Considering consenting to induction

amandaleigh1

Perhaps this board is not the best place for me to try to make peace with this idea, but I am hoping to hear some understanding things or hear from people who have faced similar situation.

So here is the deal with me:

Strikes against me-

I am 38 and this is my first oreganancy

My conception date is very precise since I did ivf

My umbilical cord has a single umbilical artery- if you google SUA, you will see there are quite a lot of not so nice things associated with this condition, including increased risk of stillbirth.

And now the piece de resistance, and what is finally getting me pushed besides now being past 41 weeks with all the above, is that my close monitoring due to SUA is indicating the potential for my fluid level declining-- measurement went from 10 to 7-8 over the course of 1 week- though this could also be affected by my hydration status.

I was pretty upset when the I word was brought up yesterday, and I am trying to wrap my mind around getting an iv and going pain med free despite an induction, and I am almost there. Though in my heart of hearts, I am hoping labor kicks in before I get a recheck of fluid tomorrow. I am going to go in well hydrated and try to buy more time, but the other side of me just wonders if I am delaying the inevitable end point. I have a real nagging fear for my baby's health given how much it took for me to get pregnant in the first place. 

How much should I fight this fight? 

BransonsBecca

I totally hear you- I am really dedicated to a natural birth, including induction. I think it is really important though to know how your baby is doing. While I don't have the complications that you mention, I know I will probably wait-it-out as long as my OB will let me.

It is possible to be induced and still go med-free, just stick to your guns and have faith in yourself! And remember, it is about the product, not the process, in the end. A healthy baby is all that matters

MangomamaFL

I hope by the time you read this you have already gone into labor.

Even with the issues above you are not considered post-mature till 42 weeks. If you go before 42 weeks chances are you and your baby will be fine.  I also see your situation as a catch-22. There is a risk of waiting it out. There is also risk of inducing. Sigh.

I too would be tempted to induced.

 

judahsmommy1

I'm going to mostly just write what I usually say about birth plans and those not going the way you hoped for them to. I go into things with a mindset that I want the right birth for my baby and me. Most of the time, (IMO, for me) a med free delivery is the safest and most ideal situation. But sometimes factors come up that change that and the right birth means induction, medication, or augmentation. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The reason we go med free is not because we win some sort of medal at the end, but because that is what is typically safest and healthiest for us and our babies. (Right? That's the point?) When that stops being the healthiest option is when it stops being the right option for us.

You fight the fight until you're convinced that the RIGHT thing for your baby is to induce/give pitocin/ give pain medication/ use an internal monitor/ break your water/ take the baby to the nursery right away and whatever other parenting decision comes up that didn't work out the way you wanted or expected it to. Think of it this way, if your baby had already been born and you were faced with a medical decision, how would you approach that? You know the situation isn't ideal. Use the information you have to make the best decision you can. After that, whatever comes next is just whatever comes next. You can only control so much.  Good luck and trust your gut. It's already giving you good information!

stever

Hey girl!

I mostly lurk on this boardbut here's my .02, I agree with PP's that it's all about having a healthy baby. I don't share any issues with you except my age, but Karenannmark's loss got me well and truly spooked. The possibility of induction for me was first mentioned 2 weeks ago and, to my surprise, I didn't completely balk at the idea.

I'm not being monitored very closely, but if you are then maybe you'd feel comofortable holding off on the induction a little while.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

footnotegirl

I was induced at 41 wks with my only 'complication' being that I was 40 and had clotting factors in my blood. Even with the induction (which took 2.5 days from start to birth) I was able to go pain-meds free and have the birth I wanted to, so it can be done. Yes, there was an IV (just a pic line for the time between when they broke my water and the next day when they started the pitocin), but the set up still allowed me to walk around the birthing floor, sit on the ball, squat, get on all fours, and take a bath during transition.

Honestly? Considering your complications and how hard you had to work to get pregnant, I'd say go with the induction. You are already over your due date, so you have given the baby the development it needs in the womb. It's not like you're doing this for convenience or anything.  

mystrana

I think that given the circumstances you describe, you shouldn't feel bad to go for the induction.

As others have mentioned, it is possible to go med-free even through an induction, and by believing in yourself and making smart choices, you will end up with a birth that will bring your cute little baby into the world in the best possible way.

nosoup4u

Hope your AFI check went well. AFI can vary day-to-day, so using it as the sole reason for an induction isn't evidence-based.

Have you had your Bishop's score done? I would request one, and also would want NST pretty often, if I didn't induce.  Good luck!

 

Hyaline

I think we all have to face at some point that our labor and delivery experience might not be how we'd envisioned it--but I'm really sorry that it's looking more likely for you than for many of us  

In the end, you are right--your health and the baby's health matter the most, and I hope you have a provider you can trust to help you make the best decision possible.  

Even though I want a med-free birth, I would go forward with an open mind.  If it's best for you and the baby to go through with induction, there will be more interventions, and pain-med-free may or may not be feasible for you--and that's ok.  I wouldn't look at it as fighting a fight but having a baseline expectation--and keeping that flexible.  There are also options in terms of how intensive the induction is--can they take it slow with ripening the cervix first and stripping membranes, and see if your body takes over instead of pulling all punches and having you on pitocin right off the bat?  This is what my MW has said we would do in the off-chance of an induction.

Good luck, and I hope you've gone into labor by the time you read this!! 

amandaleigh1

Thank you all for the support and advice. Fluid check shows I am now down to 4 so I am no longer comfortable waiting for labor to start spontaneously. Looks like today or tomorrow will be the day I get to meet my little guy.

judahsmommy1

That's so exciting! I'm sorry that it wasn't what you hoped for, but I'm glad that the information that you got made it clear what decision needed to be made. Easy Labor Vibes headed your way!

Kenyadventure

I am thinking of you and hoping it is a joyful birth.  You are an awesome mom to prepare so much for this special time and choose a birth that gives the best chances to you and your baby.  There is a reason why we have all these great medical advances and technologies--they can do good.