So sorry to hear you are feeling pressured! This is a RED FLAG. RUN, don’t walk away from this provider. I encourage you to find a new one, ASAP! I agree that you should REFUSE any sort of induction unless it is medically necessary.
Recently there was a post about a scheduled induction that resulted in many health issues for the baby. This was a non medical induction but the baby’s lungs weren’t fully developed and the estimated dates were inaccurate. The baby ended up in the NICU. Here is an article from the March of Dimes site. I encourage you to read this and think of what is best for your baby. http://www.marchofdimes.com/prematurity/index_women_48590.asp
I guess they do that…my doc wanted me to pick a date to and I refused. As it turned out, he was out of town and arrived the same day baby arrived. I eventually did check in to the hospital to deliver only because I was constantly low on amniotic fluids and the perinatal specialist thought it was getting too risky. I was actually going to be delivered by the back up doc, but my doc made it on time. Really, I think it is a money issue, although I have heard of doctors billing for a delivery when they weren’t there.
When I checked in, I was actually in labor and in the beginning stages of dilation. It took quite a while for things to progress so they gave me the stuff to make you go into labor (Petosin?) and when it was time it was time. I almost delivered the baby without the doc. I kept feeling this urge to push and they kept telling me to wait until one nurse said just do what your body tells you to do. I looked at my husband and said would you get over there and catch the baby, as the doctor busted through the doors and jumped into a blue gown. Two seconds later (so it seemed) we had a beautiful baby girl…after they wiped all the gunk off.
I would like this doctor’s name. He needs to be turned into the medical board for unethical practices. And he needs his license taken away. He is putting your birth and your baby at risk by pressuring you to “pick a date.” Inductions for scheduling are unethical. Inductions because “the baby might be too big” is also unethical. He is setting you up for a c-section and a trip to the NICU for your baby. 37 weeks in NOT full term. 40 weeks and beyond is full term. Your baby is the only one that knows when it is ready to be born.
You are strictly a number. You are not a patient to him. He does not care about you. All he cares about you is the money you bring to his practice. RUN do not walk away from this provider. Write a letter explaining why you left the practice and then turn him into the medical board.
I’m not sure what medication you’re talking about. Is it to keep you from going into labor or something? I only ask because I had to take that type of medication while pregnant with my son and my doctor took me off of it at 37 weeks saying that if the baby wanted to come after that, it would be fine.
As for the overbooking thing, I don’t know. If you are fine with another doctor delivering your baby that’s something to discuss with your doctor so he’s fine with it too. I only say that because I was critically ill during my second pregnancy. My doctor had been with me at my bedside in the hospital 24/7 for months and there was no way he was going to let anyone else deliver my baby. He told me that if I went a day past my due date, he would induce me and we agreed. It wasn’t about convenience, my body had been through so much and we had a plan and a goal of a healthy baby. If it didn’t happen sooner, I would be having my baby on June 28. It just so happens I went into labor all by myself, my water broke at 5am on June 28 and I had a baby on that day. So yes we had a plan, but nature also took it’s course and it just worked out the way it was meant to.
I don’t know what kind of complications you’ve had but there’s been bed rest involved. Your doctor might not be pressuring you so much as trying to have a plan where he can be there for the birth to see you through. That’s how it was in my case.
If you are fine with a different doctor, then let him know that. The thing about not having a plan to an extent is that you don’t know who you might end up with on call or whatever when nature takes it’s course. I had two of the most fabulous doctors with my pregnancies. I would have freaked out if they weren’t there for my deliveries. My daughter was two days early and if I’d had her one day later, my doctor wouldn’t have been there. However, I had already met with the doctor who would be on call in case that happened so we would be familiar at least. I was too high risk with my son and having a plan in place was a comfort to me.
I have a terrible cold and I’m sorry for rambling.
Talk to your doctor about Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C (just in case).
Agree on what you’re both comfortable with and go from there.
Please know I had to kick out my midwife during my first delivery or be forced into an unnecessary c-section – this seems to be right down that road, so know now and change up, or know later you can force a change during delivery (patient’s right). Both my children were 8 lbs 8-12 oz each, so your child will NOT be anything but normal.
