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The Induction Debate
The Pros and Cons of Inducing Labor
By Kim Byrum Skinner
"It's the 'mall theory,'" says Dr. Parker, who has delivered 10 to 30 babies per month for the past 18 years. "[Women think], 'I live close, this is convenient and it doesn't cause as much discomfort, as much disruption of my lifestyle.' There are times when social or soft indications are appropriate, but one of the biggest indications for induction is 'post-date.'"
According to Dr. Parker, "post-date," or being overdue, is realistically defined as 41 or 42 weeks. "And yet you'll have women who are uncomfortable, reasonably uncomfortable," says Dr. Parker. "Their back hurts. Their feet are swollen. They have pressure in their pelvis. They can't sleep. They're one day overdue and they're begging to be induced. Their doctor might say, 'Yeah, I'm on call tomorrow. Come on in and we'll get you induced because you're overdue.' But that doesn't meet the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologist's (ACOG) criteria for being overdue ... And yet more and more people are opting for the convenience of being induced and having the baby when they want to."
Lo, who monitors medical trends, works with physicians and helps identify and improve women's health services, is equally concerned about the nationwide surge of inductions. "I definitely think we live in an age of immediate gratification and multi-tasking," says Lo. "With the computer age, everything is instant. You get things when you want them. It almost seems like pregnancy has become a very planned and scheduled event."
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