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April 2013 Moms
smiles21866
member
STMs that have been induced
smiles21866
member
I was wondering if some second time moms that have been induced in the past could shed some light.
I'm a FTM and will be induced at 39 weeks because of a clotting disorder and my blood thinner medication. I watched the documentary "The Business of Being Born" the other night with my DH and realized I want my body to go into labor when ready and I really don't want to be induced.
After speaking with my MFM doctor she made it clear that I had to be induced due to my medical history and well being for myself and Alexander.
Anyone that has been induced, would you be so kind to share some of your experience? I'm scheduled to be induced on April 23rd. I would really appreciate any input!
I'm a FTM and will be induced at 39 weeks because of a clotting disorder and my blood thinner medication. I watched the documentary "The Business of Being Born" the other night with my DH and realized I want my body to go into labor when ready and I really don't want to be induced.
After speaking with my MFM doctor she made it clear that I had to be induced due to my medical history and well being for myself and Alexander.
Anyone that has been induced, would you be so kind to share some of your experience? I'm scheduled to be induced on April 23rd. I would really appreciate any input!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: STMs that have been induced
I haven't had a baby, so this isn't firsthand experience, but...my niece just had her daughter in September and she was induced. She went into the hospital at 5, and Reagan was born by 12:30. She smiled through the whole thing, I was there for the birth, and I can tell you it was very easy for her. She breezed right through it. She said it labor and delivery was much easier than pregnancy!
So I think it just depends. You'll get horror stories about induction and really positive stories.
Waiting for our Miracle Baby, Carly Marie, Due April 24, 2013!
I think the answers you get will depend on whether or not the woman in question was favorable for induction.
I was induced with my second, but I'd been experiencing early labor for about a week and I was just completely miserable. Part of me felt I was going to go on forever that way and never really go into labor on my own. My abdomen was sore from having consistent contractions, but they weren't progressing, they were always the same for days and days. I spent my nights tossing and turning, my days walking and walking in an effort to progress, but nothing.
At my next appointment I caved and asked my doctor if she could put me out of my misery. Thankfully L&D was pretty much empty, so they got me a bed and broke my water and started me on pitocin. DD2 was born 3 hours later - it was a breeze. The only bump in the road was when the doctor placed an internal monitor, which hurt so horribly with every contraction that I ended up crying for an epidural, which almost didn't even matter. DD was born within 1/2 an hour of them placing it.
// I love you too. //
I am also a FTM and i watched this the other day and made me wonder about a lot of things also!! I really want to do this naturally and i kinda feel like i should have went with a mid wife! I feel like if i was at home or atleast able to stand or do it as a water birth i could do this myself! like they said you have to be able to move the baby around and you can't do that just laying there!! Plus it kinda makes me nervous about the whole being induced thing where they talked about how you are on a timer.. I kinda feel like thats how it would happen with me!!
But my friend had a clotting disorder and had to take shots daily! She was induced at 37 or 38 due to some other things.. i think she was in labor for 8 hours.. everything went well with her!
I would like to stress again that The Business of Being Born is an extremely biased documentary. While it is on my list of things one ought to watch when pregnant, it is NOT a good documentary, by itself, to try to base your delivery process on. Give your OB and the hospital staff a chance - you can't make assumptions about them and what they're trying to do to you, or you will most likely end up with a negative birth experience. You find what you're looking for, as they say.
Interventions are not always the devil. Induction is not always the devil. I have personally never felt as if I were on a timer while I was in labor, or as if interventions were being pushed on me. My nurses and OBs have always been very open with me, and I them, and they have been very supportive of my efforts.
With my first I went into labor naturally and had an epidural early, and for a first labor it was a short one - 12 hours, no complications. I was induced with my second, and you already have the story above. Again, no complications. But who the heck knows with this baby? I know enough to not expect anything, really, except a healthy baby at the end.
If you are a FTM I urge you to do some research from the opposite end as well, and that goes beyond asking some women on an Internet message board what happened to them. As with everything, balance and equal research of all points of view can go a long way, especially because labor and delivery are so incredibly unpredictable.
// I love you too. //
I was induced with DD on her due date because her abdomen was measuring small in relation to the rest of her... Turns out she is just carrying the 'tall and skinny' gene that runs in her daddy's family. Prior to going to the hospital, I had only had a handful of contractions in the week before. At my Dr appt the week before due date, I was not dialated at all. Everything said she was comfortable with staying in there, but the Dr was worried she might not have been getting enough nutrients.
I went into the hospital Tuesday night, to start induction Wednesday morning. Tuesday night they did a suppository of Cervadil, which softens the cervix. I was able to sleep through the night.
Wednesday morning I was 2 cm dialated. The started me on Pitocin (to start contractions) and put the monitors on my belly. Wednesday was uneventful. The monitors were showing that I was having contractions, but I wasn't feeling them. I was able to take breaks and get up to walk around. The worst part was that they don't let you eat when you're on Pitocin, but I had my mom sneak me some animal crackers. After no progress all day, they took me off at 5pm, let me eat dinner and I slept all night.
