Asking to be induced

[Dahlea]

I'm going to ask to be induced at my appt. tomorrow. I'm at the end of my rope. This PUPPPS has gotten so out of hand-I have it on every single part of my body except my face and neck! I'm even getting tiny bits on my soles of my feet and palms of my hands (I didn't even think that was possible!) Also awaiting blood test to see if I have cholestasis, but that won't be in until Monday probably.
I've got PUPPPS so badly on my hands that I can't do anything-not even wash them. If I get my hands wet or change temp too much, they hurt and itch so badly it makes me bawl. All I do is lay zombielike in bed with ice packs and watch bad TV movies. I can't even WASH myself, I have to have my husband do it.
I've had enough. The bad part is, I called to move my appt to tomorrow (it was on Mon) and the nurse said the earliest induction spot was Thurs. I really don't think I can wait that long-I'm hoping they will see how desperate I am! I've worried over this decision, but after 3 sleepless nights in a row, and 24/7 extreme itchiness, it's become a question of my sanity.


This is not at all how I pictured the birth of my first child, and it makes me want to cry. But the thought of going any longer with this rash makes me feel insane. I'll be 38 weeks on Sunday. I had ordered some labor tincture online but it's taking it's sweet time getting here. I've tried acupressure, sex, spicy foods, and what walking I can stand (I have to be barefoot b/c of the rash so I can't walk far)

Anyone have any GOOD stories about induction? All I've heard are the bad ones...and it's still not enough to make me change my mind.


*update* I had my appt. today, and the dr. was totally ok with this-he was able to get me in for Monday for induction. He did my first cervical check since my GBS test, and I'm 2-3 cm along (I was 0 when he did my GBS test) so I'm happy about that. Afterwards, I had a lot of mucousy blood. Unfortunately, I was wearing white pants and walking around Babies R us! I think it might have been bloody show-so wish me luck, maybe I"ll go into labor naturally before Monday!

[TaraRae82]

I hope you still have a fantastic birth and I'll be thinking about you! You can still take some control and the birth can be just as perfect.

[pumpkinhead]

My first was an induction for post dates. It was a positive experience overall. I'm sorry you are suffering so much.

I've had both an induction and a spontaneous labour. The spontaneous labour was much easier to recover from. Inducing at 38 weeks with a closed high cervix puts you at a much greater risk for a c-section. If you are at all dilated or effaced at all, this isn't the case. Have you considered asking them to strip your membranes? I personally (even though I hated having this done) would try this route before a pitocin induction.

Honestly, even though the recovery was tougher, I do count my first labour and birth as a positive experience. The contractions were very painful (pitocin can intensify contraction pain) and my labour was very intense, but it only lasted 7 hours. They had to turn the pit off because I stopped having any space between contractions. My uterus didn't stop contracting. My baby was born screaming, pink and healthy and was nursing within 20 minutes of being born. I had amazingly supportive hospital staff.

My advice would be to have a very clear birth plan. If you can, ask them not to break your water. Just cervadil and/or pit but no AROM. Also, find out the hospital's policy on pitocin. Some hospitals have a policy where once they turn it on, they won't turn it off until you deliver. This would have meant a c-section for me. Find out what their policy is on fetal monitoring. Some hospitals require that you are continuously monitored while on pitocin. Luckily for me, they only insisted on intermittant monitoring. I was able to move around and get into the shower for pain relief.

I don't say any of this to disuade you from an induction. I remember what it was like to be completely miserable and to just want to get the show on the road. I don't blame you at all. I just want to be honest about what you might want to expect. It wasn't that bad. If I had it to do over, I wouldn't change anything.

Whatever you decide, I wish you a safe and speedy birth and a happy, healthy baby at the end.

[mamanurse]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but my biopsy-confirmed PUPPS did NOT go away after birth. It lasted 20 weeks postpartum. It's true, though, that delivery can make the rash end. Good luck with whatever decision you make. I know EXACTLY how psychotic I got from itching and wouldn't blame you for asking to be induced. Make sure you find out what your bishop score is before you make the final decision.

[Dahlea]

Yeah I have considered the possibility that it will not go away immediately-but I have to try something. I'm breaking down inside.

