An epidural is a medical procedure it is not same as taking an aspirin.

Stat you are a doctor why are you asking me questions about this?

Are you saying that its just fine to induce labor?

epidural is farily common even without inducing labor isn't it?

Yes but it does not mean its without risk. List below is a quote from the following site:

http://www.socalbirth.org/shelly/whynat.htm

First and foremost, an epidural is not proven to be 100% "safe." According to Penny Simkin, physical therapist and Childbirth Educator the use of epidural anesthesia increases the chance of Cesarean section 2-3 times in first time mothers. It can slow labor necessitating the use of pitocin to speed up contractions. This oxytoxic creates unnatural contractions whose intensity more easily creates fetal distress, requiring that the baby be continually monitored with an external or internal monitor (electrodes screwed into the baby's scalp while in utero.)

An epidural can cause a drop in maternal blood pressure and a subsequent reduction in blood flow to the uterus increasing the potential for a decrease in fetal heart rate. It can also cause the mother to have a significant fever without having an infection; because maternal fever puts the fetus at risk regardless of the source, the mother may now be treated with antibiotics (as will her baby following birth.) The mother is no longer free to eat or drink and must be fed intravenously; she may experience nausea, vomiting, or itching. She can no longer walk or squat and may need to be catheterized in order to urinate. In short, complete control of the labor process has been given over to medical personnel.

In spite of the common notion that epidural narcotics do not "reach the baby," the manufacturer of bupivacaine hydrochloride (one of the common drugs used for epidural analgesia) warns that "local anesthetics rapidly cross the placenta and when used for ... epidural anesthesia can cause various degrees of maternal, fetal, and neonatal toxicity." The FDA has given bupivacaine hydrochloride a C rating for use during pregnancy indicating that human studies are lacking and animal studies are either positive for fetal risk or lacking at all.

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"What you hear in a great jazz band is the sound of democracy. “The jazz band works best when participation is shaped by intelligent communication.”
Harmony happens whenever different parts get to form a whole by means of congruity, concord, symetry, consistency, conformity, correspondence, agreement, accord, unity, consonance…….

It's perfectly fine and medically safe to induce labour. You may notice that the frequency of a pregnant woman's visits to the OB-Gyn increases as she approaches the estimated due date to the point where she's in the office on a weekly basis. Of course, one has to consider ALL the mitigating factors: how dilated is the patient, when is she due, etc. Obviously, each situation is different. Without knowing the salient facts, I think it's a little presumptuous of us all to weigh in on that couple's decision. And it's exactly that, THEIR decision. Theirs, and their doctor's. Not ours. The media will obviously put a spin on a story such as this to get discussions going, and to stir things up. Rant over. Now, I'll sit back and:

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I'll drink your poison if you fill the cup. You make me crazy, baby, don't let up.
Break Free, DMB 2006

Except presumptuous is shoe that in this case only fits one person.

__________________
"What you hear in a great jazz band is the sound of democracy. “The jazz band works best when participation is shaped by intelligent communication.”
Harmony happens whenever different parts get to form a whole by means of congruity, concord, symetry, consistency, conformity, correspondence, agreement, accord, unity, consonance…….

Your right about not knowing the details and media spin. But as far as causing a discusion I think it great and better than politics and the war.

Nothing wrong with discusion it may open peoples mind.

__________________
"What you hear in a great jazz band is the sound of democracy. “The jazz band works best when participation is shaped by intelligent communication.”
Harmony happens whenever different parts get to form a whole by means of congruity, concord, symetry, consistency, conformity, correspondence, agreement, accord, unity, consonance…….

Hell, if I were pregnant and due, and the Jets were in the Super Bowl, I'd probably go in a day or two early too....especially if I had tickets!

Edit: I'm kidding, BTW.

__________________
I'll drink your poison if you fill the cup. You make me crazy, baby, don't let up.
Break Free, DMB 2006