Hospital Policy to Induce - Page 2

[melanie_rabbitbarn]

One question that I have--as I am 40+ weeks and hoping for a VBAC (my awesome hospital midwife isn't talking induction until medically necessary or 42 weeks)-- is there a way to go in for an induction without committing to the birth? As in, start the induction (but no rupure of membranes, etc.) and if you just aren't progressing fast enough, stop the meds, walk out, and try again in a few days? It's a question I have for my midwife next appointment and I wonder if anyone here has any thoughts?

[AustinMom]

If you know anyone with diabetes or anyone who regualarly tests their blood sugar, you may ask them to use their meter to test your after certain trigger foods. They are different for every person. Some times it's table sugar, but not sweeteners like agave nectar, some times if white flour but not whole wheat flour, some times it's tortillas and not bread, some fruits, etc. It'd be good to know your triggers so you can just avoid those foods and not worry so much about your diet.

Of course exercise helps and high fiber and high protein, they help to balance the sugar in your system.

melanie_rabbitbarn-I think this is a GREAT idea, moms usually feel like if they go to the hospital, they have to stay for the baby, and sometimes when they get there they don't know it's an option to leave. I would suggest this to EVERY mom facing a "non-negotiable" induction. It would prove to the CP that their bodies (and most likely their babies too) are not ready for labor and not ready for birth.

[Monkey Keeper]

Originally Posted by melanie_rabbitbarn

One question that I have--as I am 40+ weeks and hoping for a VBAC (my awesome hospital midwife isn't talking induction until medically necessary or 42 weeks)-- is there a way to go in for an induction without committing to the birth? As in, start the induction (but no rupure of membranes, etc.) and if you just aren't progressing fast enough, stop the meds, walk out, and try again in a few days? It's a question I have for my midwife next appointment and I wonder if anyone here has any thoughts?

Yup. Did it with DD2 who ended up a c/s after all. But I did 2 doses of cervadil (she was not a VBAC) and 8 hours of pit with no progress. As long as I wasn't dilated past 5-ish, my OB was fine with me leaving and trying again another day. So we turned off the pit, my contrax stopped within an hour, and home we went.

[Crunchy Frog]

Sorry, this sounds totally bogus. Inductions in VBACs are strongly linked with a greater risk of uterine rupture.

I would just not show up for the scheduled induction and show up when you go into labor on your own. In general they can't force you, especially for something that is not standard of care.

[KempsMama]

I thought I should update all of you.

After confronting my OB, he stated that the other OB's at this hospital prefer to induce, because the hospital does have a policy that the OB remain on site the entire time a VBACing mom is in labor. My doctor, however, does not do this.

I had my 39 week check up today, I'm 2 cm and 50% effaced. He said if I didn't go into labor by Tuesday, we would schedule the section for Friday (I would be 40 wks 5 days) I asked him to why he wasn't comfortable letting me go to 42 weeks, and he gave the spiel about the placenta not holding up and so forth. So, I said, what if I agree to a U/S and an NST next week, and if all looks well we schedule the section for 42 weeks, if I don't go into labor on my own. He agreed! He said he already knows I'm not going to do anything I don't agree with. (We had a bit of a disagreement at 37 weeks when he wanted another U/S "to see how big baby is" and I declined. )

[ASusan]

I'm so glad your OB listens to you and is able to be a good partner in your care.

[MyFillingQuiver]

That's some good progress with your OB, Heathyr!

Have lots of nookie, and get the RRL infusions flowing all day long...EPO would be a good choice, too.

I'll be praying for you! I know you can do this!

[c'est moi]

Originally Posted by KempsMama

I thought I should update all of you.

After confronting my OB, he stated that the other OB's at this hospital prefer to induce, because the hospital does have a policy that the OB remain on site the entire time a VBACing mom is in labor. My doctor, however, does not do this.

