Help! They are going to induce me!!

[suprgrl]

I am 41 weeks and I am being threatened with induction by the medical establishment! I REALLY do not want that. I had an ultrasound yesterday, and although I know they are not accurate with estimating weight, they told me 9 pounds! That just ends up scaring me and making me doubt my ability to get this get out.
So, my aunt who is a L+D nurse suggested black + blue cohosh tea. So I bought some of the dried herbs yesterday to make a tea, but am unsure of exactly how to make it, how much to take, and how long it takes to initiate labor. My cervix is very favorable: 90% effaced. From what I have heard, the more favorable, the more effective induction methods will be. I just REALLY DO NOT want the possibility of complications that are associated with pitocin and all that. Thanks for the help!

Ronna :o

[peilover010202]

Ronna, can't help you with the teas but I did want to give you some peace of mind.

After failure to progress, I was put on a pit drip and did just fine and a great delivery with no complications and only pushed for about 20 minutes and no pain meds! So, worst case, if you are induced, keep a positive attitude and KNOW that you do still have the possibility for a great birth story!

[deeporgarten]

I think you should refuse in any way possible. Some inductions go all right, my sister's just ended up in an unnecessary section, and the baby was surprisingly small (early IMO). I had a friend who simply never showed up at the hoispital when she was told she "had" to be induced--she did an unplanned UC though, not ideal but it was fine.

I don't see why a dr should control you in that way--it is abusive in my opinion and it seems there must be ways to stand up for your basic rights here.

Maybe you can pull some info about birth outcome for "late" births, as when there are no signs of distress, there is no urgency. The dr is simply being controlling. One of my dds was 2 1/2 weeks late and no problems at all, often that due date is inaccurate by a week or two and 42 weeks is still a normal term pregnancy anyhow, though they will act like it is carved in stone I don't think you should believe it--US dating can sometimes be inaccurate too, along with estimates of size and other things they will offer.

For induction, some sources recommend nipple stimulation to help, though I started my last labor with clitoral orgasm.

[Allie2]

Ultrasounds can be off by as much as 3 lbs in either direction. Doctors like to act like the results are set in stone but the true is far from that. If it was me I would wait to at least 42 weeks until I made a decision about an induction. A week is a long time for you to do lots of walking, stimulation and even the tea you mentioned and maybe your labor will start on its own. I have heard both sides of the induction stories and it really seems like a coin toss to me. 50% chance of everything going smoothly and 50% chance of a not-so-nice birth experience. I personally had a horrible induction with my first but I have several friends who had inductions that went smoothly.

[Ruthla]

Try doing a web search for "natural induction of labor." I remember doing that 4 years ago and learning about an accupressure point on the legs- somewhere near the calf or ankle but I forget exactly where.

For the tea, if it's loose tea leaves I'd suggest pouring boiling water over them, covering the cup/teapot, and letting it steep for about 10-15 minutes before drinking. Adding sugar or honey shouldn't affect the herbal properties.

Walk walk walk!

Try having sex (if your partner is willing and able) This works in 2 ways: orgasm helps bring on uterine contractions and semen contains prostoglandins that help promote labor. If he's not willing/you don't have a male sex partner then you can still get the orgasm benefits without the prostaglandins.

My last 2 babies (5 years apart) were about 9lbs at birth and they literally popped out in about 10 mintues of pushing and 2-3 pushes each. I'm sure I could have pushed out an 11 lb baby with a little more work. There's no reason to think that your body would grow a baby too big for you to birth.

[hunnybumm]

I would definitly not be induced. I haven't had it done myself, but the chances of needing a section due to a failed induction are REALLY high, way too high for my comfort. As long as you and baby are fine there is no real reason to induce. They really can't force you to induce, they may think they can, or try to convience you they can, but plain and simple, then can't. What are they going to do? Drag in into the hospital and tie you to the bed? I think not. Your body and your baby are the only ones who know when labor should start, trust that.

[nonconformnmom]

"They" cannot do anything to you without your consent. YOU are the boss; you pay their salary! Just say no. Follow your gut, you're the mama and it's your body and your baby. I went 41+ weeks with my babies and, yes, I was pressured by the medical people to induce but I just smiled and said "no thanks!" :) I've heard of people who do not feel comfortable saying 'no' to their doctors, so they let them schedule an induction and then simply do not show up. That's an option, too. :D

[zonapellucida]

Oh let me make a suggestion! I took black and blue cohosh tinctures 20 drops sub ligually every 20 minutes for about 5 hours. (I also took Pennyroyal tincture but there are horror stories about it) My water then broke that late evening/early morning.

