39 1/2 weeks and need advice

[camip1225]

So, I am still fairly new to the phoenix area, but thought i found a Dr. that was willing to work with me and my more natural approach to childbirth. Boy was I wrong. I must be a naive first time mother because I thought we were close to being on the same page. Here I am 39 1/2 weeks pregnant and my Dr. is telling me that I must be induced at 40 weeks and 1 day pregnant. Since when does a Dr. TELL me what I'm gonna do with my body??? I DON'T WANT TO BE INDUCED!!! I actually tried to find a midwife that would deliver out of Banner Estrella Hospital, but they don't exist. Most of the midwives in the phoenix area seem to do mostly home births. I am not comfortable switching to a home birth this late in the game, even though that is what I may be doing next time. Advice anyone??

[amcal]

What if you just say no. What if you just tell them that unless they can show some medical reason why induction is necessary that you have no desire to be induced?

It's your body and my understanding is that at this stage, they can't terminate you as a patient.

[DebHibb]

What if you just say no. What if you just tell them that unless they can show some medical reason why induction is necessary that you have no desire to be induced?

It's your body and my understanding is that at this stage, they can't terminate you as a patient.

I agree.
Found this with a quick yahoo search. It makes sense. The doc would be at serious risk of a lawsuit if he abandoned you this late in the game. i.e. if something happened to you. I'd tell him, "feel free to schedule an induction, but I won't be there." Well, that might be something I'd say. :)

http://www.gilliland.com/CM/Articles/PatientAbandonment.asp

I live in UT, and my midwife said she could not deliver past 41wks, as I would then be considered 'high risk'. I was at a freestanding birth center though. We tried more 'natural' induction methods first, as I went 6 days past my due date.

The hospital I had originally planned on delivering at had the same policy, but I've never heard of 40 and 1 day. I can imagine there could be some liability by letting you go beyond 41 wks, but I have heard some docs will let you go up to 2 wks (maybe depends on the state?).

[twogreencars]

My DH asks "why are you unwilling to switch to a HB?" (what a cool DH :joy:)

We've had 3 and I'd find a MW and have a HB.

This last babe was going to be a birth center birth (for a change :lol) but the birth told us to have a HB as this babe would likely be induced (the older 2 were 2 weeks and 1 week late). So - I switched VERY LATE in the pregnancy to a HB midwife - 32 weeks and had a lovely natural home birth at 42 weeks. Had I stayed at the birth center or my original OB GYN I probably would have ended up with a C-section.

GOOD LUCK to you!

[milkeriffic mama]

ugh! i'm so sorry! what was the reasoning? if there is no medical reason, then I agree you should just say no, if possible.

[LizardCandy]

I have never heard of this, I hope it works out for you.