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Barbara C.
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UPDATE--Katelyn Ryan was born Friday May 9th at 2:43 PM. Little Katie and I are home and doing great. All the gory details are at my blog.
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I'm at about 39 weeks and 3 days; I have an appointment at 3:30 Central time with one of my midwives. I'm debating about two things at this point:
1. Having her do an internal check. They won't do one unless you want one or if they are concerned. Part of me is not keen because it can't really tell you when you are going to go into labor, but part of me is getting curious about if my body has done anything.
2. More importantly I am considering asking her about artificially inducing me in the next couple days.
I am not keen on unnecessary procedures (hence why I use midwives), especially after all my bad associations with my first labor/delivery. And I would be inclined to let nature take it's course at this point. However, my husband has a small problem and he does not feel he can get it treated until after the baby is born. Furthermore the stress of this pregnancy and imminent labor is making his problem flare up. And because his problem is flaring up, he is driving me crazy. Which I can't help but wonder if that stress is sub-consciously inhibiting me from going into labor even though I logically think that the sooner I get this baby out the better off we'll be. Does that make any sense?
With the first two babies we naturally induced; the same way we put them in we used to take them out. That's hasn't been working so far. I wonder if the fact that I am positive for Group B Strep this time has effected my body chemistry making me less susceptible to our little trick.
Anyway, I really think this baby needs to come out, but I am hesitant about getting induced with pitocin. I am worried that it will lead to other invasive procedures like bursting my water bag. I am also worried that the contractions will come too unnaturally for me to mentally handle.
Then again, getting induced in the hospital would take away some of the stress about getting to the hospital in time to receive my antibiotics as well as arranging childcare for my older two girls and give my parents plenty of notice to make the drive up from Kentucky.
I'd love to hear anyone's experiences with artificial induction verses spontaneous labor or just any thoughts in general.
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Barbara
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hylabrook1
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What about having them strip your membranes to get things going? I am not a pitocin fan, having had a less than pleasant experience with it once. But after that time my new OB said he could control the rate or concentration or something so that I wouldn't have such a difficult time. That never came to pass, though, because when they were setting up the IV, etc., I started moving along very nicely on my own. You might want to ask your midwife about whether the pitocin can be managed better than how it has been in so many people's experience (which I guess is part of why you don't want it).
Praying for your labor to start naturally, and very soon.
Peace,
Nancy
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Fuzzy
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Do you need to have at least 2 doses of the antibiotic before you can have the baby? I am not sure how long that takes, but that would be my biggest concern, since there are so many risks involved for the baby with being Group B strep positive.
I have had 2 babies so far: 1 not induced and the next induced. I am an epidural girl, myself (especially since my babies are about 9 lb coming out of 5'2" me!) so I understand that the pitocin may be much harder while you are doing a natural labor. But, I will say that I am a big one in favor of being induced. It was so easy to set up a sitter for my DS, plan everything needed and in a timely fashion. Especially if you have out of town relatives that will be caring for your girls, I think it will be great.
I know there are other forms of induction, like the gel on your cervix. I'm sure your midwives can help you with some of your options, as well as all the risks involved for you and the baby.
I will offer some prayers for you in this last week of pregnancy! Best of luck with your decision!
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 Fuzzy
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Lisbet
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Okay, so, I'll offer a different POV. I am adamently against any form of intentional induction. (of course there are situations where it can be life saving and necessary.)
While the stress of impending labor may be stressing your husband out and intensifying his health situation, NOTHING would be more stressful than the possible dominoe effect of complications tipped off by artificial induction.
The end of pregnancy is stressful, regardless of health situations, childcare arrangements, etc... but it does end, baby does come, even without putting our hands in it.
(....all of the above is my own humble opinion, medical intervention in healthy pregnancy is a pet peeve of mine. Of course, the fact that I've had 8 homebirths factors into this heavily!  )
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: May 07 2008 at 11:53am | IP Logged
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According to my midwife, if I didn't have any doses of antibiotic, there would only be a very slim chance of the baby having a problem. Many people can be carriers without ever having an infection. One dose of antibiotic slims the chance even more, and two doses basically eliminates any chance of a problem.
My MIL will take immediate possession of the kids, but she lives about 30 minutes away and we have about a 30 minute or more drive to the hospital depending on traffic. If worse came to worse we could drop the kids off at her apartment on the way to the hospital to shave a little time.
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Barbara
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teachingmyown
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I have been induced three times for various reasons, some good, some frivolous. I would not wish a Pitocin labor on anyone! It is unnatural and much more painful than a natural labor.
Stripping your membranes is an option, but it may not really work. If you try that and the contractions seem to be slowing down, don't let them break your water. There is no going back then.
