Making the best of an induction

[Michelle Renee]

Welp..
I'm on the clock. My doc let me go to my due date -where as last time i went to 37 weeks. I'm scheduled for an induction Tuesday night. I will be due on that day as well May 26th.

Im autoimmune and my birth must be complete by 41 weeks 0 days. I have enough IVIG/antibodies from a previous infusion in my body to last until then and then Im at risk for anaphalaxis from birth and a steroid rebound without that protection on board. (I have to be on steroids pre/during/post birth process)

I understand medically its time. Hubbie and I spent some time with our Bradley teacher today and she said it sounded like a good medical reason for doing it. Went back to acupuncture today and the guy is also a medical doctor and he said with my body being auto immune - getting my hormones to do what they need to do could be tricky and my body may not want to let go of the baby. He told me not to be surprised if I cant go naturally and end up with a c-section.

So how do you make the best of an induction? My first induction was AWFUL! I think honestly I wish I would have had a c-section it would have been a lot less traumatic. (induction failed, I have a mediport, the pitocin got disconnected during shift change - we lost 8 hours, dilated by hand from 0-4, freight train pitocin hit - went for an epidural and then finally slept- woke up and pushed baby out)

Hubbie and I have been being more intimate, having spicy spicy foods, walking as I can tolerate ( I have an awful cold and sweat and feel crappy), etc. I am NOT willing to do any cohosh's -

So if you have to be induced - what do you do to make peace with it?

My Bradley teacher today told me to be kind to myself and realize I'm making an informed choice.

[Mama Poot]

I think your Bradley instructor hit the nail on the head with what they told you. I've never had to be induced, but I did get to ride the nasty Pitocin rollercoaster with my first birth. Remember that you've been through this before, and I think you are far better prepared having taken the Bradley classes and you are in a good state of mind. Pit contractions hurt like the devil no matter what you do, at least that's how it was for me, and I know if I ever had to be in that situation again I would not berate myself for taking the drugs or getting the epidural. The pain that medication causes is just plain inhuman and unnatural and just plain hard to deal with. Try to remember some of the positive things and make mantras with them to repeat to yourself when labor kicks in.

[cj'smommy]

I don't have any advice, but I wanted to offer a . I'm on the clock too, though I can't be induced, and it sucks.

[Breeder]

I'm on the clock as well. ((hugs))

It sounds like you have a very good medical reason for being induced and therefore on the clock (unlike me - it's just because I don't have a 'proven pelvis') sometimes it's in the best interest of both mother and baby that they get a little help in the labor department. Stay strong mama!

[Shanana]

No advice, mama. Just lots of s. Do what you need to do to get through the induction.

[lurable]

With my first dd my Dr. stripped my membranes which resulted in a slow leak. I waited as long as they would allow but eventually had to be induced. I went hours on the pit drip without anything happening before they realized that my water had resealed. The nurse broke my water and the contax were so intense I asked for the epidural and dd was born about an hour later.
This time around I wanted none of these interventions and planned a homebirth. Unfortunately my blood pressure was too high and I was spilling protein so I ended up in the hospital again. Then it was dd1's birth all over again--membranes were stripped, pit given, membranes resealed and even though I told the Dr's that I though this was the case no one examined me. My midwife did but because my cervix was so posterior she couldn't tell. Then 12 hours later my Dr came and I told him what I thought he reached in and broke my water. This time I didn't have the epidural--it was hard to go from nothing to active labor but I did it and 2 hours later dd2 was born. I had a 4th degree tear which I attribute to my body not warming up enough! But, as unhappy as I was my midwife kept saying- don't think of this as an induction, think of it as an augmentation- my body still worked and I still pushed dd out and I got to experience it as naturally as possible. I hope my story helps- It wasn't the ideal situation but I got through as best I could. IMO- if they ask you whether you want to start the pit first or try an AROM I would go with the AROM because your body may go into labor on it's own- they gave me 12 hours but sometimes they give 24. It does depend on your cervix being favorable though. HTH!