Question about induction

[grniys]

I'm hoping my baby decides to arrive on his own in the next 8 days, but in the case that he doesn't, I'm scheduled to be induced when I'm 42 weeks. I talked to a midwife today about not being in the bed when they start pitocin and at first she was like, "No, you have to" but then after I explained and was like "Couldn't I sit in a rocking chair next to the bed so I can still be monitored but not in the bed?" she said yes. But it's not for sure that she'll be the one on call when I go in. So...

if you were induced, were you forced to stay in the bed? Were they pretty lenient about letting you sit beside the bed, being monitored but just not laying in the bed?

I loathe the mere thought of being stuck in the God-awful hospital bed during labor. I can NOT do it. I was for a short time last labor and it was horrid.

[Thefrawg]

When I was induced, I was required to stay in bed, and was even discouraged from rolling on my side. A bit extreme, I know, but I won't go back to that hospital!

Just remember with informed consent, you can insist on sitting in the chair if that is more comfortable for you. The big issue is the monitoring they want. Sitting on a birth ball or rocking chair should not cause any problems with that. And if they have telemetry units, you may even be allowed to walk a bit..

I would try the home remedies first, if I were you. I used sex and castor oil for #2 and it was much more pleasant than a pitocin induction!!!!


Good luck!

[Sheryl1678]

I was not required to stay in bed with the Pitocin but the pain was so unworldly that I chose to (I declined the epidural).

Keep in mind that they will probably confine you to bed if you have an epidural which you will most likely need with a Pitocin induction.

[layla983]

I was told I had to stay in bed. Of course they started pit & broke my water pretty close together, & the pit made DS go into distress, so then not only was I confined to bed, but on my right side only, for the entire 24 hours. Otherwise, his heartrate would drop down into the 80's.

[alegna]

Is there a medical reason for inducing? I would not agree to an induction without medical indication.

Ds was 43 weeks and 5 days and not even a little overdone.

-Angela

[grniys]

Originally Posted by Thefrawg

Just remember with informed consent, you can insist on sitting in the chair if that is more comfortable for you. The big issue is the monitoring they want. Sitting on a birth ball or rocking chair should not cause any problems with that. And if they have telemetry units, you may even be allowed to walk a bit..

I would try the home remedies first, if I were you. I used sex and castor oil for #2 and it was much more pleasant than a pitocin induction!!!!

I'll try a few home remedies... I've already tried a couple with no luck at all. Sex is out of the question- dh is deployed. Sadly, this hospital doesn't have the wireless monitors. So I'll be close to the bed if I can stay out of it. So... I can just absolutely insist that I will be in the chair (so long as baby is ok) and that's that?

Originally Posted by Sheryl1678

I was not required to stay in bed with the Pitocin but the pain was so unworldly that I chose to (I declined the epidural).

Keep in mind that they will probably confine you to bed if you have an epidural which you will most likely need with a Pitocin induction.

Yeah, I realize with an epi I'll be stuck in bed. From what I've heard this hospital makes you stay in bed even if you've had a walking epidural. I desperately don't want an epidural, but I'm so, so scared of pitocin. I'm just hoping and praying baby arrives by then so it won't even be a concern.

Originally Posted by layla983

I was told I had to stay in bed. Of course they started pit & broke my water pretty close together, & the pit made DS go into distress, so then not only was I confined to bed, but on my right side only, for the entire 24 hours. Otherwise, his heartrate would drop down into the 80's.

Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that! I'm afraid something like that will happen with me, too. In that case I can't imagine not getting an epidural. I can't imagine laboring without moving around. It's a scary thought.

Originally Posted by alegna

Is there a medical reason for inducing? I would not agree to an induction without medical indication.

Ds was 43 weeks and 5 days and not even a little overdone.

-Angela

No, there's not a medical reason. It's just the policy here that you don't go past 42 weeks. I don't think I'd be comfortable going past 42 weeks anyway. I realize so, so many women have healthy, perfect babies after 42 weeks, but my personal comfort zone is with inducing at the 42 week mark. Not a popular opinion on MDC, I'm sure, but it's what I'm ok with.

But I do thank you for sharing your experience and your opinion.

