What happens if i refuse to be induced? - Page 2

[sunshynbaby]

Originally Posted by mamatolevi

yes, to check amniotic fluid levels. I have heard, someone who knows better please confirm!!, that a proper diagnosis for "low fluid" needs to be done over two u/s. So if the one comes up "low" get into bed, drink a ton of water, rest and see if it doesn't go up in a day or two. Most folks I know have had their levels go right up after that.

the other reason is to check the condition of the placenta - however from stories I'm hearing on line there are a lot of "your placenta is calcifying horribly" comments and when the baby is born, the placenta is fine. so I dn't really know what to make of u/s for checking placental condition.


BTW: 8# is not a big baby by any means. 10# might be, though not in my book. (my vba2c was 10.5#, a full pound larger than my first c/s baby, so my view of big and little are a wee skewed!)

Thanks for the info. 8 pounds is being optimistic, lol. I was over 10 and my nephews on either side were 9-11 pounders.

[Quindin]

Originally Posted by sunshynbaby

Thanks for the info. 8 pounds is being optimistic, lol. I was over 10 and my nephews on either side were 9-11 pounders.

How big is your dad and the father or your nephews compared to your DH? The dad's size has a lot to do with how big the baby will be.

I personally don't think that the baby's weight is a big deal.
Mine were all 9lb babies exacept for one, yet my 8lb baby was the hardest to push because he had a big head.

[sunshynbaby]

Originally Posted by Quindin

How big is your dad and the father or your nephews compared to your DH? The dad's size has a lot to do with how big the baby will be.

I personally don't think that the baby's weight is a big deal.
Mine were all 9lb babies exacept for one, yet my 8lb baby was the hardest to push because he had a big head.

DH was on the smaller side of the scale around 8 pounds. I don't know about my dad's weight at birth. He was born at home on a farm during a blizzard 76 years ago, and there aren't any records, lol. I don't think a big baby will be an issue for me either, which is why I wondered why else the OB would want a late term u/s. I have what they call "birthing hips."

[mamatolevi]

about size - fat squishes and heads mold. the only real worry is SD and that can be managed by a competent provider that doesn't just yank on the baby. and though a real worry, it's still rather rare.

[HappyMom38]

Thank you. All these answers are wonderful. I think if the baby isn't born by 41 weeks, I just won't show to the following appointment, wait until I go into labour and have myself taken to the hospital then.

We had midwives last time, and it didn't really work out, somehow (without me understanding the nature of the procedure) I had a stretch and sweep done at 40 + 3 days, went into labour 2 days later, lots of medical intervention. My husband has been wonderfully supportive and was really great about navigating our way through the last birth.

I mean it did work out in the end, in the sense that it was the very best day of my life and we have a wonderful, sweet & healthy, 18 month old baby.

[JamesMama]

Holy freak, you're only 31 weeks and the OB is already talking induction? How about he let you go a wee bit post-due before bringing it up! Yikes.

I'm thankful my m/w says 42 weeks before she starts talking induction (and also thankful my babies come around the 40-week mark regardless). I saw an OB with my DS, he wanted to induce me before 40-weeks! I was like 39-weeks 5 days and he wanted to schedule it. I said no, he kept pushing so I finally scheduled it for around 41-ish weeks...well my DS came that weekend following his induction push. I'm thinking he just wanted to avoid coming in early bird on a Sunday like he had to.

[HappyMom38]

thank you, this is very helpful information. i have my next appointment on mon june 29th and i've been reading up about hypnobirthing, which has some good relaxation suggestions. both my brother and my husband were 3 weeks late and were healthy babies.

[HappyMom38]

oh, i'm happy that the dr mentioned this policy early so i have lots of time to mentally prepare in case i'm late and have to refuse medical treatment from them...

[mamatoady]

I didn't read all of the responses, but wanted to mention that my OB personally told me that inducing for suspected "big" baby is not supported with medical evidence.

Also, If I were in your shoes, I just wouldn't show up for any scheduled induction. I was induced with my 1st and it was HELL! Agreed with pp who said to run away from cytotec. My doctor with #1 pushed that crap on me, but luckily even 7 year ago, I knew the risks and requested cervidil.

It might be worth it to have a midwife that you can talk into being a consultant for you. I KNOW if my doctor was talking induction for any reason, I would run my entire pregnancy with my midwife for #2 to see if she felt it was medically necessary.

Automatically inducing for being 41 weeks pregnant is just irresponsible. I'd have serious concerns about any doctor doing that as standard procedure. Clearly they're more concerned about liability than mother and baby's health and well being.

~Sarah

[HappyMom38]

i agree with you sarah, any doctor who talks about induction at 41 weeks is clearly irresponsible and cares more about liability than mother and baby.
wow that's something to chew on.

i'm now at 36 weeks and have been reading up on hypnobirthing (which discouraging pretty much any medical intervention). and visualizing a natural and pleasant birth. hope it goes well.

due august 8th 2009. i'll keep you guys posted. thx.

[Pookietooth]

I agree about staying away from cytotec. I have a good friend who ended up with an emercency c-section after they administered it. And I have heard it's the real reason for the increase in uterine ruptures (along with too many c-sections). Bad stuff.

