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I went into natural labor with #1, but had an elective induction for #2. With #1 I had a pretty fast labor (6 hours from first twinge of anything to baby out, with an epidural "slowing things down") and I was already quite low and dilated, contracting like crazy and worried that I would have a baby on the side of the road or, worse, have it be the middle of the night and no one to come watch my other son when I went into labor because I might only have an hour or two.

So, we decided to do the induction so my mom could stay with my son and childcare was all handled. That was nice. They did start it at night which I didn't love, but my OB told me that I would get the Cervidil overnight, then about 4-5 am they would give me just a tiny bit of Pitocin and then I'd go on my own, have a baby in the morning, all is good.

Welllll.... I got the Cervidil about 10pm. Had a lot of cramping/ctx, walked around. Starting to get really painful. My water broke at 2:30am. Baby born at 3:30 am.

(Longer story: nurse finally agreed to call the anesthesiologist because I was having contractions on top of each other and awful pain. Anesthesiologist rolls in at like, 3:20. and I can hardly sit for the epidural needle, as he's putting it in, I'm telling the nurse I'm pushing, I'm pushing, I can't stop pushing! so as soon as the needle is in, no meds, they flip me over, see that I'm complete and baby is crowning, baby rockets out immediately)

So I'm glad I did it, but it sucked being in the middle of the night! I was super tired.

Edited to add: I was super super favorable for induction and that was the ONLY way I would have agreed to do it. Even with that, I really went back and forth until they day of on whether to be induced or just wait. Based on the speed of my labor, I'm pretty sure I would have gone naturally soon. I was 39w1d.

Not quite the same, but first delivery (vaginal) was traumatic, and I had my second as a csection at 39 weeks. It was so much better than the first delivery, despite all the unknowns.

@Ms. RV: the csection was because of shoulder distocia with my first mostly although the hospital stay and potential health complications played a role in the decision too, I’m sure.

There's some positive data related to inducing at 39 weeks. The study was done on first time mothers, so not exactly the same. But it found that the women who were induced in the 39th week had a lower incidence of c-section than those who were not induced. Based on that info, and the fact that I was over being pregnant, lol, I asked my doctor about inducing in the 39th week for my second. She was all for it. My daughter ended up coming in the 38th week anyway, but my vote in your shoes would be to schedule an induction in the 39th week. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/induced-labor-39-weeks-may-reduce-likelihood-c-section-nih-study-suggests ETA: though I wasn't induced, I received pitocin in both of my labors, and both were super smooth and quick.

@Ms. RV: I had 2 inductions at 39 weeks, the first was not elective but went to well that I elected for the second. Baby 2 was sunnyside up which sucked but I still had a very straightforward and quick birth. Just get the epidural ASAP, I got it with my second right when they broke my water!

I was induced with both lo's and I would not do it again. Or at least i'd make them wait until my body and the babies were more ready. Both of my inductions took 2 days and they were not fun.. so boring and uncomfortable. But as stated I was not dilated at all and I do not think my body nor my babies were really "ready" so if you can wait until you are 1-3 cms dilated or at least showing signs that labor is close then i'd go for it! It does help with timing and coverage for your older lo's

@MrsSCB: I read about this too and its fascinating! Sarah Lavonne has a good impartial review of the study up on YouTube -

@Ajsmommy: and @Ms. RV: That's what I just talked about with my doctor, too. My son had mild shoulder dystocia (30 seconds), and I went into labor spontaneously at 37 weeks. That plus having gestational diabetes means that we're talking about induction. We agreed that if I haven't gone into labor on my own by 38 weeks, she'll check to see if I'm dilated at all before we decide what to do. I feel like if I get induced and my body isn't ready, I might end up with a c-section. But if I wait and then there's an issue with shoulder dystocia again, I could end up with an emergency. I don't know what makes the most sense. Once I'm officially 37 weeks, I'll be trying all the tricks to get my body to go into labor on its own

I am team induction! When I was pregnant with my first I thought elective inductions were "selfish"...but guess what? If there's any time you should be allowed to be a little selfish, it's when you're pushing an entire human out of your lady bits. DS1 came spontaneously at 40+2--18 hour labor, presented sunny side up and only turned half way so basically came out facing a wall, failed epidural, really really really bad 2nd degree tear. I chose to be induced with DS2 at 40+2--went from 4 cm dilated to baby born within an hour, no time for an epidural, 3rd degree tear. After himming and hawing about a c section (my recoveries were awwwwful) for DS3, my doctor and I decided on an elective induction at 39 weeks. It was my easiest delivery, but I still tore.

FWIW, I will ask to be induced with this one, too! With all of your extenuating circumstances, I would get induced in a heartbeat if I were you...no hesitation or guilt whatsoever. Can't believe it's almost baby time! Eek!