Induction Worries - Need advice

I had an awful doctor's appt tonight. I was due 12/23 but am now 4 days late. At last week's appt, I asked about induction. This one doctor (not my usual doctor) said that the office schedules them at 41 weeks, which is this Friday. I said I don't know if it was necessary. She said that the office manager would call me to schedule it and that I could discuss it further with my regular doctor today.

Nobody ever called me from the office to schedule an induction. Instead, today, I learned they unilaterally scheduled it for Friday with a doctor I only met once. (There are 4 docs in the practice.)

Today, I met with my regular doctor and he was such a condescending a$$!! Honestly, I have been reading up on induction a lot and had many questions. He made me feel like he was in a major rush and that my questions were ridiculous. At one point, I snapped back that I was not the one with the medical degree and that is why I had a lot of questions.

I asked him why he thought induction was necessary. I am 3cm dilated, 60% effaced and my NST was fine. (They didn't do a sonogram which I wish they did so I can be certain that fluid levels are ok.) He said that the risk of stillborn greatly increases after 41 weeks and made a snide comment that if I wanted to risk that, I could cancel the induction. I thought the risk increases after 42 weeks. Obviously, my baby's health is my main concern but I feel like he is rushing me with no real reason to do so other than an "office policy." I want nature to take its course and don't want to use inducing drugs. I am also deathly afraid of a c-section and am afraid that an induction will greatly increase that chance.

I've read that induced labors tend to be more painful...does anyone know whether this is true? Also, I am demanding to get a sono tomorrow to see if the amniotic fluid is adequate. Finally, what is a biophysical profile? I think I need a sono a BPP (maybe) to make a more informed choice about induction. I feel that as long as me and the baby are fine, I should not go along with it just b/c it is office policy. Of course, I am dying to give birth and am incredibly uncomfortable, but really want nature to take its course. I am so upset. I am really unhappy with the whole practice. I think for my next baby, I will go to a midwife.

Sorry for the vent but I would appreciate any advise or experience anyone has with these issues! Thanks!!

Re: Induction Worries - Need advice

I don't have any real advice for you but I wanted to offer you hugs That was a horrible thing for your doctor to suggest and to treat you so callously...I know it's too late but I would find another doctor if there was more time. Right now the primary concern should be you/your baby's safety and health. Definitely get that sono.

Induction isn't the worst thing in the world..I know from my own experience only, that pitocin was very painful and brought the pains from zero to sixty in like 2.5 seconds. But it expedited things along.

Labor is scary enough without your concerns being put at ease.

Good luck and best wishes for you and your little one

Re: Induction Worries - Need advice

I haven't been induced but have read that with an induction, you would likely need pain medication. However the statistics for women in the US using pain medication is up over 80% - so having pain medication seems likely unless you have a very high threshold for pain.

For me - for both my children, they weren't delivered by the doctor I originally saw in the practice...and really it didn't matter at all to me. It was the L&D nurses that seemed to matter the most. The doctor was pretty much there for the delivery only.

I know this is stressing you out - but really whatever gets the baby in your arms & safe is the way to go.

Re: Induction Worries - Need advice

OMG you poor thing!

I was faced with the same thing you were so I know what you are going through.

At 41 weeks and no sign of anything, I was at the office every 2 days. At 41 1/2 weeks they asked me what I wanted to do? Do you want to be induced or schedule a csection? I was like I DUNNO! What a question to be faced with! I just wanted a healthy baby!!!!

But I felt just like you and said I want nature to take its course...so I opted to wait until I hit 42 weeks. BUT because of the SIZE of my son (they estimated 10+ lbs) they strongly urged me to schedule a csection but would induce me if I really wanted it. I chose the csection because it was their recommendation. After all I had read online about big babies and the complications/risks you have trying to push them out that big it just scared me plus the dr told me based on his experience Id probably wind up with it anyway due to his size and the induced labor).

Sooo I know how hard this is for you but you have to do what you feel is right because you are the one that has to live with the decision. I am happy with my decision but only wish I could have had a way of knowning 2 weeks earlier that I was never going to go into labor because I would have brough him into this world on time! LOL

Good Luck!

Re: Induction Worries - Need advice

A BPP measures 4 things, tone, movement, breathing and amniotic fluid level. The max you can score for each is 2 which would bring a perfect score to 8/8 unless they include an NST (non stress test) which could then be 10/10

Re: Induction Worries - Need advice

I don't have any advice, just wanted to give you