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Originally Posted by esmicosaquehago  Doctor didn't tell her the overall score, just that baby was otherwise fine. He has been moving lots and his heart rate is strong. She really wanted a home birth with a midwife but medicaid doesn't cover it in TX. She said she has accepted being in the medical model. She doesn't feel comfortable going against what her doctor suggests because it makes her worry too much to be doing things "on her own". I didn't think 8 cm sounded that low either, especially for 41 weeks. The other issue is my family is only in town until Saturday and she said if she's going to end up getting induced Thursday or Friday anyway she'd rather have him here when we will still be around. I'm trying to be supportive of that since I don't want to make her mistrust a caregiver that she is stuck with.  Thanks for your suggestion on hydration, she has been drinking tons of water and iced red raspberry leaf tea, its been 110 degrees here everyday! I can see how she might still be dehydrated. |
If the baby is doing great and her fluid is above borderline she REALLY shouldn't induce. PLEASE PLEASE have her read this thread. Or copy, paste and print the replies. Low fluid levels CANNOT be accurately determined in one u/s. If the babe is doing well then mum should have a couple of days of rest and lots of water and then reevaluate with another u/s. They cannot accurately measure anything behind the baby and other factors can cause a u/s to show lower levels than are actually there.
I was 41w3d when I went in for a u/s per recommendation of my midwife just to confirm all was well. Everything was great except he didn't respond much when the u/s pounded on my belly (owe!!!). The u/s tech brought in the doc and they both suggested I induce immediately. My heart sank. When my mom and I got to the car she said she thought he wasn't responding because I was probably in early labour. I'd had no contractions or "progress" whatsoever but that day I had mild sporatic contractions throughout the day. We went home and called my midwife and she agreed completely. My water broke at 11pm that night and I went into active labour within minutes and gave birth at 5:21 am. Can you imagine what might have happened had I induced when there was no other concern? Mind you I had NO effacement or dialation just a couple days prior, he hadn't even dropped, and we had a great, quick labour and birth.
PLEASE urge her to wait. It is most common for first time moms to spontaneously birth sometime in the 41st week. With an induction her risk of a cesarean more than doubles (and unless she has a rare amazing hospital/ob, which I doubt based on the reason for recommending induction, she has on average a 30% chance as it is). She can go in for a repeat u/s tomorrow or the next day instead. She does not have to induce. And her ob sounds "iffy" on his reasons for induction so it's reason enough to be cautious about his ability to provide her with a successful and safe birth. I understand she wants and needs her family there but the risks of induction are not worth it. Imagine if she has a cesarean - family certainly won't be around the length she'll need with recovery. Or, worse, if she or the baby end up with serious problems from the induction and/or cesarean. The risks are numerous and VERY real, just harmfully downplayed for convenience. An induction, and moreso a possible resulting cesarean, can also affect breastfeeding. It can delay the transition from colostrum to mature milk, make positioning harder, make mum and/or baby too sleepy to adequately get started in the first important days, etc. Being a mom means making decisions based on what's right for your child, weighing risks, and obs are notorious for basing their decisions on premature fear (usually more of getting in trouble than the baby or mom being harmed) and/or convenience. It is so sad and unfortunate, but it is the case the vast majority of the time.
I know a woman who was unnecessarily induced because she refused to listen to reason and relied on her ob and she ended up with an unnecessary cesarean and gave up on breastfeeding very early. (She was a sheep, though, so nothing would've saved her from all that, but still.)
And, for future reference (as it'd be near impossible to find a midwife to take her on at 41 weeks), homebirths ARE covered by medicaid. They cover the midwife's professional fee. Many midwives have only a small fee for personal supplies (or request the mum buy them herself). Freestanding birth centers are also 100% covered. I birthed at one using medicaid and paid nothing. My friend birthed at home with the same midwife and I believe she only had to dish out $500 (there may've been some uncovered portion, can't remember for sure). It may be that she was misinformed by medicaid or someone else or if she spoke to a midwife it may have been one whom medicaid does not cover (I know they fully cover CNMs and at least partially cover CPMs).
I guess I'm just throwing out some support that even if she still ends up with induction. (hopefully not!) she can still go without the epidural if she chooses.
Absolutely! I was thinking that too... I just didn't bother to type it since it struck me as obvious to all on these boards. 
Sad.
