Can it actually take 7-14 days to induce?

My OB says that she isn't going to allow me to go past my 12/25 due date because of my WLS and my BMI. She worries the placenta will get old and detach so she doesn't want to risk it and let me go into labor on my own if it is past the due date. I asked her about it last Thursday just to make sure we will be induced on or before 12/25 just so we can plan for tax reasons, health insurance reasons, and also celebrating the holiday. I know nothing is set in stone when it comes to babies but I just wanted a little bit of an idea of what she had planned for us. She told me that depending on the growth scan on 12/1/09 she will induce between 39 & 40 weeks but there is no way to know if I will have the baby by 1/1/10. She honestly said she could induce me for 2 whole weeks or more. Is that seriously a possibility or is she jus****ching her back because there are so many "what ifs"? I don't know how that is even possible and I might kill someone if I am being induced for 2+ weeks! Do you guys think she is just being careful because anything could happen or is this really something I should be prepared for?

-Ashlie

Well there are different ways to incude.  If she's using drugs I think it would probably be faster than 7-14 days.

If she's just going to "strip" your membranes -- well it may or may not work.  Maybe that's where she's getting the time line?  My OB said if you strip membranes and the cervix isn't dialated at least 3cm (so the body is readying itself anyway) then the membranes will often grow back and it does no good (and can cause infection if not correctly.)  So if she strips your membranes, but your body isn't ready then it could be another 2 weeks before you go into labor.

BTW -- funny you mention tax claiming.  My nephew was born Jan 5th almost 2 weeks late.  My brother kept moaning about taxes....and I had to remind him that YOU CAN CLAIM A CHILD FOR 18 YEARS  (or longer if they're in school).  It doesn't matter what 18 years --- if you can't claim them this year you claim them on the back-end of the 18 years -- when taxes will probably be higher and you'll get a better exemption !  

It's not like he was going to get a "bonus" year for having him prior to Jan 1 !!   heh heh

Maybe find out from your OB what her idea of "inducation" is.... 

Good Luck!

Cindy

Yeah that does make sense. I should ask her what she plans on doing to induce labor. Thanks for that advice!!

As for the tax thing - the only reason I really care is because I can take 12 weeks FMLA but only 6 weeks will be paid and if baby comes prior to the 1st than we will get more back in our tax return and I will be able to afford to stay home for those 6 weeks unpaid. That would be sooo amazing!!

-Ashlie

A friend of mine was recently induced 3x before baby finally come two weeks later...and each time drugs were used and contractions started but no water breaking...so your doc's right.

Ohhh gosh that would be a long 2 weeks!! 

the only reason I could see it taking that long would be if your cervix isn't favorable when they begin the induction (if they use pitocin that is).  if they simply go the stripping membrane route then yeah, its pretty much up to mother nature.

I do not know of a doc that would medically induce if your cervix isn't "ripe" or ready.  that is how inductions turn into csections a lot of the time.

I was induced with Pitocin (not dilated a bit) with my son. he was my first child.  my induction was 10 hours start to finish. 

Thank you so much for the info!

I find that weird about  the not going past 40 weeks... when I had my daughter I was 418 lbs they induced me almost 2 weeks after her due date... 23 hrs of labor and there she was...lol  but that was before my surgery i have no idea what to look forward to this time around... I dont think it will take that long for inducing but it all depends how they do it...

Yeah I think it's weird also! My OB said that because of my BMI - 38 - I am at a higher risk of Placental Abruption and also a 50% chance of needing a C-Section. She said due to my BMI I am carrying more weight on my hips/pelvis that could affect labor in that my baby might not have room to get out because my pelvis/hips won't open as far due to the extra weight. That really bums me out because I thought I was in pretty great health for pregnancy!
-Ashlie

my bmi with my son was 46.  he came out just fine.  I had a csection with my daughter though because they said her shoulders were huge and they were.