at what point would you consider induction? - Page 2

[AugustLia23]

I would not medically induce for dates, but I would be okay with castor oil or membrane sweeping and EPO or other natural inductions. Membrane sweeping put me over the edge last time, so I'd be okay with it again.

[rmzbm]

I would not induce for ANY reason with my obstetrical history, medical or otherwise. If it came down to it & I had NO choice I'd take a section. IMO, it's INEVITABLE (for ME) with induction.
Thankfully there is pretty much always a choice!

[Jenlaana]

This is why I hate doctors. lol I don't trust them to say "you need an induction" or "you need a cesarean" and have it be the truth. I would never do something like an NST "just to keep the doctor off my back". I guess I'm just ornary that way. I know many disagree with this, but I loved having a doppler at home last time because it helped me see how the baby was doing, without having to go in for interventions and "monitoring". IMO, the more you let them get their paws on you at the end, the more likely they are to "reccomend" interventions (and my last OB "reccomended" a cesarean, and when I declined and they realized I wasnt going to change my mind they kicked me out... so you can guess my opinions on doctor reccomended proceedures)

If *I* felt like something was wrong I would possibly have an induction. Although to be honest, I would probably just opt for a cesarean, because if it was bad enough that I felt baby needed to come out before they were ready, then it was probably bad enough to need a cesarean as well. IMO, inductions (esp for a VBAC, which I am) are bad bad bad. They stress the utereus, most of the drugs they use are NOT even fda approved for inductions, they cause undue stress and pain on mom and baby (well stress atleast on baby), and its just one thing after another.

Things that would make me agree to a cesarean (my version of an induction since I am not comfortable with an induction whatsoever).... if my BP was over 160's/110's, if the baby's heart tones were not good on repeated occasions when there were no other stress factors that could be removed, if I was very ill and didn't think I would be able to manage labor, and thats really all I can think of, but it would have to be something pretty serious for me to consent, personally. MAYBE the only thing that would make me induce would be going over like... 44 weeks and knowing to the letter what my EDD was. But then, my first was born at 38 wks and my 2nd was born without intervention at 40 wks and 3 days so I would be suprised to go THAT much further over.

[brooklyn_warbler]

i would avoid an induction based on dates as well. i sort of expect to be late, as my mom was with all her babies as well (42.5 weeks with one of my sisters!). i would definitely try acupuncture as i am a big believer, along with herbs, sex, etc. i'm not sure about castor oil; i'd decide at the time. i would probably consent to membrane sweeping as well depending on the situation.

[natashaccat]

Originally Posted by readytobedone

does it even work? i'd heard it's basically a crapshoot, like all other natural induction methods...

it's on my VERY back burner, just because it can be so invasive/volatile.

In our state MW have to do a mandatory hospital birth transfer after 42 wks, as an alternative to this she did a membrane sweep, had me drink 3oz caster oil, and take blue and block cohosh every two hours (I can't remember dosage). Based on my cervix she was 100% confident that it would work and it did

I personally didn't have bad side effect other than a night of frequent soft stools and mild diarrhea. It wasn't that bad and certainly easier than the horrible medical induction that I endured with my first child. I actually appreciated the prior clean out when it was time to push.

[ChristieB]

Originally Posted by alegna

I would not induce for dates. If there were a medical reason I would consider it. A true medical reason. Not a trumped up medical reason (big baby, not enough fluid, etc are trumped up reasons)

-Angela

Why do you say that not enough fluid is a trumped up reason?

Christie

[riversmommy]

The induction rates in this country are out of control! Do some research on how risky they are for both mother and baby and then compare with research on the "risks" of going past 42 weeks. Non-stress tests are a surefire way for induction happy doctors to "find" an issue that will "require" induction.

I know many, many mothers who fought to have their babies on their own time frame twenty to thirty years ago(including my own). Let's not forget their hard work and remember even ACOG does not have good things to say about induction. It should be very RARE that it would ever be needed!

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by ChristieB

Why do you say that not enough fluid is a trumped up reason?

Christie

Probably because alot of Drs. will say that simply to get you to go ahead with the induction.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by ChristieB

Why do you say that not enough fluid is a trumped up reason?

Christie

Because they can't really measure fluid level well. They can measure (gets inaccurate at the end if baby has dropped) or they can u/s and measure (guesswork at best...)

It also changes. Fluid replinishes regularly.

-Angela

[ChristieB]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

Probably because alot of Drs. will say that simply to get you to go ahead with the induction.

That's the problem with drs., then. How is a mama supposed to know? Because it can be a valid reason.

With me, it was my midwives (most definitely not medwives) reading the u/s report, and with the first u/s, when a dr. probably would have recommended inducing, they sent me home to drink plenty of fluids and wait and see. With the second u/s, they felt it was getting too risky to wait. I was convinced the u/s was wrong, but in the end there was no leaking, and no gush of water. It really was dry in there. That's not good for baby. My one regret is that I didn't have time (and that was because of the back-up dr.'s schedule) to try acupuncture again before going in for medical induction.

And I do agree that just about any test or monitoring can lead to interventions. But sometimes they're necessary, too. A double edged sword. If only the folks interpreting the results could be trusted!!

Christie

[ChristieB]

Originally Posted by alegna

Because they can't really measure fluid level well. They can measure (gets inaccurate at the end if baby has dropped) or they can u/s and measure (guesswork at best...)

It also changes. Fluid replinishes regularly.

-Angela

There are always "what ifs", aren't there. I guess I'll never really know. Thanks for answering my question. Now if someone could just tell me what really happened with my first!

Christie

[Snork]

At 14 days post my very sure date, I would try castor oil (its worked 4 times now). If that didnt work I'd try stretch and sweep - midwife doing it that is. If that didnt work, I would agree to induction bang on 43 weeks.

[momto l&a]

I used castor oil at 43 weeks with my last.

I personally loved the castor oil well all except the taste. It was nice to be all cleaned out.

It was a very fast and enjoyable birth if it was caused by the castor oil. We dont really know that it did work.

[ksera05]

one reason I'd induce would be pre-eclampsia, which I had with my daughter. I didn't get the chance to be induced with DD because she was breach and having severe decels, I had a c/s, but I do wish it'd been a choice.

HOWEVER would I induce at 42 weeks just because? No.

[DoomaYula]

I wouldn't even agree to a NST/BPP at the hospital at 41w. Too much of a risk of an interventionist doctor "finding" something wrong and insisting there's a "reason" for induction.

My semi-induction was fine -- but it was not a full induction as I didn't have pit. I was induced for twins with TTTS when baby B showed signs of IUGR for 2 straight weeks. It was a real negotiation, but I started with Cervidil and then I went straight into active labor and didn't need any pit. It was fine -- but I wasn't as crunchy as I am now.