How can I convince OB to NOT induce? - Page 2

[MilkTrance]

Originally Posted by luckymamato2

The easiest way is to not show up for your induction. Avoid their phone calls when they call looking for you.

:

Wish I'd done that, honest-to-God.

[siennasmom]

Originally Posted by katheek77

Well, honestly, while a broken clavicle doesn't sound like fun, it also isn't life-threatening.

No, but it's not how I would want my baby to come into the world, either. I've never broken a bone, but I'm sure it hurts. Probably really a lot. If an induction spares the baby that pain, I would take the induction. I know that most here wouldn't, but I would.

[Maluhia]

IF you want to keep this UCV Care Provider - I'd schedule a clothing-on in-office-not-exam-room meeting and show up informed and talk about what you DO want and what you WON'T consent to.

Although I might want to I would not ignore the subject and not show up for an induction - what if they tried a CPS type thing?

I'd tell them my intentions and if they won't "let" me make my own informed medical choices I'd find another CP.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

Originally Posted by siennasmom

No, but it's not how I would want my baby to come into the world, either. I've never broken a bone, but I'm sure it hurts. Probably really a lot. If an induction spares the baby that pain, I would take the induction. I know that most here wouldn't, but I would.

An induction is not going to prevent a broken clavicle. A skilled midwife, freedom to move about and instinctive pushing (or not pushing) will spare a baby a broken clavicle.

[katheek77]

That was my point, exactly. All an induction will do is get a baby going along, against his/her will, before s/he is ready to be born. If baby isn't turned correctly, or whatever (which is what the OP stated in her original post), then, induction isn't going to prevent it.

Were Baby to truly become stuck, THEN intervention could be done. Assuming baby will be stuck is illogical to me...they told me my baby would come "early" based on my dilation...she was 8 days late.

OBs are not God.

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by siennasmom

No, but it's not how I would want my baby to come into the world, either. I've never broken a bone, but I'm sure it hurts. Probably really a lot. If an induction spares the baby that pain, I would take the induction. I know that most here wouldn't, but I would.

Me too, I would induce IF I thought there was any way in heck it would decrease the odds of this highly stressful and painful way for my baby to come into the world.

But, yeah, I wouldn't really do it because induction doesn't make sense.

I would rather find a midwife or even an OB familiar with the Gaskin manuver.

[LoveChild421]

Originally Posted by SublimeBirthGirl

An induction is not going to prevent a broken clavicle. A skilled midwife, freedom to move about and instinctive pushing (or not pushing) will spare a baby a broken clavicle.

Exactly. I would love to hear the circumstances of the OP's first 2 births- I am willing to bet she gave birth on her back- which decreases the pelvic outlet by at least 33%. Giving birth upright (squatting, on all fours, etc) opens the pelvis and is the best way to decrease the odds of shoulder dystocia, not induction.

[triscuitsmom]

Originally Posted by siennasmom

No, but it's not how I would want my baby to come into the world, either. I've never broken a bone, but I'm sure it hurts. Probably really a lot. If an induction spares the baby that pain, I would take the induction. I know that most here wouldn't, but I would.

OK... but an induction increases your childs risks of having a traumatic birth experience overall, including a possible c-section which is not good for him/her in any way (providing there is no reason other than a failed induction that wasn't needed necessarily in the first place).

Why risk all of the potential complications when 2-3 weeks is likely to not make any difference for dystocia anyway if you are wanting to spare your baby pain/trauma?

I'm hoping you find the best solution for you and your babe. Sounds like time for a change in care providers, or at least getting a doula (and refusing the induction) IMO.

