Convince me not to be induced

[handsandfeet]

So I have had an incredibly rough go of it... started this pg with IVF and loss of a twin... had PTL with shortening cervix beginning at 25 weeks, on strict bedrest, then hospital bedrest since 32 weeks... now 36 weeks and SO ready to be done with this (though incredibly happy to have made it this far). I have had continual contractions since 16 weeks, with increasing frequency and intensity, and for the last 2 weeks have had occasional VERY long contractions, some lasting up to 8 minutes -- quite painful, and the baby decels during these long ones. He recovers well, and doctor isn't worried about him, but b/c I'm so worried has offered me an amnio (for lung maturity) and induction this week. I'm SO tempted, but need to be convinced baby is better off inside for at least another week... HELP!

[kerikadi]

You should not be induced because it is dangerous.

Waiting until you go into labor is the BEST thing for a healthy baby.

[Equuskia]

after all you have been through, i can understand you wanting to be done yesterday! however, you don't want to risk your baby having to stay in the nicu due to the baby not having been ready yet. do you have some help lined up for when you leave the hospital, postpartum doula, good friends, family, etc? I hope you start feeling better and get to hope your baby in your arms soon!

[PassionateWriter]

this is the beginning of the sacrifices we make for our kids. i know you are miserable..and it has to suck being stuck in teh hospital but its best for your baby to hang out for awhile. we dont even know all teh advantages, but allowing him to mature a bit more (lungs, etc.etc.) are well documented.

one intervention leads to another. dont set yourself up for having surgery after getting this far.

[snowmom5]

If the doc isn't worried, but you are, would it help you to have some NSTs this week to check on the baby? Perhaps an u/s? (did he offer any theories as to why the decels?) Unless the doctor sees a problem, I would try to hold out a bit longer. At least he's sympathetic to your concerns and is paying close attention to your baby's health. Hang in there, quite literally.... Another thing that may give you some peace of mind is kick counting. I'm sure that if the doc saw a need to get the baby out he wouldn't hesitate.

sending hugs

[alegna]

Originally Posted by kerikadi

You should not be induced because it is dangerous.

Waiting until you go into labor is the BEST thing for a healthy baby.

:

Babies come when ready. Ds was 43 weeks 5 days and very newborn-y. If he'd been induced I have no doubt he'd have needed nicu support.


-Angela

[Murihiku]

That is a very rough ride! And 8-minute contractions! That's not fun.

You already know that the baby would be better off inside for at least another week, so I'll just tell you you're right. I hope you can keep going. You're very strong to have come this far.

[crittersmom]

I have prodromal labor from 8 months on.Nice wonderful timeable contractions that get closer together that are so much like labor it isn't funny but then they fade.I am so ready and hurting at the end and ticked off when I finally do go in that I am asked how far apart my contractions are.I still wasn't willing to do an induction even though it was offered to me with my first before his due date.At the time it just freaked me out and I thought babies came when they came anyway.With my second I actually was convinced to get an induction,it was the worst decision ever especially since i think I was coerced into it.I was 38 weeks and my baby was healthy, I still have bonding issues with him and my body still hasn't healed from that particular birth.It wasn't even that bad of an induction compared to others since my body was so ready and yet not.His head was so far engaged that I couldn't sit up right and I was laready having contractions and dilated to 4 at 37 eeks and 6 days so what was my problem?The pitocin was too much for my body and DS really wasn't ready.That birth was 4 years and 2 more babies ago and I still feel stress from it.My third came on her own time almost 2 weeks ahead of her due date and although she was the smallest was much healthier than #2.
If you can wait just a little longer, it will be much easier on you,your baby and your bodies to go through a naturally started labor.It really is better when the baby choose the date.

[soxthecatrules]

I can tell you from experience that you do not want to have a 36 week baby if you can help it. I was induced at 36 weeks b/c of pre-eclampsia. Here are some things that I learned.

1) There's a 50/50 chance at best that your baby will end up being in the NICU.

2) Your baby will almost certainly be whisked away for observation for at least a few hours. We held DS for maybe 5 minutes. Then I didn't see him for 4 hours.

3) I know some will say that you are close to full-term. Well I had DS (36 wks) and DD (induced, HBP again, 39+ wks) and the difference for the 1st 6 months was TREMENDOUS. It took DS 2 years to catch up developmentally. Now I don't think being born a month early was the main cause for the delay but it certainly was a factor.

4) Messes up the whole breastfeeding thing. Enough said. Others on this board have more expertise.

5) If your dr. isn't worried and really encouraging the induction then you should wait. If he/she thought the baby were in grave danger then they would have already scheduled the induction or want to do a c-section.

