what interventions did you have?

[Crunchier]

I had almost everything. Hoping to avoid all of them next time. What interventions did you have at your last birth?

[justmama]

Had a pitocin induced birth at a hospital but I refused drugs of all kinds and threatened the doctor's life when he mentioned episiotomy! :wink Recovery was fast. I was in my jeans again in less than 2 days and didn't tear and was up to normal speed by 4 days pp, maybe less?
My older dd was a epidural aided episiotomy birth after doctor broke my water that took 3 months to recover from.

[Spark]

It depends on the definition of "interventions". I had a cervical lip pulled back during BOTH my labors. Some would consider that an intervention. Others would laugh at the though of that being labeled as an intervention. :shrug

[sevenkids]

I've had my water broken for five out of seven births. One baby was born in the caul, one broke spontaneously at what point I don't know.
But to be fair, I asked for it each time, the pressure was too intense and I wanted it over already. Each time, the baby was born within minutes.

[Mom2baldie]

*

[JBaxter]

I was induced so I had membranes stripped the week before I think citotec then after a while they broke my water a few hrs later we started pitocin and 13hrs into labor I went with an epidural 8hrs later he was born. I was only at 4cm until 3hrs before he was born. My OB was very encouraging and kept telling me to hang in there he knew I could do it. Nathan was born face first with a 14.75in head @9lb7oz and 23 inches. I dont regret any of the interventions and if the next baby is the same situation I would do it again.
I didnt have an episiotomy but I did tear slightly ( from an old scar - all my boys have big heads).

[Meli65]

None this last time -- a lovely home birth (2.5 hours of active labor and 3 pushes!).

The first time I was stripped and ruptured and got some pit after the birth.

[MizLiz]

umm, doesn't c-section count as an intervention?

Many of the ones listed lead up to this so I've had everything (except for the episiotomy) for both of my c-babies. But that's a whole other story that I won't go into today :wink !

[Slackermom]

After 15 hours without interventions and not a lot of dilation, I agreed to let the dr break my water. My DD was a face-first presentation, and the back pain was excruciating. Despite my best intentions and with a good deal of disappointment, I had an epidural. Surprise surprise...I later needed pitocin to try to move things along...and then a c-section....

Things WILL be different this time, for sure!

[Red Sonja]

I let my midwife break my water to help get things rolling. I was 39 weeks, 6 cm dilated and contracting irregularly and Hurricane Francis looked like it was going to directly hit our area. I wasn't comfortable with the idea of having a UC with my business end hanging out of the passenger side of a Toyota Celica, pulled over beside I-95 in evacuation traffic with 7 cats yowling in the back of the car. ;)

[Belle]

I had an AROM that I consented to and that's it.

[AugustLia23]

I had my membranes swept at my request at 40w2d to get things moving, then also had my water broken at 8-9cm dialated to try to get things moving after a stall in my labour, it may have helped. I don't consider either a huge intervention, and while I would've liked to have not done either, I feel both were done in good reason and I knew what to expect with both. Would do it all over again if necessary.

[annakiss]

I had my membranes stripped several times at my request leading up to the birth of DS1. I also had a few cervical checks with him (only 2 during labor, some prior to though) and I received oxygen during the pushing phase. Both of my sons were born at home naturally.

[Patchfire]

There's no option for none. I managed to avoid all interventions this time out - it was lovely. First birth, I had my membranes swept, and IV fluids.

[MrsMoe]

Stripping membranes
breaking water
pitocin
episiotomy



I refuse to have any of the above this time. :angry

[jerawo]

I had a homebirth and had none. My only possible intervention was breaking my water, since my MW and I aren't sure if she accidently broke it or if it broke over her finger on it's own. The baby was on it's way out at that point and arrived 20 minutes later, so even if it was an accidental intervention it didn't have a negative affect on my labor imo.

[mwherbs]

you need 2 more categories
none and other

I had no interventions last 2 births and have many clients who could say the same

[Wugmama]

Gave birth in a midwife unit of large hospital with CNM - no docs, thought it would be much more natural than it was.

