Induction... :(

[Carolyn_mtl]

I'm posting on behalf of my sister who is 41 weeks preg and the doctor wants to induce tomorrow..
This is her 2nd preg, baby #1 is now 19 months, was born 3 days early, completely natural birth. We were hoping for the same situation for #2.
Are there different types of induction (like some drugs less intense than others?). I was reading that some drugs should not be used for women with history of uterine surgery. My sister never had uterine surgery but 8 days after #1 was born she hemmoraged and spent 5 days in the hospital. We are a little worried that inducing might be dangerous for her.
Any advice / tips would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

[MaerynPearl]

If she, herself, does not want to induce she can simply tell her doctor so. They cannot force her to do something she does not feel is best for her body.

[emnic77]

Originally Posted by Carolyn_mtl

I'm posting on behalf of my sister who is 41 weeks preg and the doctor wants to induce tomorrow..
This is her 2nd preg, baby #1 is now 19 months, was born 3 days early, completely natural birth. We were hoping for the same situation for #2.
Are there different types of induction (like some drugs less intense than others?). I was reading that some drugs should not be used for women with history of uterine surgery. My sister never had uterine surgery but 8 days after #1 was born she hemmoraged and spent 5 days in the hospital. We are a little worried that inducing might be dangerous for her.
Any advice / tips would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

Why does her doctor want to induce? Did she have a non-stress test or BPP that was concerning for some reason? Unless there is a legit medical reason for induction, I would just say no. Just simply being 41 weeks pregnant is not a legit medical reason.

[Burnindinner]

I agree, I'd want more information. Like the results of the NST and why the doc wants to induce.

[RedOakMomma]

Yes, but this all *might* happen tomorrow. What are the safest methods of induction, so the OP can report back to her sister?

[BlackSheepPDX]

Try acupuncture? I don't have any advice on drugs. Sorry.

[JessieBird]

Originally Posted by emnic77

Just simply being 41 weeks pregnant is not a legit medical reason.

I agree. FWIW, and understanding that this might be irrelevant, at my birthing centre women are not considered "overdue" until 42 w. At that time, they "have" to go for a medical consultation with an OB along with their MW to discuss the safest options for proceeding in their particular case.

Can you give us more info, OP? If there is a legit reason to induce but it's not immediately urgent, I'd insist that the medical induction be put off by 3 days and would try natural methods first. Such as castor oil, acupuncture and an enema. If there are no medical reasons to induce, then I'd sit on my egg at home and do nothing but listen to my intuition.

I hope that some other mamas jump in with advice on how best to proceed if induction really is medically necessary tomorrow.

[azdaisy]

Our MW said if a mama is 42 weeks, they start talking about natural methods of induction. One thing a couple MW's with our group mentioned was having a Foley catheter balloon inserted near cervix. If I understand correctly, the pressure on the cervix may be able to get things going. This requires no drugs and may be helpful. Also, there are things like nipple stimulation and sex which can sometimes get things moving. Ina May's childbirth book has many natural ideas. Good luck!

[umsami]

She should know her Bishop's score prior to Induction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_score

There are acupuncture and reflexology points that can help bring on labor as well. (I have a better link, but can't find it... I'll keep looking)
http://www.maternityacupressure.com/...uce-labor.html

Sex

Nipple stimulation.

I've heard numerous stories of certain food combinations... usually weird ones.

If she does have an induction, then yes... a foley catheter/balloon is more natural than Cervadil or other cervical ripening agents. It is uncomfortable, though.

She can use pitocin to start labor and then have it turned down/turn off to see if labor contractions continue on their own. It's not entirely natural... but by doing this, she might be able to avoid an epidural if that's her goal. Some women can handle a pitocin induction without pain relief... but it can be difficult as the contractions are more intense than "normal" labor.

Evening Primrose Oil and Castor Oil are also used to start labor.

AROM can be used as well--but usually this puts you on a clock... 24 hours, etc.

Although an induction may not be her dream, it might not be as bad as she fears. She may only need a small dose of pitocin to get things going... and then they'll proceed on their own.