If you ewnd up going for an induction ask for an epidural to be put in place before they run pitocin. Pit is agonizing, IMO.

[CountryMom2e]

With my first, I developed preeclampsia at week 39, so my MWs gave me three days before they were going to induce. My naturopath made me a tincture with black cohosh, and also suggested a cocktail of - this is for real - 1 oz vodka, 1 oz castor oil in 3 oz of OJ. At this stage of pregnancy, 1 oz of alcohol is ok and it can help relax you enough for the castor oil to do it's trick. Also consider nipple stimulation, walking, sitting and rocking on an exercise ball, and sex.

You might want to consult an ND yourself for natural ways to safely induce labor.

GL!

BTW - I had the stuff all set to take the next night, and my water broke the next morning. Oh well!

[Wugmama]

With my first, I was in labor for 3.5 days. I went in one night and wasn't progressing so they offered me pit, or said I could go home so I went home. Two days later I was back, still in labor, no real progress, I got the same offer. I wish I would have gone home.

My fetal stress tests were fine. As long as yours are as well, I would encourage you to decline induction.

Best wishes,
Tracy

[lactationlady]

I would try to avoid the induction as well. I was induced with my first after my water broke at 37.5wks. Pitocin was *horrible* for me and they just kept adding more.

As for the estimate on weight, I just worked with a mom who was told she had to have a c-section because they estimated her baby to weigh 9lbs+ and the dr told her she would never be able to deliver vaginally. The baby ended up weighing 6lbs 4oz! I felt so bad for this mom who had been so scared by this dr and did not know enough to question his judgement.

[waterbaby9503]

Just one thing- stay away from pennyroyal! It is quite easy to poison yourself!
Not sayin' this cause I'm the know-it-all, sayin' it cause I was the dumb one who has been there done that.

[amydidit]

You don't want to be induced, so it's simple. Just say no. They cna not tie you down and force you. Plain and simple. If you don't want to be too confrontational though then you could let them schedule the induction and just not show up. Say you had a family emergency, you forgot, anything. Make them schedule another. Then don't show up again. Personally, I'd just say hell no and let them know that YOU will make the decisions and you won't be bullied into anything so potentially dangerous.

Now, on the down side. It is the doctor's right to drop you as a patient. IMO, not a bad thing. Better to stay away from OBs. Go UC, or find a midwife... there are some that will attend last minute.

Now, about natural induction. Be careful when using any methods, but they can be safer IF you do your research before hand. With the cohoshes I'd recommend the tinctures, or better yet, the homeopathic versions which are known to be safer, and some believe, more effective. Orgasm is a wonderful thing too... nipple stimulation does the same thing, release oxytocin which is what pitocin is based on. Most of all, relax. I firmly believe, and have experienced, that labor will begin easier if you're not all stressed out.

So remember... YOU are the one in control of YOUR body and YOUR baby. JUST SAY NO!

[trebleme]

I was induced because of PIH, and yes the Pit drip was awful, especially after they broke my bag of waters (20+ hours into labor,) but you have to know that my cervix was miles from nowhere when they started - not favorable in anyway. I still had my DD vaginally (one of the few that day in this hospital who did) and she was big - 9 pounds 7 ounces. I agree, induction can go either way.

But, the reason I write is to suggest another possible labor starter - spciy eggplant parmesan. I know, I know - it sounds bizarre, but my doula swears by it and has seen it spark labor in several of her clients. I'll say it didn't work in me, but it was darn good! :p I just went in to my fave Italian restaurant and ordered the eggplant parm and asked for them to make it spicy.

I'm sure it sounds ridiculous, but at that point (and perhaps at the point you're at now) I was willling to try anything to avoid induction.

Best to you, momma. Hang tough and trust your instincts! They'll serve you well as a new mom, too.

Sharon

[phaeon]

Just my .02: Whether you agree to be induced or not, don't let the baby's "size" frighten you into a decision. The PPs are correct in that U/S is NOT accurate for determining weight. And, even if your babe is big, so what? My first was 9#2oz, which is definitely not small. I had her vaginally, no meds, only a slight tear, no problems. I know other mamas who had 6-7 pounders and needed c/s for failure to progress or were otherwise unable to birth vaginally. So size doesn't really matter much. I would make the decision based on how healthy you & baby are. If everyone is doing fine, why fix what ain't broke?? Sorry I can't suggest any other natural methods that haven't already been mentioned, but definitely walking & sex are a great way to go!!! Good luck, and best wishes for a healthy birth.