Attempt to strip membranes at 41 weeks 4 days - couldn't reach them! Labor started though and never stopped until baby came.

Overnight at the hospital that night, but sent me home because I declined pit and wasn't dialating at all.

Back to the hospital at 41 weeks 6 days, still in labor, still not dialated. They admitted me only when I agreed to pitocin.

IV antibiotics due to step b +.

Broke my water around noon at 42 weeks. Still hadn't dialated after several hours.

Pit was bumped up twice.

Urine cath which I did not want but reluctanly agreed to - didn't help with anything.

After shedding not one tear for 3 days of intense back pain, including several hours with one minute on one minute off contractions with max dose of pitocin and still only dialated to a 3.5, they offered nubain, said it would maybe help me relax and dialate, so I agreed. Boy it did help me relax - I had a new dream every 60 seconds while I slept inbetween contractions (hadn't slept for at least 2 days at that point) and within 2 hours had made it to 10!

Pushed for 2 hours 20 minutes, 3rd degree tear.


Planned homebirth for this one due in Jan.

~Tracy

[thepeach80]

At my last birth it was just an epidural. My first was pitocin, water breaking, and epidural ending in a c/s!

[Storm Bride]

Three c-sections...obviously that includes anesthesia and IV's. I've never had any other interventions...

[Undercover Hippie]

Last birth--no interventions at all! It was great. :love I did take some tinctures afterwards to stop a borderline PPH, but that's nothing compared to the hospital alternative of a pit shot.

First birth--almost all of the interventions listed. I don't know if he stripped my membranes but I had cytotech, AROM, pitocin, stadol... That labor was *not* great. :irked:

[Artisan]

I couldn't vote, either. (Maybe you should have included forceps/vacuum as well. :) )

With my last birth, I didn't have any of these. BUT, I did have an actively managed third stage, which I now wish hadn't happened. But the birth itself was lovely. The MW offered to break my bulging bag of water, and I declined. :)

[Doodlebugsmom]

I birthed both of my babes in a progressive, baby/mama friendly hospital with a CNM. I had no interventions. Well, I did have intermittent fetal heart tone checks. They were always done with my permission. I suppose that would be an intervention.

[ceilydhmama]

I had prom at 36 weeks so had a slow induction. 40 hrs into it I had a narcotic because I was getting hysterical at my lack of progress and telling my midwife just to "bring on the epideral because I was going to end up with a c-section anyway". I fell asleep then and had an amzing dream about the baby moving down my birth canal and telling me she was ready to be born. I woke up and pushed:)

For a medicalized birth - it was still lovely and I was very much in control. I have come to think that being in control is a much bigger issue than the actual interventions.

[zannster]

I went to the hospital (in labor) with a fever. I was immediately hooked up to the monitors - do those count as interventions? They also monitored my contractions internally. They wanted to give me pitocin, but the baby was already handling the contractions poorly (late decelerations). I don't recall the exact order of things...the labor was really getting to me, so I accepted the epidural, and then not long after that, they pushed for the c-section.

[candiland]

None with either. Although I needed some Methargin, Pit, and homeopathic tablets after the placenta came out when my second was born because I hemmorhaged pretty badly. She also reached in and swept some clots from behind my cervix.

They were both homebirths with a CPM.

[crunchymomof2]

I voted breaking water and stripped membranes. I asked to be stripped at 41 weeks but it didnt hurt so I dont know how much it actually did. I broke my own water an hour or so into pushing to see if that would help.

[LoveChild421]

none of the above...I :heartbeat homebirth!

[bobandjess99]

:D None, note the siggy...UC, baby!

[OtherMother'n'Madre]

Stripping of membranes: I tried it myself to see if it would help. It did not. :LOL
Water breaking: I had this done (my consent AFTER I argued with the doc over doing it :LOL) after I received pain killer due to its short life span.
Epidural (mine was called an interthecal......instant relief and two to three hour life span)
Episotomy: DD was face up and stretching me horribly.....would have torn in all directions severely so I consented (after DH demanded they ask me first...go hubby!)

