Induction at 39+4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had induced with my first but my midwives got me to drink the Koolaid and had me firmly believing I needed to go into labor naturally. I delivered an 8.5 pounder at 41 weeks after that labor started naturally. Had a horrific labor and that baby was so big for my petite body that she had to be ripped out with a vacuum, despite all my Spinning babies, yoga, acupuncture, dates, and raspberry leaf tea. Ha. My pelvic floor and vagina will never be the same. I also got preeclampsia and my placenta was deteriorating. Worst experience of my life. Went with a scheduled C at 39 weeks for my next one and became a complete convert and believer that for a lot of women who are older and not planning big families that a scheduled C section is much better way to give birth. Trust your doctors, Op. The doctors don’t schedule inductions for their convenience. They will see you during their L and D shift or not regardless. Their schedules don’t change - they have their L and D days, and their office days. It’s not some big conspiracy to rob you of mother natures most wonderful experience. Once you feel real contractions you realize real quick that Mother Nature is an absolute biotch.

I totally agree and had a similar experience, minus the pelvic floor damage and second c section -- by some miracle, despite my forceps delivery and 3rd degree tear with baby #1, I am relatively unscathed (physically, emotionally is a different story).

But yes. Don't drink the koolaid, of any sort

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a first time mom, I’m a little nervous about an induction given that it might be more painful or result in a C-section. But my OB suggested as an option because baby is measuring big (95%, and head size >99%) and also said evidence suggests it may prevent a C-section. I’m already 1 cm dilated as of 36 weeks with a “soft” cervix. Been eating dates and drinking raspberry leaf tea to see if I can go into labor naturally before my induction date. Also considering a membrane sweep at 39 weeks to further things along. Any thoughts or recommendations on this plan..?

Highly suggest the membrane sweep…I did this (and a few times) even during labor when things were slow moving from 4cm- 5cm for example. I would even get the sweep before 39weeks.

They will not do the sweep before 39 weeks in my experience and it can take 24-48 hours to work so may not be doable logistically or help but def explore this option.

For my first I had the sweep earlier at maybe 38 weeks and some days but it didn’t do much. I’m sure the doc was “light” with it because it barely hurt. Then I did another closer to 40 weeks and it helped and did the trick. Delivered 40 weeks and 2 days. For my 2nd, I had Group B strep so I was hesitant to do it early so waited until week 40 which it didn’t do much until week 41 and then the doctor really went in there and it hurt! I went in at 41 weeks and a day…and even during labor I had the nurse perform another sweep. My original L&D nurse did not know how to do it right since the baby was lower than my cervix at that point. I was maybe 5cm or 6cm so she called another nurse. An angel I call her - amazing and experienced. She went in there, seamless, and it was not even painful. She sweeped and things started to move very fast after that! I swear by the sweeps now and think they are super effective at moving things along - and to avoid an induction.

I do think some doctors are weird about it - one practice I remember said it was their “policy” not to sweep unless you’re close to delivery time which was bizarre because my current practice has different protocols. I do feel like docs lean towards inductions as a means to have things scheduled and to each their own for all mamas choosing this route. There is no wrong way of doing things & we’re ultimately at the mercy of the docs anyways.

It probably didn’t work at 38 weeks because you weren’t ready to give birth. You need to be at least 1 cm dilated, so you must have been a little dilated but probably just not ready.

I had the sweep with my second at 39+4 and I went into labor 24 hours later. With my first I had an induction that was very long but I only pushed twice at the end and that was amazing! Easiest birth was my third: I was induced at 39+2 and after 12 hours of max pitocin they broke my water and baby was born five hours later - easy, amazing birth. But for me experience made every birth easier and that’s been the same with parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a first time mom, I’m a little nervous about an induction given that it might be more painful or result in a C-section. But my OB suggested as an option because baby is measuring big (95%, and head size >99%) and also said evidence suggests it may prevent a C-section. I’m already 1 cm dilated as of 36 weeks with a “soft” cervix. Been eating dates and drinking raspberry leaf tea to see if I can go into labor naturally before my induction date. Also considering a membrane sweep at 39 weeks to further things along. Any thoughts or recommendations on this plan..?

