PREGNANCY-BIRTH Messages for May, 2000: Re: Is induction at 38 weeks ok?

Re: Is induction at 38 weeks ok?

From: AMD

anonymous@obgyn.net

Wed, 3 May 2000 12:01:17 -0500 (CDT)

I am not a medical professional of any sort, but I can offer my 2 cents worth.

When most books talk about induction for convenience, I think they are referring more to convenient scheduling of the delivery, or the mother who is simply "tired of being pregnant". I can not imagine that they are including inductions when the pregnancy has been complicated in some way.

This does not sound like it is purely for your or the doctor's "convenience". He may have a concern about letting you go into spontaneous labor after the problems you have had. He may have reasons to think that the baby (or you) will be better off delivered as soon as it is safe. Or he may realize that the bedrest regimen is stressful for most women and is offering you an option.

You need to ask him whether he is offering an induction, or recommending an induction. And find out why. I think the official medical line is that there are only a few reasons to induce before term, and I'm sure one of the doctors here can elaborate on those reasons.

When you know why he would induce you at 38 weeks, you can make a better choice about whether or not to do it.

FWIW -- both my boys delivered spontaneously at 37 weeks and they are both fine. So don't be too worried that 38 weeks is too early.

Andrea

>At Wed, 3 May 2000, Elsa wrote:
>>
>>I am 36 weeks pregnant(due date is May 30),2-3 cm dialated and 50%
>>effaced. Last week I began having contractions and was given and IV to
>>rehydrate and a shot of something that starts with a "T"(asked the nurse
>>and doctor several times and still can't remember the name of the drug)
>>to stop the contractions. I was kept overnight and I was also put on
>>modified bedrest and told to drink 60oz of water a day. Seems to help
>>when I start to cramp up again. Yesterday at my appointment my
>>condition had not changed. The doctor said to continue with the bedrest
>>and water. He also said that he would induce me at 38 weeks if
>>conditions were ok (The effacement was enough and position of the baby
>>was low enough). He also said I was pretty much there anyway. When I
>>got home I began reading in my books on labor induction and they all
>>said induction for convience is not advised. THey basically painted a
>>horror story of pitocin. I though doctors induced people all the time.
>>I can only suspect that he said he would induce for my comfort. My
>>husband is concerned we should let the pregnancy go. I'm not so quick
>>to agree. My doctor is considered to be one of the best in the area and
>>I trust his decisions.

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