Negatives to being induced?

Question

My doctor is basically leaving it up to me to say if I want to be induced one week before my due date (Aug 23) or not. 
My first baby was born right on time, on the due date. He was 8lbs 10oz with a pretty straightforward delivery. 
She said this one is "likely over 7lbs" already when I had a full 3.5 weeks to go, that second babies are usually bigger than the first, and offered to induce a week early if I want. I'm trying to do my due diligence to make that decision. 
On the one hand, having labor scheduled would be really nice as I can schedule child and pet care for when we're at the hospital, and I've read that the chance of needing a C-section is slightly lowered if you induce.
On the other, I don't want to schedule a medical procedure just for my own selfish reasons and because I'm scared to push out a bigger baby than last time. 
Any other moms have some perspective here to help me make a good decision? Are there any other drawbacks to inducing?

Answer

Personally I wouldn't induce unless necessary. The suggested reasons in your scenario seem really arbitrary to me? I mean, how much difference is a week going to make, at 39 weeks,  to the size of the baby you're delivering? Very very little I would have thought. 
Obviously it's up to you. Your own reasons like care for other children seem far more valid than your OBs...

Answer

Increases your risk of needing a C-section. 
Baby (or you) could react badly to the pitocin. 
Increased interventions.
“Big baby” isn’t a medical reason for a C-section, especially as late-term ultrasounds are notoriously inaccurate.

Answer

As much as I want to get Induced drs said her birth weight is predicted 9-10lbs 
I’m 38, I’d like an induction, but they really increase your chances for a c section, they contractions are more painful, and it’s forcing your body into labor when it’s not ready, it can put stress on you and baby while in labor. 
I’m right there with you on wanting to induce so we don’t have troubles pushing out huge babies. 
But I’m going to let her come when she and my body is ready. Even though If the docs said “do you wanna be induced tomorrow” I’d want to say yes in a hesrt beat

Answer

I’ve been induced with my first 3 and will be induced tomorrow with my 4th.  Everything has always went fine- I mean it’s painful
But I’ve had epidurals w all my pregnancy’s bc even when I’m contracting I won’t dilate 🤷🏼‍♀️ 
Trust your Dr and their suggestions- everything will go great 👍🏼 I started reading all of these DONT DO IT posts and started scaring me then I was like 🤷🏼‍♀️ my dr cares about my baby and I and everything will
Be fine :) 💛💚🧡💜❤️

Answer

I have read about the study you are talking about. It’s called the ARRIVE study about induction at 39 weeks. They did find induction at 39 weeks decreased C-Section risk. I’m not sure how much we can put into this one study, but I do think OBGYNS are offering them at 39 weeks more often if you are “favorable”.

Answer

I was induced and I am sad I didn’t get to experience the natural labor process. I had to sit in a hospital on a bed because I had to be on monitors constantly instead of 20 minutes an hour and despite a “mobile” monitor, every time I moved they went off the baby so I had to lie still through contractions instead of rolling onto hands and knees during them and then flopping over to sleep after. Not only that but the bands made the contractions 100x worse. I had to be hooked to an iv in case something went wrong and that limited walking, which helps labor progress. And it made trying to get into the bathroom awful. I tried bouncing on the ball while having a foley bulb in me and that sucked because the tail end hangs out of you and it’s disgusting feeling. 
The process took 24hrs. I’d massively preferred to have my early labor at home in my own clothes without all that crap on me.
But I got an amazing little human out of it, so I’d do it again if I had to.

Answer

It definitely does not decrease the risk of c-section. Inductions are one of the main reasons women end up in c section. An induction is forcing your body into the most traumatic event it can experience as a women. I personally wouldn’t induce for no reason. It’s far harder on your body which means more stress for baby and more risk for interventions.

Answer

Thank you ladies for all the responses! I was already leaning towards not doing it, but I think this solidifies how I was already feeling about it. The first baby came naturally and I handled it just fine so I see no reason to rush things along at this point unless it becomes medically necessary.

Answer

I was induced with my first and I’m desperately avoiding induction this time. Inductions tend to lead to medical interventions that wouldn’t otherwise be necessary. For me, it was induction...epidural...episiotomy... forceps. Almost had to have a c section. Also, labor was waaaaaay more painful than what I might expect without pitocin. Recovery was long.

Answer

Don’t do it! Being induced increases your risk of csection. Let your body do what it’s meant to do. I know it’s hard when we are all so close and so uncomfortable but if you start labor before your body and baby is ready it can make for a long labor and eventually turn into a csection.

Negatives to being induced?

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