[taralv]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Sorry I have been mia from my own post - busy week. Anyway, I am trying to look for another provider. We are in a sort of rural area that makes it almost inevitable that we will have to travel, but I found a midwife practice that births in a birthing center in a hospital. The midwife I spoke with said that she would also induce me due to the shoulder dystocia. I also found a group of midwives that birth at home, and I have been trying to get a hold of them to get an appointment, but they only have office hours on WED and FRI so we have played some phone tag. I spoke briefly with one of the midwives and she said that she would need more information but did not think that I should be induced. However, dh is very opposed to homebirth. He hears an OB saying induction is necessary and he believes it. Period. I'm working on that. I've actually had three different OBs in different states because we have moved so much in the last 6 years. New Mexico, Oregon and now Virginia. So, the OB I have now is not the one who delivered dd or ds, hope that clears up that misunderstanding. And I did labor on my back in a hospital bed, but that was mosty because the pain of labor is so overwhelming for me that by the end I just don't have the energy to get up on all fours and turn over. I've seen women do that on shows that show natural labor, and I have always wondered how they had the strength. I labor on my side, focused entirely on relaxing my body so that I don't clench up with the pain of the contractions until my body just basically starts to push by itself and then I guess I've always just rolled onto my back and started pushing. Anyway, I think I will start with having the in office conversation with the current OB and go from there. Thanks again for all of your input.

Tara

[aylaanne]

Tara,

I'd also look into spinningbabies.com to see about what you can do NOW, prenatally, to help get and keep your baby in an optimal position for birth. I would NOT consent to an induction, because inducing increases the risk that your baby will be malpositioned. Look into laboring in the water, I hear that being in water helps you to relax because it doesn't force you to deal with gravity plus the hard work you're doing, and it will help you in being upright as much as possible, and to move as the baby needs you to move. You also sound like a great candidate for water birth for the same reason.

Also, work with your DH to help him learn about options in pregnancy and childbirth. You'll need him on board with whatever decisions you make when you're in labor. If something does go wrong, heaven forbid, you need him to be supportive of the choices you've decided on prenatally. Birth is NOT the time to have a difference of opinion.

Good luck and KUP.

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by taralv

And I did labor on my back in a hospital bed, but that was mosty because the pain of labor is so overwhelming for me that by the end I just don't have the energy to get up on all fours and turn over. I've seen women do that on shows that show natural labor, and I have always wondered how they had the strength.

This to me is one of the biggest benefits of birthing pools! I labored and delivered in a pool (at home) and I also wonder how women have the strength to get into all these positions during the HARD labor of birthing. With water, you are nearly weightless. I found it easy to get into, or change, or stay in any number of positions while I was in the water - some which would be just IMPOSSIBLE out of the water.

I highly recommend you look into this, especially with the history of SD. A birthing tub could really make a difference for you, making it easy to open your pelvis with less effort.

[RachelGS]

I wouldn't stick with an OB who needed to be "convinced." No kidding. You've handed over a lot of power, there, talking about what you need to convince him of and what he will allow you to do. Reclaim your birth. Remember that you are the one who is growing this baby, that you are the one who will do the work of getting the baby out into the world. Take control. Remember you are in charge.

[Kitten]

Someone on here once posted a link to a chiropractor's website who recommends pushing while lying on your side as being at least as good as pushing while kneeling/crouching/on all fours/whatever upright method you can think of. He says it opens up your birth canal at least as much as squatting. So if you feel like you need to labor while lying down at the end of your labor, this is OK! Instead of rolling onto your back, stay on your side and either hold your leg up yourself or have someone hold it for you.

This is what I did by instinct and it worked great for me. I was really tired and wanted to stay lying down on my side. I was too tired to move at all, I didn't want anyone touching me either. I just stayed on my side and held my upper leg up by my head. I think I wrapped my arm around my leg and held my leg by my knee, if that makes sense. Then between contractions and when I wanted to rest, I just dropped my leg back down again.

Maybe someone here has the link to that article.

[gratefulmama2isaac]

Tara, Would your dh be open to doing some reading? If so, Marsden Wagner's "Born in the USA" will open his eyes, if anything will. By a doctor, against doctors. That's a huge simplification of his position, but he presents a compelling case, all evidence-based, so it appeals to mainstream and "worried dads".

