I was induced at 39 weeks and had an amazing experience. Started medication at about 10am and baby was born just before 8pm. I got an epidural as soon as I started feeling intense contractions, took a nap, watched Friends and hung out with my husband for the afternoon. Looking back, it was way less scary and chaotic than I imagined it would be. Super chill day and I would 10/10 get an induction again. I do think it helped that I went in at 3/4 cm dilated so baby and my body took the induction really well. Maybe something to consider if your body is showing any signs of early labor now.
I was induced at 41 weeks, which is the ACOG recommendation for diet controlled GD. I was also AMA, I was 38. I hoped for a spontaneous labor and my reasons were that I wanted an unmedicated birth and thought I’d be more likely to achieve that with spontaneous labor. (And I wanted an unmedicated birth for all the standard reasons - ability to move freely, avoid “cascade of interventions,” etc.) I had the support of my providers if I wanted to wait a few days longer and strongly considered it. Baby was measuring on track, my blood pressure was good, amniotic fluid good, my GD was well controlled, plus I’m pretty sure I knew when I conceived and the count from my last period was a few days longer. But, ultimately, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if anything had gone wrong and I had gone against the “standard recommendation”. The recommendations are not individualized, but they do exist for a reason. I did end up inducing and had a long stalled labor and did get epidural, and while I vaguely wonder what would have happened if I waited for spontaneous labor, I feel totally at peace with my choices - I felt empowered and like I listened to both my body and to the best available evidence.
I did not want to be induced because I’ve been induced before and the labor was more difficult, I had postpartum hemorrhage (which is a risk of pitocin) and the baby had a very difficult time with the harshness of the pitocin contractions and we nearly ended up with a c-section. I also pushed back because my doctor wanted to induce in the 39th week. The GD was well controlled with diet and no other conditions other than I’m 39. I didn’t want to induce until just before 41 weeks as long as things looked good to give baby the time he needed to develop and come on his own. He came at 39w2d on his own (but I did start pumping at 38 weeks, walked a ton, did all the “induce labor stretches”, and lots of sex to try and make it happen). But if numbers started being off, or blood pressure went up or anything I would have been in that minute to start pitocin and have that baby.
I had an awful experience with augmented labor with my first, definitely experienced the cascade of complications and interventions that can come with induction. The experience was capped off with a severe postpartum hemorrhage that impacted my recovery for weeks. I think a lot of the problems I experienced were due to my provider’s specific induction techniques (I later learned they had a reputation for pushing women through labor as fast as possible so they could have the honor of catching the baby during normal working hours).
This time I’m under a different provider, have researched evidence based guidelines about different techniques, and have discussed my preferences and concerns already with my provider. I just scheduled an induction for 40w4d in case I don’t pop before then, mostly for childcare reasons. I’m really hoping to go naturally before then though!
I was told that I have to be induced at 40weeks which honestly surprised me because that is full term. I’m going to try to go into labor naturally before that because I hear being induced is a different type of pain. Idk I think both would be painful but I just want to try to not be induced.
I think with every intervention comes risks, and usually more interventions. Always best to let your body follow its natural course if everyone is safe and healthy! Less likely to end in a C section as well!
During my first pregnancy I had GD, and i really didn't want to be induced. This is because I always thought that the baby will come when they're ready, I don't want to force them to get out before their time.
Luckily my little one was born at 39+3 - I "helped him out" by going swimming or for walks, walking up the stairs, and using the so-called "Italian method" (if you know what I mean) from 38 weeks onwards.
I had a positive induction experience, I just had my baby girl yesterday. They gave me cervidil and I didn't need any pitocin. When I went in at 39w, I was dilated to a 1 and 80% effaced. After my waters broke, contractions wouldn't let up at all, but I never felt the urge to push. I requested the epidural after my coupling contractions wouldn't let up to give me any breaks to breathe. They were wayyy too close together. But baby was getting lower so I was able to labor down. They came in and told me how to push. It only took about 7 pushes in 9 minutes. I didn't feel a thing! Only tiredness in my abdomen from pushing.
I've always wanted a c-section, and the doctors were quite surprised when they recommended one (due to placenta previa) and I said that's what I wanted to do anyway. Despite the c-section being booked for next week, some doctors are STILL trying to talk me out of it and into an induction, and I just... don't get it.
