Is There a Happy Medium Between All-Out Induction and intervention Free? - Page 2

[christifav]

At my 40-wk appt the doc told me to schedule my 41-wk nonstress test and that typically, they like to induce the same day "if it is convenient". Convenient for who is pretty obvious.

anyway, I told her I'd schedule it, but of course I never did. Baby was born at 40wks 4 days, right on time and on HIS schedule. If I had gone beyond 41 wks I still would not have induced. Plenty of women went to 42 wks before OBs started micromanaging birth.

When I was pg with my first the midwife wanted to strip my membranes at my 39-wk appt. I declined and she basically told me that I would "be sorry when I have to come back next week for an induction". Whatever, I didn't let her bug me. My daughter decided to be born the next day.

Childbirth involves a delicate interplay of hormones from both mother and baby. The baby will start the process when s/he is ready to be born. Whenever that may be, if you choose a hospital birth, there WILL be a doctor available to catch your baby if that is what you want.

Show up to the hospital when contractions are so painful that you can't smile anymore. That means you're nearing transition and you will not have to sit (lay) at the hospital long (and set yourself up for some "helpful" interventions) before your baby is born.

Good luck! It is easy for me to say, but please try to relax. Your baby is getting ready and will come when s/he is ready.

[happy2bamama]

I totally agree with the pp's who said that you should do what YOU want and not what the OB wants. I would definitely give that birthing center a call.

And here's the thing... when your birth is over, you will think about it FOREVER. If you're like most of the women I've talked to, you will remember specific things that were either wonderful or horrible. And if you're one of the women who didn't speak up for herself while there was still time (before you go into labor), there's a good chance you will deeply, deeply regret it. You cannot reverse it. And if you just LET yourself become passive about it for whatever reason - maybe you consider yourself not to be strong-willed - remember that you are still making a conscious choice to not change a situation that is already heading down a road you don't want to go down.

I don't mean to be harsh or scare you, but YOU are in the drivers' seat of your body and your birth and whomever is going to be assisting at your birth should be on board with you, not fighting against you.

Best of luck - and just so you know, my DS came 41 weeks and 3 days.

[applejuice]

Originally Posted by happy2bamama

I totally agree with the pp's who said that you should do what YOU want and not what the OB wants. I would definitely give that birthing center a call.

And here's the thing... when your birth is over, you will think about it FOREVER. If you're like most of the women I've talked to, you will remember specific things that were either wonderful or horrible. And if you're one of the women who didn't speak up for herself while there was still time (before you go into labor), there's a good chance you will deeply, deeply regret it. You cannot reverse it. And if you just LET yourself become passive about it for whatever reason - maybe you consider yourself not to be strong-willed - remember that you are still making a conscious choice to not change a situation that is already heading down a road you don't want to go down.

I don't mean to be harsh or scare you, but YOU are in the drivers' seat of your body and your birth and whomever is going to be assisting at your birth should be on board with you, not fighting against you.

Best of luck - and just so you know, my DS came 41 weeks and 3 days.

Extremely and painfully true.

Please always act in your own best self-interest. Remember, you will live for the rest of your life with the decisions made FOR you at the birth, so make the decision that you can live with, because you will. And remember, this is only the beginning of eighteen years at least of doing just that for your dear child.

Your doctor, the nurses, and the hospital only get reimbursed for their time.

[LoveChild421]

Originally Posted by christifav

Childbirth involves a delicate interplay of hormones from both mother and baby. The baby will start the process when s/he is ready to be born. Whenever that may be, if you choose a hospital birth, there WILL be a doctor available to catch your baby if that is what you want.

Show up to the hospital when contractions are so painful that you can't smile anymore. That means you're nearing transition and you will not have to sit (lay) at the hospital long (and set yourself up for some "helpful" interventions) before your baby is born.

Good luck! It is easy for me to say, but please try to relax. Your baby is getting ready and will come when s/he is ready.

Great advice there.