[taralv]

Thanks for these suggestions. I spoke with a midwife in the area who delivers at home yesterday, and she helped me so much in terms of my confidence level and not allowing induction. She also talked about baby spinning and excercises that I can do to get the baby in a better position. I have spoken with our insurance, and they will not cover any expenses incurred with midwife svcs or homebirth, and the expense of the service is too much for us to do out of pocket. So now I just feel like I have to tell my OB that we will not induce. Since we are an hour away from the hospital, and I'm due in January (we have snowy/icy winters) the OB also felt that induction would save me from having to drive to the hospital in labor. To me this is another reason to have a midwife come to my home, but it seems out of the question. I am frustrated with this whole thing. I feel like everyone around me has these logical reasons for inducing this labor, and I am the only one opposed. Of course, I am the one having the baby so that should make my vote the only one that counts but I am drowning in a sea of "this is the only way"s. Okay, thanks for letting me vent.

Tara

[TanyaS]

Originally Posted by taralv

And I did labor on my back in a hospital bed, but that was mostly because the pain of labor is so overwhelming for me that by the end I just don't have the energy to get up on all fours and turn over. I've seen women do that on shows that show natural labor, and I have always wondered how they had the strength.

Induced labor is often much more intense than natural labor. This is why you see women have the energy to turn over or otherwise move during labor. They are not stricken by unnatural contractions. Induction makes a significant difference in the amount of pain a woman has during labor.

Originally Posted by taralv

I feel like everyone around me has these logical reasons for inducing this labor, and I am the only one opposed. Of course, I am the one having the baby so that should make my vote the only one that counts but I am drowning in a sea of "this is the only way"s.

But you're the only one with logical reasons! None of the reasons for induction are compelling or even logical. I highly recommend focusing on getting your baby in a good position now and not pushing on your back. You do not have to convince your OB of anything, but you may have to stand strong as he tries to change your mind. Imo, having an induction because you're due in the winter and it could by icy is just one way he's already trying to convince you. And he has 20 more weeks to keep trying. It's not an easy situation when the birth climate is so hostile. Can you look into a loan for to pay for the midwife? I did that with no regrets. If you decide to go ahead with the hospital birth, then I highly recommend a doula to help you during labor. A good doula will have you move and keep you from staying in a position that could contribute to a malpositioned baby.

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by TanyaS

Can you look into a loan for to pay for the midwife? I did that with no regrets.

I second that. The list of things I would sacrifice to make sure that my baby and I emerge from our birthing experience whole, physically and emotionally, is quite large. I would skip Christmas presents and vacations, downgrade my car, cancel my Netflix subscription, stop buying clothes, music and DVDs, turn my heat down this winter, you get the idea. I know my DH would also get a second job for it - it's just too important and the other stuff just isn't.

If my DH had to have major surgery and we had to choose between a vet with a poor repuation and an experienced people-surgeon, we'd do the same! I would never want to put my husband in jeopardy with some knife-happy maniac who doesn't understand the body he (or she) is working on for a couple thousand bucks or so. Sure, it's a lot of money, but it's one of the few things that is WORTH it.

[gratefulmama2isaac]

Home birth

Tara, it sounds like you found the midwife for you. If you really want a home birth, most midwives will work with you, perhaps a payment plan or barter. There is always a way; can you think of anything more important to spend money on than your child's birth? Also, staying with this ob will be stressful for you, it sounds like. You can always change things before birth . . .not after. Listen to yourself; you and only you know what is right for your baby and your family. And I can definitely relate to that bad feeling of negative info coming in; it's something no pregnant woman should have to feel, but sadly, so many do.

[eucalyptusleaves]

I think the best advice I have is to find a provider that you're comfortable with.

[eucalyptusleaves]

Oops, I didn't see the update about the midwife. She sounds great! Did you talk to her at all about payments? See if she will work with you at all, midwives are usually great. I don't think you should feel forced into anything with your OB.