Being induced, anyone?

[delighted.mama]

I may be induced with this one because I tested positive for GBS. I'm not crazy about the idea, since I went natural with my two dd's, but I'm nervous about any infections from the GBS, even though the chances are low. At the same time, I am equally nervous about forcing my body to do something that it may not be ready to do. My EDD is the 30th and the Dr was talking about inducing on the 29th, in order to have time to administer the IV with antibiotics. I have a feeling I would go naturally around my EDD or a day late, but that the labor will be fast. DD#2 came in a total of 3 hours. The hospital is a good 45 minutes away. I'm not sure if I want to stress about getting to the hospital on time and getting the right dosage of IV. In the meantime, I have been drinking ACV and taking probiotics ever since I got the news about the GBS (about 3 weeks now). I'm hoping some of it may have cleared out of my body, but they aren't re-testing so I won't know for sure.

Has anyone been induced and how did it go? Is anyone else planning on being induced? I've heard both the positive and the negative from friends IRL, but would like to get your thoughts and opinions. Thanks!

Libby

[skmama]

I got induced by choice with both babies. I was GBS positive with baby #2. So, I had an IV of antibiotics during labor. The antibiotics caused a burning sensation going into my arm, caused me to throw up twice during labor, and gave me severe diarrhea after delivery (for which I drank a ton of Pedialyte). I was able to successfully B/F both babies.
Getting induced is not easy. The contractions are harder, I've heard, than with natural labor. With baby #1, I was able to deal with the pain until I was 7 cm dilated. With baby#2, I got an epidural when I was 3-4 cm dilated.
I am satisfied with both labors - after all the end result was healthy babies!
Now I'm pregnant with baby #3 and today's my due date. I do not want to get induced this time. At my appt today, the doc was asking me if I wanted to get induced. I told her no, and asked her to strip my membranes becoz I've heard it can start labor in some women if they're ready (within the first 48 hours after the procedure). So far I'm feeling fine. Maybe I'll try a long walk and squats, etc...to speed things along if possible. She wants to see me again in 2 days (this coming Friday morning), when she'll check me again and quite possibly pressure me to get induced AGAIN. Due to insurance issues, I can't do anything if she insists on induction.
Whatever the decision about induction, I wish you an easy delivery and a healthy baby, delighted.mama! Good luck!

[birthworks]

I am sorry but I just have to say that inducing because you are GBS + is horrible- not a legitimate reason at all. I would encourage you to really do your home work before you agree to such a thing, regardless of how far the hospital is. It is great that you are doing some dietary changes to help now. If you do a search on mothering and online else where, a ton of other things will come up that you can do before labor and during that don't involve antibiotics. Post under the birth professionals group- I am sure there are a ton of CPM's that could give you wonderful info about your options. Gentlebirth.org may be helpful as well. Scroll down and enter GBS in the search box. Good luck- what a pickle to find yourself in .

[delighted.mama]

Thanks SKmama and Birthworks mama,

Looks like nothing is really moving along (still barely 1cm dialated), so there will be no induction on Thurs. I'm relieved, actually. I've done a ton of online research re: GBS and have turned to some of the homeopathic remedies out there. My head will explode if I do any more. My biggest concern, which none of the sites have been able to dispel, is falling within that small percentage where baby could get an infection. Naturally there are risks, whether you take the amx or not.

Right now, I think I am going to try to go for a natural birth process and see what happens. I started taking EPO to help soften the cervix and hopefully get things moving along. I know that if the babe comes fast (which I think it will), the chances of infection are reduced and, maybe, I won't need the antibiotics.

SKmama, thank you for sharing your story. Your experience echoes what many have told me IRL about the unpleasantness of induction and the burning sensation of the antibiotics. I haven't talked to anyone who was sick from it, but I know that is a possibility. Definitely doesn't sound fun. But, so long as the end result is a healthy baby, as you noted, I am willing to go through it. Are you GBS+ with this third one??? Will you do amx again?

Libby

[cdahlgrd]

The chance of your child getting GBS from you, with a quick labor and delivery (vs. ruptured membranes for an extended time), is VERY VERY low!! I believe it the stats were 1 in 500.

the antibiotics do reduce GBS from birth (I think to 1 in 5000?), but doesn't reduce any late onset or other infections.

So for me, I wouldn't agree to be induced just for the anitbiotics. I would agree to go in ASAP if my water broke or perhaps ask for a pill or 2, that you could take at home at the onset of labor (it takes a little longer to be effective, but still works).

You can also ask that they retest you for GBS. There is even a rapid test that only takes a few minutes! And you don't have to make your appointments if you think they are going to try to push an induction you don't want.

If you do choose to have the induction, taking lots of epo oil will help your cervix be ready. Because you have already had 2 vaginal deliveries, it should work pretty well but may be very intense.

[skmama]

Luckily, delighted.mama, I am GBS negative this time around.