[asunlitrose]

Looking for details on induction methods. Cousin is due the 29th and doctor says he will induce the next day if she doesn't go into labor. First pregnancy to term, hernia present. Baby is estimated at 8.5 lbs. All of my books/information is 1500 miles away, so any help would be great. As you can tell, time is of the essence!!!<br><br>
I told them to have lots of sex (sperm ripens the cervix, right?).<br><br>
Nipple stimulation (it releases oxytocin, right? or...is it the other pregnancy hormone?)<br><br>
Castor oil as a last natural resort<br><br>
Stripping membranes (before pit)<br><br>
Breaking water (before pit)<br><br>
What am I missing?

 

[SalmonBayDoula]

So, my first thought!!! Induce one day post guess date, for no medical reason! CRAZY!<br><br>
But, here is a list I compiled from the wise women here earlier this year!<br><br><br><br>
RRL Tea<br>
visualizations<br>
pineapple<br>
cumin tea<br>
spicy food<br>
eggplant<br>
journaling<br>
good cry (sad movie?)<br>
walk<br>
bumpy car ride<br>
bounce on yoga ball<br>
other physical activity<br>
evening primrose oil<br>
sex<br>
orgasm (doesn't have to be intercourse)<br>
skin to skin contact<br>
prenatal massage<br>
chiropractic treatment<br>
a ton of stairs<br>
nipple stimulation<br>
enema<br>
Reflexology<br>
acupressure<br>
acupuncture<br>
herbs - blue/black cohosh<br>
homeopathy - caulopyllum and cimicifuga<br>
castor oil<br><br>
Also, I cut and paste the info below from other posts in the past!<br><br>
Get a pedicure or foot massage--there are labor-inducing pressure points in your ankles and feet which will invariably be stimulated when your feet and calves are massaged.<br><br>
Take a hot bath with 5 drops of peppermint oil in it. The bath is relaxing and the peppermint oil encourages labor.<br><br>
Re: sex for induction--- three consecutive ejaculations equal one dose of prepidil or cervidil (artificial prostaglandins). After DTD 3 times (preferably with you on the bottom) lay flat with your hips elevated three inches with a pillow or something, for at least 15 minutes (preferably 30 minutes if you can handle being on your back that long). This allows the semen to bathe your cervix with prostaglandins. Then you can roll over into your normal sleep position.<br><br>
As a last resort, you could try taking about 1-2 oz. of castor oil mixed with 20 drops of jasmine essential oil (mild contraction stimulant) and vigurously massage into your belly. Massage as deeply and firmly as you can without pain. This has the same effect as drinking castor oil, but you don't have to taste it, plus the jasmine oil and vigurous massage both encourage your uterus to contract.<br><br>
If you end up in the hospital with an induction, see if you can try a foley bulb induction first. Often this will put you right into labor, without needing to use chemical means. It is quite effective.<br><br>
_________________<br><br>
good luck to the mama! Maybe she will see the light and allow the baby to pick the birthdate that is right for him/her!<br><br>
Sharon

 

[maxmama]

What's her cervix? Because you can pit an unripe cervix six ways to Sunday and it won't do anything useful, just wear out mom. So non-pit possibilities could be misoprostol, cervidil and a Foley/Cook cervical catheter.<br><br>
Nipple stim does release oxytocin, but you need to be cautious with it. It's essentially the same thing as low-dose pitocin, and jsut as women can hyperstim with pit, so can they with nipple stim. I have a second c-section scar to prove it.<br><br>
Membrane sweeping has been shown to reduce length of pregnancy when done regularly from 38 weeks on, so she might want to start that now rather than later.

 

[asunlitrose]

Her cervix is not dilated at all...it is tight and closed. The "reason" for induction is that "the baby is big" (8.5 lbs, by ultrasound <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"> ) and the hernia. They "worry" that the baby getting too big will mean that the hernia will get worse. I don't know a thing about hernias, but it sounded like BS to me.<br><br>
I'm getting really pessimistic that this is going to end up in a C-section for mom. They've been trying to conceive for seven years, have gone through a few miscarriages, and are still really nervous about losing this baby too, even though they're in the home stretch. I just know, even though she wants a natural birth, that if the docs put enough scare tactics into them they will break. Seems like lots of sex to ripen the cervix will be good. I'll let them know that pitocin might not even work (because I don't think they know that), along with my list of IBCLCs for them.<br><br>
Thanks for the fast response ladies, and happy holidays to you. I won't send out the email until tonight, so if anyone has anymore suggestions, please let me know.<br><br>
For the nipple stim, does it matter how that nipple stim happens? It shouldn't be too rough, right? Maybe good for a lot of foreplay before induction sex/orgasms? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">

 

[dorothyh]

First of all, she always has the option of saying no. Her dr has given his opinion, but she does not have to go along with the induction at 40+1.<br><br>
ACOG and big babies - unless the fetal weight estimate is 11 lbs or higher, ACOG does not recommend routine induction. With the hernia, I would suggest she get specific information from her doctor and also do her own research on her specific type of hernia and pregnancy, and get statistics from her doctor - what kind of risks is he concerned about if she does not agree to the induction? What could happen? What is the liklihood? And then go and research it herself to see if the doctor is giving her the most up-to-date information.<br><br>
After talking to her dr and doing her research, if she chooses to go along with the induction - it is her choice. If she does not want to do it - she doesn't have to! If she does agree, then it is her choice to do so.<br><br>
If the doctor is concerned about hernia complication, maybe she can find out what are the symptoms that the hernia is getting worse, and/or have it checked regularly to see if there is any change before agreeing to an induction.<br><br>
If her Bishop score is 2 or less and she has an induction, she is going to have a 50% chance of winding up with a cesarean. Any induction method, whether natural or chemical, may give her contractions, even very strong contractions, but if her body is not ready to have that baby, it will be working hard to keep that cervix closed and she won't progress.<br><br>
I hope that she goes into labor in the next couple of days so that induction becomes a non-issue! Whatever she decides, I hope she has a wonderful birth!<br><br>
Dorothy Haines<br><br>
mom to five children<br>
certified birth doula (DONA)<br>
certified childbirth educator (Lamaze)

 

[MsBlack]

who has a hernia, and where?<br><br>
sorry if I missed that point--didn't see it though.<br><br>
And u/s weight predictions at term can be off by as much as 20%. Besides the fact that after 38wks, growth slows down, and then slows down again past 40 wks. So, going another week or more into this pregnancy is not going to produce a 13lb baby or anything of the sort!

 

[asunlitrose]

Mom-to-be has a hernia, but I don't know where it is located and what kind it is. The doctor is using the excuse that if the baby gets any bigger it will put more stress on the hernia or something.