I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

I really DONT want a c-section, for a number of reasons.

Baby is BIG (7 lbs 1 oz last week and still have 3.5 wks to go...).

I asked the doctor if I could be induced at 37 weeks (which is next week) instead of waiting for 38.5 weeks and scheduling a c-section.

My doctor is telling me no way will they induce. She will only let me go on my own or schedule a c-section.

I'm really upset about it. The more I think about it the more upset I get.

I wanted to have my baby vaginally - or at least TRY it that way and if worse came to worse then have a c-section.

What would you guys do? Ive asked a bunch of times if they will induce me and they keep telling me no.

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

why wont they induce?? Is going 37 weeks that early??
I understand, i dont want a c-section either

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

I guess I could see why they might be refusing to induce. They may have their reasons for not wanting to rush/force nature. But I personally can't see how they can force you to have a c-section if it's not what you want. I don't see any reason why you can't deliver the baby vaginally if you really want to barring a health issue. Plus, it's not the size (i.e. weight) of the baby that matters as much as the size of the head. Do they have a measurement on the size of the head? Is that their concern? There are certainly women out there that have given vaginal birth to babies that are 9, 10, 11 and even 12 lbs.

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

Is your body progressing??

W/ me- if I wanted to go vaginally... I had to go on my own (or at least past 40 weeks)

They knew RJ was ready to come out, after my amnio... but since my body was making NO PROGRESS on its own, they didnt want to try and make it do something it wasnt ready to do yet...

My options were c-section at (almost) 38 weeks...

Or try and go on my own...

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

If you really want to try on your own, just wait the extra week and go into labor on your own and see how it goes. If anything, it will make you feel better that you tried

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

You can always wait it out and see if you go into labor on your own. As long as the baby is ok there is no reason to schedule a c/s. If its meant to be the baby will come.

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

Forgot to say... the doctor said that they aren't going to let me go to 40 weeks because will be too big (at this rate she's going to be 11-12 lbs!!)

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

Kathy - I don't know why they won't induce you...
My doctor is inducing me and I told him I wanted to go at 38 or 39 weeks. Anytime after 37 weeks the baby is full term, so what is the problem??
I have been pretty demanding about what I want and have a written birth plan. I know doctors make more $$$ for a c-section, I hate to suggest this but maybe that why she is pushing you towards a c-section?? I would ask her specifically WHY she will not induce. If she does not have a good reason, I would call her on it. I agree with you. Bottom line, you should not have to have major surgery if it is NOT MEDICALLY necessary. Why have you wait until the only course of action is a c-section??? It sounds suspect to me and it would make me very upset.

Sorry to be to strong about this but I do not trust doctors after what happened to my mom and that is why I am such a PITA with ALL my doctors. The doctors I choose are very special to deal with a PITA like me.

Hang in there, I hope everything works out.

ETA: Ultimately do what you feel is the right thing to do. Again, sorry I came on so strong. I keep thinking if I was in your shoes, I would be very upset. I would not be so upset about the c-section. I would be more upset about not feeling heard. I would feel like the doctor is ignoring my feelings and not listening to what I feel is the best option for me. That is all I was trying to say.

Message edited 4/13/2006 6:35:09 PM.

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

I hope this thread does not result in a debate about c-sections like it always does..

Kathy.. I was in a similar circumstance. I was making no prgress whatsoever. At 41 weeks they did a sono to check my sons weight and he clocked in at 9lbs 11 oz. They told me that because of his size they a c-section would be the best thing for him and me. They told me because of my size (Im 5'2 and kinda petite) that there is a chance the babys shoulders could get stuck due to his size. I was not willing to take that chance and scheduled it the next day.

My drs were not even thinkng of inducing me any earlier than 42 weeks. Even before I had the sono, they could tell the baby was a big one.

Go with what you think is the right decision.

I will be honest, the c-section is not as bad as you think it will be. I had a great experience and so did many other mommies on here.

Good luck!!

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

that s ucks Kathy, they should induce you.
I was scheduled to be induced on my due date just because my doctor needed to go on vacation the next day.

thank god, there was no need but I think if you are given the c section option why not a induction?

