What are the down sides of induction at 39 weeks?

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking of getting induced at 39 weeks for convenience reasons (planning childcare for older kids, getting to the hospital in time, not being pregnant longer than I have to, etc.). OB thinks this is fine and my reading of the literature is that there are not any increased risks (to either baby or pregnant person). I can't find any evidence of down sides.

Am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

Just that induction isn’t very pleasant and can take a long time. I’m not suggesting that childbirth is ever enjoyable but people i know who have done both definitely prefer going into labor naturally. It can take 24 hours just to ripen your cervix. But I don’t think there are any risks to mom or baby outside the experience being unpleasant

[Anonymous]

Well, the worst part for me was the timing. They had me come in at 8 pm. I had been up all day. Then the contractions began and I couldn't sleep. The hospital bed sucked too. So I got 1 hour overnight. By morning, I had only dilated 1 cm further than when I started. Baby was delivered at 1230 pm but then I had retained placenta so I had to go to the OR for removal. It was probably 4 pm by the time I got back to the postpartum room. Then the visitors (family) came. I was literally running on 1 hour of sleep in 40 hours. And now had a baby wanting to eat every 2 hours.

I guess this could happen with going into labor naturally though. I got lucky with my first, water broke at 1130 am, I got an epi before bed and was able to sleep overnight. Started pushing at 9 am. It was really just great timing.

[Anonymous]

You have multiple other kids? I think there shouldn’t be any problems, unless you’ve been induced and had a bad reaction to it before. I went in for my second induction at 39 weeks at night, had the cervical ripening overnight, and started pitocin the next day. Easy.

[Anonymous]

It probably won’t take too long if you have older kids. Only downside is just being stuck in hospital with IV and fetal monitoring. Medically, really no downsides. Newer studies support a lower rate of complications and C section with 39 week inductions. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP here--thanks everyone!

Yes, I have two older kids (4 & 6). Both deliveries were quick and easy but went slightly past 40 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Induction was not pleasant for me, but I was induced with my first. The main downside is your body and baby just might not be ready, so the process might take longer. For me, I checked into hospital at 8PM and they started monitoring, and set me up with an IV and things. Then at midnight they started me on an oral pill to start cervix ripening. By morning time, I didn't have any contractions, and had barely dilated more than another centimeter.

Started on pitocin and doctor broke my water, but I didn't get to 10cm until midnight the next day. So it was 24 hours of fasting and being stuck in bed before I started pushing. Baby was sunnyside up, so I pushed for 3 hours before they brought in the vacuum to get her the rest of the way out. Would this have gone better without the induction? Who knows.

Induction was very convenient in that I went to work for my last day, went to the hospital when I got home (after a REALLY big burger.) And my parents who live out of town were able to drive in and visit me while I was in labor. The scheduling factor is even more convenient when you're planning for childcare, so that's definitely a plus too. Have you gone before 39 weeks in the past though? That would be another downside. Having your birth scheduled and all your plans in order only to go into labor at 37 or 38 weeks (which happened with my sister's second...)

[Anonymous]

Some studies have shown induction is associated with relatively rare but small increased risks of:

Uterine rupture
Severe hemorrhage
Cord prolapse
Amniotic fluid embolism
Cerebral palsy
abnormal contractions

I would also question the convenience of induction if it your body isn't totally ready and it ends up taking longer. In the sense that yes, you have childcare lined up but it is potentially prolonging how long you have to be in a hospital... I don't know, I'm pretty hospital averse and as a result practically ended up delivering in my living room so take it with a grain of salt.

[Anonymous]

you can do a scheduled cs

[Anonymous]

Scheduling an induction at 39 weeks could result in a c-section. If the baby isn’t ready to come, the baby isn’t ready, even with an induction. The recovery will be much longer than a vaginal delivery and there is a higher risk of infection with any surgery.

[Anonymous]

I had to be induced at 39 weeks due to gestational diabetes. I wish I had said no. DC has asthma and other health issues, and though I'm not sure if DC would've had these issues regardless of being induced at 39 weeks, I feel like if I had given it the full 40 weeks, there would've been a chance DC would not have those issues. My other DC was a week and half overdue, and this DC has no health issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had to be induced at 39 weeks due to gestational diabetes. I wish I had said no. DC has asthma and other health issues, and though I'm not sure if DC would've had these issues regardless of being induced at 39 weeks, I feel like if I had given it the full 40 weeks, there would've been a chance DC would not have those issues. My other DC was a week and half overdue, and this DC has no health issues.

Being born at 39 weeks versus 40 weeks does cause asthma or health issues. A baby is full-term then. Please stop with this line of thinking. There will be many things that one child has that the other child doesn’t have. Again, none of those will be because of a 39 week or 40 week delivery.

[Anonymous]

Does NOT cause asthma or health issues ^^^^ NOT

[Anonymous]

Since you already have two kids, I would definitely go with the 39 week induction. If you were a FTM, I’d say no way. I had a horrible induction experience with my first, which lasted forever and ended in a scary emergency c section. But everyone I know who has had an induction for their third (seems to be common!) has had a relatively quick, easy labor. There’s just no comparison to an induction for your first. If your OB is on board, go for it!

[Anonymous]

I was induced at 40 weeks with my 3rd baby, also for convenience reasons (and OMG to not be pregnant anymore). Only issue is they started me on pitocin first, which didn't do anything, and then the OB on call gave me a lecture about not wanting to put baby into distress and cause an emergency situation. Then she did cervical ripening, and I walked laps in my room and did squats while DH slept on the uncomfortable couch, and then things finally got moving. Whole process took about 24 hours, healthy and very HEAVY baby girl (9+ lbs!), and all was well. One of the nurses said 3rd babies always throw you for a loop one way or another.