Question about induction

[lotusblossom9]

Is it still possible to labor naturally after an induction? My MW called and I have to schedule an induction for next week. I'm hoping I'll go into labor on my own and won't have to be induced but I guess whatever is going to happen is going to happen at this point. I'm currently 40w+4d. I'd really like to still have the waterbirth if possible...don't know if that can still happen after Pitocin. What have people's experiences been like with induction?

[Ligeia]

What was her reason for scheduling an induction? 40w 4d is hardly overdue, the baby might just need more time to bake! If it were me, and there were no underlying medical reason to induce, I would wait for it to come naturally.

[njbeachgirl]

I think the answer is: no waterbirth after Pit, since you need continuous monitoring once they have you on Pitocin. You can labor naturally but it will be much more painful, than labor without pit. They could also try cervadil first.

Are you still using the same MW? (the same one I had for my first birth?) I thought they don't induce before 42 weeks?

[prairieo]

I agree with pp. First of all, you don't have to induce. You can say 'no thank you'. If there is not a medical reason, then it's just a matter of impatience or worry about liability.

It's my experience that once you start on the induction train, you're there, and there's really no getting off. Labor turns from 'natural' to unnatural when you introduce chemical versions of natural hormones. Along with that, you get to be strapped onto a fetal monitor where you will be asked to be still on a bed for "20 minutes", which seems okay, but what they don't say is '20 minutes of a good strip', which can take an hour to get, and then they want to do another 20 minute strip. So, you're pretty much stuck in bed attached to a machine, with IV tubes stuck in your hands, and with labor contractions that do not happen the same as 'natural' contractions brought on by the body's oxytocin.

You may find yourself sitting there, instructed not to move, yet experiencing a level of intensity that you do not feel you can handle, and may therefore ask for some pain relief, if you are not offered some before you ask. Epidural, blah blah blah,

Yeah, maybe you can get in the water, but not without pulling your IV stand in there, and probably not until the last minute, and someone will have forgotten to get it ready for you.

Sorry, I've attended quite a few hospital births, and I've seen this scenario go down over and over again in lots of delivery rooms in different states.

If you want a natural birth, don't get induced.

[lotusblossom9]

Originally Posted by njbeachgirl

Are you still using the same MW? (the same one I had for my first birth?) I thought they don't induce before 42 weeks?

Yes, I'm still with the same MWs. I'll be 41 weeks on Thursday. When I spoke with the nurse today she said if I haven't gone into labor by Thursday then I'll have to schedule an induction for next week. I'm assuming she means that it will be scheduled for the later part of next week, when I'll be 42 weeks. She gave me the name of an acupuncturist in Brielle that I'm going to go to tomorrow after my ultrasound appointment. I'm hoping that might get things going!

[njbeachgirl]

Got it! Well, I would make the induction appt for as late as you can- at least 42 weeks. I bet you go into labor before that. Not sure if you are interested in trying it but you could do castor oil- it's not really pleasant but better than pit!

Good luck mama

[loveandgarbage]

i second everything that prairie said! that's pretty much how my first birth went. i've heard of some women laboring naturally after pit, but it's rare. and if you have a larger baby who needs help moving down through the birth canal, and you're not allowed to walk around, you're sol. maybe your mw can do a stress test first to see if the induction is really necessary.

[prairieo]

yeah, I guess my question to the midwife would be this..."what medical reason is there for induction?" If there are some concerns, then you can look at those and really talk about risks vs. benifits of each concern. It doesn't sound like there are any real concerns right now. Hang in there, mama. Also, why not look into chiropractic, acupuncture, herbs, the balsamic salad, sex, nipple stimulation, etc. All of these things could help to get you going. good luck and keep us posted.