[Paige, CPM]

Drink 6 oz of castor oil (buy from pharmacy) all at once. You can make in a blender with a tiny bit of ice and a spoonful or two of some oj or other juice frozen concentrate so as not to make a big glass, just a small one to drink quickly...do drink it quickly or it may not get drunk.

Make sure before you do this you are well fed and hydrated, and do the same after you poop. Make sure you have childcare as sometimes the pooping can go on for a while.

Even if this doesn't get you into labor it will help your cervix ripen.

Like pp's have said, I would say have her refuse induction and go for a biophysical profile (if not already done) instead, so that may give her more time, unless medically necessary.

The foley catheter is a great idea.

[rparker]

The medical methods of induction I would choose in order of preference are: prostaglandins (i.e. cervidil), synthetic oxytocin (i.e. pitocin), and as a last resort AROM (artificial rupture of membranes). I would consent to an elective c-section before I'd take misoprostol (cytotec). I don't know enough about stripping the membranes/use of catheters to say whether I'd consent, although my inclination would be "no" out of fear of introducing infection.

I wouldn't do pitocin without a prostaglandin first unless I was significantly effaced/dilated.

I would try as much human semen (prostaglandins!) and nipple stimulation (oxytocin!) as possible first though. You might want to google techniques for nipple stimulation to induce labor since IIRC it needs to be more frequent/intense than that involved in normal breastfeeding or sexual foreplay.

You might also want to go through the Red Raspberry Leaf Tea thread on MDC for info on using concentrated doses of that to induce labor. I drank it (normal strength) throughout the third trimester and several extra glasses the day I went into labor (3 days past EDD) and had a 6 hour labor.

An enema or castor oil might also get things going.

No personal experience with this, but I think that HypnoBabies has a script that you can download online to jumpstart labor?

[Carolyn_mtl]

Thank you everyone!
They haven't done a NST and at her last appointment (yesterday) the baby's hr was normal. So I know there isn't any underlying medical reason for an induction. I agree that it's still early for an induction (she will only be 41 weeks tomorrow) and I know if it was me, I wouldn't even "talk" induction until after 42 weeks..
I think she is leaning towards not going in tomorrow.

[Paige, CPM]

Oh, good idea, don't go. Did you share this thread with her?

She can take the time she needs from not going to the appointment to research about medical evidence based induction and the rampant use of non-medical evidence based induction in this country.

Good luck! And let us know how it all goes!

[moonmama22]

With my first, they started talking induction at 41 weeks - I refused until 42.5 and they were totally fine with it - they just requested (not insisted) that I have a NST at 41 weeks and an u/s at 42, to make sure there was enough amniotic fluid for him - even the u/s seemed irrational to my OB but he did one anyway. There was enough fluid but a couple days later my BP was quite high and I had been showing contractions on the NST at 41 weeks, but hadn't progressed from there - I finally agreed to the induction when my BP spiked, because it freaked me out... But yes, "full-term" is considered 38-42 weeks, so there is NO good reason to induce before that unless there is a medical concern...

[triana1326]

Originally Posted by Carolyn_mtl

I'm posting on behalf of my sister who is 41 weeks preg and the doctor wants to induce tomorrow..
This is her 2nd preg, baby #1 is now 19 months, was born 3 days early, completely natural birth. We were hoping for the same situation for #2.
Are there different types of induction (like some drugs less intense than others?). I was reading that some drugs should not be used for women with history of uterine surgery. My sister never had uterine surgery but 8 days after #1 was born she hemmoraged and spent 5 days in the hospital. We are a little worried that inducing might be dangerous for her.
Any advice / tips would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

Stay away from Cytotec!

[rootzdawta]

Moved from I'm Pregnant.

[goldfinches]

I agree about the cervadil first, then the pitocin. But, have her try the nipple stimulation first. Tell her to do it for a while, at least 15 - 20 minutes or more.

And, yes, they can start pit and then turn it off if she's laboring on her own nicely.

Good luck to her!