Induction?

[Laiceysmummy]

Has anyone else asked to be induced and has actually been allowed to have it done?

I was induced with my first DD due to her having some complications with growth and i liked being able to know what day it was going to happen.

This time around i would like to be induced again, not extremely early, but around my due date. My DF works for the government doing their quarantine waste and if i were to go into labour while he is in the middle of a load he cant just drop it and come home, it has to be finished and returned and each laod takes 2 hours from pick up to drop off. Plus he works an hour away and my first labour was very fast so im a little bit worried that he wont get back in time to get me to hospital and ill end up going it alone at home. PLus id like to be able to sort out who is looking after DD while im in labour as both grandparents on both sides work shift work and no one really knows who will be able to have her.

There is also the birthday problems, Im due on either the 23rd or 26th of march, my DD birthday is the 27th march and my niece is the 23rd march so id prefer not to have any cross overs of days.

Does anyone else think that this is a reasonable excuse to ask for an induction?

[Toomanytoomany]

I'm going to assume you are fully aware of all the risks of induction - that you may be inducing an early baby (due dates aren't always right, and a pregnancy may not be complete until 42 weeks - depends on your baby!), that you are increasing the risk of foetal distress and caesarean section, that you will probably have to have continuous external foetal monitoring, and there are risks involved with an amniotomy. There is also no guarantee that an induction will be successful. There is also no guarantee that you won't go into labour before your induction is scheduled, and you'll have to make contingency plans for all those concerns of yours anyway!!

Anyway, assuming you are at peace with all of that, yes, some OBs will do inductions for "social reasons". My last was much like that - I had horrible symphisis pubis pain and was miserable. Some may check how favourable your cervix is before consenting and won't induce on an unfavourable cervix. I also had an induction with #3 because like you my labours were fast, and I had to travel for over an hour and a half through mountains to the hospital. I was ready to go at 39 weeks + 3, and it was an easy induction.

Only you can know whether your request is reasonable or not!

[Maybebabie]

It probably depends on your ob. Where I live you only see an ob regularly if your a private patient and i am pretty sure you'd have more luck with one of them (since they allow elective c-sections etc) but if you are public they won't even consider induction until 10days past due date unless there is a medical condition. (you see an ob less and not likely to be the same one).

[Jahzara]

My due date with DS#3 was my DS#2's birthday, so i really was trying to avoid having DS#3 on the same day. My OB said that if i held out till after that date then she would induce me, i was so big and heavy (normally only quite little and i am quite short) and i could barely walk.

I was asking for an induction anyway, so it worked for me. Never thought i would ask for an induction as my experience with my other two births was that naturally was better. That was just my experience !

Dont think i would have stood a chance of an induction through the local hospital unless i had made it to the end of 2 weeks past my DD and nothing was happening.

I ended up having DS#3 5 days after DS#2's birthday. Even though i was induced they said i was pretty close anyway. I just couldnt hang on any longer !

Our bodies are all so different !

Good luck !

[BellyBelly]

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/...-or-not-induce

Induction of Labour - To Induce or Not Induce

[Je$$_84]

With both my children i was post date... 1st i went to 43 weeks booked in the next day for induction when i started having contractions. They broke my water and 4 hours later i had my baby boy but they told me he was very post date and the plecenta looked bad. .
2nd Pregnancy i went 10 days post and was induced with the gel. 2 hours after 1st gel was in i was holding my baby girl. very quick painful and as a result of suck a quick birth my DD had badly blood shot eyes and a pressure spot inbetween her eyes that is still there (now a birth mark)

I think induction should be considered carefully. I know what its like to be post date. its emotionaly and physically hard. i think its something you need to discuss with your healthcare professionals. GL

[Schmickers]

Does anyone else think that this is a reasonable excuse to ask for an induction?

I don't know, Laiceysmummy, it sounds a bit risky to me. Induction is quite a dangerous procedure - some studies have determined it as being twice or three times as dangerous as allowing labour to begin naturally, depending on what type of hospital the induction is performed at.

I don't think I'd take on that level of risk for birthdays, no.

ETA: For instance, this study.

[BellyBelly]

You might have to copy and paste that study Michael, its got cookies on the page and session has timed out.

[christy]

TBH in my personal opinion... its not worth the risk. It raises issues like did you know you would have a higher risk of uterine rupture? A higher risk of post partum haemorrhage and a higher risk of failure to progress results in caesarean?

My first DD's labour was induced. After 20 hours of labour & intervention it lead to a c/s. My second, I refused induction and had a much easier labour and birth. To me the risk of induction and intervention isn't worth a birthday... sorry.

[MantaRay]

My personal opinion is that shared birthdays etc are not nearly a big deal as potential risks to the baby or the mum. I also quite like the idea of my babies "choosing" their own birth date.

I certainly understand that you have some logistical difficulties with an unexpected labour - but as someone said previously, you will need a plan in place for an early labour anyway. My DS2 arrived 4 weeks early, and he arrived fast, so none of the plans we had in place for DS1's care etc were available and we just had to "go with the flow". You could always take your older one to the birth (I now regret that DS1 didn't stay - he was only picked up from the hossy 15 mins before his brother was born). It ceratinly is not ideal that your DH's work isn't flexible, and if he's unable to take time off before the birth jic, then it's a tough one. But maybe you can have a back up support person if your DH has just started a run or something like that. Anyway, some things to think about. GL.

[Nelle]

Does anyone else think that this is a reasonable excuse to ask for an induction?

For the sake of knowing when it's all going to happen, and scheduling birthdays, and not being able to organise support...probably not, no.

For not wanting to labour alone, or without dh...yeah I can definitely understand that.
Here are my suggestions.
- Find people to watch your dd who are willing to drop everything, even missing work.
- See if there's any chance your dh can work closer to home as your due date approaches - it won't hurt to ask, and many companies are flexible and understanding about birth. It's worth asking.
- Get some backup support people, for if dh is going to take some time to get to you. Then you won't have to labour alone.
Many people go into labour at night, so it's quite possible that your dh will be home at the time anyway. Still, it's good to have plans for every eventuality.

Definitely put some thought into the idea of induction, it definitely comes with risks. I think try to avoid it if you can.

[Schmickers]

Link in my posted edited - hopefully should work now.