Asthma and allergies are statistically assisted by saying 37 weeks is “full term”, and if your baby’s a boy, it’s more statistically likely as lungs are very absolute last for boys.
Oh, and call and cancel your “appointment” so you’re not billed for not showing up:)
Let nature take it’s course. DO NOT let your doctor make you do anything that you don’t want to do. It’s your body and your baby. Is there another dr. in the practice? If so, go see him/her. And be sure to speak to your specialist and get some advice there.
I felt this way toward the end of my pregnancy and I SO wish I had changed providers. I thought it would be too rude or too hard or something, but I wish I had delivered with someone who told me what was going on and listened to me. My daughter’s birth was much more important than my provider’s feelings!
If you said no date, let nature take it’s course, the doctor should have just written that down unless he had an EVIDENCE-BASED reason for INFORMING YOU of the RISKS and BENEFITS of induction. In other words, if you and your baby are not having any symptoms that make induction medically necessary, he should not suggest it. If you are having symptoms that make it necessary, he should explain the risks of doing it and the benefits of doing it, so you can give informed consent or refusal.
You are not a prisoner, you are a consumer. You hired him. If he isn’t taking care of you, find someone who will! You can go to www.thebirthsurvey.org and see if there is a recommended provider in your area. The website gets reviews from women who have had babies in the last three years–real feedback.
Thirty seven weeks is still very early; I would want to go full term too. I hope you find someone who cares about you and works with you! You deserve it!
There might be a few good reasons out there to pick a date to induce (I’m not aware what they might be), but the doctors schedule is not one of them. If he feels he is so overwhelmed with patients, perhaps you should be looking for another doctor who will work with you instead of ‘booking’ you to fit you in to some arbitrary schedule.
You didn’t consult him on when to conceive. Unless you got pregnant through an IVF procedure, the guessing of the due date can easily be 2 weeks give or take because you can’t be completely sure exactly when the pregnancy started, and you really do not want to err on the early side because the baby’s lungs need that time to get ready. How does your husband feel about this? Perhaps you should take him (or your Mom) with you for examinations so he/she can keep the doctor from needlessly badgering you.
Oh, I’m so sorry you are going through this. They should have told you up front that your doctor is too busy to take new patients! This would infuriate me. What is his C-section rate? I would pick a date 3 weeks past my due date and let them have that on their books. Then, you go when your baby is good and ready to go. Oooh, this fires me up! Your doctor should not be practicing obstetrics. It sounds like it is purely business to him, and not about the women and babies. I would not, not, not go in to be induced to fit nicely into his schedule. What a backwards way of practicing medicine. He is setting you up for more interventions, which means he gets more money (and so does the hospital). Trust your instinct on this. They can’t force you to come in at your “scheduled” time of delivery. If it weren’t so close to the end, I’d fire that guy in a heartbeat! I would file a complaint. One more reason to use midwives and do homebirths.
Ugh! I am just as frustrated as you after reading this! Doctors want birth to be scheduled, for THEIR convenience! Sure! No evening births, no need to let the baby decide! AND, the best part- THEY MAKE MORE MONEY on C-sections! Of COURSE they want you to be scheduled. Good for you for not wanting this. If I were you, I would look into a great midwife. It’s not too late to have your baby the way YOU want to. I had a midwife who let me go 10 days after my due date (4 days in labor)- they ARE out there! Don’t give him any more of your money, honestly. Look around and see who else is willing to take you. It’s too important- for you and your baby. Inductions lead to c-sections, very quickly. I would find another provider, then tell this doctor EXACTLY why I am leaving.
Sadly, medicine has become a game of money and convenience. It’s not about “doing no harm” anymore. I hope you go after the birth you want- on your terms. This is exactly why we decided to have a midwife, and our 2nd baby was born at home.
Don’t let your doctor pressure you. Even though you chose a “date” that doesn’t mean you have to show up! If you want nature to be in control, then so be it. They can’t force you to show up for an induction just because it’s better for their schedule. Go with your gut, stand your ground.