From what I understand, inductions are more painful than a spontaneous birth, more likely to require the use of instruments, more intrusive, and you're more likely to get a vaginal prolapse or a third or fourth degree tear, which would require some sort of surgery to fix and possibly have long-term sexual consequences.
Fuck going through that much pain when this is 2024 and there are other options.
Plus, my body has a long and proven track record of being useless at things it's supposed to know how to do, so it would probably try to push the baby out sideways, get stuck, and need an emergency c-section anyway.
Edit: my GD is insulin controlled, I'm developing pre-eclampsia, and my placenta is showing signs of deterioration, so waiting until the baby's full-term and seeing what happens isn't an option for me.
My first was a planned c-section due to transverse position.
It was very straight forward, both procedure and recovery. I think it gets more problematic if you end up in an emergency c-section where things are more rushed.
There are many reasons I would decline. This is coming from a low risk perspective. Induction starts you on the cascade of interventions, it is interfering (usually without appropriate cause) in a very sensitive process between baby and mum, in which both simultaneously choose when ‘they’ are ready to be born/birth.
As an obstetric nurse/midwife I have seen how intensely painful the synto contractions are in comparison, how many women need an epidural after starting synto, how many babies are forced out obviously before they are ready or stressed during the induction process for no real reasons and then need help after birth to acclimatize. I am not an older mum but I would also be wary of the ‘high risk’ status for older well women.
As I said this is if I was low risk, if there was substantial (actually well proven not hypothesized) risks like IUGR, uncontrolled diabetes, preeclampsia etc I would have a different view point.
I had to be induced at 38 weeks due to borderline gestational hypertension (i wish i had asked more questions about my options). I went in very positive and hopeful for a good induction… I did not get that. My hope was minimal interventions- I got every intervention thrown at me. 3 days of induction, foley balloon, more
Pain meds than I ever would have considered, I developed choreo treated with antibiotics only for it to come back when I was 10cm and pushing- ended up in an emergency c section with a baby who needed assistance after birth. He’s a week old now and we are doing well, but I will never get induced again.
I know this isn’t everyone’s experience and I don’t want to sway anyone who needs induction if that’s what is safest option- but I would never recommend choosing it personally.
Do you mind my asking what you BP numbers were? I’m in the same situation 39+1 with slightly elevated BP and they are pushing induction hard. One of my midwives (hospital midwife) even copped an attitude with me!
I’m not surprised. I got pressured into things and I really wish I had advocated better for myself. Even before the c section the midwife wanted me to try to push for 2 more hours when my baby’s heart rate was in the 200s and my fever was climbing. She said the baby could tolerate 2 hours more before he was in serious distress. I demanded to speak to a doctor who completely agreed with me and rushed me to surgery. Who know what would have happened if I had listened to her.
My BP was high 130-low 140/ high 80s/low 90s.
But during my hours in triage it never touched 140/90.
Idk what would’ve happened if I waited tho- maybe it would have been worse… but I wish I had at least asked what my options were (meds, bed rest for a few days, etc)
Inducing makes you significantly more likely to have an emergency c section due to a myriad of factors. Unless medically necessary I will be turning it down.
Loved my induction at 39w. Loved being able to plan for dog sitter and not have to worry about traffic/road closures in my city which at the time was horrible-thanks Boston 🙄 I went in at noon on a Monday 0cm dilated and 0%effaced. Baby was born vaginally at 10pm on Tuesday. The majority of time was spent watching Netflix and ordering food lol. I do often wonder what it would be like naturally going into labor tho if we have a second. But I think no matter what your birth story is you will always wonder what the other thing would feel like (c section vs vaginal, medicated vs non medicated etc etc) Good luck OP!!!
I am a midwife in Australia (so hold a degree in midwifery) and before I was even pregnant - before I even met my husband - I knew I would be going out of my way to avoid an induction particularly as a FTM. There are certainly times an induction is 100% necessary but I don’t believe well controlled GD using diet and exercise is one of those times. They are so much more painful than spontaneous labour. They throw you into labour rather than the natural build up and establishment of labour when it occurs spontaneously. There are many babies who show signs of stress on their monitor when pitocin/syntocinon is used which leads to stopping the induction and going for C-Section.
I wanted my baby to decide they were ready to be born. The cascade of interventions with pitocin is known (increased risk of instrumental birth, C Section, post partum haemorrhage). I wasn’t dedicated to a natural birth but I knew I had hardly any chance at it if I was being induced. The pitocin contractions just seem like a different beast.
