Anyone know about induction?

[lincap]

I know I will only be 40 weeks tomorrow.. but I am the kind of person that needs to be able to think things through for a while before they happen.

I was just thinking that if I go 1-2 more weeks, I will be induced. MW practice with the OBs sometimes induce at 41 weeks, sometimes 42 depending on the biophysical profile. I am almost certain I won't go 42w1d with their guidelines..

I don't even know much about induction. I guess they just pump you with pitocin? or maybe break your water? I really don't know.

Just beginning to think about it, since in a week, I might have to go that route if little one is still cooking.

So, anyone been induced that feels like telling us what they do and their experiences? I will see my mw on Wed, so I will chat with her about it, so I can be familiar with their practices procedures.. just would rather hear real stories than try to catch "A baby story" on TV to see one! AHHA!

[smokeylo]

First, they'll want to do a bishop's score to determine how favorable you are for induction. You will want to know this so you can make a better call about the kind of induction you receive and will in some way guide what they want you to do.

As you can see from the website, if your cervix needs more ripening, they will likely want to use p-gel or cervidil to ripen the cervix. This is a gelly thing they stick in there, I think it can sometimes be in pill form.

If you are offered anything called cytotec or misoprostol, adamantly refuse. This is a drug approved for treating ulcers, not for use in pregnancy, and yet it is used all the time. Cytotec has a high correlation with hyperstimulation and uterine rupture.

Pitocin will probably come up at some point. You can ask that they start the dose very low. You may only need it to get things going.

AROM is also an option, but weigh it carefully: they will want you to deliver within a certain timeframe of membrane rupture. At the same time, if you're dilated to 5, AROM might get things going without the need for drugs.

Henci Goer's book is a great quick reference for info on all of these procedures. Hopefully you won't have any reason to mess with this stuff!

[lincap]

Excellent info! THANK YOU!

[eilonwy]

You'll probably want to start with the least invasive sorts of things first-- evening primrose oil (orally), for example.

Likewise, your midwife will likely start with the least invasive options, like sweeping your membranes (particularly if your cervix is favorable for induction).

[Gunter]

linda- just wanted to hear see if you were open to some more natural induction options. you could probably find a lot of tips here on MDC but black and blue cohosh can work. chiro and accupuncture can work, too. there are more than a couple of pressure points that help trigger labor. would you be interested in trying those things first? like tomorrow...?

[lincap]

Originally Posted by Gunter

linda- just wanted to hear see if you were open to some more natural induction options. you could probably find a lot of tips here on MDC but black and blue cohosh can work. chiro and accupuncture can work, too. there are more than a couple of pressure points that help trigger labor. would you be interested in trying those things first? like tomorrow...?

Oh Absolutely! I know there is an acupuncturist here that can induce labor but won't until 41-42 weeks nad a call from mw. So that is an option. Don't know much more about natural stuff except for sex, nipple stim and walking.
So yes, more info the better!

Thanks!

[Dea]

There's an accupressure point on the roof of your mouth, so sucking your thumb can also help!

[lovetobemama]

Would any of you consider a membrane sweep? I'm not really in a hurry to have this baby, but I will be at my 41 week visit in a couple of days, and have been 4 cm dilated and 75% effaced for 2 weeks already. My doc offered it, but didn't suggest I do it or anything. I'm wondering if there is any reason to do it at 41 weeks, or just keep not worrying about it since my body is obviously doing some prep on it's own already?

(Sorry to jump in, Linda, hope you don't mind me throwing in another question!)

[Shefalismommy]

I had to be induced this time around. I still had a "natural birth" and it was the best birth experience it could have been under the circumstances

I was diagnosed with IUGR (said the baby hadn't grown in 2 weeks.) I tried EVERYTHING natural for induction, from the cohoshes to 5 accupuncture treatments, castor oil, nipple stim, walking etc etc etc. Nothing, and no dilation either.

They did cervadil and pitocin for me. I had an IV for the first time in my life (all natural for my first daughter.) I was still able to go into my own zone with the help of my doula and husband despite the monitoring and IV stuff. I had a 5.5 hour delivery and a beautiful 7lb girl. (not IUGR in any respect!) I'm very happy with my birth experience, if you need to be induced, try to go in with a positive attitude.

I did feel like the pitocin contractions were tougher, but it was still doable.

Good luck! I hope something natural works for you.

[lincap]

Originally Posted by Dea

There's an accupressure point on the roof of your mouth, so sucking your thumb can also help!

Oh This is great!! I am sure DS will think this is funny!

Originally Posted by lovetobemama

Would any of you consider a membrane sweep? I'm not really in a hurry to have this baby, but I will be at my 41 week visit in a couple of days, and have been 4 cm dilated and 75% effaced for 2 weeks already. My doc offered it, but didn't suggest I do it or anything. I'm wondering if there is any reason to do it at 41 weeks, or just keep not worrying about it since my body is obviously doing some prep on it's own already?

(Sorry to jump in, Linda, hope you don't mind me throwing in another question!)

