please tell me induction is way worse than natural childbirth

[tofutti]

........i am getting so scared!!

i was induced w/pitocin the first time around and tried to go med free. couldnt do it. still remember how -- painful -- how -- awful, no words for the pain, the contractions were. i couldnt breathe. i really couldnt. (then got an epidural)

i really want to go natural this time. but i (shudder) remember the pain. will it be similar to that?! or much easier?!

anyone been through both?

need encouragement. scared.

[aramat]

The drugs used for induction DO cause contractions to be STRONGER than your body would normally make them on its own. The drugs can also cause the contractions to come on top of each other without a break. The body's natural process IS more gentle and manageable.

Adding: Can't promise pain-free, though. My own labors hurt like a HMMHMMHMMHMM!

[fruitfulmomma]

I can't say what it would be like for *you* but yes, as pp said, the pit will make your contractions much stronger. From the stories I've read it seems that even many of the most naturally minded women will choose paid meds in labor with pit when they would not otherwise have done so.

Labor is not easy and ime not pain-free but I have managed to birth 4 times without any meds and I would do it again. The one time I decided to take something was after we discovered my daughter's head was cocked funny and I had already been pushing and swelled. I needed something to help me get through those contractions until she was able to straighten up and I was dilated.

There are lots of ways to manage pain during labor, including the use of water. I have never birthed in water but it is wonderful to get into the tub or shower during labor.

[sunshadow]

I was in the same boat. I was so scared because of how painful the induction was with my daughter. 3-4 minute contractions without a break, back labor, begging for epidural even though I was 100% positive I could do a natural birth. I've said it on this board before, but reading Ina May's guide to childbirth just totally made all that fear melt away. I am not due until January, but I feel confident that I can get through it. I realise that it will be really hard, but it seems like nothing could be worse than that induction. Besides the ideas from Ina May's book, my midwife has so many idea for dealing with things like back labor that I feel positive that we will do it this time!

[flapjack]

Natural labour starts off with shorter contractions further apart, which gives your endorphins time to build to help get you through this. Pitocin, from what I hear, starts you off with strong and long and keeps going to stronger and longer- your body may never get a chance to catch up.
IME, every birth is different. I've had two where the pregnancies were stinkers but the births themselves were easy, two where it really was hard work. You can have an epidural put in if natural isn't working for you, but taking it out isn't so much of an option.

[AbigailGrace]

I was induced 3 times out of the 6 and it is WAY harder!! It's just not natural and then you have to lay in bed on top of that! Ugh! You will do great going natural! Find a book or something to walk you through your fears...

[artekah]

I've never given birth, but my mom has done both (pit & natural.)

The way she describes a natural contraction is like hearing a train coming from the distance--you know it's coming, and it builds and builds and finally peaks and then gradually recedes into the distance again. It's intense at the peak but it's manageable because you can work with the waves of sensation.

She says a pit contraction is like you're sitting there and then you suddenly get HIT by the train with no warning and no time for your body to prepare. You go from zero to the peak all at once, and your uterus gets slammed with it. It stresses your body out and you quickly get exhausted from the pain.

I know it's different for everyone, but I've never heard anyone say that natural contractions are more painful than pit contractions. A friend of mine had a failed induction recently (more than 24 hours of pit contractions with no progress) and when she couldn't take it anymore they decided to stop and give it a day or two before trying again. She ended up going into labor naturally 2 days later. She was amazed at how much more painful the pit contractions were than her natural labor.

[artekah]

Originally Posted by AbigailGrace

Find a book or something to walk you through your fears...

I just read "Adventures in Natural Childbirth: Tales from Women on the Joys, Fears, Pleasures, and Pains of Giving Birth Naturally" --highly recommend!

[AbigailGrace]

Originally Posted by radicaleel

I've never given birth, but my mom has done both (pit & natural.)

The way she describes a natural contraction is like hearing a train coming from the distance--you know it's coming, and it builds and builds and finally peaks and then gradually recedes into the distance again. It's intense at the peak but it's manageable because you can work with the waves of sensation.

She says a pit contraction is like you're sitting there and then you suddenly get HIT by the train with no warning and no time for your body to prepare. You go from zero to the peak all at once, and your uterus gets slammed with it. It stresses your body out and you quickly get exhausted from the pain.

I know it's different for everyone, but I've never heard anyone say that natural contractions are more painful than pit contractions. A friend of mine had a failed induction recently (more than 24 hours of pit contractions with no progress) and when she couldn't take it anymore they decided to stop and give it a day or two before trying again. She ended up going into labor naturally 2 days later. She was amazed at how much more painful the pit contractions were than her natural labor.