[JBaxter]

DS2 was a good induction. I had 2 due dates and my OB did now want me to go past the 2nd one. ( this was 14yr ago) I went in at noon on a saturday adn they started with a gel. It wasnt to long till I started to contract regularly I walked had my xh and my sister with me. It was several hours into it when we started pit. Connor was postior most of my labor but did turn at some point ( cant remember jsut when) I think it was sometime very late in the evening I elected to have an epidural after they broke my water. Connor was born at 1:40 in the morning I pushed I think 4 times he weighed 8lb13 oz.

I elected to be induced because of the confusion with the due dates ( we didnt go past the 2nd date) He didnt have any vernix on him and was pretty dry skined so Im thinking he was very due. My greatgrandmother has passed the week before and my grandmother had a massive stroke during her bypass surgery adn my bp kept going up. I was more emotionaly done then physically.

Over all as inductions go I think it was uneventful. He bf'd well

[~Stephanie~]

I've been induced with all of my pregnancies, but it has been closer to my due date or after. I think the experience really depends on how ready your body is for labor. In all of the times that I was induced, the least amount that I was dilated pre-induction was a 3, the others I was already dilated to a 4-5. With one pregnancy I just had my water broke, with the other three I had pitocin. I actually prefer to just have my water broken because I didn't have to be confined to bed for any period of time and I didn't need an IV.

My birth experiences were all positive. I didn't need any pain meds or epidural and the babies came out healthy and all nursed right away. Just thoroughly discuss your options with your OB so you know exactly what you are getting into and all of the possible outcomes from starting an induction. My friend had to go back three times because the first two inductions didn't "take" after full days of being on pitocin. She also was only 38 weeks at the first attempt. It was not a nice situation for her.

I had PUPPS with my first pregnancy, but no where near what you are describing!!! I really hope you find major relief when your LO arrives!

[Katerz2u]

I was induced at 39 weeks with my second, due to chronic hypertension and signs of pre-e. I was already 4cm going in so my water was broken, pit started and 5hrs later he was here.
I had wireless monitoring so I could walk, get in the tub/shower, etc. Comparing it to my first labor which was 30hrs, posterior, it was a breeze! I didnt have pain meds for either. Recovery was fast, 24hr release, nursing was perfect.
I will be induced at 39 weeks again this time and although I hope to go into labor on my own before then, Im totally at peace with it. You will do fine mama, I hope you get some relief soon.

[Faerieshadow]

Just sending a your way. You sound miserable, I'm so sorry.

[Bee21]

Mama, I've totally been there. I had cholestasis with my first, and I've never been more miserable in my entire life. The itching is enough to drive someone over the edge. I was ready to induce at 37 weeks, practically begging for it. I'm lucky that she came on her own the day before my induction, but I would have gladly taken the induction over another day pregnant with cholestasis.

I hope you get an end to your misery soon.

[casemnor]

I was induced with my first due to rising blood pressure. I was 39 weeks, but absolutely NO dilation, and no effacement when I went in to the hospital. Baby was super high as well. The applied cervidil overnight, and started pit in the morning. after the cervidil, I woke up crampy. The started the pit and within 20 minutes my water broke. I immediately had strong contrax and terrible back labor, so they prepped me for an epidural at my request (hysterical begging!)...I was only fingertip dilated to 1 cm dilated at this point.

I'm happy to report that once I had the epidural on board, I was able to relax and my body went to work. Nell was born 6 hours later after about 20 minutes of pushing. I was totally present at her birth (besides the epidural pain block) and her birth was joyful and full of laughter.

As a contrasting story, I went into spontaeous labor with Lilith. It felt VERY similar to the pit induced labor. My water broke at 2:28, with immediate hard strong fast contractions (every two minutes). She was posterior as well, so the back labor was pretty bad...the main difference between my two labor experiences is that with this one (Lilith), the epidural was elayed but only because I was not already in the hospital when my water broke. With the drive to hospital, and getting an iv, in a room etc...I had about two hours of labor to contend with. I was 4 cm when I arrived at the hospital, and 7 - 8 cm when the epidural finally arrived (I was hysterical...transition with back labor was a BITCH)....2 hours later, Lilith was in my arms.

So, moral of the story? You neve rknow how your body will react...in my case, induction did not end in a c-section...even with all the indicators it might (though at the point of getting the induction/epidural I didn't care...I was in so much distress from the pain)...and the natural/spontaneous labor experience felt very much like my induction...except a bit scarier for me (because it felt very out of control and the intake nurses were pretty mean etc...not only that..Lilith was having some issues tolerating the contractions b/c they were so fast and furious...and she had a nuchal cord that was causing her decels...once I had the epidural and could labor on my side and relax a bit with supplemental oxygen...they stopped worrying so much).