[richella]

. . . I've had everything (except for the episiotomy) for both of my c-babies. . . .

OMG the thought of episiotomy gives me the heebie jeebies! I think I'd take the c-section, given the choice. (And I wasn't too thrilled about the c-section!)

[kate~mom]

absolutely nothing, including no fetal monitoring - of course a BIG part of that is that we arrived at the hospital just before my water broke, already at 10 cms! :LOL

[FitMama]

I also had none of those listed interventions, and in a hospital no less.

I did have an IV with antibiotics because of a fever. And I requested my bladder to be emptied with a catheter because I was too wiped out to go use the toilet (this was right before DS was born and I thought maybe my full bladder was in the way).

[Kirsten]

No interventions in any of my births.

[USAmma]

First birth: Membrane stripping, epidural and emergency episiotomy (h/b was in the low 40's for several minutes and we were all worried).

Second birth: Membrane stripping (I asked for it, and it worked liek a charm-- 6 hours later I was in active labor.) Epidural at 5 cm. I asked for water to be broken when I got to 10 and was more than ready to have her! Nothing else though. I had a firm hands-off, no intervention birth plan unless I asked for it or gave permission. Quick labor, no stress, no tearing or complications.

With both births I chose epidural for personal reasons, ahead of time. I felt it was the best of both worlds.

[Mrs Dimples]

Do I get a prize if I had everything? :LOL

Well, I didn't quite have everything, but I did have a couple of things that were not on your list. I was induced for absolutely no reason, had pit, an epi, AROM, a HUGE episiotomy and a vaccuum-assisted delivery, then Stadol after the delivery because I had horrific afterpains that I was not expecting and had not slept or eaten in like 48 hours. Yeah, it was a dream come true.

This baby will be born at home. :love

[elvispupy]

At my last birth none of the above, I did have an IV & ABX for GBS, but that's it. My first was the whole cascade of interventions culminating in a cesarean.

[sarahlynne]

I had pitocin after an hour and a half pushing and not close to being done. Would like to avoid it this time, but I was very tired and accepting the pitocin allowed me to avoid seeing an OB, and just have the MW there.

[DreamsInDigital]

My first I had membranes stripping, pitocin, narcotics, epidural, episiotomy and vacuum-assisted birth.
My second I had membranes stripping, cytotec, AROM and epidural.
My third will be a homebirth with absolutely no interventions.

[stafl]

I had almost everything. Hoping to avoid all of them next time. What interventions did you have at your last birth?

my last child's birth? None at all :D (unless you count homeopathic cohoshes and intercourse as intervention)

my first child's birth? Everything under the sun, and then some more. Well, except the episiotomy, because of the cesarean and all...

[philomom]

I had no interventions either time. Gave birth in the hospital with a committed midwife and a Bradley trained hubby, and I have "short" labors by most peolple's standards.

[KarmaChameleon]

I had stadol with both of my labors early on to relax a little -- did the rest naturally in the water...I like to think of it like a strong cocktail before an awkward one-night stand.

I think a homebirth would have allowed me to relax, but maybe we'll get there next time :wink

[Mary-Beth]

I couldn't vote becasue you don't have an option for "none of the above"

With my first preganancy I asked the midwife to "stip the membranes" and with my last pregnancy we did no interventions...not even checking the cervix.

[MamaFern]

after hours and hours of labour at home my midwife offered to break my bag of waters.. i said okay but nothing but a small trickle came out..i gave birth at home with no other interventions but i had a shot of oxytocin after birth for heavy bleeding..

[Guest*]

Not a single intervention for me. Had a homebirth.

[Yummymummy74]

My last two births 0 interventions as both were Uc's

[phathui5]

Nothing this last time.

