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OMG that makes no sense! Like if they need you to sign a release or something saying that you are refusing a c-section and will accept the risks of induction-- fine. I'm a lawyer, I get liability. Make you sign the forms. But to refuse you the OPTION to induce and instead make you wait to go into labor naturally while he only gets bigger...? How does that cover their asses?? Are your midwives able to do anything else to help induce you? (I know you've already tried all the home remedy stuff )

I don't know all the details of your situation but personally I would go with the doctors suggestion. But that's just me. However, it's your birth, your baby, etc and you should do what you feel comfortable with.

@ShootingStar: @littlek: I agree. However, I do know that @junebugmama: has a lot of knowledge about baby birthing and I have actually been told recently by one of my friends who is a midwife (MSN, CNM) that mother's intuition is statistically more accurate regarding baby's size than ultrasounds.

ETA: It does not make sense to me that you can't decline the c-section and request to start inducing now. It seems counterproductive towards your end goal (a natural, vaginal birth) to allow him to continue to grow.

I just want to say kudos to you for knowing your body and doing what is best for you and your family!

I hate it when legalities get in the way of true medical wants/needs. Seems very silly.

Question- was your first LO delivered vaginally? Just curious for how this played out for you last time.

@ShootingStar: I agree

If they wont induce you and recommend a c-section, I think they probably have pretty sound reasons for those choices. A vaginal birth is really not that big of a deal in the scheme of things!

Could you start trying to induce yourself? All the old wives tales, you know. That way you will at least have a chance at the natural, vaginal birth.

Also, was your first LO huge? Why did they want to do a section for him?

@junebugmama: I am sorry that you are getting such mixed messages, how stressful I don't understand why you can consent to try vaginally through spontaneous labour and you can consent to a c-section but you can't consentto an induction. So strange.

That said, I do agree with@MsLipGloss: and @ShootingStar: I just don't think that it is worth the risk not having the c-section.

Oh man, stuff like this makes me furious. I would not be pleased.

You are an educated client, not someone who absolutely HAS to go along with every doctor's recommendation just because they said the word. I agree with @Mae: that there should absolutely be some sort of release to sign for these situations -- that you know the risks, their recommendations, and want to do things differently.

I hope you go into labor naturally or that some sort of natural method works to induce and get this show on the road. Good luck.

I don't really think the point here is whether she should do the c-section or not. What any of us would do isn't really important. The decision is obviously borderline, as there was disagreement amongst medical personnel, so as long as she's aware of the risks/rewards of various courses of action it seems like it has to be her decision.

What makes no sense to me is refusing her what would clearly be, even in their opinion, the 2nd best option. Like obviously getting baby out sooner rather than later so he doesn't get bigger is better. If she is refusing c-section their only options are let her choose to induce or not-- why are they forcing the WORST option that no one wants because they don't get their FIRST option?

It seems like they maybe have this policy to sort of call patients' bluff? Like if we recommend c-section and you say no-- fine-- we won't do ANYTHING even though that is the most dangerous course. Which would basically sort of force most people into picking their choice-- c-section.

@Mae: I think you are probably right. I see 3 choices here, they totally skipped over the middle ground and went straight for "OK you are on your own!"

My cousin gave birth to babies vaginally that were 13 and 11 lbs. I don't understand why it's not even an option to start things that way, and see how it goes!

@Mae: She is refusing an intervention. Medicine isn't ala cart. If a doctor believes there are risks inherent in a certain intervention, he/she cannot just give them to you because you ask for them.
I don't necessarily agree with this particular situation, as you are correct it isn't a black and white decision. But there is a reason behind the MDs decision, and I don't think its to call a bluff. According to the most recent ultrasound, the baby weighs too much to start an induction. If your blood levels were too high for a certain medication, you cannot just tell your doctor to give it anyway. They have to draw the cutoff somewhere. Its unfortunate to fall so close to a cutoff, but the doctor has a reason for making this decision, and its based on outcome based research regarding inductions, and likely also connected to the hospital liability policy.

@Silva: Not at all! We all make different medical choices for our individual situation and based on our comfort level and desire. It's awesome to have a wide scope of care - I just hate to see someone's desires dismissed in this way. I can see how you might find my wording to insinuate that but that's not what I meant at all -- sorry for my poor phrasing. I would advocate for any mother's choice in a birthing situation, whether an at home delivery or a scheduled elective c-section.

(My irritation in this particular situation probably also stems from refusing a c-section with my own DS after a 36 hour non progressing labor and all went well and baby was never in distress and was considered large (9lbs +) birth weight... basically the OB said my choice was c-section and we went against that recommendation. I got treated like a bit of an idiot for my choice until all went well, much to the OB's surprise. She agreed afterwards we made the right call.)

@junebugmama: Your body, your choice, so I don't have an opinion on your situation, but I just wanted to let you know that I had an u/s late in my pregnancy by a trusted u/s tech and was told that I needed to think about having my baby early because she would be *at least* 9.5 pounds if I waited until 40 weeks. I thought that seemed off due to a variety of factors, but it really freaked me out. I naturally went into labor early and DD was born at 39 weeks at 7 lbs, 14 ounces - a FAR cry from 9+ pounds...

Well as a senior OB, who has seen his run of everything, his main concern is that you don't deliver a dead baby. That's his job. He has probably seen similar situations not go well.

I see a Homebirth midwife who also has hospital rights. You wouldn't believe the number of women she has had switch to her at 36-39 weeks over situations similar to this. She is usually booked solid so she isn't always able to take on additional women with her already planned work load, but she is very helpful at offering them help in the situation. I'm not sure where you live or if Homebirth is even legal, but maybe you can find some Homebirth midwives to discuss the situation with? It might offer some alternatives even if they can't personally help.