Knowing the facts on inducing labor...

More and more births are being induced lately and a good majority for no medical reason. Some reasons are because of the holidays some maybe because of vacation’s that have already been scheduled. In some cases the mother wants to be induced because she has family that came from out of town to see the baby. I have even heard of trying to have the baby before the end of the year for taxes!! In any case, still not a good enough reason to be induced. Experts are learning that this can cause problems for both mom and baby. Some problems include, the induction not working because mom's body doesn't respond or may not be ready and in turn can lead to an infection and possibly a c-section. Babies born vaginally have an edge over those born via cesarean section. They pick up bacteria from their mother's birth canal, which scientists believe helps protect them from asthma, obesity, and other health issues as they grow older. This is called the microbiome and it helps baby develop an immune system that will aid in their overall health. Squeezing through the birth canal also helps drain all the fluid from their lungs. Another thing to consider is how baby will handle the induction. Some are fully developed and are ready for the outside world but some may not be. If the estimated due date is a little off and lets say baby is younger than 39 weeks, studies show that a few things might not be fully developed for outside the womb. Important organs, like his brain, lungs and liver, get the time they need to develop. Baby has time to gain more weight.  This is important because Babies born at a healthy weight have an easier time staying warm than babies born too small. Babies can suck and swallow and stay awake long enough to eat after they’re born when they are full term. So if your provider is talking about inducing and especially before 39 weeks, you can discuss the importance of vaginal birth and ask them is there is a medical reason that would require an induction. We all know how exciting it is to want to meet your baby and how anxiety takes over those last few weeks. Just think, a few more weeks of waiting is nothing to a lifetime of love and joy your new baby will bring.

Comments

Popular Posts