Hello all,
I really need to write a “birth story” update for this forum, but with a 12-week-old active little girl, have zero time. So just very quickly now on the 39-week induction protocol, about which I feel very strongly (negatively). Yes, the placental deterioration is one concern, a large (or extra large if continued longer) baby is another, and an increased risk of stillbirth is the biggest one. All these are based on studies from the 1970s and 80s where “good control” looked very different and management technologies were much less developed. No matter, that is what doctors go by. If you really are in great control and have zero complications prior to and during the pregnancy (my case), and depending on your willingness to confront the authoritative doctors, you CAN push to delay. I managed to go all the way to 40 weeks and 3 days, but in the end had the induction largely because my husband started freaking out. It’s hard not to when one has to hear about the stillbirth rate for the umpteenth time and is not the one with any control over the situation. I don’t regret making a compromise for him because we are in this together and I wanted to be considerate of his feelings AND at least I had the baby grow as much as she needed to, but in the end the induction was terrible and not particularly effective (I honestly think it was influenced by my mindset that we’re not ready yet). My labor lasted 36 hours and the Pitocin receptors in my uterus didn’t seem to be working efficiently, so the doctors in the hospital stopped and re-started it at one point, ramping up the amount from the initial dose of 2 again. Since I didn’t want any pain-relieving medication and the Pitocin contractions are worse than the natural ones (due to the pause, I was able to experience some of both kinds), the whole thing was more intense and way longer than it probably would have been had I waited the few more days at home, but here we are…
Bottom line, if you are preparing to not allow induction (oh, and you have every right to, nobody can drag you to the hospital by force), do plan what to do if you – and I mean you, your partner, and whatever other members of your circle have any impact on your decision – reach and go past 40 weeks too! We were really not that well prepared for that psychologically.