In terms of inductions...most hospitals have different rules for medically indicated inductions. Those take precedence over non-medically indicated inductions...so talk to your doctor, and she/he shoudl be able to schedule you in earlier for medical reasons. (especially if your tests indicate liver complications etc.)

[Teensy]

I was induced for post-dates and all went very well. I did have a high Bishops score which may have helped. I choose induction by AROM in my case and that was it as far as medical interventions (aside from some occassional fetal monitoring) - no pain meds were used.

I can't imagine how miserable PUPPs is - I hope you get your babe in your rash-free arms very soon! Sending babe those "come on out now!" vibes :

Best of luck!

[mama.rye]

just wanted to offer a .
i cannot even imagine how insane i would be if i had PUPPS.
you have to do what you have to do...
maybe setting the induction date, just knowing its there may help you relax...may help baby come. and if not - you will be induced! Either way, it's almost over!

[farmerjess]

My sister was induced at 38w5d for cholestasis. She was 90 percent effaced and 2cm going in. They gave her cytotec (yeah, don't do that!) and broke her water. Her contractions started within 2 hours and her babe was born 6 hours later. She didn't need any pitocen, luckily.

Definitely figure out your bishop's score before you decide anything. It makes a huge difference if you have already made some progress. And request a foley catheter a/o cervadil to start off with.

I am sorry that you are so miserable. I saw my sis go through the itching thing...she couldn't sleep, she had scratch scabs all up and down her legs, but even that doesn't sound nearly as extreme as what you are going through.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Dahlea]

Thanks everyone, your stories have really helped me feel more confident! I'm still feeling guilty over this, but my sanity is more important than anything else at this point.

[casemnor]

One more thing to remember, mothering is sometimes a hard lesson in letting go...and it starts sometimes before the birthing is ever done. Don't guilt yourself too much about any of it...a healthy mom and a healthy babe are the the ultimate positive outcome...no matter how you get there. Appreciate it for what it is...YOUR birthing moment...no matter it's final form is still YOURS...even if it isn't what you expected.

[Amber Lion]

Originally Posted by casemnor

One more thing to remember, mothering is sometimes a hard lesson in letting go...and it starts sometimes before the birthing is ever done. Don't guilt yourself too much about any of it...a healthy mom and a healthy babe are the the ultimate positive outcome...no matter how you get there. Appreciate it for what it is...YOUR birthing moment...no matter it's final form is still YOURS...even if it isn't what you expected.

A big ole :

Sorry you are feeling so crappy, big to you!!!

[mamanurse]

Originally Posted by Dahlea

Thanks everyone, your stories have really helped me feel more confident! I'm still feeling guilty over this, but my sanity is more important than anything else at this point.

If my baby hadn't come 3 weeks early, I would have probably been begging for an induction. Anything to get that relentless itching and burning to go away.

I'm going out on a limb to say your PUPPS will go away within a week. If it doesn't, it's safer to take steroids while breastfeeding than it is while pregnant. You could even ask your doctor what they think about giving you an IM injection or even IV injection of a steroid to help decrease the inflammation response. Then po steroids will help a lot. They were the only thing that masked the symptoms for me.

[lee1203]

Originally Posted by Dahlea

Thanks everyone, your stories have really helped me feel more confident! I'm still feeling guilty over this, but my sanity is more important than anything else at this point.

No guilt. You gotta do what you gotta do. Baby ain't gonna be happy if momma ain't happy.

My legs and arms have been all kinds of itchy this pregnancy too, and I've scratched myself raw too many times. However, it doesn't sound near as bad as what you're going through. I'd be DONE by now in your shoes too. Quite honestly, not being so itchy any longer is right up there with wanting to meet my baby as a reason I'm ready for labor. I hope things go nothing but smoothly for you!

[myrmom]

I had pupps with my first and it wasn't nearly as bad as yours, it sounds awful what your suffering and I totally understand you wanting to be induced. I have permanent indents in my tummy from where I scratched myself raw. So please do what you need to do for your sanity.

Ps my pupps was gone within moments of birth...hope yours is too.