I had my 39 week check up today, I'm 2 cm and 50% effaced. He said if I didn't go into labor by Tuesday, we would schedule the section for Friday (I would be 40 wks 5 days) I asked him to why he wasn't comfortable letting me go to 42 weeks, and he gave the spiel about the placenta not holding up and so forth. So, I said, what if I agree to a U/S and an NST next week, and if all looks well we schedule the section for 42 weeks, if I don't go into labor on my own. He agreed! He said he already knows I'm not going to do anything I don't agree with. (We had a bit of a disagreement at 37 weeks when he wanted another U/S "to see how big baby is" and I declined. )

just realized you were in MN AND that your original post was quite old. glad to see the update. glad your OB realizes you won't just "accept" everything they require. best wishes!

[Mom2M]

That's great news! 42 weeks was the longest my OB would do also and she was born at exactly 42 weeks, lol. It was a sat. and the section was scheduled for Monday.
You can do it!

[mrsberman]

AustinMom - I just have to say I love your "four phrases" and I will keep that in mind for whenever my time comes.

OP good luck with your VBAC.

[kltroy]

That's great that you have come to an agreement with your OB. Deep down, I think *most* doctors are happy to defer to whatever the mom wants at the end of the day, so long as they are absolutely convinced that mom is making an informed decision and that they've had a chance to say their peace.

Slightly off topic, I suspect many docs take an approach similar to how I interview potential PhD students (I'm a prof). I ask them many questions about their motivations and do my best to tell them all of the reasons that they DON'T want to pursue a PhD. If, at the end of the day, they still want it badly enough, then I know they will have the level of commitment that it takes to complete one.

Now, I'm not saying that this is the best/right approach to take when delivering healthcare, (in fact, I think it's NOT! Having a baby and spending 4+ years in graduate school are two entirely different undertakings!) It's just an observation....

[buckeyedoc]

What an odd policy! The more evidence-based OBs and MWs use labor induction only as a last resort before RCS, since it does bump up the uterine rupture risk. You should be able to decline induction per the hospital's Patient's Bill of Rights, which generally has some spiel about being able to decline anything, anytime. And I would show them the newest ACOG guidelines.

[buckeyedoc]

Originally Posted by kltroy

I ask them many questions about their motivations and do my best to tell them all of the reasons that they DON'T want to pursue a PhD.

OT, but I wish someone had asked me that, before I spent 6.5 years of misery getting my Ph.D.!

[AustinMom]

Originally Posted by mrsberman

AustinMom - I just have to say I love your "four phrases" and I will keep that in mind for whenever my time comes.

OP good luck with your VBAC.

You can TOTALLY keep it and please tell it to other women! Our Doula mentioned those when we were earlier on in our pregnancy, and I plan on using it when I'm a Doula and tell all my galfriends the same things so they have time and choices too.

[roadfamily6now]

Thanks for the Update! I am so relieved to hear some reason from your OB
Good Luck momma!!!

[sap2010]

Originally Posted by KempsMama

If only I'd known then what I know now, I wouldn't be in this spot. How do you deal with the regrets of getting cut in the first place, and the feeling that you have let all your future children down by failing the first???

Oh, I feel your pain, Mama! Please don't let yourself feel like a failure. I saw in your signature that you are a Mama of faith, so I will ask you frankly, do you believe God was in control of what happened to you? It helps me so much when I start feeling regrets and fears that I've hurt my future children's chance at life to remember that I did the best I could and that God WAS in complete control, and that even though things didn't happen in the way I thought was best, He decided that it was a good gift for me (James 1:17) and so I have to trust Him with it just like I trust Him with my salvation and every other part of my life! I'm remembering and praying for you! I know you will make the best decision(s)!

Am thinking that you might be in the middle of everything now. . . so excited to hear how things are going!

[tarama]

To you and other overdue VBACers, here's what I did:

On the morning of my scheduled induction, I called the hospital and said I wasn't coming because I was having ctx (I was the night before but they had petered out during the day). Then later in the day, or maybe the next day, call and schedule appt with OB in their office and say, "Huh, the ctx didn't last. Oops!"

Repeat this until your baby comes.

My OB at one point said, "Guess you can't drag people into L&D kicking and screaming."

Also, don't make them feel guilty when they say that they only can fit you in at a certain time, blah blah blah. They induce and section ladies on demand all the time!