Opinions. Induction.

gracelord121809 · September 2010

Well I went for my check up this morning. Once again my blood pressure was high. So my doctor decieded that it was time to get this baby out. I am now at the hospital... waiting on my doctor to arrive. I am hooked up to the fluids and my blood pressure is being taken every 30mins. I am nowhere close to going into labor. My cervix is still only 1cm dialated. This is after they vaginally inserted meds to try to get it to dialate. They plan on starting me on pitocin after my Dr. comes to check on me. Heres the big question. I planned on having an all natural birth, obviously thats not going to happen. Instead of trying to take the pitocion and pssibly go into labor I am debating asking my Dr. for a C-section. This is the complete opposite of what I ever wanted, but all I care about is my son getting here safely. What would you do? Try the pitocin or just opt. for a c-section. Pros and Cons for each are greatly appreciated, along with any help and advice you can give me. TIA.

J+MS · September 2010

If it was me I would be worried about choosing the c-section without giving it a try because I want to have another kid and VBAC's are so risky. I don't know if this is your last kid or if you plan on having another one, but that's my thoughts.

JaysonandKristin · September 2010

Sister, I totally opted OUT of the induction and went straight for the c/s. If you're worried about that baby, and your blood pressure is not cooperating, I would TOTALLY go with the c/s.

I don't regret my decision AT ALL, even though I wanted an all natural birth.

Soap1 · September 2010

I would go with the pitocin. There's a chance of making it through naturally (although it is really, really hard), and if you get an epidural it's not any different than getting an epidural or spinal for a c-section! Might as well give it a shot!

daizypink · September 2010

I would say give your body a chance with the Pitocin rather than going directly with a C-section. While Pitocin is a synthetic drug with it's own set of risks (failure to progress and having a C-section being one), it still creates the same effects as the Oxytocin your own body would produce. You may not even require very much to get started and then your body may take over from there. Besides that, a C-section is a major surgery which is very painful after and has a much longer recovery time. Your baby also wouldn't get the beneficial stimulation they get from passing through the birth canal. In addition, with your high blood pressure, surgery would be even more likely to end in complications. Then you have to consider the likelihood that you should you have more children, your chances at VBAC would be greatly decreased due to the risk of uterine rupture. I would ask your physician about his take on the risks and benefits because he knows all the facts that lead to this point. If in the end the Pitocin doesn't work, you'll end in C-section anyway.

Best of luck to you and your LO in whatever decision that you choose!

Mrslove78 · September 2010

I wouldn't do a C-Section, but if you have pitocin, I'd suggest taking all the drugs avalilbe. Don't feel bad about it. I was planning on all natural with my 1st, but it didn't work out that way; pitocin makes labor more painful. I'm so excited for you; your about to meet your baby!!! YAAYYYYY!!!

What ever happens will be perfect. Hugs!

(YES my spelling sucks. No spell check on this computer.)

JDO · September 2010

I got this link from someone on the natural birth boards, I think it might be a good read for you. It's very possible to still avoid pain medication during a pitocin induced labor, good luck. I would absolutely try for that before asking for a c-section.

https://www.themidwifenextdoor.com/?p=587

houndbaby · September 2010

I was induced with my ds and had very little progress after having cervidil, I then had pitocin which helped some, then they stopped the pitocin and did cervidil again and that put me into active labor and I didn't need any pitocin or anything else at that point. The pitocin contractions weren't that bad and I never even asked for an epi until I was laboring on my own without the pitocin. GL!

luckyfrgg · September 2010

Personally I'd try the pitocin, but you have to make the decision that's right for you and baby. That said, here's my reasoning:

1) There are benefits for both you and baby to actually laboring. Your uterus is more likely to contract back to its pre-baby size if you've labored and delivered vaginally, and baby's lungs are benefitted by the contractions of labor. I've also seen some research out there suggesting that there are cognitive benefits to being squeezed through the birth canal, but I'm not sure that's been proven.

2) A c-section is still major surgery, and it carries risks that a "standard" vaginal delivery doesn't. If you're having a complicated delivery, obviously that changes - that's why emergency c-sections end up happening, because labor and delivery have turned out to be too hard on mom or baby. But that's the exception to the rule rather than the norm. I'd opt for the risks involved in vaginal delivery over the risks of the c-section any day, all else being equal and no other issues arising.

3) If you wanted a natural birth, you may still be able to achieve it, even with pitocin. It does happen - you never know until you try. Emotionally, I would question whether you'll have a hard time with your decision later if you go straight to the c-section and don't try to go with your original plan. There are already higher rates of post-partum depression when moms have c-sections, although it's not clear if that's because of the c-section, because of some underlying commonality, or what.

Bottom line, my preference would be labor and eventual vaginal delivery. But like I said, I think this is a very personal decision and whatever you do, I wish you the best of luck. It's a beautiful day to have a baby!

OliveBaby · September 2010

If I were in your shoes, I would do an induction before opting for a c-section. I'm pretty much just repeating at this point, but it's possible to have a successful induction and deliver w/o pain meds. And also the point about future pregnancies and VBAC's.

GL with your decision! Regardless of what you choose, just look forward to a healthy baby in your arms soon.

Allie30 · September 2010

If I were trying for a med-free birth (or now, I guess, a pain-med-free birth), and they were definitely putting me on pitocin, my choices, in order would be:

1) Take the pitocin and try for a pain-med-free birth (my sil had a pitocin-induced but otherwise natural childbirth).

2) If the pain became too much, I'd ask for an epidural (you don't have to decide right away!)

3) if all else failed, section.

I'd much rather go through trial of labor and epidural than have major abdominal surgery.

mommyme · September 2010

i would opt to try the induction first. sure it may end in cs but it may not. if you opt for the cs that's what you end w/.

VanderLaan · September 2010

I was induced (high BP) and ended up pushing for 3 hours- had to get a C section. I had the recovery of a vag and C section birth. I would never want anyone else to go through what I went through. Just my story.

Winter*Mommy · September 2010

I wouldn't just ASK for a c-section unless there is a reason for it.

I think anxiety of wanting to make sure your baby arrives safely and quickly is very common - but c-sections are major surgery and should be a last resort.

I was induced with both of my children and both times, I went into L&D like you - with next to no progress. I was fingertip and 50% effaced with DD and I was 1cm, 50% effaced with DS. Both labors took a while, but I did end up delivering vaginally - you just have to be patient. Because you are being induced, your chances of having a (example) "4 hour, pushed for 30 minutes" delivery are pretty slim.... you may be there for 19 hours and then end up pushing for an hour - that's just life with inductions. What helped me was walking, taking a hot shower and letting the warm water run all over my back and belly, and relaxing as much as I could (magazines, DVD's, etc). Everytime I took a shower, I dilated a centimeter. Once I figured that out, I took three more showers and finally got to a 5 after about 15 hours. I stalled there, begged for my epidural and then went from 5cm to 10cm in 30 minutes once I got my epidural. (That was with DD - with DS, I got my epidural a tad too soon and it stalled me out from progressing further...)

Just be patient - that is key. Its a little hurry up and wait... if anything, stick in some earplugs, close the curtains and try to take a nap until your contractions wake you up. You need to be rested to push.

HTH

lildevil968 · September 2010

I say give your body a chance, and go for the induction. Yes there is a higher chance of a c-section, but only once they break your water. They usually do not do that manually until you are around 4 centimeters anyway.

lpoi · September 2010

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