Even women who have wonderful, healthy and beautiful pregnancies are likely to be tired of being pregnant within a few weeks of the due date. Feeling heavy, swollen, and tired, these moms are ready to give birth. In today’s modern world, this situation can be easily cured: just set up an induction! Many providers will introduce pregnant patients after the 39th week of pregnancy. A recent study found that 18 percent of jobs in the United-states-air-force”>United were introduced1 and With the challenges and perceived dangers, the question becomes, what?
1) Due periods are not accurate. A woman’s due date is based on the idea that she has 28 days cesarean. In fact, 44% of those who end up with a caesarean section, because only 8% of those who go into labor spontaneously 3. The biggest concern about elective inductions is that they don’t guarantee that the baby’s lungs are ready enough to breathe on their own. Of course, once the baby is ready to shed its protein, it sends a signal to the mother’s body to start labor 4. Before this sign inducing labor in the growth of premature babies who spend the first days in the NICU. It is a common reason that doctors give an induction when the baby is perceived to be too big for vaginal delivery. First of all, ultrasounds are known to be invaluable in assessing weight, and secondly, ACOG recommends against induction for large babies because they almost double the cesarean rate without to correct the child’s health. Every Baby Magazine says that elective induction for the first time mother, should be especially appreciated because it often happens in increased. pain, increased intervention, and morbidity in the infant in the delivery of instruments more consequential 6 .
3) Syndromes after puberty falsely scare. Another reason why providers care and pregnant women is designated for labor when the pregnancy continues past forty weeks. This is based on a study from 1958 saying that miscarriage increases dramatically after 40 weeks 7. What we now know is that there is no rise in labor from 40-42 weeks, and only a slight rise at 43 weeks 8. After 43 weeks, less than 10% of baby signs will show postmaturity syndrome; especially with fetal illness, when the miscarriage is higher. The risk becomes more likely as the weeks progress past forty, but they do not begin at the appropriate time. Large studies comparing birth statistics from term (37-41 weeks) to post-term (beyond 42 weeks), found that the infant death rate, meconium spotting, shoulder dystocia, and cesarean sections occurred about the same in both groups. The only difference was that post-term infants had fewer conditions of fetal distress, fewer instrumental deliveries and higher Apgar 9 scores.
According to doctors, legitimate inducing reasons include: high blood pressure, premature rupture of membranes, infection, diabetes, kidney or heart disease , suspected fetal risk, fetal death, severe blood resistance, severe preeclampsia or toxemia, or the baby is proven to be at risk a day later.
“It requires the pregnant woman to let go of the belief that pregnancy, labor, childbirth, or parenthood will always be beneficial” 11. I remember being 40 weeks pregnant and wishing it was over. I also tried to introduce myself, which didn’t work very well. I finally realized that my time was better spent resting, being guilty, and using patience to grow up with my parents.
If you’re considering elective induction, talk to someone who’s been in your shoes. Find some company, a hobby, go shopping, cook some food, or some rest. Your baby and your body will thank you for your patience.
Resources:
1. “Induction Junction” by Pamela Richardson. Pregnancy Magazine. November 2005
2, 10. “Deciding the Child” by: Nancy Griffen. Mother Magazine March 2001
3. www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/08/23/ep.csection/#cnnSTCOther1
4. “You Can Wait” by Debbie Amis. Lamaze Parents Magazine 2006
5. Lamaze Institute for Normal Birth. Care Practice # 1: It starts with the work itself
6. “Come on, Baby” by Naomi Freundlich. Every Baby Magazine 2006 Issue 4
7,8,9. “Christmas Time” by Gail Hart. Midwife today Part 72
11. “Earlier in Christmas” by Jennifer Rosenberg. Obstetrician Today. Winter 2002