Inducing Labor?

Remember... 40 weeks is your ESTIMATED DUE DATE. This means that 50% of moms give birth before the date and 50% give birth after the date. It is not a deadline. Your baby will come out when it's ready.

I am currently 41 weeks 1 day pregnant and am patiently waiting my baby's birth. Once you get past 41 weeks they do recommend that you have a non-stress test (basically put you on an EFM for 20 minutes to make sure the baby looks fine) and they check fluid levels via ultrasound. If your baby looks good there's no reason not to let it cook a bit longer, and these things will give you a good indication of whether the placenta is aging or continuing to do it's job.

Statistically, the risk of stillborn is about 3/1000 at 40 weeks, about 4/1000 at 41 weeks, and about 5-6/1000 at 42 weeks. So yes, the risk goes up but not enough to worry about.

Ok so induction... Personally, I think if you're anxious and you're already somewhat dilated you can opt for something like a membrane sweep. This may encourage your body to go into labor a little earlier than it might otherwise, but it will not work unless you were close anyway.

I would NOT do anything else RE induction until you get to at least 41 weeks (unless there's a concern with the baby). Inductions frequently initiate a "cascade of interventions" and that can end in a birth experience that you don't really want. Being induced isn't fun I hear. Artificially-induced contractions can be stronger, more frequent, and more painful than naturally occurring ones. Unless there's a medical reason to induce I think it's best to let the baby come out on its own.

I was induced, but not until 3 days after my due date. The dr. should be able to tell by ultrasound how your placenta looks and if the baby has passed meconium (poop). I think that usually happens only well after the due date. I know that drs. will often let you go, safely, about a week late, but after that the dr. may want to induce. Just because this is your third preganancy doesn't absolutely mean your little one will appear before the due date. Determining the date isn't an exact science, although it is a drastically improved science :o)

My experience with being induced was totally fine (bordering on wonderful). I went in around 6:00 p.m. and started pitocen around 7:00 p.m. They broke my water around 8:30 p.m. At 10:00 p.m. I asked for the epidural (which I thought hurt the most out of the whole process, but was worth the minute of pain). I was feeling the contractions, but they said they would start coming harder and faster so I should get the epidural when I was still fairly comfortable and could stay still. I started pushing at 4:00 a.m. and had my daughter at 4:55 a.m. (not too bad for a first, I didn't think).

One drawback for me was MAJOR swelling (particularly the ankles--more than when I was actually pregnant) from the pitocen for a week or two after having the baby. I hear the frequency and intensity of contractions after the pitocen/epidural combo can be severe, although that wasn't true in my case. Also, I think they say being induced increases the chance of having a C-section. You can look up more information on being induced on websites like babysource.com or probably even webMD or Mayo clinic.

I hope this little bit of my experience was helpful. Best of luck to you! Friday is a long way off in pregnancy terms, so baby may have thoughts of his own about appearing in the next week!! Congrats!!

M.,

I didn't see it said anywhere in the posts, and I have to appologize to anyone upfront if what I'm about to say offends anyone, but when I was pregnant with my 3rd and I WAS DONE, I wanted this kid born like yesterday, my doctor suggested haveing relations with my husband. That sometimes induces labor. Sure beats pitocin!

Hi! Well it is always better if you wait it out! It is for the most part safe to go one even two weeks pass your due date! What you said about the placenta and the baby's stools is true but more times then not you will be ok going one to two wks after your DD! You can even get non stress tests to make sure everything is ok! What hospital are you going to? Also there are things yo can do to help yourself go into labor naturally! Especially if you have started dilating! One good one is curb walking where you put one foot on the curb and the other on the lower part! This works good! Also acupuncture for this helps! I had a client do this and she went into labor that night! If you want more tips you can PM me!
S. Bailey CLD
Aurora
www.tendermoments doula.com

Hi M.-Babies come when babies are ready. Our medical profession has taken much of the natural procedures of birth and turned into a medical procedure. My last child I had thru a wonderful midwife and opted to stay home for the birth. I have been induced with pitocin before and I have always believed in no medication but at that point I did not have a choice. My water broke and I labored for 3 days. If you knew what the pitocin was made of-I am sure that you might not choose to use it.

Your baby will arrive when he is ready. Walking is a great way to help labor move along and this great energy you are feeling may be a sign that your body is preparing for the entrance of your prince. Just relax and mother nature will take care of it. In reality your due date could go 2 weeks either way. Medical science is great at what it does but not perfect!!

Best of luck to you and your family with the exciting new arrival!!

T.

HI M.,

I would let nature take its course. On Discovery, I saw a segment on "the womb" and it stated that there is a protein that is released from the fetus lungs that will stimulate uterine contractions into labor, indicating that "the fetus" is ready to be born and breathe on its own. I've included an online article on the risks associated with being inducted.

http://pregnancy.about.com/od/induction/a/risksinduction.htm

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/324856/natural_m...

Also, there is an enzyme in pineapple that will help to bring on labor as there are many other natural things you can do to help it along all of which you can google. Mangos too as well as eating spicey foods. All harmless and good for you too!

