Induction happens to 1 in 3 women in Australia. Why is it that we think that a third of all women are unable to give give without the medical help of Obstetric intervention?
the most common reason given is the “overdue”issue. We have gone from believing that term was 37 to 42 completed weeks where the edd was the 40th week (exact middle of the time we could be term) to using the estimated date as a gospel. If women are not birthed within a week of this estimate then the medical establishment, not known for their patience, feel the need to help out. They do it with the excuse that leaving the baby inside any longer is endangering it’s life. Logical thought would rule this out as nature has a way of sorting out every other animals birthing pattern so it would stand to reason as part of the animal kingdom we should also be left.
http://www.homebirth.net.au/2009/02/induction-of-labour.html