I will disagree with some on MDC that say baby knows best. Babies do not always know best. DS would be DEAD if we would have waited for him to decide. Inductions serve a purpose. And, inductions DO NOT= automatic NICU stay. We both went home about 36 hours after DS was born. Overall, as miserable as you may be, please, for the sake of your baby try and get at least another couple of weeks in.

[Care Lee]

You are almost there Hold off as long as you can... 36 weeks is still early. My babies all came past 40. I was induced once, at 42 weeks, and the birth hurt MUCH more than the ones when I wasn't induced.

Sorry you are having such a hard time... but you are almost there!!

[jecombs]

Just curious why you are considering induction at all... couldn't you just go off bed-rest and let labor kick-in naturally? You really, really want to wait until the baby is fully cooked before he/she is born. Yes, it means more discomfort now, but it may save you a lot of worry after the baby is born. Also, if you are already seeing some decels that correspond with your contractions, you absolutely do not want to make those contractions even stronger with drugs like pitocin. That is how women end up with c-sections.

Keep your chin up! You can do this!

[Girlprof]

Hang in there. You've had a really rough time of it. Is there anything you can do to make this next week or two (or three?) easier? I've had two miscarriages (and have two healthy kids!) myself and here's one thing I learned that helped. During the rough times, do what you can to increase your ability to cope. You officially qualify as someone who should get everything she needs to make the next period of time as good as it can be. Some ideas:

DH or dear partner or mom or best friend - tell this person to bring you a small gift every day. Do not ask - tell them you need and deserve this. It is very surprising how much this helps. I didn't believe this would help but my therapist convinced me, DH went along with it, and it really did help.

I second the suggestion of NSTs if that will help lessen your stress.

If your doc is not pressuring induction, then you are really fine. Repeat this as often as necessary.

A different situation, but I got through the first trimester partially by finding a very comforting song and listening to it every time I got panicky. Sometimes multiple times.

Would it help to get through it one day at a time? You don't have to think about waiting another 3 weeks or 4 weeks or even a week. Just get through one day and then see where things are at. You can do another day.

For me, in your situation it would also help to read anything I could get my hands on about the benefits of letting that baby cook a little bit longer.

You are so close. Hang in there.

[foreskin friendly]

I was so miserable that I agreed to a Dr. suggested induction with my first.
My labor went from Thurs am to Sat afternoon. I was determined to have a vaginal birth, but once the babe started showing signs of distress and by that time (Sat afternoon) came around, I was EXHAUSTED. I ended up a C-section.
Needless to say, my being miserable/not being comfortable lying down, walking, sitting for more than 20 min spurts at the end (couldn't get more than that in periods of sleep either - had horrific, painful sciatica) was a RESULT of my baby being just under 12 pds. No, I wasn't gestational diabetes, had placenta previa that lasted a bit longer than most do before it resolved itself and severe hyperemisis (spell?) ... I mean the whites of my eyes were as red as an apple from forcefully throwing up through my entire preg....yet my baby came out OK... (but I waited through this misery and pain until 39 wks)...

I've also attended a few births...and knew this going into an induction, but still did it:
PITOCIN is just EVIL!! The births where pit was administered were horrendous!!

wait-for the sake of your baby's health!!!

[mommy2two babes]

With my first I was on bedrest from 20 weeks with a goal of getting me to 34 weeks. When I got to and passed that point I began to feel just like you. I had tons of false labor with painful contractions and a pregnancy induced rash to boot. ( I was sleeping with mitts on becasue I was scratching myself in my sleep to the point of drawing blood. I got to 40w6D and I wasn't induced but my water was broken when I was only 3cm to try to get things going. I completely regret allowing that. I wish that I had just let her come in her own time. I had a long and painful labor that I attribute to not being quite ready. I ended up with IV fluids and an epi that only partially took.
It took me weeks to recover from her birth as I was so swollen from the IV fluids.
My son by contrast who came in his own time was perfect. I had a short easy labor, I slept until an hour before he was born. I recovered very quickly and felt wonderful after his birth( I was out to a family event the next night
with him)
I know how you are feeling but try to let you baby come when he/she wants to come.

[juliav]

I was induced at 36 weeks 3 days, I had no choice because I had a high tear and was leaking amniotic fluid and risking infection to the baby. My LO although fine and no NICU was not ready to come out and I struggle with feelings of guilt for evicting her when she needed me. She was tiny 5lb 6oz had trouble during the birth (major decels and relatively poor recovery) and was not breathing on her own when she came out. She did start breathing with some stimulation and free flow oxygen but it was terrifying.

I know you feel done and ready to hold your babe, but don't do it. Let that baby decide, you've come so far!! You should be very proud of yourself and that little baby will thank you with a million smiles really soon!!