Interventions like inducing and epidurals aren’t without their own risks, so decisions to induce, if just a short time past the due date, need to be weighed of course.
Of course. That’s why you need a physician who uses Up to Date and similar sources, rather than the internet where you’ll hear that epidurals are the Tool of the Devil from amateur birth junkies who got Bs in high school chemistry. Aside from situations like low platelet counts or a handful of other medical complications, there’s really little reason for a woman who wants an epidural not to have one. And of course if she doesn’t want one, that’s cool too - personal preference should be the deciding factor.
This is also when you have to balance alpha and beta error. The downside of an induced labor might be a CS and a healthy baby. The downside of waiting might be a stillborn a la HC’s mother’s story. I know which downside I’d rather choose.
The amount of misinformation on the internet that H has to gently correct is staggering. The latest fad is consuming the placenta to prevent postpartum hemorrhage and/or postpartum depression. Not a shred of scientific evidence that it has any magical power - it’s just a somewhat decent protein source, so might as well eat a steak - but crunchy “mamas” (the hot new word) have made it the new thing and imbued it with benefits it just doesn’t have.
"One girl mentioned to the doc that her in-laws were coming from out of state and he just told her to pick a date during her due date week that would work for them. "
That’s not super evidence based, but a case could be made for psychosocial reasons.
H used to be a big VBAC proponent. But the reality is that no matter how much he argued in favor of VBAC, many of his patients didn’t really want it. They might agree to it because he was the expert, and then they didn’t feel appropriately empowered, so that wasn’t good either. So he’ll still advocate for VBAC, but he’s not going to push back as hard as he used to when the woman says she wants a repeat CS. As long as she’s appropriately informed and he’s made his recommendation clear. It’s kind of ironic how the anti-doctor crowd sort of forced doctors to consider maternal choices, but a lot of maternal choices aren’t what the anti-doctor crowd wishes that women would choose!
It’s good that he supports VBAC. There are too many stories of women who want one and can’t find a supportive doctor, or every hospital within 100 miles forbids it, or they get a court order against the mother, or, the couple waits so long to go to the hospital during labor that the baby is born in the parking lot! Women need good choices and skilled doctors and humane hospitals. Now where is that OP with her grand baby story?
Yes, that is good that your H supports VBAC. My second son was VBAC and I had to push for that option. My doctors automatically started pushing a repeat CS.
My first was 11 days late and was induced, but there was no feeling that this was an emergency.
Second baby was 3 days late and there was no talk of induction.
Inducing late babies can prevent some stillbirths, which is wonderful, but that type of labor hurts like hell.
My births were absolutely just me and dh with the medical staff. My mom came each time to take care of us so I could get the breastfeeding established, rest and bond with my baby and have quality time with the other child/ren. She was very unobtrusive. She loves to cook and clean! 
My oldest was 8 days late, but actually closer to 10-12 days imho, because I was fairly certain of my dates. I’ll never forget going to my OB at my 40th week appointment, and having her tell me in her chipper voice “see you next week!” I went straight to my car and bawled my eyes out, I was so eager for him to be born. I ended up being induced, and had a rough delivery.
That “baby” is moving out on Monday. Bawling my eyes out again.
OP - hope all is well with you and your son and his family. Congratulations! It’s sweet of you to be sensitive to their preferences.
I didn’t want a VBAC. I was/am very afraid of vaginal deliveries…lol But that’s not the only reason. I liked being able to schedule the second birth. S1 was being watched by my brother. H and I skipped into the hospital at 6 am and a VERY short time later, S2 was in my arms, “did I just have a baby?” lol
My first delivery was a pain in the tush…36 hours of labor, excruciating pain, didn’t get an epidural soon enough (in my opinion…lol), never dilated past 1, S1 was 9 lbs with a huge head, and I’m petite.
So, when the opportunity to have a second C was offered, I didn’t blink.
Nice wordplay!
Yes, and I ended up having to push for over 4 hours to get him out!
Early induction and early elective C-sections, before 39 full weeks of pregnancy, are also dangerous for the baby. So I guess there’s only a small window: don’t induce or do an elective C-section before 39 completed weeks of pregnancy, don’t allow a pregnancy to continue after 41 weeks.
My sister came to visit me in my 38-39 week. We went to a Cambridge club and danced. I know she wanted to be their for the birth, but dancing didn’t seem to do the trick. I must have looked ridiculous.
My mom’s kids (7) were all about a week late–except for me and my twin sister, who were only 1 day late. We weighed 6-7lbs each. Mom’s doc was a 20-something GP who’d just finished a one-year internship. Forceps were used to pull me out. You’d never hear of such a thing today.
My first 3 kids were each a week late. My 3rd was a home birth (no, I didn’t eat the placenta!) 4th kid was another planned home birth, but I went to the hospital for an induced labor when he was 2.5 weeks overdue. The rest of my kids were all induced–during those years I lived in a rural area which was an hour’s drive from the hospital. The doctor induced almost everyone at 39 weeks to avoid highway deliveries, and to better manage her schedule. I didn’t mind because I didn’t want a highway delivery, either.
I can’t imagine going into a daughter-in-law’s delivery. As a mom, I certainly wouldn’t have wanted MY m-i-l in any of my (8) deliveries. I liked my m-i-l–she was a very nice person. But as someone said above, this is an experience for the couple. If the mom is going to have someone else in there, is is most likely going to be her own mother or sister. (My twin sis is a doctor who was working in the hospital where my first two kids were born–she came to those deliveries, and H was fine with it.) If any of my 3 sons ever has a wife who is giving birth to my grandchild, I will stay home and wait for the phone call. I would go to one of my D’s deliveries, but only if she begged me and her husband agreed/also wanted me there. I don’t really have the desire to watch someone give birth, and–in spite of my vast personal experience in this area 
--I don’t see myself as one to comfort a woman in labor. I’d rather wait a few hours or until the next day when everything is cleaned up!
My husband’s family showed up en masse in the waiting room for my first delivery. We’re talking cousins and nephews, etc. Since my own mother stayed home, I thought it was funny but charming. Just DH and I in the delivery room. It was surprising and encouraging to hear that the family was out there, but I was horrified that they all showed up at my house when we brought her home. I was breastfeeding and doing it poorly,the house was a mess, we had an old dog who was dying and peeing all over the place, and the whole gang came over to see the baby and hang out. Nobody meant any harm, and I clearly overreacted, and it’s a funny story today. For my own DIL, if I ever have one, I’ll try to figure out what she wants and go with that. She’s the mom, and she deserves respect.
@Patsam, any news?
We’re reduced to sitting around swapping childbirth stories in the waiting room! 
I wonder if our suggestions of staying away unless invited, scared her away from the thread!
@Patsam, we all have our ideas of what is right - and you DID ask for them! Whatever you ended up doing, as we said, most importantly hope things went ok with the birth!
We want to hear about the baby!
@Patsam, bumping this thread because we are all dying to find out how things went, and I see you are online.