I was one week late and did natural labor for quite sometime...she was not in distress and her APGAR scores proved it. If you are feeling great, then there is no need to worry. If you are more than two weeks late, then there are other natural courses you can take as well.

Good luck, there is a reason why Mother Nature intended for babies to arrive on their own time. :)

I had one induced and one natural childbirth. I'll just say that I was desperate to do ANYTHING to avoid induction the second time. I say, let nature take its course unless there's a medical reason to intervene. If you do end up with induction, investigate the methods and choose the gentlest possible intervention.

Also, the dates are not always accurate. My firstborn was induced at 42 weeks, but he was on the small side and the OB said he looked like a fullterm baby - none of the physical signs that past-term babies usually have. I always wondered if he was actually "on time" and the dates were wrong - imagine if they'd induced him 2 weeks earlier.

I would wait it out. You are seeing the doc every week now and if you go past your due date you most likely will go in a few days a week. They would/should give you a stress test to make sure the baby isn't swallowing his own poop or not getting what he/she needs from the placenta. This will help them. Also if they baby gets too big they would have concerns and induce you if needed. Only do it if necessary.

My first came on her due date. The second was 2 days after the due date and I had the doc induce me a day before my due date with my third. The doc had no problem with inducing me the day before, as I had heavy merconium staining with the second (she was fine - no lung trouble). As it turned out with my third, I also had heavy merconium staining. Her lungs were fine too, but the doc was happy we induced when we did - any longer in the womb and she could have inhaled that stuff!

I would wait it out unless you're super uncomfortable. Good luck!

Hi M.,
Don't panic. Just hang in there. I know it's hard but it's just one more week. The doctor's don't ususally let you go past 2 weeks after your due date. I have 3 children as well and 1st was a week early, 2nd was a day late and 3rd was a week and a half early. Next visit, ask your doctor about stripping your membranes. I had that done with my third and he came the next day. It's safe but I don't know if all doctors will do it.
Please, take a DEEP breath and don't worry. I know this is the most anxious time....waiting, but just think how fast it's all over with in the end.
Good luck to you and CONGRATS!!
K. :~)

My second came early however they had to use pitocin because I was in labor for 1 month and by the time I hit 6cm the contractions still weren't regular. I delivered at 37 weeks with both kids. They were planning to induce at 39 weeks if nothing happened, because I was 3 cm dilated by 33 weeks. My daughter is perfectly healthy and really happy and shows no signs of any abnormalities. If the baby stays in longer than 40 weeks, they will have to induce depending on your amniotic fluid level. The fluid begins to dissipate after that point and it can prove to be unsafe for the baby. As well as the meconium issue it can definately become a problem. I would talk to the Dr about it at your next appointment and see what they want to do. If you are feeling great however it may be worth sticking it out for as long as possible letting the baby come on it's own. If you do go the route of Inducing I would suggest you get the epidural. Pitocin makes those contractions come pretty fast and there is no time to breathe or relax in between. It definaely makes labor a bit harder, though I havn't heard about any problems with regards to safety to you or the baby. Most of my friends have had to use it with at least one of their deliveries. Good luck, and Congratulations.

I agree that it's best to wait it out. I was induced at 42 weeks by my midwife strictly due to high blood pressure. However, instead of getting shot up with pitocin, she broke my water and hooked me up to a breast pump machine. The pumping causes contractions and does not cause the pain associated with pitocin. If you have to be induced, for whatever reason, I highly recommend this method. I only labored for 6 hours, none of it painful. Good luck.

I had to be induced with my first child at 39 weeks due to high blood pressure. I'm due with my 2nd July 22nd and am hoping not to have to be induced again. The drugs they give you to induce labor make labor more painful and contractions are more intense. I also ended up having an emergency c-section... not that that happens every time but complications seem to arise more frequently, according to what to I've read anyway.
I normal pregnancy is not always 40 weeks. Most doctors will wait until 42 weeks before inducing, unless there's some medical reason to induce earlier than that. The OB will start checking for all of the problems that you mention (fecal matter...) at your appointments. Just ask your doctor what is going to happen if you go past your due date.
Also I think it's common for babies after the 1st pregnancy to come earlier, but that isn't always the case... If you're already dialating, then it sounds like you're on your way anyway. Try walking a lot and let gravity due it's thing...

My first son came on his due date and my labor was exactly 8 hours from the frist contraction I thought I felt (12:44AM) to the minute he was born (8:44AM).

My second son was 2 weeks early. I went in for my weekly appointment and my BP had been an issue. It was really high that AM and I didn't feel Ryan moving as much as I was used to. As it turns out I had protein in my urine and was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. So, I was sent to the hospital to be induced. This was for my safety. In truth, I barely needed any pitocin at all and Ryan came out very willingly (the doctor almost didn't make it!) after two pushes.

So, as long as everything is good for you and the baby - just let it happen when it does. My doctor wasn't very keen on planned C-sections or inducing. I wasn't interested in either, but I just asked with both of my pregnancies and it was something that he (they) didn't recommend doing.

Good luck and congrats on #3!

T.