I’m so sorry you have to go through this. As the other posters have already said please trust your instincts on this one. Let nature take its course. I’d just call back and tell the office nurse or whatever that you thought about it at home and you are not up to scheduling a date to have your baby. You will take whatever Doctor is on call when you go into labor…I had my 1st boy at 37 weeks exactly. He was only 6lbs and ended up staying in the NICU for 4 days. 37 weeks can be really early still.. it is a + or - 2 weeks on estimated due dates, even with u/s.
I wish you all the best, and hope your doctor was just having a really off day and collects himself and realizes he really shouldn’t have pushed so hard
I agree with all the other mamas. Cancel the induction and let nature take it’s course. I think I read somewhere that inductions are more likely to end in a c-section too. If he’s too busy when you go into labor then there are other OB’s on call at the hospital. I’ve never been delivered by the OB I had during pregnancy, it was always the doctor on call. Congrats and good luck!
Go with your gut. I personally let nature take its course even with a repeat C-section…I let my body tell me it was time and they bumped me in front of the scheduled c-section, but I felt good about it and the baby was healthy. That is ridiculous…I would also cancel the induction—lots of good comments have been given so far on this. I even saw a baby boy, over 8 lbs induced a week or two before the due date end up in the NICU for breathing trouble. Who would have thought an 8 lb baby would not be ready, but he wasn’t. Listen to your gut and be open to another doctor delivering your baby…from the sounds of it, you may be better off anyway.
Keep in mind some areas have a shortage of baby doctors and they are having a hard time covering all their patients, he may have an understandable frustration with patients getting angry when they deliver and he isn’t available. Or he may be one of those doctors who see no harm in scheduling your delivery, it’s just a matter of convenience. If you look around online you will see that many times they are way off on the estimated birth weight, don’t let that argument influence you too much. But be fair and understand that if you don’t schedule you may get stuck with the on call doctor. Also if you schedule and your labor takes too long your doctor might even have to leave for another situation. My third came so fast the emergency doctor delivered her and all that time building a relationship with my doctor came to nothing. My cousin’s office rotated her appointments with all of the delivering doctors so she would be familiar with whoever was available when she went. All that being said, I feel very strongly that you should let your delivery happen naturally. There are so many things in your body that need to get ready to deliver your baby, I really don’t think it’s wise to rush things. In 20 years they may find that all these inductions have a higher rate of allergies or cancer or who knows what, they think they know but I can’t see a better situation then letting nature takes its course.
I feel like doctors will do anything to have patients go according to their schedule. I am supposed to be induced later today (at 39 weeks) depending on how dilated I am because I have lung issues (which is reasonable). But the fact that your doctor doesn’t want to be overbooked is a wrong reason to induce in the first place. This can cause unwanted or unexpected complications that -worst case scenario- could result in c-section because your body could possibly not be ready yet. Him saying that the baby is ‘too big’ when your specialist said it is a healthy weight is also pretty messed up. He probably guessed and went with it so he had a reason to scare you into inducing early. Even though 37 weeks is ‘term’ your body and only your body knows when your baby is ready for the world. Don’t give into pressure. I think if you’re planning on having any more children in the future that you should pick a new doctor!
I would tell him that you do NOT want to be induced, you WILL allow nature to play along it’s course… and not to forget you pay HIM. Drs will pressure you into an induction where more than half of those inductions turn into cesareans. Trust me, you do not want your first born to end up an ‘emergency cesarean’ because the pitocin was creating a hostile environment for your fetus!
Be strong, be stern or see if a Midwife will take you on this late.
Oh my gosh! That is horrible. I would absolutely refuse to be induced unless there is something medically wrong with myself or my baby. Never should doctor over-booking be a reason to induce!! I’d report him to someone if I knew who to go to…WOW the nerve.
Induction is fraught with side-effects (unwanted ones!). I can’t believe he is putting that much pressure on you. I’m sorry you have to deal with this, but I’d stick to your guns. You are the mama of this baby and have every right to make the decision to keep him/her in your tummy until the optimal time!
