Ask Me Help Desk - Can I be induced?

I am 37 weeks pregnant as of today and I have been to the hospital numerous times just to be sent home in "false labor". The last I knew I was 3cm and 60% effaced. This is my 2nd child and my 1st was born at 35 weeks. I was induced with preeclampsia. I don't know if the doctor was trying to scare me because I was pretty young when I had him but she told me that if he had been any bigger than the tiny 5lbs that he was that I wouuld have needed a c-section. He was vaccuum assisted. They are already measuring this baby at around 7 lbs and I am only 5 feet tall and petite. I am in sooo much pain and last night my contractions became very regular, every 4 minutes on the dot. I could not lay down, the only was I was comfortable was leaning over my sons crib and rocking back and forth... I have also been crying over everything lately for no reason. I have a doctors appt today, so I decided against going to the hospital early this morning. If I am not any more dilated when the doctor checks me today, can I request to be induced?? I am so exhausted and I can't take care of my 2 year old because I can't walk without hurting... please help!!

You can ask your doctor to be induced, but all docs are different in when they will induce someone. Also your cervix must be favorable to the induction, and keep in mind that some inductions do end up with a c-section.

At this point I am willing to get this baby out any way he will come out. I am in so much pain

I am sure you are, but keep in mind, the longer the baby stays in, the better it is for the baby.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjb4060

I am 37 weeks pregnant as of today and i have been to the hospital numerous times just to be sent home in "false labor". the last i knew i was 3cm and 60% effaced. this is my 2nd child and my 1st was born at 35 weeks. i was induced with preeclampsia. i dont know if the doctor was trying to scare me b/c i was pretty young when i had him but she told me that if he had been any bigger than the tiny 5lbs that he was that i wouuld have needed a c-section. he was vaccuum assisted. they are already measuring this baby at around 7 lbs and i am only 5 feet tall and petite. i am in sooo much pain and last night my contractions became very regular, every 4 minutes on the dot. i could not lay down, the only was i was comfortable was leaning over my sons crib and rocking back and forth...i have also been crying over everything lately for no reason. i have a drs appt today, so i decided against going to the hospital early this morning. If i am not any more dilated when the doctor checks me today, can i request to be induced??? i am so exhausted and i can't take care of my 2 year old because i can't walk without hurting...please help!!!!!!!

If you truly would have had difficulty with a baby over 5 pounds, they would have been watching closely this time around as this is something they would determine in your very first exam. You may be petite, but you would be surprised the size of babies petite women have everyday... :)
Certainly you can ask to be induced, but whether they will is another question. As was said, it can be difficult in the last few weeks, and given your progress thus far you may be a good candidate for it to go pretty well (obviously there are no guarantees), but there are risks to inductions that should not be taken lightly. If you can manage a few more weeks, likely even less, without being induced... you take that element of risk for you and baby out of the picture.