[crittersmom]

I was induced with all the works with DS #2.They did expect me to stay in the bed but did provide a bed pan on a stool expected me to pee in there if I needed to and still stay close to the bed.Luckily I had just hired a doula who was able to unhook some of the junk wired to me so that I could have some privacy.Those fluids they pump into you really make you have to pee a lot.They were not pleased that I spent most of my labor in the bathroom but it really helped to not be in bed and just huffed at me.
i hope you do not get induced, it was not something I would do again unless there was a screaming red light emergency.

[KsMum]

I was given pitocin after my water broke with no progression, and I was able to bounce on my birth ball, move around the room, sit where I wanted, they were even willing to help me into the shower (was planning on taking them up on it, but then changed my mind).

[alegna]

Originally Posted by grniys

No, there's not a medical reason. It's just the policy here that you don't go past 42 weeks. I don't think I'd be comfortable going past 42 weeks anyway. I realize so, so many women have healthy, perfect babies after 42 weeks, but my personal comfort zone is with inducing at the 42 week mark. Not a popular opinion on MDC, I'm sure, but it's what I'm ok with.

But I do thank you for sharing your experience and your opinion.

From my reading it's not medically sound to induce simply because you hit 42 weeks. In my case my ds was simply not finished cooking at that point. If I had kicked him out at 42 weeks I'm quite certain he would have had significant distress.

Perhaps you can do some NST and BPPs instead?

-Angela

[herwitsend]

If you do get induced and need pitocin (sometimes cervadil or a mechanical dilator are all that are needed and you can avoid pit), you can ask to be taken off the pit after your contractions get going. Your body may naturally take over, but they won't stop it if you don't ask!:

If you are on pit and end up confined to bed, there are still some ways to stay active in a hospital bed!

Hands and knees,
kneeling with your ball in the bed (rails up),
leaning over the (raised) head of the bed on your knees,
sitting on the side of the bed with legs dangling (good position for being supported by leaning forward on standing partner),
kneeling on side of the bed (also a good position for being supported by leaning forward on standing partner- can still do the "doula hula" in this position!),
sitting or kneeling leaning back against labor partner (who is also sitting in the bed).

[in_ca]

Just a thought: I struck a "deal" with my OB: she could sweep membranes and break my water to see if that would get things going. Then in the morning if no progress, we'd start Pitocin. For me, that was a lower intervention option with a better likely outcome. And it worked.

Had I not had a doula, that option would not have occurred to me.

Good luck!

[Right of Passage]

I was hooked up to the pictocin and they let me get on the birth ball. Sending labor vibes hope you don't have to be induced!

[Hollin]

If you are dilated somewhat now you could ask if they could break your water to get things going. I didn't want pitocin and breaking my water brought on labor immediately (I started at 4 cm)

[heatherweh]

I agree with pps about avoiding pitocin as long a possible, even during an induction. It was unbearable for me, but that is not to say that it can't be borne. I have read birth stories of some mamas who have had pitocin and still no pain meds- bless em.

So in the meanwhile try all the conventional and non-conventional things (you probably already have, but just in case): lots of walking, sex, nipple-stimulation (manual often works better than with a pump, but try both if so inclined), castor-oil. If your midwife is skilled in herbs she may be able to help you with some cohosh, but I don't have experience with that so I don't know if that is a good one or not, you could always just ask (and search threads here I've sen some mamas post about it before).

Then if you get to induction day, I would also recommend cervadil first, for me it worked slower and made a more natural progression of contractions. It does take longer, but if you're in the hospital and baby is tolerating ctx fine then that shouldn't be a problem. I was not confined to the bed with the cervadil or with the pitocin, or even after my epidural (which didn't work). I told the nurse I could walk and they let me. I did have to come back to the room every hour or so and have the efm put on my tummy for 10 minutes or so, then I would go walk again or take a shower or go in the tub, etc. BTW I just read that a bath in early labor can stall or stop ctx, but in later labor, after 4 cm, it usually speeds things up- just an interesting tidbit.

I hope to avoid an induction this time around and plan on trying everything else first, but if something happens and it does need to happen, then I would go with cervadil and try and avoid pitocin outright, it was wicked stuff for me. GL!