I would totally consider the sweep. My MW did sweep me last week because I was 2cm 60%... and she said, if you are ready it will help if you are not ready it will do nothing. (I just had some bloody show.. it didn't do anything)

Originally Posted by Shefalismommy

I had to be induced this time around. I still had a "natural birth" and it was the best birth experience it could have been under the circumstances

I was diagnosed with IUGR (said the baby hadn't grown in 2 weeks.) I tried EVERYTHING natural for induction, from the cohoshes to 5 accupuncture treatments, castor oil, nipple stim, walking etc etc etc. Nothing, and no dilation either.

They did cervadil and pitocin for me. I had an IV for the first time in my life (all natural for my first daughter.) I was still able to go into my own zone with the help of my doula and husband despite the monitoring and IV stuff. I had a 5.5 hour delivery and a beautiful 7lb girl. (not IUGR in any respect!) I'm very happy with my birth experience, if you need to be induced, try to go in with a positive attitude.


I did feel like the pitocin contractions were tougher, but it was still doable.

Good luck! I hope something natural works for you.

That is good to hear. I hear horror stories about pitocin, but with DS I had piggy back contractions from 7-10cm.. so I had about 30 min ctx, then a break for a few hours. I feel like if I go into an induction fearing the pitocin, then it will be terrible. but if I go in aware and knowledgable about it, then it won't be so bad.

Thanks so much ladies. I am really just trying to prepare myself for the "just in case" I am weird like that!

[camille76]

This may not be the most popular view here... but I've been induced w/ pitocin 2 times and didn't notice any more pain than the labor/birth I had w/out induction. No pain meds. All 3 births seemed equal in pain. I'm about to be induced for this one too in a few days. I'm not worried about the pitocin at all.

baby #1: no induction
baby #2: induction w/ pitocin
baby #3: induction w/ pitocin
baby #4...about to be induced.

If it turns out that you have to use it, try not to worry because I suspect it will make it seem worse. I don't know Like I said, it really wasn't a big deal for me at all. No difference.

[ellymay]

I have been induced and it isn't a big deal atleast not to me you go in the hospital and they put an IV in and give you pitocin which will start contractions if you are close to going they won't have to give you much at all the only bad thing is that it makes contractions alot more painful that natural contractions. For me it wasn't a big deal but it may be for someone else but that was my experience was just that it made contractions a lot more painful.

That being said I would do whatever you can to start things natural.

[Kitten]

Having been through both an induction with artificial rupture of membranes, and a non-fooled-around-with birth with no AROM, if I have another baby there will be no induction without a darn good reason, and certainly no messing with my water. Simply being "late" is not a good enough reason to me.

[Nikki Christina]

i had an induction with my 2nd dd .
I liked it alot better then my 2 extremely quick, extremely painful natural births with the other 2 girls!

I was 3 cms when they started pitocin .. i was dilated to 5 within an hour & half without feeling any pain at all.
doc broke my water at 5 cms & within a few mins i was crampy. nothing that was a big deal..
but i asked for an epi at that point.. not that i was in serious pain yet.. its just i knew that it would not be long & i had zero intention of going natural again

so i had an epi. they didnt totally numb me though. it was fabulous.

after my epi I thought id stalled. i went 2 hours without any more dilation.. then all a sudden boom! i started feeling pretty strong contractions & id dilated 5 cms in less then 30 minutes & i delivered within minutes

it was all less then 4 hours start to finish

so i really cant speak for a "natural" labor with induction.. I had no interest in it.. the fact that i wanted an epi was one of my biggest motivations for asking for the induction
I actually had plans to talk to my new doc about my fast delivery with dd #1 & the induction with dd #2 & ask her to induce the new baby also.
but my apt was scheduled for 8:30 & i delivered at 7:42 .. natural.within minutes of getting to my room. all is well & its over with. but i would have chosen an induction over that .it would have been nice to have my husband with me instead of the waiting room with the girls. plus my doc had said the girls could come in .. but that she would have to be present before nurses would allow it & well.. she didnt show up till about 15 minutes after i delivered

[mamabutterfly]

FWIW I think you will have this baby within the next week before this even becomes an issue! You are right on target for an average timeframe (40 wks 5 days being average I think). And you said last week you were already ripening and opening!
So I agree add in a little sex, walking, maybe visualization or something. I think it will happen.

Here's a nice link for you or anyone else:
http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/...uce-labor.html

BUT if you really get to that point there are many things you can do to ease the hopsital induction experience. It is totally possible to use only cervadil and nipple stim, to have low dose pitocin, to turn it down or off once it's working, and to seriously delay (or avoid!) rupturing membranes artificially. Especially because this is your second baby.

[eilonwy]

My sister was induced with #3 because her blood pressure was rising very rapidly. She said it was awful, far and away the most difficult birth, and she'd never, ever do it again.

[tofugirl27]

both my boys were at least 2 weeks overdue- by looking at the placentas.
I induced one with good ole castor oil- he was born 6 hours later. It's safe, and non-invasive. If you don't go into labor the baby isn't ready.