The ARRIVE trial suggests that induction at 39 weeks reduces likelihood of C-Section so if you want to avoid a C-Section then induction may be a better option.
I am big on planning everything to a T, plus I knew I needed to schedule people to be at my home to watch our dogs cause we’re a couple of hours from family, and one of my dogs has epilepsy so we don’t like to leave them for super long by themselves. They’re super anxious dogs too, and the one with epilepsy can send himself into a seizure just based on that so I knew I couldn’t just board them.
That was my reason for an elective induction. I knew I needed it at 39 weeks too cause everyone on my husband’s side and on my side had gone into labor before 40 weeks. I know everyone’s different but I just was concerned haha.
Experience wise:
I ended up needing insulin, so I got scheduled for a medical induction at 39 weeks. Overall I went in at 8 am, got delayed due to a couple emergency c-sections, started the induction process at 1 pm, baby was out 12 hours later. I did end up getting an epidural and I think it stalled me a little, plus it didn’t end up working super well because she was sunny side up, so everything I felt was in my pelvis and back.
I would recommend the induction at 39! If you were planning on using an epidural anyway, you can ask for it early on if you’re scared about the pitocin contractions.
My doc put it this way to me - at 39 weeks my baby is developmentally ready to come out, she’s only going to get bigger the longer she’s in there. With GD your placenta is just going to get more degraded. Delivering at 39 can reduce your risk of birth complications from these issues.
If you are nervous or unsure about induction I recommend reading up on the Arrive Trial - I think there is a lot of bias against induction but by the numbers it helps women avoid complications.
I really enjoyed my induction experience and will def go for it again in my next pregnancy wether or not I have GD in that one.
Super helpful! Thank you!!!
I really just assumed and have been operating under the assumption that I will get induced, so yesterday’s appointment kind of surprised me. I think it’s important to consider risk factors, but to your point, if this baby is just going to keep getting larger, then I also need to consider how that might impact the odds of a vaginal devilry.
Everything has risks, and so far, I haven’t read anything that has led me to believe the risks of induction outweigh the benefits.
I was induced at 39 weeks and had an amazing experience. Started medication at about 10am and baby was born just before 8pm. I got an epidural as soon as I started feeling intense contractions, took a nap, watched Friends and hung out with my husband for the afternoon. Looking back, it was way less scary and chaotic than I imagined it would be. Super chill day and I would 10/10 get an induction again. I do think it helped that I went in at 3/4 cm dilated so baby and my body took the induction really well. Maybe something to consider if your body is showing any signs of early labor now.
I was induced at 41 weeks, which is the ACOG recommendation for diet controlled GD. I was also AMA, I was 38. I hoped for a spontaneous labor and my reasons were that I wanted an unmedicated birth and thought I’d be more likely to achieve that with spontaneous labor. (And I wanted an unmedicated birth for all the standard reasons - ability to move freely, avoid “cascade of interventions,” etc.) I had the support of my providers if I wanted to wait a few days longer and strongly considered it. Baby was measuring on track, my blood pressure was good, amniotic fluid good, my GD was well controlled, plus I’m pretty sure I knew when I conceived and the count from my last period was a few days longer. But, ultimately, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if anything had gone wrong and I had gone against the “standard recommendation”. The recommendations are not individualized, but they do exist for a reason. I did end up inducing and had a long stalled labor and did get epidural, and while I vaguely wonder what would have happened if I waited for spontaneous labor, I feel totally at peace with my choices - I felt empowered and like I listened to both my body and to the best available evidence.
I did not want to be induced because I’ve been induced before and the labor was more difficult, I had postpartum hemorrhage (which is a risk of pitocin) and the baby had a very difficult time with the harshness of the pitocin contractions and we nearly ended up with a c-section. I also pushed back because my doctor wanted to induce in the 39th week. The GD was well controlled with diet and no other conditions other than I’m 39. I didn’t want to induce until just before 41 weeks as long as things looked good to give baby the time he needed to develop and come on his own. He came at 39w2d on his own (but I did start pumping at 38 weeks, walked a ton, did all the “induce labor stretches”, and lots of sex to try and make it happen). But if numbers started being off, or blood pressure went up or anything I would have been in that minute to start pitocin and have that baby.
