Induction at 39wks

[MommyReynolds]

Hey there, my name is Autumn, I'm 37wks pregnant with my first baby; it's a boy! But I recently had to change doctors to Johnson City; Bristol, long story, but I suggest don't go there!!

Anyhow my doctor [before I switched] Said that if I began to dilate on my own, that she would induce me at 39wks. The reason Being, my husband needs 2wk notice before he can take off of work, I'm switching to ETSU OB/GYN...if you go there or went there, do they offer induction? Cause I honestly don't know, And I would love for my husband to be there and everything..and not to mention to meet our baby boy. So please message back or comment and let me know..

[RedOakMomma]

Aw honey, DO NOT induce with a first baby if you can help it!! It really, REALLY ups your chances of lots of interventions and c-section. I know you want your husband there, and that's great, but you DO NOT want to be recovering from major abdominal surgery while trying to care for your first newborn.

Are there other ways to make it through the first two weeks? Or even the first three or four days? If you're able to have a vaginal birth, and since you'll have only one baby (congrats! by the way ), you can probably get by with less help at first, then wait for your husband to have his vacation time. In the beginning, especially if you can get help through those first couple of days while your body adjusts, you can do a lot on your own by just staying in bed and nursing the baby during the day.

[MaerynPearl]

I have to agree. I wish I did not induce with my son (though at the time we were scared for his well-being as I had had a placental abruption earlier in the pregnancy and he was not reacting as we hoped on the NST)

Once I had my second baby, natural drug-free labor, and realized it doesnt really hurt as bad that way, I really started to regret inducing the first time. Not only does it throw you in a much higher risk category for interventions/c-section... but it really DOES make it hurt so very very very much worse.

[dakotablue]

Just wanted to share: my induction with my first baby failed at 40w and again at 40w 6d which ended in a csection. I read somewhere that the average gestation for a first time baby is 41w 3d. I would never get induced again and wish I had fought harder not to the first time.

[~Adorkable~]

As so done that is having their first, I really understand how much you want your husband there. I just want you to really understand the trade off and think hard if it's work it.

Induction leads to a more painful and complicated birth because the doctors are not allowing for the body to do the things it needs to do.
it also because of that fake timeline leads to many more issues and interventions. The chance of tearing or distress and doctors pushing for a c-section goes way way up.
c-sections are bad for a huge number of reasons, including the huge healing time for the major surgery when you should just be cuddling with a babe, to your child having increased risk of breathing problems, pneumonia and childhood asthma.

you and your husband will have a lifelong connection to this wonderful child, it's sadvto miss a day but most importantly you want everyone safe and sound. You husband will bond with the new family mender in his time.
Maybe you can work out something with his boss, to give that one day, then some real time later? The first two weeks is mostly going to be the baby sleeping round the clock and wanting to nurse. in the end the baby will actually be a lot more responsive in two weeks.

I hope that we haven't bombarded you with too much info and opinion. It is done out of love and care of babies safety and each other, welcome to the family.

[CherryBomb]

I'd have to agree with the other posters. I totally understand why you'd want to, and if it wasn't your first baby, I wouldn't worry a whole lot about it. But elective induction for your first baby is really going to significantly increase your odds of c-sections and other issues. I was induced with my first at 41 weeks and still regret it, the labor was awful and I ended up with a c/s for fetal distress because of hyperstimulation of my uterus from the induction

That said, you'll just have to ask about it. Different areas and different doctors are all going to have different standards for when they'll induce and why. Here it's hard to get an elective induction before 40 weeks, though in some places they'll do them at 38.

Congrats on your pregnancy and good luck!

[Funny Face]

to what pp have said.



There's no way for him to just be there that day and then give notice for vacation? Weeks 3 and 4 are just as good for bonding as the first weeks are. Maybe even better help-wise since you really start to feel sleep deprived around that time and some help is really nice!

[lillymonster]

I would see if there is any way around him needing to give notice. Or ask someone else to be in his place.