Highly suggest the membrane sweep…I did this (and a few times) even during labor when things were slow moving from 4cm- 5cm for example. I would even get the sweep before 39weeks.

They will not do the sweep before 39 weeks in my experience and it can take 24-48 hours to work so may not be doable logistically or help but def explore this option.

For my first I had the sweep earlier at maybe 38 weeks and some days but it didn’t do much. I’m sure the doc was “light” with it because it barely hurt. Then I did another closer to 40 weeks and it helped and did the trick. Delivered 40 weeks and 2 days. For my 2nd, I had Group B strep so I was hesitant to do it early so waited until week 40 which it didn’t do much until week 41 and then the doctor really went in there and it hurt! I went in at 41 weeks and a day…and even during labor I had the nurse perform another sweep. My original L&D nurse did not know how to do it right since the baby was lower than my cervix at that point. I was maybe 5cm or 6cm so she called another nurse. An angel I call her - amazing and experienced. She went in there, seamless, and it was not even painful. She sweeped and things started to move very fast after that! I swear by the sweeps now and think they are super effective at moving things along - and to avoid an induction.

I do think some doctors are weird about it - one practice I remember said it was their “policy” not to sweep unless you’re close to delivery time which was bizarre because my current practice has different protocols. I do feel like docs lean towards inductions as a means to have things scheduled and to each their own for all mamas choosing this route. There is no wrong way of doing things & we’re ultimately at the mercy of the docs anyways.

It probably didn’t work at 38 weeks because you weren’t ready to give birth. You need to be at least 1 cm dilated, so you must have been a little dilated but probably just not ready.

I had the sweep with my second at 39+4 and I went into labor 24 hours later. With my first I had an induction that was very long but I only pushed twice at the end and that was amazing! Easiest birth was my third: I was induced at 39+2 and after 12 hours of max pitocin they broke my water and baby was born five hours later - easy, amazing birth. But for me experience made every birth easier and that’s been the same with parenting.

Gosh I pray I have your confidence. I’m pregnant with my 3rd and feeling somehow more scared now that I really know what to expect and that element of ignorance & surprise is totally gone - despite 2 really good deliveries. I guess I doubt it can be good a 3rd time too - I mean what are the chances?!

[Anonymous]

OP here. The induction went well. I opted for the foley balloon which got me from 1-4cm in a few hours with minor not too painful contractions. I was able to do wireless monitoring which was great. Then I got pitocin and the level was slightly increased every 30m-1hr. I didn’t really feel the contractions I was having until a higher dosage at which time my water broke and it was very painful (docs said I was in active labor then) so I got the epidural. After it finally kicked in, I was feeling better. It took just a few hours to go from 4-10cm, then an hour or so of laboring down for baby to move to the lowest station. I was pushing for 15 min and then baby was born, 8lbs 15oz! Second degree tears but stitched up. It was less than 24 hours total from arrival at the hospital to delivery and the epidural was a must at the end but overall I’m very happy with the experience and think I may have avoided a C-section given baby’s size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey! I am a 32 yo FTM scheduled for a 39 + 4 induction (this Thursday) for the *exact* same reasoning re head size (99%) and overall expected size (86%). I have had no issues throughout the pregnancy aside from this new information in our most recent (36 week onwards) ultrasounds and feel very pressured by my OB practice to deliver early (“he’s a take home baby!”). I went ahead and requested a reschedule for the induction for our due date next week. I am and have been doing all the induction tips and tricks (acu, tea, dates, sex!) and seeing if any of that helps get him coming - but from what I hear they come when they want to come - either way, given his estimated large size I am ready to induce next week, and if those extra few days between the originally scheduled date and the new date don’t help at all at the very least I’ll be glad I gave him some more time!

They don't need the extra time. That's why inductions are allowed at 39 weeks. In fact, depending on the person it can be dangerous to go beyond that. Someone I know waited until 41+3 baby's heartbeat stopped. Placenta had broken down.