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

I had a C-section at 40 week because they thought my son was big...NOT he was 6 pounds and change...I went in for an induction 1 day before my due date... and my son was stressed because he could not engage into the birth canal...(narrow hips I guess) so as a result I had a C-section and it was a piece of cake compared to the 24 hours of labor I had before it! A c-section was very painless and I can say a joy! I am planning one this time as well! no scar either (cant even see it)! for me its the way to go...IMO

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

Posted by MrsJ

Posted by Princessmaris

Posted by cloddy

I guess I could see why they might be refusing to induce. They may have their reasons for not wanting to rush/force nature. But I personally can't see how they can force you to have a c-section if it's not what you want. I don't see any reason why you can't deliver the baby vaginally if you really want to barring a health issue. Plus, it's not the size (i.e. weight) of the baby that matters as much as the size of the head. Do they have a measurement on the size of the head? Is that their concern? There are certainly women out there that have given vaginal birth to babies that are 9, 10, 11 and even 12 lbs.

Well their not forcing her to have a c-sect. UNLESS.... she wants to take the baby early...

\Actually they are telling me that if I fail my 3 hr test on Monday and I am diabetic, then they are scheduling a c-section.

They are also telling me that if I am NOT diabetic but the baby keeps growing at this rate, they will schedule a c-section.

So my argument was if you're going to schedule a c-section, why wont you just try and induce me first?

Why not induce me and let me try to have the baby first. My doctor said she is 100% OK with me having the baby THIS WEEK as long as I go on my own. But...she wont help me out having ...I mean really - is surgery really the better bet?

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

I skipped over that whole c-section part in my "what to expect when expecting" book...man, I should have read it. I wanted to have a regular birth but I never dialated and Jared was faced the wrong way (not breech, he was flipped over). I really wasn't in any danger but I was 41 weeks and I wanted the baby OUT! I don't know why they didn't induce me sooner...

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

I don't know if this will make you feel any better, but I ended up being induced AND ultimately having a c-section last month. The c-section was a breeze-- some soreness afterward, but nothing that Motrin didn't take care of. The induction on the other hand was *horrible*. Just a totally unpleasant, painful experience. In retrospect I wish I could have skipped the whole thing and gone straight to the c-section.

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

Kathy, listen, my c-section was a breeze too but I don't think that's the issue here. You want a vaginal birth, and you are entitled to try for one. I'm sorry, but I do not buy into the "baby is too big" story alot of Drs seem to be telling far too many women these days. They were telling me Jake was over 8lbs at 38/39 weeks and pushing for an early induction.

Now...your situation is a bit different though because you might have GD. You do need to be careful there. You need to be monitored carefully if you decide to wait to go on your own - which you have every right to do. The Dr. can't MAKE you go in for a c-section at 38.5 weeks, though he may try to scare you into it. At 39 weeks, as I was walking out of my internal, my Dr. said that I should go home, pack my bags and check myself into L&D that night. I said no way and I went home. Period.

It's sad but I feel like women nowadays have to fight for a vaginal birth, or to just be allowed to go into labor on their own. Like I said, you may have GD, so you have to be careful. Once I told my Drs NO to the early induction, they said "fine, then you have to come in at least 2x a week for ultrasounds and NSTs" and I did and everything was fine.

The truth is, it might not be such a great idea to be induced that early anyway. You could be setting yourself up for hours and hours of a painful, slow induction (b/c your body just isn't ready) that may end up in a c-section anyway. Of course, it could go really smoothly too. But, at 37 weeks, I think your odds are not that great.

Anyway, women have been giving birth to big babies vaginally for centuries. Why now is it that when a baby appears to be approaching the 8lb mark all OBs want to schedule a c-section? My cousin who is tiny gave birth to an 9+ pounder at FIFTEEN yrs old.

I'm sorry to ramble on for so long... I just hate to see pg women being pushed around by their OBs (like I was - or at least he tried really hard to). I understand that their main concern is malpractice suits if God forbid something were to go wrong...but they need to approach these things differently.

Anyway, if I were in your shoes, I would try and wait it out as long as I could to try and go on my own. I know that if that baby is as big as they say, you must be getting very uncomfortable so that might not be much longer. But at least you'll be giving your body the *chance* to do what it was made to do.

