11/23/2021
As the holiday season is upon us this reminder is definitely needed.
Thanksgiving is NOT a reason for induction!
It might sound obvious but this happens more than you think.
Labor is unpredictable. Inductions are not.
A considerable body of research confirms that giving a baby those last few weeks or days inside the uterus can be crucial to the baby's health.
Just because your OB considers you full term at 37 weeks doesn’t mean your baby or your is ready for delivery. Scheduling birth without a compelling medical reason can put your baby at risk.
Few doctors want to be pacing the halls on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's, so it's not uncommon to see a surge of people with healthy pregnancies being told that there might be an issue and that they should consider scheduling an induction, coincidentally, right before a holiday.
Red flags that might signal being pressured into an unnecessarily early birth include:
🚩The care provider suggests that the baby is too big and will be easier to deliver a little early
🚩The suggestion is made that the care provider won't be available for a holiday delivery or will be booked up
🚩The timing of the delivery is centered on travel and celebration schedules
🚩Holiday stress is driving feelings of wanting to get the pregnancy over with
Here are some things you can do if you feel you are being pressured to schedule your birth:
⭐️Ask your provider if you need to make a decision right now. If not, ask why not?
⭐️Few decisions need to be made on the spot unless mother or baby are clearly doing poorly.
⭐️Research your options. Use credible sources of information to see what the research says and learn from other parents' experiences.
⭐️Make a pro/con list. Label your pros and cons with medical vs. personal and weigh the medical pros and cons more heavily.
⭐️Trust your gut. Your instincts are geared to protect you and your baby from risk.
⭐️Find support. It's hard to disagree with your health care provider, so be sure that you go into your appointments with someone who can help you have an informed, evidence-based conversation about your best options.