That depends on how accurately you know the gestational age. If you’re going just based on the date of your last period (rather than ovulation tracking or an early dating ultrasound) the due date can be WAY off.

My initial OB assigned due date for my first was almost a full month earlier than his actual due date, because I have extremely long cycles. Doctor didn’t care to see my chart showing ovulation around day 42 (vs the assumed day 14) so I insisted on a dating ultrasound.

[Anonymous]

Congrats, OP! Glad it all worked out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a first time mom, I’m a little nervous about an induction given that it might be more painful or result in a C-section. But my OB suggested as an option because baby is measuring big (95%, and head size >99%) and also said evidence suggests it may prevent a C-section. I’m already 1 cm dilated as of 36 weeks with a “soft” cervix. Been eating dates and drinking raspberry leaf tea to see if I can go into labor naturally before my induction date. Also considering a membrane sweep at 39 weeks to further things along. Any thoughts or recommendations on this plan..?

+1 to membrane sweep. I was induced with my first (and third) and if you are effaced (sounds like that’s starting to happen) and dilated it will be easier. Fwiw I was not either and I had HELLP syndrome and I ended up having a vaginal birth with a first degree tare with my first - and I only pushed twice. It sounds like there is a good chance you will go into labor beforehand though. I had a membrane sweep with my second and went into labor before my induction date. My recommendation would be to try to schedule it as close to 39+1 as possible so your body has a few days to go into labor naturally. I went into labor about 24-30 hours after my membrane sweep, but I think it can sometimes take 48 hours to kick off the process.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I did the membrane sweep at 39 weeks exactly hoping to go into labor naturally after that, and before my induction at 39+4, but it didn’t happen. Regardless, I think the sweep was worth a shot. It didn’t hurt, just was slightly uncomfortable. But I also didn’t mind the cervical checks either from a pain standpoint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congrats, OP! Glad it all worked out.

Thank you!! 😊

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The induction went well. I opted for the foley balloon which got me from 1-4cm in a few hours with minor not too painful contractions. I was able to do wireless monitoring which was great. Then I got pitocin and the level was slightly increased every 30m-1hr. I didn’t really feel the contractions I was having until a higher dosage at which time my water broke and it was very painful (docs said I was in active labor then) so I got the epidural. After it finally kicked in, I was feeling better. It took just a few hours to go from 4-10cm, then an hour or so of laboring down for baby to move to the lowest station. I was pushing for 15 min and then baby was born, 8lbs 15oz! Second degree tears but stitched up. It was less than 24 hours total from arrival at the hospital to delivery and the epidural was a must at the end but overall I’m very happy with the experience and think I may have avoided a C-section given baby’s size.

NP. For anyone else planning an induction, make sure you get the epidural prior to membrane rupture if you can. Pitocin contractions prior to water breaking are intense but not nearly as excruciating as they get after your water breaks. Speaking from personal experience and two inductions, the first of which was due to PROM. My experience with being on pitocin for those two labors was like night and day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a first time mom, I’m a little nervous about an induction given that it might be more painful or result in a C-section. But my OB suggested as an option because baby is measuring big (95%, and head size >99%) and also said evidence suggests it may prevent a C-section. I’m already 1 cm dilated as of 36 weeks with a “soft” cervix. Been eating dates and drinking raspberry leaf tea to see if I can go into labor naturally before my induction date. Also considering a membrane sweep at 39 weeks to further things along. Any thoughts or recommendations on this plan..?

+1 to membrane sweep. I was induced with my first (and third) and if you are effaced (sounds like that’s starting to happen) and dilated it will be easier. Fwiw I was not either and I had HELLP syndrome and I ended up having a vaginal birth with a first degree tare with my first - and I only pushed twice. It sounds like there is a good chance you will go into labor beforehand though. I had a membrane sweep with my second and went into labor before my induction date. My recommendation would be to try to schedule it as close to 39+1 as possible so your body has a few days to go into labor naturally. I went into labor about 24-30 hours after my membrane sweep, but I think it can sometimes take 48 hours to kick off the process.

100% on the membrane sweep, very effective, and even during labor if things slow down, get the doc or an experience nurse to do it!