Our first baby, the threat to induce, and the natural initiation of labor

My partner and I are about to have our first child.

The due date was January 4th. Or at first, it was January 7th and then it was changed after the first ultrasound. It's really amazing the lack of consensus combined with the absolute confidence of all contradicting parties regarding all things pregnancy!

People have the same reasons for different conclusions: "you're having a boy because x" and "you're having a girl because x" (different people hahah).

Basically, just say "ok" to people because for some reason(s) nothing will stop complete strangers from saying the wildest shit to you about the growing baby.

Now we are around 41 weeks and we are getting a lot of pressure from the Dr office to induce. They are so pushy about scheduling the induction, and it seems they will do anything to incrementally ease us into inducing this week when, for example, your French due date could be 1.5-2 weeks later than your UK or USA due date!

So, I'm saying what's the difference between a week or two?

Well, rightfully my partner has done a lot more scholarly research than me. She has pointed me towards some very interesting ideas regarding the last few weeks of pregnancy and their importance in the development of the baby.

The fetus is practice breathing the amniotic fluid, which as you may know is about 1000x denser than air (a good workout?)

As a child I had a lot of breathing issues, including pneumonia + hospital 7 times, so that got my interest.

But further a study from 2004 [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/03/040323070708.htm] found a connection between the development of the lungs and the initiation of labor.

Apparently, as the lungs are developing near full-term a surfactant is produced by the fetus' lungs which not only acts a signaling protein/hormone to the uterine wall, but also helps macrophages in production and distribution throughout the uterus.

I could be butchering this but onwards!

"SP-A gene expression is initiated in fetal lung after ≈80% of gestation is completed, reaching maximal levels before birth."
-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC387359/

There is a lot of good info in there^^ if you felt confident in Biology class. Basically, this surfactant and others are required for a variety of mechanisms related to healthy lung function and immune support. Surfactants lower the surface tension in aqueous systems. For the alveoli, this is required for breathing air properly, and lack thereof results in respiratory distress.

While the risk of stillbirths increase the longer a mother waits to induce, the difference is from 0.021% at 37 weeks to 0.108% at 42 weeks (both very low).
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3719843/]

There are many different mechanical and chemical methods to induction. Do your research, if you can, to determine your preferred route, and don't let anyone pressure you into things with which you're not comfortable!

You only get once chance to develop your sweet, fat baby! Make sure to nourish it with clean food and give it the time it needs.

Although it seems induction in the USA is not medically necessary and possibly done out of impatience, for some situations it is medically necessary.

My last words are: do your research, your doctor or midwife may be biased, chances are you are the one looking out for your best interests, and let what is healthy guide you, not convenience!

Peace.