Why is it better to wait until after 39 weeks to be electively induced?

A pregnancy lasts for 280 days, which is forty weeks gestation. Typically we wait until 39 weeks gestation to induce you because of the risks to the baby. If there are any medical risks to you or if it seems that there is something wrong with the pregnancy we would induce you sooner. But if it is an elective induction, meaning there is no other reason to be induced other than the patient wants to be induced. Or other types of reasons dealing with timing issues or when the husband can be present we usually wait until 39 weeks for those issues.

The main problems that can happen to the baby are usually lung development between 37 to 39 weeks. The rest of the issues with the baby are usually fine, occasionally there are some eating issues, and the baby has a difficult time controlling the body temperature.

If you have had a baby before, most of the time we can electively induce you at 39 weeks gestation. If it is your first pregnancy, if there is not a reason to induce you, most physicians wait until 41 weeks gestation, which is one week past your due date.

[ladyarchaeologist]

Actually, it's better for moms and babies to NOT be induced without a clear medical indication.