[Zumbi]

Yikes I'm scared about this also. I have some awesome midwives and am doing a drug free homebirth....but they told me that in New Mexico (at least where I am close to the Mexico border) it is actually illegal to give birth outside of a hospital past 42 weeks. I really don't want to go to a hospital and I definitely really don't want to be induced. My mom was always late with her 3 kids - into the 42nd week and sometimes 43rd week. We were all fine. Since she was always late and my periods are just like hers - irregular and longer than 28 days I think this may happen to me. How can I delay or cause the baby to come naturally at home? If I refuse induction then I'm told they can arrest me.

[mamatolevi]

Originally Posted by Zumbi

Yikes I'm scared about this also. I have some awesome midwives and am doing a drug free homebirth....but they told me that in New Mexico (at least where I am close to the Mexico border) it is actually illegal to give birth outside of a hospital past 42 weeks. I really don't want to go to a hospital and I definitely really don't want to be induced. My mom was always late with her 3 kids - into the 42nd week and sometimes 43rd week. We were all fine. Since she was always late and my periods are just like hers - irregular and longer than 28 days I think this may happen to me. How can I delay or cause the baby to come naturally at home? If I refuse induction then I'm told they can arrest me.

I'd ask a lawyer about that or do some legal searches. I doubt it's true. Your local Legal Aid office might be able to point you in the right direction to get actual information.

[SummerLynn]

I am really glad this was all brought up, as i'm sure in about 30 weeks it will be me refusing an induction, with DD1 I was approximately 41weeks and 3 days and they sent me to the hospital to "check on pre eclampsia" and the dr did a cervix check and then just said "alright, lets have a baby today "and popped my water. just like that. From there they immediately started pit, let me labor for 24 hours and then did a c-section becuase i simply wouldnt dialate. So with this new bean, I do not want anyone to even whisper the words induction, pitocin, or c-section in my presence. So im taking mental notes on how to get out of an induction.

[mamatolevi]

It ocurred to me this morning that with a family history of big babies, there's likely a family history of perfectly adequate pelvises. I wouldn't worry about the baby's size at all.

[kcparker]

Originally Posted by mamatolevi

yes, to check amniotic fluid levels. I have heard, someone who knows better please confirm!!, that a proper diagnosis for "low fluid" needs to be done over two u/s. So if the one comes up "low" get into bed, drink a ton of water, rest and see if it doesn't go up in a day or two. Most folks I know have had their levels go right up after that.

the other reason is to check the condition of the placenta - however from stories I'm hearing on line there are a lot of "your placenta is calcifying horribly" comments and when the baby is born, the placenta is fine. so I dn't really know what to make of u/s for checking placental condition.

When I had a NST and BPP at 41 weeks and got a 'borderline low amniotic fluid' result, they said that low amniotic fluid is an "indirect marker for potential placental insufficiency." How's that for hedging? And they refused to do a second fluid check the next day - one shot is whatcha got is what I was told. So if you go for a NST and BPP, dring a LOT of water in the 2-3 hours before you go in, like so much that you think you will float away - a few liters. Seriously.

They wanted me to come back that night to start an induction, and I bargained for time to get acupuncture, do nipple stim, try to get stuff started on its own. I went into labor and had the baby (thankfully without the full induction treatment), my placenta was fine, and I had sufficient fluid...whole lotta stress for no reason.

[barefootmama0709]

Hey mama! I am a proud mommy of two VERY late boys-Canaan was 11d past due, and Ezra was 18!!! I didn't allow induction with Canaan and I did with Ezra-Canaan was a successful vaginal delivery-Ezra ended in an emergency C-section (after 21 hours of labor). Your body will go into labor eventually; whatever you do, DON'T let them scare you with stories of fetal demise or meconium-there was no meconium present for either of mine even though they said it was almost sure to happen. The doctors have to take into account that a lot of patients will sue them if something happens to their baby because they made a decision not to induce, but you have to decide what is best for you and your baby. Don't get forced into something you don't want to do.

[MamaMonica]

Moved to Birth and Beyond.

[AlexisT]

Originally Posted by Zumbi

Yikes I'm scared about this also. I have some awesome midwives and am doing a drug free homebirth....but they told me that in New Mexico (at least where I am close to the Mexico border) it is actually illegal to give birth outside of a hospital past 42 weeks. I really don't want to go to a hospital and I definitely really don't want to be induced. My mom was always late with her 3 kids - into the 42nd week and sometimes 43rd week. We were all fine. Since she was always late and my periods are just like hers - irregular and longer than 28 days I think this may happen to me. How can I delay or cause the baby to come naturally at home? If I refuse induction then I'm told they can arrest me.

I don't think it can be illegal to give birth at home--"oops" happens. What they may have meant is that it's illegal for them to attend you past 42 weeks, which is possible (states can set restrictions on midwifery).

[rainashine]

Just as an aside, since this has been brought up, there was a recent study released that found that low levels of amniotic fluid is not a risk to normal birth and not a reason to deliver early. It is posted a lot of places but here is one link:

http://news.bio-medicine.org/biology...-birth-5677-1/