The short answer is no. You should not induce labor unless there is a medical reason to do so. Planning to have a baby on your husband’s vacation is not a reason. Planning to have your baby so the birthday will be the same as your great Aunt Millie’s is not a reason. Planning to have a baby so you can be home by the weekend is also not a reason to induce labor. Have I stumbled on your reason yet? I hope you are not too upset with me. I fall under the first bad reason if it makes you feel any better. I am not telling you this to offend but to protect you and your baby. Induction is often made to look like a choice and not something only used when necessary.
My Experiences with Induction
My first induction was with my first baby. She was over a week overdue so the doctor scheduled me for an induction. The labor was long but everything went well. My baby was born vaginally and healthy without the use of forceps or a vacuum.
I was schedule for an induction with my next baby for the day after he would be considered a week overdue. I happily went into labor the day before the induction.
The tide seemed to have turned by my third pregnancy. It appeared that scheduling an induction was the norm and offered for as early as the due date. Offered! My doctor was very responsible yet he did allow me to get an induction the day after my due date. Having one successful induction and in no mood to be pregnant, I happily accepted. My husband already had vacation time during that next week so I was hoping to have the baby by then. Somehow now that whole though process sounds jumbled and illogical.
I went in for the induction and for a very long time it appeared not to work. The doctor finally broke my water but announced how that meant I was there for the duration. The meaning was that one way or another, vaginally or surgically, this baby would be born. I grew terrified and regretted my decision. Thankfully, she was born healthy despite the difficulty pushing.
Unsure why to this day, I agreed to another induction with my fourth child. This time, she was overdue but only by four days. The induction did not work and I had to go home. The next day I went into labor on my own. Yay!
So, my birth stories are fairly uneventful. When it comes to birth stories that is a good thing. Yet, the fact remains that women who get induced early are 64% more likely to have a C-section. I came close with my third child which was an early induction. I think we need to stop thinking of our convenience and start thinking of the health of our babies. We all want a healthy baby. No mom intends on putting her baby or herself in jeopardy by being induced early. We follow our doctor’s lead and if he is willing to induce we are more than happy to become “un-pregnant” as soon as possible. Let’s slow down. Let’s allow the baby to claim the birth date. Lessen your chance of a C-section or a baby in the NICU by allowing your body to go into labor naturally. Unless you medically need an induction consider patience the best course of action.