Induction? H*LL NO, never.

[SillyJessi]

Personally, I think induction (without medical reason, and "overdue" is NOT a medical reason) is risky period.

And by induction, I mean EVERYTHING -
Nipple stimulation (not just playing with them during sex, but attempting to bring on labor by doing it, can cause tetanic contractions, oxygen deprivation in the baby, and passage of meconium),
castor oil drinking (causes intestinal spasm, and can cause uterine spasm, which can lead tetanic contractions, oxygen deprivation in the baby, as well as passing meconium),
black or blue cohosh drinking or any other herbal methods can cause the same problems as above or others,
stripping / sweeping the membranes (introduces bacteria to the cervix and can lead to infection, may also cause accidental rupture of the membranes),
artificial rupture of membranes (VERY dangerous if baby is not in position and / or ready, could cause the water to rush out, bringing with it the umbilical cord if baby is up too high, resulting in a "cord prolapse" in which the baby can cut off its own blood supply with its head during presentation - this is FAR MORE DANGEROUS than a nuchal cord, or a "cord around the neck"), 
Cervadil (tetanic contractions, fetal distress, uterine rupture etc),
Pitocin (tetanic contractions, fetal distress, painful contractions, uterine rupture, etc).

This isn't even including the risks to the baby once on the outside - babies that do not come when they are ready, run the risk of having under-developed lungs, not having enough weight to maintain their temperature which can lead to shock, feeding difficulties, and more. 

I had a baby induced at 40 weeks (sweeping membranes, artificial rupture of membranes, pitocin put in my drip during contractions without permission).  My baby passed meconium during the labor.  He had great difficulty feeding for about a month.  Jaundice really bad, wasn't putting on weight, very lethargic...  it was really terrible.  After that experience, I decided NO baby of mine would ever be induced, unless Absolutely Medically Necessary - And really, I can't even think of a medical reason I would need that, I don't have GD, and honestly, if the emergency were that severe, I would rather have a cesarean section than an induction.  Because we're talking a "THAT BABY NEEDS TO COME OUT NOW" situation.

Prodromal labor, or uncomfortable last month, anything like that, is not a sufficient reason for ME to believe MY baby needs to be evicted from my womb. 

Having an early baby is really sickening.  I felt guilty, for not knowing that what they were doing to me was dangerous.  Because I didn't know the risks, and they didn't inform me.  Every time I looked at my baby's sunken face and yellowed skin, everytime we struggled to get him to stay awake and feed, every time I looked at him, I felt like I failed him.  AND HE WAS BORN AT 40 WEEKS!  But not when HE was ready.  Not when I was ready...  it was a very dark time, I had post partum depression, I had post traumatic stress disorder from the labor and birth experience.  What should have been the happiest time of my life turned into a  nightmare of isolation, because everyone AROUND me was happy, and said "it doesn't matter how the baby got here, as long as he's healthy" - I couldn't get them to understand HE WASN'T healthy.  I wasn't healthy.  We were not thriving.

Second time around was MUCH different, my baby was in charge and my baby was born, fat happy healthy strong, nursing like that's all he was born to do, just a sturdy little piglet ready to be alive in the big wide world.  Not this strange, alien-looking creature with the deep dark mysterious accusing eyes who said "I TOLD YOU I WASN'T READY" every time I looked at him.

So for those of you bored of being 35, 36, or even 40 weeks pregnant.  It's not worth it.  "It's a long-term solution to a temporary problem" (sounds familiar, doesn't it?).  I'm still haunted by the feeling in my house in the months following the birth of my first son.  That feeling in my stomach, in my head, in the air that somehow, I had really messed this up.

 

 

Note, I was born by scheduled cesarean back in the day of "once a c, always a c" and vertical incisions.

Believe me, it DOES matter how and when you come into this world.  It matters alot.