Induction Conversation at 39 Weeks: What Every Expecting Mother Should Know

A gentle guide for mothers navigating due dates, interventions, and the wisdom of waiting

In the Netherlands, many women experience a moment around 39 weeks where the conversation of induction comes up - sometimes softly, sometimes with more insistence, depending on their care provider or personal circumstances.

For many mothers - especially expats coming from highly medicalised birth cultures - this can spark confusion, doubt, or a sense that their body is “running late”. For some on the other hand, this conversation may feel like a relief in a moment where they may feel, quote, “I feel exhausted and heavy - I just want to see my baby”.

But the truth is far more nuanced. Let’s bring clarity, calm, and deep wisdom into this important topic.

What Is a Due Date - Really?

Despite how fixed and definitive it sounds, a due date (EDD: estimated due date) is simply a calculated approximation - not an expiration date, not a deadline, and not a prediction of when you should give birth.

The modern due date:

• Comes from a formula (Naegele’s rule) created in the 1800s, not from ancient or physiological knowledge.

• Assumes a 28-day cycle with ovulation on day 14 (which is inaccurate for most women).

• Does not account for natural variation in gestation length (on average pregnancy lasts 37 - 42 weeks).

In reality:

• Only 4 - 5% of babies are born on their due date. According to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, most first-time babies arrive between 41–41+5 weeks, this means that 41 weeks is within the range, not late, not risky, just biologically common. 

• 41 weeks isn’t late, it is normal biological variation, safety is not linked to a number and many babies still need time for neurological, digestive, and immune system maturation.

Why Is Elective Induction Suggested at 39 Weeks?

A 39-week induction is not universally recommended in the Netherlands, but discussions may arise for:

• An IVF or ICSI pregnancy – although evidences are still developing, studies show that pregnancies achieved through IVF/ICSI have a higher rate of stillbirth than naturally conceived pregnancies (e.g., 3/1000 vs. 1/1000, respectively, Richtlijnendatabase), they are though also associated to a higher risk of other complications such as preterm birth and low birth weight. So the standard recommendation is to discuss the possibility of an elective induction with low-risk pregnancies and provide quantitative data.

• Gestational diabetes – when GDM is not well controlled by diet and requires medication because of potential risk of placental deterioration that may affect the baby’s nutrient supply and result in foetal/maternal complications.

• High blood pressure or pre-eclampsia symptoms - research, such as the HYPITAT trial, suggests that immediate induction of labor may lead to fewer maternal complications compared to expectant management (waiting and monitoring), without a significant increase in C-sections, although the risk of neonatal complications is also a factor. In severe cases, especially before 34 weeks, the only definitive treatment is delivery.

• Concerns about baby’s growth - too small or too large

• Advanced maternal age (though evidence is mixed)

• A previous very fast birth with risk of precipitous labor

• Maternal anxiety or birth trauma

In fact, the Dutch midwifery model generally encourages physiological birth - and offers monitoring to ensure safety while waiting.

As a doula, I believe my role is not to make a case around what you should prefer – that’s your choice only, my role is to contribute with information that foster your conversation with your care provider, so that you can make an informed decision. If you feel comfortable in continuing in carrying on your pregnancy as long as you and your baby are healthy, you can ask the care provider to base the decision on monitoring, not on your due date. Unless there is a real emergency, a good care provider would agree, if they keep on pushing for an induction, this would be the right time to questioning their line of conduct.

This conversation can be very sensitive, instilling a sense of urgency that often results in unnecessary anxiety, creating a sense on unsafety in the body and the mind: moms so often share how they would like for labor to start on its own yet feel the pressure to make something happen before it is time to induce.

What are the alternatives and what you can expect if you clearly ask to wait for natural onset of labor?

Monitoring in the Netherlands: Ensuring Mother and Baby Are Safe While Waiting

If you prefer to wait for spontaneous labor, Dutch midwives (or hospital care providers) can monitor the well-being of you and your baby through:

• Blood pressure checks

• Urine tests (protein levels to rule out pre-eclampsia)

• Fundal height measurements

• Baby’s movement patterns

• CTG fetal heart rate monitoring (in hospital, if needed)

• Amniotic fluid assessment (via ultrasound)

• Placental health & blood flow Doppler (if indicated)

These checks allow you to wait safely, knowing your body and baby are functioning beautifully.

