39 and pregnant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Change your providers. Being treated like that is not okay and not normal.

If they're discussing induction it's likely too late to change providers. Most OBs won't want to take a switched patient super late.

It looks like the ACOG does recommend induction at 39 weeks for moms 40 and older and they will base that on statistics and science. So if you have any other complicating factors, at least have a conversation about it. But they shouldn't just be telling you, they should be laying out stats and reasoning.

OP here - my biggest problem is that there have been no complications. Stress tests, ultrasounds, blood work - everything has been stellar. I understand the need to inform but it just seems beyond that at this point

They legally need to provide that medical advice. But that's all it is. Keep listening to your body, to your baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Change your providers. Being treated like that is not okay and not normal.

If they're discussing induction it's likely too late to change providers. Most OBs won't want to take a switched patient super late.

It looks like the ACOG does recommend induction at 39 weeks for moms 40 and older and they will base that on statistics and science. So if you have any other complicating factors, at least have a conversation about it. But they shouldn't just be telling you, they should be laying out stats and reasoning.

OP here - my biggest problem is that there have been no complications. Stress tests, ultrasounds, blood work - everything has been stellar. I understand the need to inform but it just seems beyond that at this point

My sister had zero complications whatsoever. Completely smooth pregnant. Baby had no heartbeat at 39 weeks and 3 days.

Follow the evidence.

[Anonymous]

OP how many weeks are you now?

[Anonymous]

I had my second kid at 41 and followed the advice to be induced. It was fine! And it honestly made planning much easier — we were able to get kid #1 set up for a sleepover with grandparents and have a fun family dinner before heading to the hospital. Kid #2 was born the next morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister lost her baby days before her due date. I would heed all of my doctor’s advice on reducing the risk of stillbirth without second thought. I will do everything in my power to avoid such a devastating outcome.

The only OB I would trust is the high risk specialist/perinatologist. I trusted a regular OB, and they failed to properly diagnose my bleedings post 12 weeks leading to stillbirth at 23 weeks. We switched to a different OB group, and they scared us into a C-section at exactly 39 weeks (oh, the scan is in normal range, but I don't feel comfortable with it. You need to have a C-section tonight or risking a stillbirth like your previous baby).

Our last baby with a high risk group was our most reassured pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

I mean an induction isn't that bad, having been through one, and should be pretty fast. Is there anything that's making you bot want an induction?

I'm an older mom who's not bothering with the induction because I'm a bad candidate for VBAC bases on how my first labor went. But even the c section wasn't that bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister lost her baby days before her due date. I would heed all of my doctor’s advice on reducing the risk of stillbirth without second thought. I will do everything in my power to avoid such a devastating outcome.

The only OB I would trust is the high risk specialist/perinatologist. I trusted a regular OB, and they failed to properly diagnose my bleedings post 12 weeks leading to stillbirth at 23 weeks. We switched to a different OB group, and they scared us into a C-section at exactly 39 weeks (oh, the scan is in normal range, but I don't feel comfortable with it. You need to have a C-section tonight or risking a stillbirth like your previous baby).

Our last baby with a high risk group was our most reassured pregnancy.

That’s what I’m personally doing. But I’d follow every evidence-based stillbirth recommendation that exists.

My sister never got a cause of death even after a fetal autopsy and sending tissue samples to Yale for analysis. The placenta ended up being on the smaller side, which unfortunately appears to support that an induction a week earlier could have prevented the death.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Change your providers. Being treated like that is not okay and not normal.

If they're discussing induction it's likely too late to change providers. Most OBs won't want to take a switched patient super late.

It looks like the ACOG does recommend induction at 39 weeks for moms 40 and older and they will base that on statistics and science. So if you have any other complicating factors, at least have a conversation about it. But they shouldn't just be telling you, they should be laying out stats and reasoning.

OP here - my biggest problem is that there have been no complications. Stress tests, ultrasounds, blood work - everything has been stellar. I understand the need to inform but it just seems beyond that at this point

My sister had zero complications whatsoever. Completely smooth pregnant. Baby had no heartbeat at 39 weeks and 3 days.

Follow the evidence.

The evidence was someone didn't do their job right or they didn't know the reason for stillbirth. So they're pushing for induction and/or C-section at 37th or 39th week without following the medical science.
Scare tactic is their way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Change your providers. Being treated like that is not okay and not normal.

If they're discussing induction it's likely too late to change providers. Most OBs won't want to take a switched patient super late.

It looks like the ACOG does recommend induction at 39 weeks for moms 40 and older and they will base that on statistics and science. So if you have any other complicating factors, at least have a conversation about it. But they shouldn't just be telling you, they should be laying out stats and reasoning.

OP here - my biggest problem is that there have been no complications. Stress tests, ultrasounds, blood work - everything has been stellar. I understand the need to inform but it just seems beyond that at this point

My sister had zero complications whatsoever. Completely smooth pregnant. Baby had no heartbeat at 39 weeks and 3 days.

Follow the evidence.

The evidence was someone didn't do their job right or they didn't know the reason for stillbirth. So they're pushing for induction and/or C-section at 37th or 39th week without following the medical science.
Scare tactic is their way.

Her stillbirth had an unknown cause despite genetic testing of embryos, fetal autopsy, and pathology of fetal and placental tissue. Somewhere between a quarter and half of stillbirths have no known cause, so her situation is not anomalous.

The risk of stillbirth increases, particularly for older mothers, after 37 weeks. Of course, that risk has to be balanced against the risk of complications from being born a bit earlier. The recommendation of induction at 39 weeks for older mothers is a reasonable one that’s evidence based and balances protection of neonatal health with reduction in the risk of stillbirth.

I’m thrilled that presenting the risk of stillbirth to a mother sounds like a “scare tactic” to you. There have now been two stillbirths in my family (same generation) from two different mothers despite no prior family history. Both stillbirths had no known cause. Both had healthy pregnancies. Both had two other live births. These outcomes were totally devastating and, in my opinion, should be avoided at all costs.

[Anonymous]

OP how many weeks are you?

I think the evidence supports induction at ~38 weeks. If I were you, I would do that.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I am 39 weeks just completed another ultrasound where baby has great movement, fluids and placenta were all checked and doing good as well. Will be waiting for 40weeks.

[Anonymous]

It’s the doctors’ duty to give you their best medical advice, which is that induction is safer at your age and time of gestation. You are within your rights to ignore that advice, and it will probably all work out. But the doctors aren’t doing anything wrong.

[Anonymous]

Wishing you a smooth and empowering delivery!

I was so upset before my induction, but it went much better than I expected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I am 39 weeks just completed another ultrasound where baby has great movement, fluids and placenta were all checked and doing good as well. Will be waiting for 40weeks.

I would urge you to induce. It's unlikely something bad will happen, but your baby is undeniably cooked and they are making this recommendation for a reason. Probably somewhat selfish too, so that they do not have to feel responsible or let down, but mainly, for you and your baby. The risk of going longer is greater than inducing a negligably pre-term baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I am 39 weeks just completed another ultrasound where baby has great movement, fluids and placenta were all checked and doing good as well. Will be waiting for 40weeks.

The risks to you and your baby at this point are not significant if you induce.

The risks to you and your. baby are greater to go to term. And far more serious.

I would reconsider based on risk and fact, not emotion. The fact that you had a great visit recently is positive, but does not eliminate the risks of waiting to deliver at this point.

Why are you opposed to inducing?