Great explanation!!

[zinemama]

Wel...I hate to not reassure you. But I was induced the first time and yeah, hell on wheels.

The second time I did it naturally and I got back labor. Hell on wheels. The pain was different, but absolutely just as painful. Maybe if you don't have back labor it's better.

[Sharlla]

They were the same for me. I hear a lot of people say the contractions are worse with being induced. Both my labors lasted 4 hours.

[blessedwithboys]

for me, induction was way worse that natural labor pains

[ACsMom]

Originally Posted by radicaleel

I've never given birth, but my mom has done both (pit & natural.)

The way she describes a natural contraction is like hearing a train coming from the distance--you know it's coming, and it builds and builds and finally peaks and then gradually recedes into the distance again. It's intense at the peak but it's manageable because you can work with the waves of sensation.

She says a pit contraction is like you're sitting there and then you suddenly get HIT by the train with no warning and no time for your body to prepare. You go from zero to the peak all at once, and your uterus gets slammed with it. It stresses your body out and you quickly get exhausted from the pain.

I know it's different for everyone, but I've never heard anyone say that natural contractions are more painful than pit contractions. A friend of mine had a failed induction recently (more than 24 hours of pit contractions with no progress) and when she couldn't take it anymore they decided to stop and give it a day or two before trying again. She ended up going into labor naturally 2 days later. She was amazed at how much more painful the pit contractions were than her natural labor.

I love this metaphor. Hope I get to experience natural labor so I can feel the comparison. I can't believe they let your friend go home after a day of pit labor. This happened to me and there was no way they were letting me go. I ended up with a c-section.

[Brittany93]

Originally Posted by tofutti

........i am getting so scared!!

i was induced w/pitocin the first time around and tried to go med free. couldnt do it. still remember how -- painful -- how -- awful, no words for the pain, the contractions were. i couldnt breathe. i really couldnt. (then got an epidural)

i really want to go natural this time. but i (shudder) remember the pain. will it be similar to that?! or much easier?!

anyone been through both?

need encouragement. scared.

The pain from your last birth was most likely due to the induction and Pitocin, which is known to cause that. I've been reading Pushed, which I recommend reading, by Jennifer Block, it's a real eye opener, I've been reading it all day, and everyday since I got it.

[artekah]

Originally Posted by ACsMom

I love this metaphor. Hope I get to experience natural labor so I can feel the comparison. I can't believe they let your friend go home after a day of pit labor. This happened to me and there was no way they were letting me go. I ended up with a c-section.

Yeah, luckily she was with midwives at a birth center rather than OBs at a hospital. They did all they could to prevent a c-section (she really did not want a c-section!) If they had continued with the pit her waters would have probably broken and with her being exhausted & not making any progress, c-section would have been the only option.

[kitteh]

Originally Posted by Brittany93

The pain from your last birth was most likely due to the induction and Pitocin, which is known to cause that. I've been reading Pushed, which I recommend reading, by Jennifer Block, it's a real eye opener, I've been reading it all day, and everyday since I got it.

I just read that too! I couldn't put it down once I picked it up and I finished it in under a week. It's definitely solidified my desire for an intervention-free birth, and it's piqued my interest in reading more about the issue.

[tofutti]

thank you thank you times a million trilllion........thank you.

going to get the books

[XanaduMama]

I was augmented with pit the first time, and had an all-natural home birth with #2. Though I managed without an epidural my first time, I think it was only because I had a very fast labor. The contractions...really the whole experience is incomparable to natural labor, IME. The rhythms feel much more natural, you get space to breathe and talk and smile in between the cx'es, the peaks are much less jagged and overwhelming. The hardest part of the pit contractions was just feeling overwhelmed, panicky, like I was going to lose it at the peak. I never felt anything like that in my natural birth, which felt gloriously peaceful and manageable.

I also labored and birthed in water the second time, which I honestly cannot recommend highly enough!

[shakenbake]

i had my first with pit no epi it was HORRID very painful and i said id never do ti again
my second i went into labor on y own and it was HORRID very painful and i said id never do it again
i didn't have an epic with ether altho i begged for one 15mins b4 my 2nd was born
i personally dont think pit made my labor any worse or better they where both very painful and im not happy about giving birth again but i am happy to add this child to our lives =-)

[Sheryl1678]

The induction was much, much worse for me.