[grace's voice]

I didn't have time to read all the the responese here, so I may be an echo, but I just wanted to say there's no reason they should induce after only 41 weeks unless there is fetal distress. Is this your first pregnancy? If so the avarage gestation is 41 weeks 2 days. I wouldn't worry about going longer than that though. If you're super anxious to get things moving, orgasm is the best natural induction tool I know of! You can also try long walks. The baby will come when both you and he/she are ready.

Also, my 1st was 9 pounds 4 ounces. Don't sweat about the size. A larger baby is easier to push out, smaller babies slip farther back in after pushes. They way I figure it, it's going to hurt the same coming out whether its 7 pounds or 10... that much streaching burns no matter how you play it... I figure I might as well just have a big fat healthy one!

Good luck! And don't let any doctors make your decisions for you!

[beachcomber]

Here's a link (http://www.mothering.com/articles/body_soul/soothers/cohosh.html) to an article right here on Mothering Magazine's site that tells you how to make blue/black cohosh tea.

What the others have said is true. They can't force you to induce. Do what you're comfortable with. Do what's right for you. Don't let them sway you with fear tactics.

[2+twins]

I've heard bad things about inducing with cohash, so you might want to research this a bit more before proceeding. Also I remember my mw telling me that cohosh may bring contractions but they aren't dilating contractions so she didn't recommend it. Here's something on the dangers of blue cohash:

http://currantsandspice.fateback.com/induction.html

I agree with what people here are saying about refusing the induction. I'm totally against induction - natural methods or otherwise - unless there's some true medical indication for it (a 9lb baby wouldn't be one of them). When your baby is ready to come s/he will. That will be the safest moment for him/her to be born. Don't cheat him/her out of it! And fwiw, my 9.8 lb baby was much more easily birthed (essentially shot right out of me) than my 8.8 lber. Good luck and stand up for both of you!!!

[zonapellucida]

The only thing I would worry about is the placenta calcifying. Too much and it is not giving baby optimal oxygen ect. I would ONLY agree to an induction if my MW was going to do it in my home and an US showed a placenta that was severly aged.

[Plaid Leopard]

I've seen this said here on MDC and it is worth repeating in this case:

FAT IS SQUISHY!

It's not so much how much the baby weighs as the circumference of it's head that makes the difference. But your body is made to accomodate a big-headed baby in any case. If you are allowed to move around and change positions while laboring, you will find just the right position for birthing yuor babe - big or small. You can't do that if strapped to an IV.

My 3rd baby was 9lbs 12oz - I spent most of the labor standing up, swiveling my hips. Then during transition I went from squatting, to hands and knees, to kneeling, to sitting on a birthing chair, to giving birth standing up (w/out tearing) - all according to the sensations I was feeling as the baby moved down the birth canal.

Keep yourself well-hydrated and well-nourished and trust that your baby will come when it is ready.

[TakeItEasyMama]

Remember, if induction is going to work, your body has to be ready. So try the unicorn root, the sex, the eggplant, the primorse oil on the cervix FIRST and if that works, GREAT. If not, neither will the pitocin most likely. If you're effacing, aren't you alredy on your way anyway, why mess with it? Treasure a baby doing well.....

[spiralmg]

I personally know of someone who went to 42 weeks then delivered naturally a 12 lb baby. No induction.

[zonapellucida]

I've seen this said here on MDC and it is worth repeating in this case:

FAT IS SQUISHY!

It's not so much how much the baby weighs as the circumference of it's head that makes the difference. But your body is made to accomodate a big-headed baby in any case. If you are allowed to move around and change positions while laboring, you will find just the right position for birthing yuor babe - big or small. You can't do that if strapped to an IV.

My 3rd baby was 9lbs 12oz - I spent most of the labor standing up, swiveling my hips. Then during transition I went from squatting, to hands and knees, to kneeling, to sitting on a birthing chair, to giving birth standing up (w/out tearing) - all according to the sensations I was feeling as the baby moved down the birth canal.

Keep yourself well-hydrated and well-nourished and trust that your baby will come when it is ready.

DITTO!!!!!!


lol!!! I have never agreed with that "big baby" theory of induction. Too many people I knw have caved only to give birth to a relatively small baby--or AVERAGE. My biggest was 9 lbs 4 oz and I am 110 soaking wet.

Natural labor vibes to you!!!!!