Yes, probably, (don’t we all…) and it’s *your* job as her caregiver to tell her no!

OBs just hope that if they keep feeding mothers this line of BS they’ll start believing it and go for the unnecessary induction. As we all know, induction=FTP=c-section=more money!!!

What the OB was implying: “Because as we all know, you’re so week you’ll be begging me for relief from a condition billions of women have endured. And note the beg thing — keep in mind who has the power here. Oh,and I’m saying this because of course I WILL do medically unnecessary inductions for nothing other than the convenience of my patients who find it uncomfortable to remain pregnant.”

I’m curious: does EVERY woman beg to give birth at 39 weeks? Because during four pregnancies, I never did. And in the 5th, I delivered at 38 weeks, but I doubt I would have then either.

I like how in every “there are too many inductions” news article, there is an OB saying “but the women are just BEGGING US FOR THEM, we can’t refuse!”

Seems like the women who are begging for inductions got the idea from someone…

I can’t speak from experience on this because my children were born at 38+4 and 38+3 respectively. But I was offered to schedule an induction at 39+6 for doctor convenience when I was 37 weeks and I passed. I can’t imagine every woman is lining up for a riskier and more painful labor at 39 weeks.

Huh… That’s odd, I was fine with waiting until 41+5 (or longer if necessary) with my youngest. Somehow I doubt simply visiting that one doctor’s office would suddenly make me lose all faith in evidence based pregnancy and birth care. Although it might reduce my opinion of that particular example of medical “care” providers.

This was mine. The OB also was trying to convince me that I needed to be induced if I hadn’t gone into labor by then but that is another very long and very stupid story in itself.

Luckily I had spontaneous labor at 37 weeks and didn’t have to deal with the fight later on. My son was a healthy 6lbs 9oz with apgars of 9 and 9. I’m glad he was able to come when HE was ready and not when the doctor thought it was best.

But you know, other than that issue and one other, I honestly did like him quite a bit. He had a wonderful bedside manner, truly listened to me, made time to answer all my questions at my appointments, never made me feel like I was an inconvenience, and was completely accommodating to the rest of my wishes for birth.

So it’s a shame he was so far out of my line of thinking on this one.

I had both of my kids one day shy of 41 weeks and never begged anybody to get them out.

I did ask my midwife to try some alternatives to kick-start things, but she wouldn’t, and told me to wait… I walked and walked and tried everything, but babies (when “allowed” to) come in their own time. But the thing is, even though I was impatient, she wasn’t. Because her job is to do what’s best for the mother and baby.
Convenience isn’t part of the equation.
Do they teach that at doctor school?

All of my kids came btwn 40 and 41 weeks, and no, I wasn’t begging or anything at 39 weeks!

This reminds me of my experience w/ my 1st. I went to my 40w appt and my OB said excitedly “YAY! Now you can have your induction!!” I told her no and she expressed surprise that any mother would skip the chance to plan the day her child was born if she could. She was really puzzled! And then she had HER scheduled c/s the next day so didn’t get a chance to pressure me any more

I’m with you, Stephanie. With all the hoops and crap I had to jump through and endure during my last pregnancy, I was relieved to still be pregnant at 39 weeks.

Really? I was induced at 39 weeks due to pre-e and I was none too happy about it. I’m still not happy about it 5 months later, even though I feel it was necessary. I wanted my son to choose to come when he was ready, not be ousted because my body was failing me. =/

I’m 35wks with my 3rd child and I’ve already been offered induction at 39 weeks TWICE — once by the NP, and once by an OB. I’ve declined, and as my first two were born at 39w0d and 36w3d I’m sure I’ll pop before then, but still — I think I’ll try to find a midwife next time around.

In our homebirth practice, our moms never act like they are just miserable. If asked how they’re doing, most kinda joke and say something like they’d rather not have to pee every 5 minutes or they can’t tie their shoes, or (at worst) “I’m still pregnant”. They know it’s part of the process.
Maybe what makes it different is that instead of maybe 10 minutes with an OB, our ladies have at least an hour to do their prenatal appt. During that time we brag on them for the things they are doing well and offer support for the things they could improve. The moms leave feeling good about themselves and what how they are caring for their unborn babies.

Not all women are miserable at the end of pregnancy. I actually felt pretty good up to the end both times. I think part of that is that I’m lucky that I don’t get very big, and also that I’m young, but it’s also attitude. I don’t let the little things bother me.

I had my first at 39+3 and my second at 39+5 and never once even thought that the idea of elective induction was appealing.