Should You Choose an Elective Induction? Here’s Why I Did
If you’re considering an elective induction at 39 weeks, you’re probably wondering if it’s safe, necessary, or even the right choice. These are my reasons for having one.
Although we are at the point in this pregnancy where this baby could come at any moment, if I get my way, he’ll be coming in exactly six days when I am 39 weeks pregnant.
He’ll be arriving by way of a scheduled induction that has been planned since basically the day I found out I was pregnant—and this choice is supported by both my midwife and obstetrician.
Well, of course it is, because otherwise how could I have one?
But this was my idea and choice. It would not have been their suggestion if I hadn’t asked for it.
There are a lot of feelings in the labor and delivery space, from both medical professionals and moms, about elective inductions.
A lot of opinions about whether they are a good idea, medically safe, or “the natural way.”
The way women give birth is one of those things that everyone seems to have an opinion on.
On one end of the spectrum, we have mothers who want things as natural as humanly possible. Labor starts spontaneously, baby is delivered at home, surrounded by family, with little to no medical intervention—“as nature intended.”
A family friend recently had what’s called a “family birth” where, along with her midwife and doula, her partner and their two young daughters were also present. They gave birth at home, and their seven-year-old daughter actually caught her new baby sister as she entered the world.
By all reports, it was a beautiful experience that they absolutely loved—and exactly what they wanted.
I want absolutely none of that, personally.
In fact, barring an elective C-section, I want pretty much the exact opposite of that.
I want a planned, scheduled hospital birth.
I want all the pain control options available, as early as possible.
I certainly don’t want our three other children anywhere near me when I’m in labor.
I basically want the most sterile, medically managed birth I can have.
And that is my informed, educated choice.
I am a nurse by profession, so naturally I am a fan of—and trust in—medical science.
Nurses also tend to be type A by nature, so we’re not generally fond of being out of control.
That’s probably a large part of the reason I feel so strongly about this.
But also, after discussing it with my therapist—and the reason my healthcare team approved my request—it has a lot to do with my previous birth experiences and subsequent trauma.
My first birth was textbook and natural. So yes, I have done it “the natural way” before.
He was delivered three days overdue by my midwife in a birthing centre instead of a hospital, with no additional medical interventions—just like I wanted at that time.
And I found it thoroughly awful—not beautiful or relaxing at all.
In fact, I was so shocked and traumatized by the time my son was actually born that I have very little memory of his first hours on this earth. I also struggled to bond with him and had nightmares.
My second birth was my daughter, and she came under emergency circumstances. I will share her birth story in another post, but she was born ten weeks early because of a medical emergency that very possibly could have killed us both.
So, a whole lot of birth trauma to unpack there—from both of them.
When I went to therapy after finding out I was going to have this baby, I explained that I hoped to have the most controlled, medically assisted birth possible. And my therapist said that made complete sense.
When we suffer a trauma and are forced to relive that experience, we seek any possible way to exert control over it—because there was no control at all the first time around.
When I went to my midwife and told her my wishes, I was really worried she would be against it.
Midwives tend to encourage a more natural approach. They attend many home births, and they are experts in their field.
But she wasn’t against it at all. She fully supported it from the beginning.
There has never been any question that my previous trauma, on top of the emergency birth, qualifies me to make that choice.
So, that’s the plan.
My partner and I will make our way to the hospital this weekend, and our son will be ushered into the world by a team of medical professionals on a scheduled day—with me, hopefully, numb from the waist down and feeling absolutely nothing.
I am aware that a lot can happen in six days, and there have been some signs that he may be planning to surprise us with an early arrival—but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Now, I’m not here to say any way that you choose to give birth is wrong.
If there’s one thing I believe in strongly, it’s women’s right to choose.
Whatever experience you want to have bringing your children into the world, I hope you get to have it.
These are just the reasons that I am choosing this way for myself.
So keep your fingers and toes crossed for me. This being my last baby, I’m kind of hoping that I can come out of this birth feeling positive about it—
and without the need for more therapy.
No more therapy would be ideal.
Join the Conversation
If you’ve had an induction—or you’re considering one—I’d genuinely love to hear your experience.
Were you all for it, totally against it, or somewhere in between?
Let’s talk about it in the comments 🤍
Keep Reading
If this post resonated with you, you might also like:
- 👉 Why I Went to Therapy While Pregnant (And Why It Helped)
- 👉Why I Cried When I Found Out I Was Pregnant — And Why That Doesn’t Make Me a Bad Mom
Want More Honest Motherhood & Bookish Content?
If you’re into real, unfiltered takes on pregnancy, motherhood, and life in between late-night feeds and good books, you can join my email list here:
I share new blog posts, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and a few bookish extras along the way.
Leave a Reply