Help me decide whether to electively induce at 39 weeks
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Anonymous
| Hmm. I’m a big fan of medical interventions instead of “natural birth” (lol) but given your history of two successful and fast natural births, I think it makes sense to hang in until almost 40 weeks before you induce. The concerns about being in the hospital overnight are real, and induction even with just Cervadil is unpleasant. What about scheduling the induction for 39 weeks 6 days and waiting to see what happens? |
Anonymous
why? cervadil can induce labor on its own and is gentler than pitocin. |
Anonymous
| Just prepare to get an epidural with an induction. I had a natural birth with my first - he went to 41.5 weeks and birth start to finish was 14 hours. Second was induced at 39 weeks due to my age and it was so much worse with pitocin. Once I got an epidural it was much better. But even with that labor was almost 30 hours. She clearly would have stayed in another week at least if we hadn’t induced! |
Anonymous
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OP you are lucky to have had 2 smooth births without intervention. Why mess and do an intervention just for some short term conveniences. Your body clearly knows what to do and can push out a baby relatively quickly. With this kind of record I'd stick to what works rather than selecting for medical intervention that will introduce additional risks.
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Anonymous
| Why does cervadil have to be given the night before? Is it a given that you have to be admitted to the hospital to get it? Discuss your concerns about a sleepless night in the hospital with your OB and alternatives. FWIW, I had to be induced with pitocin for my my second birth because at my due date appt there was no amniotic fluid…probably had a slow leak over a couple days. I arrived at the hospital at 3pm, was induced with pitocin, had an epidural and my son was born at 7pm. No pain at all, not even any discomfort…an average period was more uncomfortable than this birth. I felt great the next day and the only pain medication I took was ibuprofen. I was shocked since I heard induction with pitocin can be painful, but it was completely pain free for me. |
Anonymous
| I’ve had three inductions and always in the morning - had baby by evening, went off to maternity ward, had a Turkey sandwich dinner and snuggled baby to sleep. 10/10 would recommend! |
Anonymous
| My induction was incredibly painful, long and unpleasant. It was necessary because of PROM but I would never recommend it unless necessary, especially since you have a history of quick, easy natural birth! Seems crazy to me to induce when you probably don’t need it. I’d schedule induction for 39+6 and hope it happens sooner naturally. |
Anonymous
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Similar history:
First baby born at 38w6d Second baby born at 39w1day I got very very itchy when my baby didn’t come right at the 39 week mark. I did the old wives tales, everything. He came on his own at 39w5d, with the longest birth: 24 hours almost to the minute. (5 am to 5 am - woohoo.) |
Anonymous
This. Particularly since this is your 3rd delivery. I was induced for my first due to PPROM, and it was a miserable experience. My 2nd was a scheduled induction, and it was a breeze in comparison. I went in for a cervical check the day before and, even though I wasn't dilated, the CNM who performed the check said that my cervix was soft enough that pitocin alone should do the trick. She was right. I showed up the next morning, got hooked up to pitocin, and had my 2nd DD 10 hours later, after only 5 minutes of pushing. Ask your provider if they can do a cervical check a day or 2 beforehand, to potentially avoid the necessity for cervical ripening. A lot can change in the next week! |
Anonymous
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[quote=Anonymous]My induction was incredibly painful, long and unpleasant. It was necessary because of PROM but I would never recommend it unless necessary, especially since you have a history of quick, easy natural birth! Seems crazy to me to induce when you probably don’t need it. I’d schedule induction for 39+6 and hope it happens sooner naturally.
I'm a PP who had my first via induction due to PPROM. I've been told that pitocin contractions are far worse after membrane rupture and can confirm, at least in my case. My first induction was excruciating, since I didn't receive pitocin until after my water broke and there was no amniotic fluid left to "cushion " the contractions. My 2nd induction was so much better, even with the pitocin. I asked to receive an epidural before the midwife broke the amniotic sac, and the most I felt from the pitocin-aided contractions was similar to period cramps. I was really surprised at the difference between the 2 experiences. |
Anonymous
Because she will be up all night. |
Anonymous
| Third baby is the wild card. You could go to 41 weeks. |
Anonymous
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I don't have a choice, my team is inducing me at 38 weeks on the dot due to gestation diabetes / insulin. I'm also older (39) and the risk of stillbirth skyrockets for older women after 38 weeks anyway. I've lost a lot of babies so I'll do anything to have this one here alive.
I never went into labor for #2 so I assume it'll be the same for #3 |
Anonymous
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I had a great induction experience at 39w6d. Ended up with easy vaginal delivery—and it was my first child. I’d schedule one if I were you. Lower risk of stillbirth when you deliver at 39 weeks.
Plus I’m pretty sure the studies show there is no increase in c section when you induce at 39 weeks. Look up the ARRIVE trial. |
Anonymous
Curious what hospital? Gw was adamantly against inductions due to GD ( I was 38 and had previous miscarriage) and said it wasn't supported by data and would induce at 41 weeks if baby not out |