Feel free to FM me if you want to talk more about this.

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

Thanks for all of your opinions girls, I really value them.

I have another growth sono on Monday so we'll see how big she is and then I'm going to talk to my doctor.

I'll be 37 weeks on Monday. I wouldn't mind being induced at even 38 weeks - just to give myself a chance to have my baby the way I want.

There is a chance I'll end up with a c-section anyway but at least I will have tried to have her vaginally.

They are saying if I dont go on my own and she keeps growing at this rate, they will have to do a c/s bc she will be too big (11-12 lbs).

They said if I go on my own now, more power to me. But if I dont go on my own,they will schedule a c/s for 38-38.5 weeks.

Im so conflicted on what to do. Part of me says fight for what I want and the other part of me says listen to what the doctor says because they have a lot more experience than I do.

I guess I'll wait and see how big she is on Monday and then discuss it with my doctor at my 38 week appointment.

ETA: I will 1000% do what the doctor says is best for my baby, I just dont want to feel like Im being pushed into a c/s as my only option, you know?

Message edited 4/13/2006 8:12:55 PM.

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

Wow Kathy, I have to say that I think its a little Odd yours Dr's plans? I havent heard of any reason why you wouldnt at least try naturally before a C/S?

One of the ladies at work had a 41 weeker that was measuring bigger then you are now, her FIRST baby and she ended up weighing 10lbs 7 oz's...was huge and she went naturally. SO it sure can be done.

Its hard not to put personal opinions in this, cause I know if it were me, I would never agree to a C-section without trying naturally first. Women are made to deliver babies, and tons of women have had 10lb + babies.

Now if your diabetic, I know its safer in a Dr's eyes to opt for a C?S...I think it that situation its warrented, but the rest , again is just odd.

Most Dr's will induce after 37 weeks without a problem.

I would tell her you have heard countless stories of inducing women at that point, can she please explain WHY you cant try at 37 weeks on yoru own?

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

At 37 weeks my baby was measuring 8lbs 6 ounces. They would up inducing me a week early because the baby was measuring 9lbs 3 ounces.... He wound up being 9lbs 6.5 ounces. I had him naturally and it wasn't that bad. My dr actually did not want me to have a c section and encouraged me to try for natural. In the end I am so glad she did because at that point I would have probably just had a c section because I was so scared of how big the baby was.

I would first see if you are diabetic or not and then go from there.

Good luck and hope your little one is here soon!

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

Posted by MrsJ

I really DONT want a c-section, for a number of reasons.

Baby is BIG (7 lbs 1 oz last week and still have 3.5 wks to go...).

I asked the doctor if I could be induced at 37 weeks (which is next week) instead of waiting for 38.5 weeks and scheduling a c-section.

My doctor is telling me no way will they induce. She will only let me go on my own or schedule a c-section.

I'm really upset about it. The more I think about it the more upset I get.

I wanted to have my baby vaginally - or at least TRY it that way and if worse came to worse then have a c-section.

What would you guys do? Ive asked a bunch of times if they will induce me and they keep telling me no.

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

I agree with the poster who said that babies gain 1/2 lb per week at the end....I don''t understand why they are telling you the baby will be 11-12 lbs at 40 weeks. I have heard so many instances where they are wrong about that. Of course the baby could end up being that big, but who knows? If you don't have the GD, then I would opt to wait and see what happens. If you look at this chart it does not seem that your baby is that far above normal. Good luck to you whatever you choose to do!

http://www.babycenter.com/general/fetaldevelopment/pregnancy/1290794.html

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

They said given her history already she will gain between 1/2 lb and 1lb each week - she is just growing fast - they think it may have to do with the fact that it looks like I have late term gestational diabetes.

I have to try and not get too upset about it right now and see what happens Monday when I have my next internal and growth sonogram.

But I sure wouldnt mind if you all could send some and labor vibes my way so I can try to have her on my own without a c/s.

Message edited 4/14/2006 1:46:26 PM.

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

Re: I need your opinions on c-section vs. being induced

and lots of labor vibes!!