[Rach]

Cervadil to ripen my cervix.
Pitocin to induce labor.
Waters broken to "speed things up"
...resulting in fetal distress, failure to progress, and a somewhat emergency c-section.
:(

this time, I've taken better care of myself, remained positive, and eliminated things that I believe complicated my pregnancy leading to my developing PIH/Pre-e and needing to be induced.
I hope to go into labor naturally and birth naturally, and safely, at home. :)

[Moon Faerie]

I had my water broke very late, as in the bag of waters was half out of me. My dd would have been born in the caul, but her heartrate dropped a lot and wan't recovering. My mw broke the bad of water to speed things up. I did avoid an epistiotomy though, although I would have considered that a valid intervention in my situation. I turned out that dd had a very tight nuchal cord wrapped three times around her neck. She didn't breathe on her own and needed oxygen.

[isosmom]

Ok, so I didn't quite read the poll right. I answered about my first birth. Um, went to the hospital because my water broke. Aparently not enough. They broke it further. Then they hooked me up and started some IV for strep. Then they gave me pitocin. Then I asked for an epidural. Then they gave me an episiotimy. Then they used the vacuum. Then they gave me oxygen and I started laughing because I had gone in for a natural birth!!!
I learned my lesson the second time. I went at the last minute, as in I almost gave birth waiting for my room. They broke my water because my sac was bulging (guess he was trying to be born in the caul). Other than that, absolutely nothing. :D :D :D

[cyncyn]

I had way too many interventions: induced at 42 weeks, cytotec first, then IV antibiotics for gbs+, maximum pitocin, continuous monitoring, the dr. broke my water after 8 hours (I was at 3cm), epidural after 3 more hours of contractions every minute (dd was face up, so lots of back pain). More pitocin, more epidural drugs, oxygen too, until noon the next day still only at 6cm when I had a c-section. By then (about 30 hours after I checked in to the hospital) my epidural had mostly worn off and they couldn't give me anymore so had to have several more drugs during the surgery because I was yelling "I can feel that!!!" (and the anesthesiologist was on her cell phone the whole time :angry ). Then they kept me on the catheter and pitocin and morphine with no solid food for 3 more days (another long story...). And they had no private rooms left so dh had to go home and dd had to go to the nursery for the first night. :(

Definitely not what I had planned or wanted for sure. But I don't think I could have delivered dd (10 lb. 6 oz.) without a little help. I try not to tell my story to first time preggos because it was such a nightmare and hopefully they will have a wonderful birth story.

[melissa_honeybee]

My midwife broke my water after and hour or two of absolutley no progression. I said no the first time, hoping things would get rolling, but nothing..as soon as she broke my water I threw up, dialated the rest of the way and out he came! I don't regret it, as I don't think it was *too* much of an intervention.

[Monkeybutt]

none :)

[mezzaluna]

nothing on the list... but:

-IV antibiotics for GBS+
-intermittant EFM (it sure felt like an intervention!)
-cervical exams during labor - 2 or 3, can't recall
-OB present for delivery, ha ha

it was after delivery that the interventions really started - i was bleeding excessively, so i got misopristol suppositories, then pitocin through the iv, local anesthetic for stitches (didn't seem to take), lots of uterine mashing, then put under general anesthetic for possible d&c and blood transfusion. turns out there was some internal tearing the that OB missed, so she stitched me all up, no d&c, no blood transfusion.

you can tell things kinda went down hill after the OB showed up - a few minutes into my 20 minutes of pushing...

[dukeswalker]

I kind of think that fetal monitoring, IV and being at the hospital should all be considered interventions....SO this last time I had AROM and that was it....

[bird_verde]

I was 14 days over my due date and had Cervadil and it worked to start my labour. :thumb

[ABand3]

last birth = none of the above, pit and methergin after third stage
2nd = same as above plus 1 dose of IV abx/heplock
1st = heplock & IV abx, episiotomy, pit and methergin after third stage

[hottmama]

AROM with my consent at 9.5cm (which I think was offered only bc my midwife wanted to go home- she had been there for all of ten minutes, after all). Episiotomy without my consent "because I was going to tear UP!"

My December birth and all future births will be unassisted.

[My Tiny Dancer]

I had pitocin and then an epidural before my csection.