What we often see is that induction often creates a cascade of medical interventions, because the body is not ready. Nature’s timing is not random - it is deeply intelligent. Labor starts when baby and body are in sync: baby’s lungs release surfactant proteins, which signals the uterus that it is time. This hormonal cascade cannot be scheduled. We see that when we wait for biology, outcomes improve for both mom and baby.

The Benefits of Waiting for Spontaneous Labor

Letting labor begin on its own - when both the mother and baby’s bodies communicate readiness -has profound advantages:

For Mothers

• Lower risk of cesarean birth

• Lower risk of instrumental delivery

• Smoother hormonal progression

• Shorter postpartum recovery

• Greater sense of empowerment and connection

• Higher breastfeeding success rates

For Babies

• Better respiratory adaptation

• More stable blood sugar

• Optimal brain development

• Lower NICU admission rates

How Ayurveda Supports the Natural Onset of Labor

Ayurveda views childbirth as a sacred transition governed by Vata dosha - the energy of movement and flow. When Vata is balanced, labor begins with grace and unfolds smoothly.

Here are gentle Ayurvedic supports (always use them with guidance):

1. Warm, Grounding Foods

To stabilize Vata and prepare tissues:

• Stews, kitchari, soups

• Root vegetables

• Ghee, sesame oil

• Warm spices (cardamom, cinnamon, ginger)

2. Abhyanga (Warm Oil Massage) and Garbhabhyangam (Pregnancy Massage)

A daily self-massage with warm sesame oil can:

• Calm the nervous system

• Prepare the pelvic floor

• Encourage oxytocin release

Garbhabhyangam is the traditional Ayurvedic massage tailored to each gestational phase: a trained practitioner will use medicalised oils to create balance and support your pregnancy. I have been training doulas and practitioners for years in the art of touch and when it comes to my clients in crafting her plan I invite to start from a second trimester with an appointment every 3-4 weeks, followed by a weekly treatment from week 34 onwards. The frequency may vary, based on specific needs but this is a guideline that I have been sharing and supporting for years, seeing first hands how important it is for a woman to feel grounded and balanced especially during the third trimester.

3. Gentle Herbal Support (Only under supervision of an Ayurvedic practitioner)

• Rasayana herbs to strengthen tissues

• Shatavari for hormonal steadiness

• Brahmi for nervous system support

4. Womb-Centered Rituals

• Warm baths

• Belly breathing

• Gentle hip-opening stretches

• Guided meditation connecting with your baby

5. Traditional Practices for Labor Readiness

• Yoni steaming (late pregnancy blend)

• Yoni pichu (oil application)

• Basti for grounding

• Acupressure

• Rebozo sifting

These practices soften tissues, release fear, and create space for the body’s innate intelligence.

Other Holistic Supports for Spontaneous Labor

• Osteopathy / chiropractic care

• Acupuncture

• Reflexology

• Spinning Babies techniques

• Sex & nipple stimulation

• Movement, walking, squatting

• Laughter & emotional release

Labor begins not just when the body is ready - but when the mother feels safe, supported, and seen.

How a Doula Helps You Navigate This Decision

As an Ayurvedic Birth Doula in the Netherlands, my role is to help you:

• Understand your options

• Stay grounded and emotionally supported

• Advocate for physiological birth when appropriate, creating a plan for monitoring if you wish to wait

• Prepare your body for spontaneous labor

• Transform fear into confidence

My body of work does not push you toward or away from induction.Instead, I support you in making the choice that aligns with your heart, your values, and your baby’s wellbeing.

You Are Not on a Clock

You and your baby are on your own sacred timing. A due date is a guideline - not a prophecy.Your body knows how to give birth, and your baby knows when to begin the journey.

You deserve care that honours physiology, honours your intuition, and honours the long lineage of women who have birthed before you.

If you wish to prepare for spontaneous labor - with wisdom, tools, comfort, and confident support - I love to walk beside you.