History of Inductions

kmornelas29

I have been hearing so much about inductions lately, and it got me thinking, what in the world did women do before inductions were made available?

I was doing some research and it mentioned that inductions became popular in the 1960's, after the drug oxytocin was introduced, but what in the world did women do before that?

Was there a greater chance of baby dying? Did more moms die as a result of baby getting too big and medical problems arising? Did women just plain ole wait it out and everything was fine?

Doctors now talk about why inductions are so necessary after 41/42 weeks, sometimes even sooner, yet women having been giving birth for millions of years without it.  

Waiting it out can't be as bad as they say or was it bad and we just are not aware of the outcomes of it?

Thanks! Would to hear from anyone that knows the history on this!  

jess9802

https://www.glowm.com/index.html?p=glowm.cml/section_view&articleid=130

iris427

Well some women probably went into labor on their own and were fine, and some didn't and more mothers and babies died. Same as what it was like before safe cesareans. Yes, medical interventions are overused in births in the US, but when used appropriately they save lives.

nosoup4u

Waiting it out is pretty bad! There's nothing fun about being 40 weeks pregnant...

There wasn't early u/s dating, either, so there was a lot more guesswork as to when the baby would show up.

I can't remember if induction is specifically addressed, but the book "Birth: The Surpring History of How We Are Born" by Tina classify is a good read. Maybe "Pushed" by Jennifer Block, too.

eco+ri

Waiting it out can suck. You're tired, everything hurts, and you're just over being pregnant at that point. However, I was induced at 41 weeks (not necessary), just because I was tired, and ended up with a cascade of interventions which lead to a c-section and a post-operative infection that landed me in ICU for 2 weeks post-partum. Won't do that again. 

Jason&Erin82507

I waited it out an dd finally came at 41w3d... Yeah it was uncomfortable, but I knew it wasn't permanent. I was due 5/1 and my midwives weren't going to induce me until 5/16.... I had an ultrasound at 41 weeks to check amniotic fluid levels and had frequent non-stress tests to make sure everything was ok. I'm am so happy I waited! Natural delivery went great!

iris427

kmornelas29:

Doctors now talk about why inductions are so necessary after 41/42 weeks, sometimes even sooner, yet women having been giving birth for millions of years without it.  

Waiting it out can't be as bad as they say or was it bad and we just are not aware of the outcomes of it?

OK so the theory behind inducing at 42 weeks (or 41) is not because waiting for labor is uncomfortable, but because the risk of stillbirth increases every week past 35 weeks or so.  Initially the risks of early delivery and induction outweigh the risk of stillbirth, but at some point continuing the pregnancy becomes riskier than inducing. Exactly when that point is though is up for debate.

So yes, women have been giving birth for millions of years.  But while some of those babies stayed in 43 or 44 weeks and were fine, some of them were not fine.

You can look at mortality rates in childbirth in developing nations today to get an idea of what things were like before we had modern obstetrics.  A LOT of women and babies are still dying preventable deaths.   One of the leading causes of maternal mortality is still preeclampsia and related disorders.  That's an excellent example of when an appropriately used induction can save lives.  But many women in the world do not have access to that care.