[Girlprof]

I had pitocin (medical induction) and no epidural! Here are my thoughts:

1. Eight days is a very long time. You have an excellent chance of going into labor on your own.

2. Get yourself a doula, if you don't have one already.

3. I am convinced that part (only part) of the reason pitocin often leads to the epi is that women are told they must show up very early in the morning and can't eat. Why? Do not do this. They really won't be able to stop you from getting a good night's sleep and having a nice breakfast. You will manage even pitocin contractions much better if you are well-fed and well-rested.

[grniys]

Oh wow, thanks for all the suggestions! There are some really great suggestions! I'll be sure to ask about cervadil. And I'm pretty hopeful that I can stay out of the bed.

Originally Posted by herwitsend

If you do get induced and need pitocin (sometimes cervadil or a mechanical dilator are all that are needed and you can avoid pit), you can ask to be taken off the pit after your contractions get going. Your body may naturally take over, but they won't stop it if you don't ask!:

If you are on pit and end up confined to bed, there are still some ways to stay active in a hospital bed!

Hands and knees,
kneeling with your ball in the bed (rails up),
leaning over the (raised) head of the bed on your knees,
sitting on the side of the bed with legs dangling (good position for being supported by leaning forward on standing partner),
kneeling on side of the bed (also a good position for being supported by leaning forward on standing partner- can still do the "doula hula" in this position!),
sitting or kneeling leaning back against labor partner (who is also sitting in the bed).

Thanks! If I end up being induced I'll be sure to speak up about being taken off the pitocin once my body takes over. And thank you so, so much for all the suggestions on positions! That's very helpful!

Originally Posted by Girlprof

I had pitocin (medical induction) and no epidural! Here are my thoughts:

1. Eight days is a very long time. You have an excellent chance of going into labor on your own.

2. Get yourself a doula, if you don't have one already.

3. I am convinced that part (only part) of the reason pitocin often leads to the epi is that women are told they must show up very early in the morning and can't eat. Why? Do not do this. They really won't be able to stop you from getting a good night's sleep and having a nice breakfast. You will manage even pitocin contractions much better if you are well-fed and well-rested.

They have me scheduled for 9 pm next Weds, so I'm pretty hopeful I'll go on my own by then. And I have a wonderful, awesome doula. She's very supportive. Since I'll be induced at night, I'll already have food in me. I figure I'll eat super healthy that day and drop my son of at my friend's house a few hours before going in, do something relaxing like getting a pedicure and having a super healthy smoothie right before I go. Hopefully the relaxation and healthy food will make a difference.

I'll be spending the next week trying to get labor going on my own though!

[FernG]

I don't know if you've had much morning sickness, but throwing up fruit smoothies can be painful. I threw up quite a bit during labor (natural). I ate apples and pears and mildly seasoned and salted ground turkey with mushrooms, rice, and steamed spinach while I was in labor. That is much better to throw up than most fruits.

[jennert]

just wanted to say--my first was a pit induction. i was pushed into it beause of protocol but it turned out ok. it was intense (and i'm looking forward to my birth in may to see what "normal" childbirth is like ) but i was able to go without pain meds. i sat on the birth ball and the toilet. lived on the toilet for quite a while. i just wanted to give you a (mostly) positive induction story.
good luck! hope your baby shows up on its own soon!

[grniys]

Originally Posted by FernG

I don't know if you've had much morning sickness, but throwing up fruit smoothies can be painful. I threw up quite a bit during labor (natural). I ate apples and pears and mildly seasoned and salted ground turkey with mushrooms, rice, and steamed spinach while I was in labor. That is much better to throw up than most fruits.

I had awful morning sickness with my first, but didn't get sick during labor. I haven't experienced any morning sickness with this one though. But that would make sense about fruit being more painful to throw up... Hmm.

Originally Posted by jennert

just wanted to say--my first was a pit induction. i was pushed into it beause of protocol but it turned out ok. it was intense (and i'm looking forward to my birth in may to see what "normal" childbirth is like ) but i was able to go without pain meds. i sat on the birth ball and the toilet. lived on the toilet for quite a while. i just wanted to give you a (mostly) positive induction story.
good luck! hope your baby shows up on its own soon!

Thanks! It's pretty rare to hear a positive induction story, so I really appreciate you sharing it.

I'm trying to get in touch with an acupuncturist now and see about getting a few sessions in to try and induce that way.