What are your thoughts on induction of labor (pregnancy)?
By ModelMom
@ModelMom (129)
United States
December 11, 2006 11:38pm CST
My daughter is due to arrive at the end of February. She will be my second child, and since we have no family or close friends in the city we live in, I was thinking of asking my OB if I could get induced 4-5 days earlier than my estimated due date if the baby does not arrive at that time on her own....my son was 8 days early. The reason being that I have a toddler and my aunt will be here visiting from out of state the week before I am due. That is the ony time she is allowed off since she is a school teacher. I would love to have the baby while she is here, not only so that she could be with my son while my husband and I are in the hospital, but also so that she can see the baby right away....she is the family member that I am closest to. I know induction can be controversial....I do trust that my doctor would only do it if she thought it was safe, etc. I was wondering what other women's thoughts on the subject are & what your experience was like if you got induced.
1 person likes this
7 responses
@medooley (1873)
• United States
18 Dec 06
I know I am not a woman, and I have no idea what it is like to be pregnant, but this is my opinion. Starting labor for convenience is wrong in my opinion. If there is a medical reason, or the doctor suggests it, it is one thing. But to do it just so someone can see the baby to me is wrong.
What ever you choose, though, good luck!
@sexysilver (928)
• United States
19 Dec 06
I pushed for my daughter to be born early. At 33 weeks my OB hadn't done even 1 ultrasound, but I knew something wasn't right. And I was right she was in distress, I was in premature labor & she had already lost 70% of her small intestine. One more week & the doctor (I had a different dr deliver her, cuz the OB I had sux), said I would have lost her. There was no medically neccessary reason when I pushed for extra treatment, only "mothers intuition" so to say.
In other words sometimes the mom is the baby's best doctor. :)
@ModelMom (129)
• United States
27 Dec 06
If you had read my post you would realize that I am not plannng to induce just so that my aunt can SEE the baby....I am doing it because we have a toddler and no family or friends in this town to watch him when I go into labor. If I can have the baby while my aunt is in town then she would be able to watch my son. If you had children you would realize that keeping a 2 year old child in a hospital for endless hours and witnessing his mother in the pain that labor brings would be quite traumatizing.
@sexysilver (928)
• United States
12 Dec 06
I was induced w/ my son (my oldest baby), and my labor pains went from mild (I had been able to style my hair & everything while I was in labor before the induction meds) to down right horrible pains (once I got the meds), but for me it was a neccessity because I stopped progressing. But if you honestly feel you ned the help talk to your dr. she'll give you better insight & help you weigh the benefits vs risks from a medical stand point.
Good luck.
@ModelMom (129)
• United States
4 Jan 07
i am so sorry to hear that your baby had complications! your intuition definitely saved her life. thank god, you trusted your gut and made the doctors do as you said. it is amazing what modern medicine can miss even with ultrasounds and everything else they use to screen fetuses. how is your baby doing now?
@sexysilver (928)
• United States
10 Jan 07
My son is 100% healthy, you'd never know he was induced unless you'd been there.
My daughter was born prematurely & was given meds to prevent her from coming until I was transfered to another hospital, but the contractions wouldn't stop, so she was born by c-section
She has had 3 intestinal surgeries. And is going back into surgery soon for a G-tube and Mickey button (a Mickey button is a surgical made whole in her abdomin that won't close up on her that'll allow a feeding tube to be connected so she can eat). She will need the G0tube & Mickey button long term, possibly years. I will work with her on physical therapy daily & occupational therapy (teaching her to use a bottle).
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
4 Jan 07
LOL.. I read your question and glanced over at the profile info and it says you're 86!!!!! Wow.. birth at 86! lol
I've heard that having the labor induced makes it a much more intense labor. I can't verify because both pregnancies of mine were c-sections after natural labor started.
Good luck!
@armywifey (883)
• United States
29 Dec 06
Anything for 37 weeks to 42 weeks is considered full term. I don;t think there would be a problem with you being induced. I am personally getting induced next month because my husband is flying in from iraq on Feburary 1st adn my due date it the 9th. He will only be in the states for 2 weeks and I want him to have as much time with his new daughter as possible before he has to go back.
@kristianscharff (9)
• United States
27 Dec 06
I was overdue with my son and thankful for an induction. As long as you are aware of the risks and not trying to have your baby really early then go for it. The due date that docters give you is usually give or take two weeks.
@ModelMom (129)
• United States
27 Dec 06
You're right! My due date has been changed three times by several days each time. LOL! And my son was born 8 days early, so yeah, I think that as long as the doctor thinks everything looks fine, then I am going to go ahead with the induction. Better than to try t figure out what to do with my son should I go into labor at 4am! Yikes!