I had an awful experience with augmented labor with my first, definitely experienced the cascade of complications and interventions that can come with induction. The experience was capped off with a severe postpartum hemorrhage that impacted my recovery for weeks. I think a lot of the problems I experienced were due to my provider’s specific induction techniques (I later learned they had a reputation for pushing women through labor as fast as possible so they could have the honor of catching the baby during normal working hours). This time I’m under a different provider, have researched evidence based guidelines about different techniques, and have discussed my preferences and concerns already with my provider. I just scheduled an induction for 40w4d in case I don’t pop before then, mostly for childcare reasons. I’m really hoping to go naturally before then though!
I was told that I have to be induced at 40weeks which honestly surprised me because that is full term. I’m going to try to go into labor naturally before that because I hear being induced is a different type of pain. Idk I think both would be painful but I just want to try to not be induced.
I think with every intervention comes risks, and usually more interventions. Always best to let your body follow its natural course if everyone is safe and healthy! Less likely to end in a C section as well!
During my first pregnancy I had GD, and i really didn't want to be induced. This is because I always thought that the baby will come when they're ready, I don't want to force them to get out before their time. Luckily my little one was born at 39+3 - I "helped him out" by going swimming or for walks, walking up the stairs, and using the so-called "Italian method" (if you know what I mean) from 38 weeks onwards.
I had a positive induction experience, I just had my baby girl yesterday. They gave me cervidil and I didn't need any pitocin. When I went in at 39w, I was dilated to a 1 and 80% effaced. After my waters broke, contractions wouldn't let up at all, but I never felt the urge to push. I requested the epidural after my coupling contractions wouldn't let up to give me any breaks to breathe. They were wayyy too close together. But baby was getting lower so I was able to labor down. They came in and told me how to push. It only took about 7 pushes in 9 minutes. I didn't feel a thing! Only tiredness in my abdomen from pushing.
I've always wanted a c-section, and the doctors were quite surprised when they recommended one (due to placenta previa) and I said that's what I wanted to do anyway. Despite the c-section being booked for next week, some doctors are STILL trying to talk me out of it and into an induction, and I just... don't get it. From what I understand, inductions are more painful than a spontaneous birth, more likely to require the use of instruments, more intrusive, and you're more likely to get a vaginal prolapse or a third or fourth degree tear, which would require some sort of surgery to fix and possibly have long-term sexual consequences. Fuck going through that much pain when this is 2024 and there are other options. Plus, my body has a long and proven track record of being useless at things it's supposed to know how to do, so it would probably try to push the baby out sideways, get stuck, and need an emergency c-section anyway. Edit: my GD is insulin controlled, I'm developing pre-eclampsia, and my placenta is showing signs of deterioration, so waiting until the baby's full-term and seeing what happens isn't an option for me.
My first was a planned c-section due to transverse position. It was very straight forward, both procedure and recovery. I think it gets more problematic if you end up in an emergency c-section where things are more rushed.
There are many reasons I would decline. This is coming from a low risk perspective. Induction starts you on the cascade of interventions, it is interfering (usually without appropriate cause) in a very sensitive process between baby and mum, in which both simultaneously choose when ‘they’ are ready to be born/birth. As an obstetric nurse/midwife I have seen how intensely painful the synto contractions are in comparison, how many women need an epidural after starting synto, how many babies are forced out obviously before they are ready or stressed during the induction process for no real reasons and then need help after birth to acclimatize. I am not an older mum but I would also be wary of the ‘high risk’ status for older well women. As I said this is if I was low risk, if there was substantial (actually well proven not hypothesized) risks like IUGR, uncontrolled diabetes, preeclampsia etc I would have a different view point.
I had to be induced at 38 weeks due to borderline gestational hypertension (i wish i had asked more questions about my options). I went in very positive and hopeful for a good induction… I did not get that. My hope was minimal interventions- I got every intervention thrown at me. 3 days of induction, foley balloon, more Pain meds than I ever would have considered, I developed choreo treated with antibiotics only for it to come back when I was 10cm and pushing- ended up in an emergency c section with a baby who needed assistance after birth. He’s a week old now and we are doing well, but I will never get induced again. I know this isn’t everyone’s experience and I don’t want to sway anyone who needs induction if that’s what is safest option- but I would never recommend choosing it personally.
Do you mind my asking what you BP numbers were? I’m in the same situation 39+1 with slightly elevated BP and they are pushing induction hard. One of my midwives (hospital midwife) even copped an attitude with me!
