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Natural Birth
jennyann28
member
Did you have a NB after induction?
jennyann28
member
Hi ladies. I've been lurking on this board for a while, and really like reading your stories. Now I'd love to hear some more, if you had to be induced.
My LO has SUA (single umbilical artery) and has been monitored for growth since it was discovered at our anatomy scan. She's been hovering right on the borderline for IUGR, and has now dipped just below 10th% for growth. My MFM doc today told me that he hopes we can get to 37 weeks before they have to take the baby.
He knows that I want to avoid a c-section if possible, but he feels strongly that if we wait until after 37 weeks for my cervix to be favorable, the baby will be too weak to get through labor and I'd have to have a c-section anyway. He says my best bet for a successful vaginal delivery is to deliver earlier. He actually is keeping me OFF bedrest so that gravity can do it's thing to my cervix (we hope!).
Anyway, were any of you able to have the NB that you wanted following induction? Can you tell me about it? Did you try, but end up needing more interventions?
I'm not going to lie - I feel pretty bummed right now, and that I will end up with the dreaded "cascade of interventions", though my induction would be with my midwife at a NB friendly hospital. TIA.
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Re: Did you have a NB after induction?
I can't speak with experience because I haven't been in your shoes. But I think in your case and with your DD having the SUA and the concerns about making it through labor I wouldn't focus so much on having a natural/unmedicated birth as just focus on having a vaginal birth. In my opinion anything you can do to avoid a c/s is probably going to be worth it.
So def. go into your induction hoping natural birth goes well, but you're right, with the cascade of interventions that could easily happen because of the timing and conditions you're going to have an easier time dealing with reality if you can let go of expectations of a completely natural birth and just focus on doing the best you can for you and baby.
It seems like this is really one of those occasions when we can be thankful for medical procedures like c/s (and inductions to possibly avoid them). 100 years ago you giving birth completely naturally likely would have had devastating complications.
I totally don't want to talk you out of your birth plan, but it seems like realistic expectations are going to be your friend here rather than your foe. At least in the sense of not grieving if you aren't able to have a completely unmedicated birth.
I do have a friend who was able to vaginally birth her son at 37 weeks with an induction and an epidural because of dire medical issues with the baby. She was thrilled to have managed that because she thought for sure she'd end up with a c/s under the circumstances. And all turned out well for baby and her.
Hopefully you will hear some encouraging stories from ladies here who've been in your shoes. Wishing you a wonderful labor and healthy baby!
Yes. it is possible. Granted it is not ideal but it is not an automatic ticket to a c-section either. I was induced at 38w with DS1 for suspected IUGR caused by deteriorating placenta. Even though I was strapped down, I spent the majority of labor in the bathroom. They let me unhook it to go to the bathroom and I basically never left (because I really couldn't ;-)
Personally I don't mind the IV or the pole that you have to push around everywhere; I wasn't planning on acrobatics at the time anyways. Just simple walking and swaying can be done even when hooked up to the machines.
I would just bring stuff with you that will make you feel more comfortable and at home (favorite pillow, blanket etc). MOst of the time you are left to yourself to do your own thing. Make sure your DH knows your birth plan so that he can be an advocate for you. Good luck. You will do great!
9 angels in heaven-3 in my arms and 1 in the NICU
Mono/di twin girls: Josephine born to heaven and Evangeline born Earthside at 25w
I fall into the category of not making it without meds during my induction with my son (after two med-free labors with my girls). I was very fearful of the extra pain that would come with the pitocin as well as getting my water broken immediately (I started my induction at 4cm). And it was true, the pain was a different kind of pain, sharper than non-induced contractions (at least from my experience with my first two labors). I felt like they spiked harder and sharper and it was really hard to keep my body, mainly my pelvis, relaxed during them.
Sure enough, I started stalling on my progress. Not a ton, but knowing how quickly I normally would progress from my previous labors I knew I was stalling out. I couldn't stay relaxed enough for my cervix to dilate and I wasn't focusing or breathing correctly. I finally decided to get the epi (I don't like the sounds of the effects of the intravenous drugs) in hopes I would start progressing again and it did just that. I went from 6-10cm in about 30 minutes and pushed my son out in 2 contractions once my dr. got there.
It was hard to come to terms with, but I feel confident now that I did the right thing for me and baby in that situation and I know now not to lump all epidural situations into "giving up" or "just not wanting to deal with the pain". I wish I had prepared myself mentally for that more before labor so it wouldn't have been so hard for me after to deal with. I felt like I had failed for a long time and that sucked.
Prepare for your natural labor and go into it with a mindset that you will be successful, but also start preparing yourself emotionally that sometimes interventions do help you and baby. Good luck to you!
Don't overplay the dreaded cascade of interventions. You may end up needed the c/s and that won't be the end of the world. You're in the best place that you can be to avoid unnecessary intervention. Let it play out and don't beat yoruself up over it.
I had an induction with my twins. Emotionally I had alot of the feelings that you have going into it. I nearly refused to have it done at all but part of me knew it was the right choice at the time. I just wasn't happy about it. I knew that I needed to trust my midwife. That's why I had gone to her in the first place. Your body may recognize that the baby isn't thriving and cooperate with an induction.
That being said. I did a pit induction and then otherwise had a natural birth. I thought it was an easier labor than my first natural one becuase I was much more relaxed. I didn't find that the pitocin induced contractions were any worse, despite all the horror stories to the contrary. The only thing I might recommend is some Reglan if you start feeling nauseous. It's hard to stay focused and calm if you're throwing up.
I had to be induced with my first due to HELLP Syndrome. I had planned to go natural but was open to other options. They had the pit cranked up pretty high since they wanted him out asap. I think if I had a little space between contractions I could have done it but they came one on top of another with no time between them so I went with an epidural so that I could relax a little. Part of the reason I went with the epidural was that it was 5pm and they said he would probably be born in the morning. Had I known that he would be here at 8pm I might have been able to hold out. I just couldn't have made it to morning with the way things were going.
Best wishes to you and I hope that you can have a fairly intervention free labor. In the end all that really matters is that you and the baby are healthy. It may not be your ideal labor but if you are somewhat flexible and don't stress too much you may be able to have a revised version of what you want. My doula is having me write up two birth plans. One for the ideal situation and another for "just in case".
Good luck!
Thank you so much for sharing your stories. I am really glad that there have been women who chimed in who had "success" with having a natural birth, but also those that found they needed to explore other options.
Like one of the PPs said, I want to go into it with confidence in myself that I CAN do it, but I also don't want to feel like a failure if I find I need to go in a different direction for the sake of the baby. It really helps me to read ALL of your stories from both sides of it. I really appreciate it!