If there's only one thing all moms can relate to, it's that feeling of officially being done with pregnancy. I absolutely loved being pregnant, but those last few weeks were full of me whining about wanting to meet my baby and trying to figure out if I could eat enough pineapple to make my daughter just tumble on out. I know how hard it is to wait, but asking your doctor, "Can I induce labor myself at 37 weeks?" may not give you the answer you want.
According to the March of Dimes, you really shouldn't be thinking about giving birth at 37 weeks. Because of all the growing your baby is doing in the last few weeks of gestation, like putting on weight and lung development, the March of Dimes recommended waiting until at least 39 weeks before considering any kind of induction, whether it's at home or in a hospital.
Fit Pregnancy agrees and noted that if you want to attempt any type of home induction, you should wait until at least 39 weeks, but preferably after your due date.
If you've heard that 37 weeks is a long enough pregnancy, it's time to do a little more research. According to Fit Pregnancy, that used to be the norm and doctors would often induce women as long as they made it to 37 weeks gestation. But now, you aren't considered full term until 39 weeks and waiting just those two weeks can mean huge benefits for your baby, like healthy eyesight, lungs, birth weight, and might make them better at breastfeeding according to the March of Dimes.
I know you're over being pregnant. I totally get it. But give yourself just two more weeks before you start trying any type of induction method. Parents noted that it's important to remember that while home induction methods are harmless, they can still be uncomfortable (like eating spicy food or having sex), so proceed with caution. Honestly, if your baby's not ready to come out, eating a plate of wings probably isn't going to move anything along, but it's worth a shot.
As long as you're at 39 weeks.