Thursday morning I woke up at 6, the nurse checked and I was 3 cm dialated. The Pitocin started at 8, the Dr came in at 9 and I was 4cm. He broke my water (NOT painful for me at all...he thought it was funny when I asked him what color it was. I wanted to know if it was clear, bloody, whatever it looked like.) After my water broke then I reallly started feeling the contractions. I asked for the epidural at 10, I was 6cm, got it at 1030. After that kicked in, I felt so much better. After another 30 minutes, I felt like I had to poop. I kept telling the nurse I needed to use the bathroom, but she said I couldn't get up bc of the epidural. I told my mom loud enough for the nurse to hear that I was going to poop on the bed if she didn't get me up and help my to the bathroom. So the nurse came over, checked me, and when she did, I kind of felt her hit something. She looked all surprised, said "Hold on, let's get the Dr in here, you're ready to go!"
I was like, omg omg omg I told you I had something to come out!! The Dr came in, they got everything ready super fast. I pushed 3 times for 10 seconds each during each contraction. I only had to push through 3 contractions. DD was born at 11:33. By 12:30, I was out of the shower and getting my lunch.
Super easy, and wonderful. I really hope this LO is that easy :-)
I was induced at 38w3d with DD. IIRC I was 2cm at the time. I went in a 4pm, was settled and started on pit by 7pm, water broken and serious pain by 8:30p, then had an epi and felt wonderful. By 1am, I was ready to push, but I had to wait til 2a for my OB to arrive (he fell back asleep after the first time they called him. Whoops!). I was laughing and joking with the nurses and DH during that time. I did end up with an episiotomy, and then DD was born at 3am. She was perfect.
So overall it was fairly quick and problem-free. I am very happy with that experience. I did have a pretty traumatic complication, but that is unrelated to the induction.
I know this is a bit of an UO, but I liked "picking" when to go into labor. I was so so so done being pregnant at that point.
Trust that your doctor is doing what's best for you and baby, and stay away from propaganda that will make you feel bad about that decision.
I was induced at 41w4d with Tony, even though I wanted to go into labor on my own. I was beginning to show signs of pre-e, and I was so swollen and puffy I could barely walk. So I definitely don't think the decision to induce was a rash decision, but it still wasn't the greatest experience. I was in labor for 27 hours before my son was born, and during that time I had been on Pitocin for 9 hours (didn't progress at all), tried walking around the hospital and starting labor on my own (didn't work) and was finally put on Cervadil, which sent my body into overdrive. I'm fortunate that I was at a natural birth friendly hospital that wasn't pushing for an unnecessary c-section, but I know other women who weren't so lucky.
Have you asked your provider exactly WHY she wants to induce you at 39 weeks? I mean, I understand you said because of your clotting disorder and the blood thinner medication, but what are the risks of waiting on an induction and letting you go into labor on your own? Would she be willing to let you come in everyday starting at 39 weeks for a NST and to check and make sure that your blood pressure is okay, your LO is fine, and there's no protein in your urine? (I haven't read the other responses, so sorry if this has already been asked). Honestly, I would consider seeking a second opinion. I'm not saying your provider is wrong, because I don't know about the risks of your medical condition, bu a second opinion never hurts. Especially if you feel this strongly about going into labor on your own (and I certainly don't blame you!).
GL with whatever you decide! If you do have to be induced, I hope it goes well for you.
I'm actually in a similar situation. I've been on Lovenox (blood thinner) injections twice daily since I became pregnant. The reason for the scheduled Induction is that it is not safe to go into labor spontaneously with blood thinners in your system. By scheduling an induction the doctor will tell you when to stop taking blood thinners so they are out of your system while you labor.
I had always planned to have a natural unmedicated labor and delivery until I found out about my clotting disorder. I think the Business of Being Born is a great documentary and as a public health reseacher I've done a TON of research on all sides of this topic. Unfortunately, what I've decided is best for me does not coincide with my medical condition so now I'm trying to reconcile the two. I have an appointment with my OB and Hematologist when I'm 30 weeks to discuss a plan. I hope to come up with a solution somewhere in the middle that keeps me and baby safe and healthy and is comfortable for my care providers. I've been honest with my OB from the beginning about what I want (after having to leave my midwife because of my "high risk" designation). I think having a conversation with your doctor and making sure he/she understands where you are coming from is key. Good Luck!
My water broke when I was about 3 days overdue. I was having NO contractions, cervix was closed and was not dilated at all. So I was induced. After being given one bag of fluids I was put on pitocin right away. I felt a few minor contractions but then was given my epi and didnt feel a thing until I felt pressure to push. Although my dialation when pretty slow, I had no problems, whatsoever. I went in around 5pm and had my daughter at 6am then next morning. Honestly it was a pretty relaxing evening. My husband & I watched The Hangover in our birthing suite. I felt kind of bad laughing so hard when I could hear other ladies in the hall laboring in pain.