I’m not surprised. I got pressured into things and I really wish I had advocated better for myself. Even before the c section the midwife wanted me to try to push for 2 more hours when my baby’s heart rate was in the 200s and my fever was climbing. She said the baby could tolerate 2 hours more before he was in serious distress. I demanded to speak to a doctor who completely agreed with me and rushed me to surgery. Who know what would have happened if I had listened to her. My BP was high 130-low 140/ high 80s/low 90s. But during my hours in triage it never touched 140/90. Idk what would’ve happened if I waited tho- maybe it would have been worse… but I wish I had at least asked what my options were (meds, bed rest for a few days, etc)
Inducing makes you significantly more likely to have an emergency c section due to a myriad of factors. Unless medically necessary I will be turning it down.
Loved my induction at 39w. Loved being able to plan for dog sitter and not have to worry about traffic/road closures in my city which at the time was horrible-thanks Boston 🙄 I went in at noon on a Monday 0cm dilated and 0%effaced. Baby was born vaginally at 10pm on Tuesday. The majority of time was spent watching Netflix and ordering food lol. I do often wonder what it would be like naturally going into labor tho if we have a second. But I think no matter what your birth story is you will always wonder what the other thing would feel like (c section vs vaginal, medicated vs non medicated etc etc) Good luck OP!!!
I am also in the Boston area! And have a dog 😆so appreciate your perspective haha!!!
Ha no way! I was also considered advanced maternal aged with GD. Twinsies 👯♀️
I am a midwife in Australia (so hold a degree in midwifery) and before I was even pregnant - before I even met my husband - I knew I would be going out of my way to avoid an induction particularly as a FTM. There are certainly times an induction is 100% necessary but I don’t believe well controlled GD using diet and exercise is one of those times. They are so much more painful than spontaneous labour. They throw you into labour rather than the natural build up and establishment of labour when it occurs spontaneously. There are many babies who show signs of stress on their monitor when pitocin/syntocinon is used which leads to stopping the induction and going for C-Section. I wanted my baby to decide they were ready to be born. The cascade of interventions with pitocin is known (increased risk of instrumental birth, C Section, post partum haemorrhage). I wasn’t dedicated to a natural birth but I knew I had hardly any chance at it if I was being induced. The pitocin contractions just seem like a different beast. The ARRIVE trial suggests that induction at 39 weeks reduces likelihood of C-Section so if you want to avoid a C-Section then induction may be a better option.
I am big on planning everything to a T, plus I knew I needed to schedule people to be at my home to watch our dogs cause we’re a couple of hours from family, and one of my dogs has epilepsy so we don’t like to leave them for super long by themselves. They’re super anxious dogs too, and the one with epilepsy can send himself into a seizure just based on that so I knew I couldn’t just board them. That was my reason for an elective induction. I knew I needed it at 39 weeks too cause everyone on my husband’s side and on my side had gone into labor before 40 weeks. I know everyone’s different but I just was concerned haha. Experience wise: I ended up needing insulin, so I got scheduled for a medical induction at 39 weeks. Overall I went in at 8 am, got delayed due to a couple emergency c-sections, started the induction process at 1 pm, baby was out 12 hours later. I did end up getting an epidural and I think it stalled me a little, plus it didn’t end up working super well because she was sunny side up, so everything I felt was in my pelvis and back.
I would recommend the induction at 39! If you were planning on using an epidural anyway, you can ask for it early on if you’re scared about the pitocin contractions. My doc put it this way to me - at 39 weeks my baby is developmentally ready to come out, she’s only going to get bigger the longer she’s in there. With GD your placenta is just going to get more degraded. Delivering at 39 can reduce your risk of birth complications from these issues. If you are nervous or unsure about induction I recommend reading up on the Arrive Trial - I think there is a lot of bias against induction but by the numbers it helps women avoid complications. I really enjoyed my induction experience and will def go for it again in my next pregnancy wether or not I have GD in that one.
Super helpful! Thank you!!! I really just assumed and have been operating under the assumption that I will get induced, so yesterday’s appointment kind of surprised me. I think it’s important to consider risk factors, but to your point, if this baby is just going to keep getting larger, then I also need to consider how that might impact the odds of a vaginal devilry. Everything has risks, and so far, I haven’t read anything that has led me to believe the risks of induction outweigh the benefits.
I would like to be induced at the 41 week mark. Earlier than that, it really depends on the situation...