Inducing vs Augmenting - question

ChavayJakov · December 2011

I'm going for a VBAC, unmedicated, with two proven natural births (one unmedicated) immediately following the c-section (in other words, my first child was a necessary c-section, followed by two normal births w/o complications). Trying for a VBAC is very discouraging in my state, and it's been difficult to locate a "supportive" OB office.

In reading as much as I can, I'm coming across two terms: inducing labor and augmenting labor. I asked this on another board, and the ladies directed me here. I'd like to receive confirmation or correction on my understanding the two terms.

Inducing labor is the act of artificially starting the labor process in a woman. The means may be through "home remedies" like nipple stimulation and pressure points, but are typically thought of as medical/chemical interventions (like the giving of Pitocin, for example).

Augmenting labor is the act of artificially kicking the labor process up a notch if it has stalled at some point (not dialating enough? contractions slowing?). The process of augmenting might be the same options used for inducing labor.

Is that correct?

tokenhoser · December 2011

Yes. Some medical induction methods are medications applied to the cervix, and those ones typically aren't used to augment. Augmenting is usually shooting you as full of pitocin as they think they can get away with. This frequently causes fetal distress, followed by a c-section.

Kristinmo · December 2011

tokenhoser:
Yes. Some medical induction methods are medications applied to the cervix, and those ones typically aren't used to augment. Augmenting is usually shooting you as full of pitocin as they think they can get away with. This frequently causes fetal distress, followed by a c-section.

Last sentence is not necessarily true. While there are doctors and hospitals who overuse pit, it can also be a useful tool. Some labors legitimately stall or water breaks and contractions never start (I'm talking 12 plus hours). It is a conversation to have with your OB about when they use pit to augment and remember if you are making progress on your own in labor you can refuse pit when it's being offered just because your labor isn't occurring at a textbook pace.

iris427 · December 2011

Yep, you are correct.

If you are induced or augmented as a VBAC, they are typically more conservative in their approach so as not to stress your scar. Some providers won't induce or augment a VBAC at all. Some will augment but not induce. Some will do both but only with certain methods. Have you talked to your doctor/midwife about it at all?

tokenhoser · December 2011

Kristinmo:
tokenhoser:
Yes. Some medical induction methods are medications applied to the cervix, and those ones typically aren't used to augment. Augmenting is usually shooting you as full of pitocin as they think they can get away with. This frequently causes fetal distress, followed by a c-section.
Last sentence is not necessarily true. While there are doctors and hospitals who overuse pit, it can also be a useful tool. Some labors legitimately stall or water breaks and contractions never start (I'm talking 12 plus hours). It is a conversation to have with your OB about when they use pit to augment and remember if you are making progress on your own in labor you can refuse pit when it's being offered just because your labor isn't occurring at a textbook pace.

Oh, pit has it's place.

But it's overused so frequently that I don't think there's anything wrong with being on the offensive to try to avoid it. "Pit to distress" is a phrase for a reason.

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Inducing vs Augmenting - question

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