I agree that you need to remember that The Business of Being Born is very biased to one opinion. You need to keep an open mind going into labor because you might have a PLAN for how it will go but alot of the time baby/ body wont cooperate!
Adalyn 9/28/2010 & Peter 4/1/2013
ahhh I see. That makes sense. Thanks for explaining! I hope your induction goes well for you too.
I was induced w/ dd at 41w1d. I had been 1-2cm dilated for about 3 weeks at this time, but no signs of imminent labor otherwise.
I was also started w/ cervadil overnight. At 8am doc broke my water and started pitocin. It was my first child, so I have nothing to compare the labor experience to, but in all honesty, it really wasn't that bad. I labored pain med-free until about 8pm, when I was "stuck" at 6cm dilated. I got frustrated at that point and the doctor recommended an epidural (actually got an intrathecal...no catheter, just one dose of the pain meds) to help me relax. Once that was done, I was ready to push in a few hours.
I do hope to not have to be induced this time, but mostly because I'd like some more freedom of movement, and I'd like to see what "natural" labor feels like. The nurses were really good about letting me get in the rocking chair and on the birthing ball, and I was disconnected once to take a walk. But I couldn't go in the tub or walk freely around my room or change positions easily because of the IV and internal monitor.
That said, it sounds like you've got a really good medical reason for a planned induction. It wouldn't hurt to talk to someone else for a second opinion, but it from what a pp said about her Lovenox treatment and delivery plans, I think you should trust your doctor.
I was induced at 40 weeks for high BP. I guess because I was 2 cm dilated and has been contracting/crampy for a month, they went straight for the big guns and just broke my water. I never had cervidal or Pitocin. Breaking my water sent me into instant labour with contractions 60 sec long 1.5 mins apart and within an hour they were a 10 with back labour. I got an epidural at 4 cm after 3 hours of back to back contractions and had my son after 40 mins of pushing 3 hours later. He was sunny side up to boot. My labour was 6.5 hrs total.
My BFP Chart
I was induced at 39 weeks 6 days because my midwife was scheduled for surgery two days later and would not be able to deliver DS if we didn't have him in time. She delivered him at 12:44 am just 7 hours before her own surgery. My labor was long and painful. I did 16 hours on pitocin without any pain medication. I handled it great until they had me lay down and do different positions to get things going. (I labored standing up and was doing great with that) After about an hour of the most excruciating pain with contractions every 60 seconds lasting 90 seconds long the midwife checked me and said I was still at a six. I had been at a six for a long time even though labor was getting more and more intense. She said if we didn't get an epidural or relax, we were talking about an emergency c-section so I got the epidural and immediately fell asleep from the relief. I slept until I was at a ten.
I wouldn't change my delivery experience now because I felt that in the end it was a beautiful delivery and the moment with DS was very precious. I also wouldn't change the midwife being there. It was a special moment. That being said, I hope to never be induced again. I think I could have done it without an epidural if not for the horrible pitocin contractions. If my body had been ready, I think it would have gone quicker and less forced.
My OB this time around has insisted that if I make it to 38 weeks he will induce regardless. He told me he wants twins out at 38 weeks for the mother's safety. So I am secretly hoping I go into labor on my own within a week before so I have a better chance to deliver these twins vaginally.
I was induced with my DD at 40w1d.. Halloween actually. I arrived at the hospital around 4pm and they put the cervadil in for 12 hours to help soften it. I was only 1cm after at 5am. At 6am they started pitocin. The doctor broke my water when I was 2cm and after that it was pretty quick. The contractions picked up, and once I got the epidural at 5cm, it only took about an hour to become fully dilated. It was nuts, and MH thought I was joking that I felt ready to push. I pushed for less than 20 minutes and out she came.
So I was in actual labor for less than 7 hours.. it was great and I honestly wouldn't mind being induced again.
Oh, and I forget to mention that I was induced because DD's belly was under the 10th percentile.. similar to a pp.
If your doctor is advising you to be induced for the safety of your LO, I'd say do it. We all want to have a healthy baby in the end anyway.. regardless of how he/she arrived :-)
As the other poster said, the blood thinners are a major concern. I will be switched to another blood thinner at 36 weeks. My OB stated that if I go into labor on the blood thinners, I cannot get an epidural while on them. Needless to say, I'm keeping an open mind and just doing some research. I was curious to what other moms had been through. I definitely can't plan the future but I will prepare the best I can :-) Thank you for your kind words!
Thank you all for sharing your stories with me!
I definitely trust my doctors 110%. I know that I have a great team of doctors following me and I haven't ever second guessed them. That documentary just got me thinking but I never thought how biased it might be.
I will continue to keep and open and positive mind to what's about to come in the near future! I know that everything will happen with how it's supposed to in order to get baby and myself safely through it.
Thank you again, I appreciate it!