I know it is hard to wait. I get SO impatient at the end even without good reason (other than being miserable). But I regret my decisions to be be induced or try to "jumpstart" labor through other methods. My best births were my totally natural ones.
Hang in there. We'll be praying for you.
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melanie
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I haven't read all the responses yet... :)
But I'm gonna break out my nurses cap...I used to work women's and children. I would not recommend induction at all except when the risks of waiting outweigh the risks of the induction. And there are risks, really and truly. I don't want to go into "nurse horror story" mode, because such things aren't helpful to pregnant mommas :), and sometimes interventions are truly needed. But just know there *are* serious risks, even though the current trend is to throw pitocin around like so much candy....
On a personal note, my first child was induced for "failure to progress"...i.e., my water had broken and not much else was happening fast enough to keep anyone happy. I did have complications, a tear in the placenta due to 24 hours of pitocin, that could have been very serious. She probably should have been a c-section, but they didn't know about the tear until after she was born. My labors still start this way...water breaking, and sloooowww to do much else...but now I use a homebirth midwife,  ...they are much more patient.
I totally am not underestimating your desire to be done here, btw. I'm 38+ weeks pregnant myself and also wish this child would COME OUT...for several different reasons.
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JodieLyn
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I fall on the anti-intervention homebirth side
I totally agree that there are circumstances when the benefits outweigh the risks.. and also that from this side of the computer I can't judge what your real circumstances are.. if you say that the benefits outweigh the risks, ok then.
But I did have one child go way way over my due date. And he had tummy sensitiviities even so.. not a colic pattern.. not sensitivities to food I was eating unless it was something very obscure.. not the typical problem foods .. and the pattern it fit very well was simply an immature digestive system.. because it was all the time and gradually getting better over time. I did find things that helped him (a baby swing was the right type of movement to ease the discomfort for instance), but everytime I got some stressed about it.. all I had to do was think if I'd had "standard medical care" instead of my homebirth midwife... they would have been insisting on induction at least 3 weeks before he was actually born and with an immature digestive system.. 3 more weeks early could have been BAD.
So even though the weeks say things will be ok.. I do think like Dr. Bradley says in his books.. sometimes they'll "pick a green apple".. and you'll end up with a baby that seemed to be full term but comes out with issues of prematurity.
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SusanJ
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I agree with everyone here who has encouraged you not to induce. But I do want to chime in that if you and your midwives decide that induction is the way to go there are other natural methods other than the one you've tried. A midwife would probably know about other options.
Susan
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Tami
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FYI, one needn't be induced only with pitocin. There are gels that can be placed around the cervix to stimulate labor. If you're close to term, and the cervix is ready, they can get things underway, and labor can proceed naturally without additional application.
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Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)
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JodieLyn
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Tami - but if they overstimulate the uterus for contractions.. they can't be removed like pitocin can be just turned off.. so they may not be a better choice.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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Tami
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Jodie - true, but they do wear off, and since the onset is gradual (due to absorption) I would wonder if they are really capable of dangerously overstimulating the uterus, or for how long...
I'm not an expert in this, but have never heard of it happening with the gels (i.e, like the horror stories we can hear about pitocin).
Just my .02 :)
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Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)
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snowbabiesmom
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Can you go on daily walks? You are so close that there may be a good chance of your water breaking after you've walked. ( I walked about an hour after dinner each night.. eventually, my water started to trickle with baby #4)
Also, they can give you the antibiotics during labor.
Alot of times after you've received your epidural ( if you are planning on one, they may end up using pitocin anyway.)
Good luck.
Keep walking. You are so close.... BTW, God already knows this baby's birthday!
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Lisbet
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There is an increased risk of uterine hyperstimulation with cervical ripening gels. This can be very dangerous to both mom and baby. Also, if the cervix is simply not ready, the risk of section is greatly increased. (actually, the risk of section is greatly increased with any type of induction for any reason.)
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Nina
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The Dr. gave me pitocin during the labor of our first son.Honestly,after having 6 children,I could not tell much of a difference with the pitocin or without it.I think the only difference was that the labor was longer with being induced.
As for natural means,the marital embrace is another way to start labor. Seriously.
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Barbara C.
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We tried that, Nina. The last two times it worked like a charm, but no dice so far this time. My midwife checked me and I was only 1 cm, 50% effaced, and -2 station.
We decided to go ahead and have her separate the membranes a bit. She said I would know within 12 hours if it worked, and if it didn't then there is nothing lost. We'll hold off at least a week before considering anything more involved. Thanks everyone for your information and concerns.
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Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
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Barbara C.
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Bumping this to the top for the update.
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Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
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JenniferS
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Congratulations!
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Maddie
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~Maddie~
Wife to my dh and Momma of 9 dear ones
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Tami
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Congratulations!!!!
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God bless,
Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Inducing Labor?-- -UPDATE
