Being Seduced to Induce: What Women Should Know About Their OBs

[Ginger]

Totally agree that there are no absolutes. In retrospect, however, I would not have waited so long to be induced with ds1. I was induced at 40+1 with ds2 and that was a much better birth for me. Again, just my personal experience. If I was to have a baby again, I would ask for an induction just past the 40 wk mark again.

[onthefly]

I guess that's the thing, sometimes the system doesn't work right. We know this because sometimes we lose babies and this, ultimately, is why we have these interventions in the first place. The point for me is that we all need information and support, and importantly respect, to make decisions that concern our bodies. We can't know everything and we can't always get it right, but we have to try and do the right thing as we see it in that moment. It's on us in the end, not the doctor or the midwife - though obviously it's distressing for them, also, to lose babies and even mothers, and naturally they wish to avoid this - so it's our responsibility to make these decisions.
I had what I believe to be an unnecessary induction at around 42 weeks which was very distressing. The reason given by the OB was that otherwise my baby will die. Second time round I birthed at 42+3 and again the (different) OB wanted me to be induced, despite the fact that I was already in early labour (he didn't believe me, what would I know?). The reason he gave was lame beyond belief: hospital policy.
Nobody ever mentioned the risks of the induction to me and my baby. Nobody gave me good reasons to have the induction, either, aside from the fear of a negative outcome. This is not a context conducive to good decision making.

[RubyShoes]

Alisonaquarium, all the best. It's a tough gig having a 41-42 week pregnancy.

My second DS was born at 42 weeks, naturally, weighing 3.2kg. My DS1 was a 41+2 weeker and weighed almost exactly the same. My point is, everyone will have a different set of stats and factors and no two births are the same. If I very have a third child, I expect I'll carry beyond 41 weeks and won't be scared of going "over."

If you and your baby are well, take comfort that you are normal and gestating over 41 weeks is normal. There are lots of online supports for "10 month pregnancies" - if you need any positive stories, have a look around. And good luck with baby.

[Sagres]

I hope you have gone into labour since posting and this is all a moot point.
I think it is a decision that is very personal to you and your specific set of circumstances. I personally would probably have been comfortable to go until maybe 41 weeks if everything was looking fine but that is me and my own risk management approach and my limit. With DD1 I was induced at 40+4 and that was because everything wasn't looking fine so it was time set a new 'limit' based on the information at hand.
Good luck with your decision.

[HotI]

i have had babies born at 41 weeks, 41 weeks and 41 weeks + 3 days. first was induced (unnecessarily i believe) and ended in 'assisted delivery' with both baby and i having physical trauma.

Next two came in their own time, much bigger babies (5kg and 4.5kg) and no trauma to any of us. lots of vernix too.