB refused to do the induction. She told her that it's only 2 more weeks and if her baby is ready to come out before then, then he will either than that, she can wait and that if he doesn't come out before then, she can come in the day after her due date for an induction.

 I had my daughter today (Dec 1st) and I was due Dec 15th. I BEGGED to be induced early and lucky me they did it because my fluid was low. She was perfectly healthy at 37w 1 day and didn't have to even leave the room once for anything. She was a bitty 5lber .They usually do not induce any early than 37 weeks but u are considered full term at 37 weeks. If she wants it, and they'll do it then I say good for her I don't blame her.

Awwwww--Tropical it's your baby's birthday today!!   Happy Birthday

lol yes it is thank you :)

texasangie1:

Awwwww--Tropical it's your baby's birthday today!!   Happy Birthday