I'm starting to understand the appeal of induction

[dharmama]

Knowing all that I know about the risks, I would never choose induction unless absolutely medically necessary, BUT....I am certainly understanding why it's so appealing.

Last night we had to go to the hospital to visit a sick relative. As we were arriving everyone was assuming that I was waddling in to have my baby (I am 39 weeks pregnant after all). And I said to DH...IF I didn't know the risks (which unless you do your own research, OBs - and some MWs - certainly don't tell you)...and IF I wasn't 100% committed to natural birth...I can see how easy it would be to be lured by the ability to schedule birth.

Here I am (and most of you) in that month-long limbo....could it be today...could it be in three weeks...who will be with my DD if I go on this day vs this day...should DH attend an out of town meeting at 38 weeks etc. I can really understand (more so the second time through when I have DD to think about) why when a woman's doctor says....."Do you want to have your baby tomorrow?"....she says YES!

And of course no one in the mainstream media/medicine seems to be making the connection between the crazy increase in inductions and the out-of-control c-sect rate. :

Anyway ...just some random thoughts. I'll keep for my little one to decide when the time is right and telling everyone who asks why I am NOT going to be induced.

[Peppamint]

I see what you mean... but that's probably the only advantage to induction, BTDT.

So many people assume that women should be induced, or like former co-workers of mine, a large chunk of them assumed I had a c-section. Not for any particular reason, but just that they seem so much more common these days.

[luckylady]

I was induced with my DD and it was AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL. No wonder women who are induced wind up with an epidural because it hurt like HELL!

But yes, even now, I said to my DH the ONLY nice thing about it is knowing WHEN this little guy will come.

But on the other hand, life holds so few surprises anymore.

[gnutter]

I have been so tempted this time. With ds #1 once I reached 4 cm they broke my water-5 hrs later I had him. With ds #2 I stayed at 4 for a week until my water broke on its own and 5 hrs later there he was. That has made it seem rather easy to say "hey when I get to 4 break my water". Now that it is actually almost May I am not in such a hurry sudden;y-I think the nerves have overtaken the impatience. Plus I am almost 4 now-so a week doesn't seem that long. Actually two weeks doesn't even seem very long at the moment. I think that I am starting to procrastinate a little actually

[strawberryprincess]

I totally understand what you mean! when i was pg with dd, and was approaching two weeks "overdue"....everyone was calling asking "any news? are you still pregnant!!!?? WHY?!" i felt like there was so much peer pressure to get induced! my m/w was great...she explained the options (which i was already informed of), but left it up to me. i was so tempted though a few times, and started feeling really depressed right before labor began. (like, i'm *never* going to have this baby)

and now that i have a 2 y.o. i'm so concerned about where she'll go and who will be with her once the day comes...last night she stayed at grandma's house over night, and i kept hoping that i would go into labor last night...she would have been taken care of, and i wouldn't have had to worry. well, no signs of labor so far, and she'll be home in afew hours.

so yes, i can see how inductions seem so convenient. i suppose if you are planning to have an epi anyway, then it seems like no big deal. the meds will take care of the horendously painful and unnatural contractions of pit.

good luck waiting for baby's natural birthday!!!

[~*max*~]

Me too. I am totally stressing about who will take care of my 3 young children, will they get here in time, will I get to the hospital in time while waiting for them (my last birth was very quick), what if no one is available? And it drives me mad when people say, "Don't worry. It will all work out?" Oh really? Do you have a crystal ball or something? : The thought of being able to plan it all in advance is sooooo appealing, but induction is not the route I want to go - BTDT w/baby #2.

[Mamatoto2]

I've totally given in to lack of control with this pregnancy. With #1 I remember hitting 37 weeks and feeling a sudden shift to "I want baby born NOW." Of course, it didn't help that my BP was climbing and there was talk of needing to induce if I didn't go naturally before BP hit a high, but nevertheless I hated feeling each day like I didn't know when labor would strike.

I also had a REALLY fast labor with DD and then hemorrhaged so I was always told that as soon as my first contraction hit, I should be in the car and on the way to the hospital. Having DD doesn't make that scenario too easy, but we've basically decided that DH will start working from home the week I'm due, and when I go into labor, we all jump in the car and start calling family/friends to meet us at the hospital to get DD. I've talked with her/role played some of the sounds mommy might make, how labor works, etc. so that if she's there for more than we had intended it's not as frightening. Since DH has grad school class 1 night/week about 40 min away, some family member will be here to spend the night with me that night....of course with this pregnancy it all hinges on the little bean turning vertex or else I have to schedule a c-sect soon and this will all be moot, but I digress....