I was induced PAST my due date, and my baby wasn't ready. It was horribly painful, then became horribly painful back labor. The epidural didn't work and after attempted vacuum I ended up with a c-section. I so wished I never was induced and I will never EVER do it again. I have never been in that much pain in my life. And depending on how they do it, for how long, you are stuck to an IV for hours. IF they do the "gentle" approach, like my OB made it sound so wonderful and easy and painless, I was stuck on an IV at 10PM until I gave birth 6 PM the next day. And I wasn't fed or allowed to eat that whole time either, because heck I might go into labor THAT instant and need to have an empty stomach for surgery. Going to the bathroom sucked too and sleeping was hard (my OB actually told me I would sleep through most of it!)

In my family of 3 women (10 grandchildren) of the 5 births that were induced, 3 ended in a c-section. Those are just bad odds to me.

Can your DH call in sick that day and then have someone else spend the first 2 weeks with you? Hire a PP doula to help out maybe?

[jennica]

This isn't vacation for goodness sakes, this is a birth of a baby! Have you looked into FMLA leave? If your husband qualifies for FMLA, it is his right to take that leave through the government. He has to fill out some forms and will be approved once the baby is born and he submits the rest of the paperwork. His job can not interfere with FMLA, nor can they discriminate against him for taking it, and he can take up to 12 weeks off. The catch is that this is unpaid, however, most jobs have a policy that their company will make them take all of their vacation and sick time before switching to unpaid leave. This makes sense because they wouldn't want you taking a month off and then coming back and taking the rest of your vacation time. FMLA starts when the baby is born, so your husband could just take that day off, or he could take two weeks and hope they will pay him his vacation time. There a few restrictions on it, so you will have to look into it, but hopefully he qualifies.

[kittywitty]

Please, please don't. Inductions (for non-medical reason especially) are sooo risky and dangerous.

[SteelerMom]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

I have to agree. I wish I did not induce with my son (though at the time we were scared for his well-being as I had had a placental abruption earlier in the pregnancy and he was not reacting as we hoped on the NST)

Once I had my second baby, natural drug-free labor, and realized it doesnt really hurt as bad that way, I really started to regret inducing the first time. Not only does it throw you in a much higher risk category for interventions/c-section... but it really DOES make it hurt so very very very much worse.

I am in total agreement with this and the other posters. My first was also an induction (at 40 weeks 2 days for mild PIH) and not only was it more painful (even with an epidural) than my natural intervention free second childbirth but there were also complications for my son-fetal heart rate decelerations, a broken collar bone, torticollis, sternocleidomastoid muscle tumor and for me - a 4th degree tear. I SO WISH that I had gone into labor on my own with him knowing how much better it is.

[mangosink0]

My 39 week elective induction with my first ended in a c/s after 2 hours of pushing. Babe wasn't positioned right. I always wonder if it would have been different if I hadn't of done the induction. I wouldn't do the induction again if I had a do over.

[luvtoknit]

As enticing as induction may be I, like others, advise against it. I was induced with my first at 41 weeks because pre-e. My labor was very difficult compared to my others and I learned so much. I didn't end up with a cs but I did end up getting cervdil (induced at 0), water broken, piticion, stadol, and an epidural. While I regret the induction, it was needed.

Good luck mama!

[kelantan]

Don't!

I have to echo everyone else. I was induced at 39 weeks. I was a little over 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced. My induction failed. I ended up with a c-section and have had to fight like heck to try for a VBAC.

I know a lot of other stories like mine. Just be patient. The baby will come in due time... and by law your husband has to be allowed to get off work.

[Just1More]

I've never been induced, but I have had a baby without my husband there. My dh left for Iraq 16 days before she was born. That meant she was almost 7 months old when he got home. You can get yourself into a mental place that can accept that he is not there. You can do it! (And it sounds like maybe he CAN be there for the birth, just not home all day?)

Dh and dd have a wonderful bond, and it hasn't been hampered AT ALL by him not being there the first 7 months.

It's really, really, really not worth it to induce. s