This whole "induce on the due date" isn't evidence based medicine and if you question your doctor as to WHY there is a need to induce she will probably not be able to give you an answer. They know that even medical textbooks state that there is NO statistically increased risk in a pregnancy going to 42 weeks. Even medical textbooks state that anywhere from 38-42 weeks is the "normal" range for a pregnancy to last. If you aren't having medical problems that make an induction 100% necessary just say no, you want to wait until 42 weeks to even think about an induction. They cannot drop you from care or you can charge them with patient abandonment.

Stripping (not breaking) the membranes is probably the "best" of all induction methods (but shouldn't be done until 42 weeks and that is if you are SURE of your dates) because you can just go home and if nothing happens, nothing happens.

PLEASE do not allow them to use Cytotec. Mamas and babies have died from it, even the FDA put out an alert that it is NOT a drug that is intended for labor induction.

From: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopag...ol/default.htm

This Patient Information Sheet is for pregnant women who may receive misoprostol to soften their cervix or induce contractions to begin labor. Misoprostol is sometimes used to decrease blood loss after delivery of a baby. These uses are not approved by the FDA. No company has sent the FDA scientific proof that misoprostol is safe and effective for these uses.

There can be serious side effects, including a torn uterus (womb), when misoprostol is used for labor and delivery. A torn uterus may result in severe bleeding, having the uterus removed (hysterectomy), and death of the mother or baby. These side effects are more likely in women who have had previous uterine surgery, a previous Cesarean delivery (C-section), or several previous births.

There are serious risks associated with induction. I would hate to be one of the women who have to look back and think that if I had just been patient and assertive with the Dr.s and let my baby come on its own time that nothing bad would have happened.

[jadzia's_mommy]

What everyone else said--don't let a doctor pressure you into doing something you aren't comfortable with!

I had sciatic pain in both pregnancies and chiropractic worked wonders.

[Dragonfly]

Originally Posted by XanaduMama

Just to add... have you seen a chiropractor for the round ligament pain? I was (already) in bad pelvic pain a couple months ago (it plagued me throughout my 3rd tri with ds), and the chiro has helped me SO MUCH. Even if you only go a couple times before baby arrives, at least it might make you more comfortable.

I was going to ask the same thing. I had sciatica before I was even pregnant, despite being fit and healthy. I knew it would get worse during pregnancy, so I started seeing a chiropractor regularly, once a week, and 2-3 times per week toward the end. She kept me completely pain-free and I'm convinced that the chiropractic care, in my case, is what enabled ds to be properly positioned and labor to go relatively quickly.

It's definitely worth a try.

[waiting2bemommy]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and advice. Happily I started labor on my own yesterday and now I'm just hoping the contractions progress a little quicker before I run out of steam. *Hopefully* I'll be in the hospital to push within the next few hours...hopefully. I'm thrilled...today is my due date; just in time!!!

[happy2bamama]

YAY! :

Remember, YOU are responsible for you and your baby (even though the hospital may try to tell you that they are). This may just be another Sunday night shift to them, but to you, it's one of the (if not THE) most amazing day of your life, so stick up for what you want for yourself and your baby! Once you see those beautiful eyes staring up at you, you'll know how important it was to protect your little angel.

Happy birthing - you're going to do great!!!

[hellyaellen]

awesome mama!

the trick now is just to hang out at home as long as possible. eat and drink as needed/ wanted to keep up your strength, rest when you can, but alternate periods of rest w/ periods of activity....



so excited for you mama:

[christifav]

Yes, stay home, rest, eat, drink and prepare for the biggest day of your life! You will remember this forever. Giving birth is the most wonderful experience! You're going to do great!

[LoveChild421]

Best of luck and sending good birthing energy your way!

[MilkTrance]

Originally Posted by njbeachgirl

Honestly? I would run, not walk away from that doctor.

Please do this.

This was my instinct, and I ignored it.

One traumatic birth resulting in a C/S later, and I cannot stress enough how much you MUST trust your instincts in this situation.

[crazy_eights]

My $.02? You've got a ton of red flags with this practice (big group, aren't taking you seriously, eager to induce...). Seconding, thirding whatever the recommendation to give the birth center a call.

OOOPs - missed the update. GOOD LUCK!

[Carlyle]

I'm jumping in here just to say, I hope things went well--I'd love an update! I'm so glad that you ended up going into labor on your own--yay!