WWYD - induction related (with poll)

Hi ladies... I need some advice for my cousin! She is due on 6/24 and just had her weekly appt- dr said her cervix is softening but nothing much else is going on. He gave her the option of scheduling an induction this Saturday, which would be 5 days before her due date. So my (our) question is... what would you do? If you were at your wit's end, so uncomfortable, swollen, etc. - would you schedule it, or would you try to stick it out a little longer? Obviously it's possible that she'll go into labor before that, but it's also possible that she'll go late.

I know people have a lot of different opinions/experiences regarding induction, so I'm curious to see what everyone thinks!

TIA!

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I have no personal experience to share, but I have a friend who was talking to me about this just the other day. She was due this past Saturday but is only 1 cm -- basically, her son isn't coming out any time soon. This is her third child.

The first, she waited and went naturally and the labor was about 4 hours and was fairly easy. The second, she was induced. The labor took two days and was incredibly uncomfortable. She says she wishes she had just waited.

This is just her experience, though, and I'm certain that it varies from person to person.

Personally, I don't believe in induction unless the doctor recommends it. If her comfort and the health of her little one are weighed and her doctor thinks it's recommended to induce her, then she should go with the doctor's recommendation.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I'm not a big induction person unless there is a medical indication for it---especially because she is 5 days before her due date I wouldn't, for a lot of the reasons the PP stated.

I think it's always generally better to let nature do it's thing---even if you're late, but everyone's situation is different.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

Unless the doctor told me it was medically necessary, I wouldn't induce before my due date no matter how uncomfortable I am.

My doctor told me a week ago that we can talk induction if I wanted - and I still have a few WEEKS to go, but I am making progress, I'm as normal as normal can be and this is my second child so all things being equal, we have every reason to think this will go smoothly. I still turned it down.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I had a medically necessary induction, and it wasn't fun. Also, if you aren't showing any progress, inductions can be harder, and more often end up with a c-section.

If I were here, I would wait until after my due date to induce. Hopefully by then, she'll be showing some more progress, or will have gone into labor naturally.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I was induced for medical reasons. Unless there is a medical reason to induce, I would say stick with it until the end. It is only 5 days.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I was induced 2 times for medical reasons and they were not the most comfortable of situations. i would personally wait for the 40 week mark before thinking about it unless it is medically necessary.

For me, my cut off is at 39 weeks if i'm not in labor i will be induced for medical reasons, but i am praying that for the 3rd time around i go into labor naturally.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I was induced due to convenience (for me). We live an hour from the hospital and have no family local, so going into labor with the idea of not having anyone to watch our dog and older DD was a reason.

That said, my OB is very strict with inductions- not before the 40th week (I was 39w4d with #1, 39w3d with #2) and not without obvious progress (at least 2.5 to 3cm and 50% effaced).

Both inductions went fairly smoothly. The only complication would have occurred whether I was induced or not (both girls have huge shoulders ).

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

Posted by Superkat

Unless there is a medical reason to induce, I would say stick with it until the end. It is only 5 days.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I had an induction and I was a good candidate with baby down low, 3cm dilated, 80% effaced and having regular contractions. I did not have a pleasant experience and would not recommend it unless absolutely medically necessary. I could've refused, but I didn't know any better at the time.

Tell her to hang in there. It's only a matter of days at this point and things are apt to go much smoother when they are allowed to occur naturally.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I don't know a single pregnant person who is not swollen and uncomfortable at the end of her pregnancy. I would NOT induce 5 days before and I would seriously question a doctor that even suggested this.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I was scheduled to be induced but I was 10 days late. There is still time before her due date for her to go into labor. I was so uncomfortable and swollen and just so ready to have the baby out and in my arms but I wanted to wait as long as possible for her to arrive on her own. I heard some not so good things about induction (and also some its not big deal things) but I didn't want one at all. I went to the hospital the day of my induction and it turns out I was in labor and delivered the baby without the help of the induction, so you never know what could happen BTW I was 2cm dilated for 2 weeks and no change at all until the day I went into the hospital

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I would wait it out. I was induced 2X in the same pregnancy! My DD was late and I was induced the 1st time and after 12 hours of cervadil and 4 hours of cytotek, I had no progress. I was uncomfortable, exhausted and starving! DH was not is such good shape either. We decided to stop the medication and go home to see if any progress happened. Nothing did and in order to get an "emergency" c-section, I needed to get induced again, and fail. I learned inductions are no guarantee and from what I experienced and overheard while being induced, the can go on for MANY hours, even days, and you most likely end up arguing for a c-section. I would totally have her wait it out. Good luck!

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

Is this her first child?

If so, I would definitely wait until after the DD.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

Posted by Superkat

I was induced for medical reasons. Unless there is a medical reason to induce, I would say stick with it until the end. It is only 5 days.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I would def. wait and let it happen on it's own. If her cervix isn't ready, she may end up with a C-section.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I wouldn't electively induce unless medically necessary. I was induced with DS2 b/c his heart rate was erratic. I was given the option to be induced earlier, when I was in false labor the week before, but declined. They're worth the wait

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I would wait until at least 1 week past due date unless it was medically necessary.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I had two inductions and wouldn't have it any other way. I knew what was happening, everything was planned out and monitored. I delivered BOTH of my dd's less than 1/2 hour of pushing. My only complaint on both was that I had a reaction to the pitocin afterwards. I was very nausceous afterwards but that was my only complaint w/the induction.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

As much as I'd like the fact that an induction takes away the unknown factor of going into labor such as when, where, how etc- I wouldn't schedule it until at least a week after my due date.

Unless of course the Dr's had a MEDICAL reason for doing it early.

That's just me though.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I want to do everything in my power to avoid being induced. I've heard it is no walk in the park (not that labor in general is).

I'd tell her, she's made it this far, she can go a little while longer and she'll be happier that she waited to go on her own.

Re: WWYD - induction related (with poll)

I have heard that induction can be really tough and painful to go through, so I would wait it out until it was absolutely necessary.