I have an induction date

[Baby Makes 4]

EEK!

Because of my clotting disorder and the blood thinners I am on it is dangerous for me to be pregnant past 38 weeks. The OB and I set an induction date for January 29th which is 38w1d.

So. Now I need to start researching and learning how I can either help myself go into labour before that date or at least make conditions favorable for a successful induction.

[nighten]

Hugs and congrats, mama!

I would start taking EPO capsules at 35 weeks if I were you (normally not recommended until 36 weeks but yours is a special case), and having lots of the sex if possible.

The EPO will not trigger contractions nor labor, but it will soften/ripen your cervix, which will help with effacement and that can help speed things along in labor.

The prostaglandins in semen can get things going though, for labor. As can nipple stimulation (though it's got to be pretty constant I think?). So if you have a breast pump, start using it before your induction date?

And you could request the first step be stripping your membranes, then the cervidil, and have pitocin be the last thing -- and I think you can request they start at a low dose and once labor's begun, stop it altogether to allow your body to progress naturally.

At least that's what I've been told.

Good luck to you!!!

[AllyRae]

Yay, another one with a date!

I wonder why you got 38 weeks and I get 36 weeks...it's probably the type of clotting disorder--we both probably have different ones). Good luck getting ready!

[Baby Makes 4]

AllyRae - 38 weeks is best case scenario. So far everything looks good, my blood work is good, my placenta looks good, baby is growing well and I haven't had any bleeding in over 6 weeks.

If anything changes we might have to go earlier but we're aiming for 38 weeks.

36 weeks is really early, have you had any problems?

ETA: I see you've had a full term loss. I'm so sorry. My losses were all first tri so I guess they are being extra cautious in your case.

[mama-aya]

I took the homeopathic caulophyllum last time at 38w when I was about to be induced. It worked for me, though I've talked to people it hasn't worked at all for. Homeopathics are kind of like that. I took three doses the night before, and in the morning I dissolved a dose in a water bottle, drank half of it, and then just kept topping it off and drinking, so it got more and more dilute as time went on. Labor had just barely started at 8 when the doctor came to start pitocin, but I asked her to just break my water. She gave me an hour trial, but never needed to start pitocin or anything. The baby was born that afternoon.

[Enudely]

I have aortic stenosis and will also have to be induced

[Larissa]

Great idea to try to get things going naturally to make for a better induction! You have a date!! How exciting to have something already in mind!

[kohlby]

Good luck! I agree with trying the EPO and sex. That being said, if your body isn't ready, then it won't work. But at least it can't hurt! I'm on blood thinners and have two clotting disorders but my c-section will be set for 39 weeks likely. (However, all my losses were first trimester and my two healthy kids made it to 41 and 42 weeks without any blood thinners).

[AllyRae]

Originally Posted by Baby Makes 4

AllyRae - 38 weeks is best case scenario. So far everything looks good, my blood work is good, my placenta looks good, baby is growing well and I haven't had any bleeding in over 6 weeks.

If anything changes we might have to go earlier but we're aiming for 38 weeks.

36 weeks is really early, have you had any problems?

ETA: I see you've had a full term loss. I'm so sorry. My losses were all first tri so I guess they are being extra cautious in your case.

Yeah, that, and I have essential thrombocythemia, so I could clot or hemmorage at any time. Because my disorder is a chronic one, it won't go away during pregnancy, and *technically* I should have been on low-dose chemo had I not been pregnant. So they basically have to do it when it's safer on the outside than on the inside. I didn't have it with Ryland, but they took the fact that we've already had one 3rd tri loss and they aren't taking any risks. If she wasn't growing so well, they would have taken her earlier than that but she seems to be growing perfectly (so much so that they cancelled my steroid shots because it looks like she won't be here before 34 weeks).

But they are being very cautious--I have to have an ultrasound every time I have an appointment, and they do fluid checks, placenta checks, growth checks, and doppler flow ultrasounds (on the arteries leading to the uterus). As much as I'd love the intervention free birth, I'm extremely happy that they are being pro-active about this...we adopted our little girl because pregnancy was supposed to be very risky for me and the baby, so we weren't at all prepared for this!

I'm happy to hear everything's going well with your little one as well!!