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Natural Birth
ncjulia12
member
Remind me why I don't want to be induced.
ncjulia12
member
Since even before I became pregnant and all through this pregnancy, I've been absolutely sure I wanted a natural birth- no induction, no pain meds, etc.
I've had no doubts until the past few days- and now especially today. My close friend and I were due the same day. Yesterday, we both saw the OB and he told both of us we could be induced this weekend if we wanted. (I'm 2-3 dilated and 60% effaced- my friend wasn't even that far.)
I said no, she said yes. Today, she had a very smooth, easy induction and her perfect baby is breastfeeding in her arms now. I'm still pregnant and limping around with back pain. All of my family and my husband's family is hovering around wanting the baby to come this weekend.
I'm scheduled for an induction on Thursday if he hasn't arrived by then (the latest my ob was comfortable with letting me go), so part of me thinks, "Well, I might have to be induced anyway, what would be the big deal with going ahead this weekend?"
I KNOW all the risks of induction and that it's best to wait (and my husband, thankfully, is just supportive of whatever I want) but I'm bracing myself to spend all weekend and next week defending my stance (to others and myself!).
Just remind me, ladies, please of your own reasons why you held out.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Remind me why I don't want to be induced.
I held out with DD because I KNOW what Pitocin is like. I had it with DS when my water broke, but I failed to have contractions. I wanted to avoid it at all cost. The last couple of weeks of pregnancy was pretty uncomfortable (mentally and physically), but I'm so glad I didn't get induced. I ended up going into labor at 41w and delivering at 41w1d... no Pit and no epidural necessary.
You can do it! Good luck!
Pitocin is horrible.
I know it sucks to be that pregnant, believe me. But the wait will be worth it! Hang in there. Tonight could be the night.
My water broke, but my contractions didn't start on their own, and I allowed them to bully me into pitocin. I still managed to go the rest of my labor without pain-meds, but I know it caused my labor to be much harder than it would have been otherwise. I labored for 23 hours and was uncomfortable with IV's and monitors hooked up to me. I managed to stay on a birthing ball for a while, but it was difficult. Everyone else seemed to think I had an easy labor all things considered, but I feel like it could have been a much better experience. Not that it wasn't amazing, especially getting to hold my beautiful, healthy baby girl, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't have regrets.
My SIL also wanted a natural birth. She caved to an induction at 40+5, 6 weeks after I had dd. The cervadil and pitocin combination made her contractions unbearable and she caved to an epidural. Then her baby's heart rate started to drop with each contraction because they were too strong (even her doctors admitted this, it's amazing what hospital waivers cover though). She had a c-section 16 hours after she arrived at the hospital. She still had wonderful baby boy, but he had breathing problems for the first week. He's healthy now, though :-)
I'm not trying to scare you, but you said to talk you out of it, and those stories are all I've got! I know how hard it is to wait, I didn't go into labor with dd until 41+1. It sucked, I had to turn off my phone and cut off all communication with the outside world so people couldn't bug me when my due date passed. Dh worked right up until I went into labor, so I was alone at home to rest and relax for the last week. Hang in there!
Pitocin affects everyone differently. For me, it was hellacious. I was so miserable (WITH an epidural, mind you) that I literally wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. My natural birth with DS2 was SOOO much easier. It was painful, all right but at least I could manage it instead of just laying there in misery.
If you ended up having a traumatic birth as part of a labor that started with voluntary induction, how do you think you would cope? While I was not induced, I did have a very difficult vaginal birth with DS that has required lots of processing. One thing that gives me peace is knowing that every step we took was medically necessary and was taken slowly only when lower-intervention options didn't cut it. Even with that, it took me over a year to really "get over" DS's birth. If you think a similar timeline might be possible for you should things not go as picture-perfect as your friends' birth, consider that a "mere" week more of discomfort and waiting may be the less painful path overall.
All that said, do you have to just wait in pain? Can you go see a chiropractor or acupuncturist well-versed in late PG who can help your back?
More Green For Less Green
Thank all of you so much for the reminders and encouragement. It means so much to me because there is just not a lot of support for NB here. I knew I was going to hold out already but just needed some reminding why after seeing my friend with her perfect induced birth today- I know it doesn't always go that way and I definitely would regret it if I abandoned my birth plans at this point. Thanks again- your comments really do make me feel so much better.
Those are such good points- I would feel so guilty if my choices that were not medically necessary led to complications or a c- section. As far as the back pain, i think I am just going to have to deal with it. Both my OBs and another doc said the only thing that would really make a difference is getting this baby out and I'm an hour+ from any chiro or accupuncturists.
I went through pitocin induced labor after my water broke and my body failed to go into labor on it's own. I did not get to have the kind of experience that I wanted and it makes me pretty sad.
Go to the chiro, get a massage, and hang in there. You can do it!
I've never had to be induced but my SIL will forever be my inspiration for holding out as long as possible. Her first two children were born at 36 and 38 weeks and her water always breaks two days after a full moon. There was a full moon when she was just about 38 weeks so she expected the baby to come within a few days of that. Instead, the baby waited for the next full moon- 4 weeks later. Meanwhile, her doctor tried to schedule an induction at her 39 week appointment. She held off and finally agreed to schedule an induction (at her 40 week appointment) for 42 weeks 1 day. The morning of the induction, she went into labor. She had contractions for about 3 hours before going to the hospital. Her water broke on its own, and her baby was born 5 minutes later with one push.
The baby will come when the baby is ready.