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trying to cope

ckwats33ckwats33 member
in Natural Birth

So here's the story. I was hoping to have a natural labor, no drugs, no IV, just me and my body doing what it is meant to do.  However I have Factor V Leiden, so I have been on blood thinners throughout my pregnancy.  Because of the blood thinners, my doctor wants to induce me around week 38.  I had started to come to terms with being induced because its for the health of my baby and myself.  Then last night I went to my first birthing class at the hospital where they talked about laboring at home as long as possible, especially for those of us that want to do this naturally.  Then they pointed out that once we come to the hospital its an IV and ice chips until after the baby is born.  Which for me would mean from the moment I go into to be induced, no food, no water, and limited moving around (especially since they will be monitoring me regularly).  I know things never go as planned, there are always hiccups.  

I just can't shake the feeling that childbirth will no longer be something I do, or accomplish, but something that is done to me.

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Re: trying to cope

  • botanicalblissbotanicalbliss member

    That sounds like a really rough spot to be in.  I don't know anything about your condition, but maybe you could speak with your doctor about some of your concerns.  I've heard of some women going in to get cervadil placed and then going home and returning the next morning - maybe that's an option for you?  Maybe your body will be already starting to dilate and more favorable for an induction.

    Inductions are tricky because some go super smoothly and others don't.  Have you considered hiring a doula?  She may be able to give you some options that will allow you to feel more in control. 

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  • lalamakitalalamakita member
    Talk to your OB. Many allow foods and drinks at least in early labor. And FWIW don't remember being all that interested in food.

    I had a painmed free induction. But was very prepared with hypnobirthing and a doula. Be careful about those hospital classes, some say they just train you to be a good obedient patient.
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  • Temp76535187505890Temp76535187505890
    I remember you posting previously about this and other people who are also on blood thinners had some good advice. Did the talk not go well with your OB about alternatives to being induced?
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  • margeincharge3margeincharge3 member

    For my vbac, my water broke first. My labor didn't start on it's own so I got a foley bulb, which got my dilated to 4cm. I labored on my own after that and after no more progress I got pitocin and an epidural. I had my vbac. I can tell you that I have never once thought that childbirth wasn't something I accomplished or that labor was done to me.

    I was an active part of the entire process. I negotiated with my doctors and nurses on various things. I had my doula to help me. For instance, when the doctors wanted to start pit, I asked if I could labor on my own for a while. They agreed. I was able to get in the shower. I was able to only have intermittent monitoring until the pit. I was able to eat.

    I think more so than the interventions that happen, feeling like you are a part of the process is feeling like you have medical providers who listen to you and take your wishes into consideration. Of course you are going into it knowing you are at least having one intervention but that shouldn't mean you can't still have a positive birth experience.

    DS1: August 2009 (emergency c/s, HELLP syndrome) DS2: September 2012 (VBAC)
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  • Manderlin923Manderlin923 member

    I have Factor V and also MTHFR and all I take is a baby aspirin. I got 3 different opinions, including that of an MFM dr. That said, if you need it you need it, but I thought the concern with the Lovenox switching to Heparin was that you couldn't get an epi on Lovenox because it stays in your system too long so that's why they switch? If you are planning on going med-free why can't you just stay on the Lovenox? I know if you'd need an emergency c you'd have to go under GA but is that a risk you're comfortable taking? maybe I have that all wrong but that's what I recall from my research.

     

     

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  • ckwats33ckwats33 member

    1.The labor nurse who taught my class said that once I'm in the hospital to start the process I will be on an IV and ice chips only.  They don't allow anything else.

    2.If I stay on Lovenox I would have to be induced because I would have to stop taking it before labor occurs.  If I switch to Heparin I could go into labor naturally and if I needed an emergency-C I would have to go under which is where my doctor said is the concern.

    3.Thanks for all the advice.  I will be having a chat with my doctors to see what options I can have for my induction.  As in, if I will have to stay at the hospital for the whole process and what I will be allowed to do while I'm there (movement wise).  

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  • hollowstarhollowstar member

    Is there a reason you should need a c-section? It sounds like switching to Heparin might be the better bet if it means you could labor naturally. Without being induced, most women have a very low c-section risk. Being induced DOUBLES your chances at having a c-section. And I would assume that induction could even aggravate other health issues as it is much harder on your body. 

    For me, the risk of being put under in the unlikely case of a c-section would be worth it to lower the risk of a c-section to begin with + be able to move around etc during labor.

    Remember, YOU are the patient. You are the mama. Your doctors can recommend things but YOU are the boss of you, not the hospital staff.

    Alternative Housewife - Mama style on a budget

    Mama to Sebastian, born 9/2010 BabyFetus Ticker

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  • kristenrudderhamkristenrudderham member
    I was induced and still went med-free. I had a particularily bad induction as well. The nurses said it was the worst reaction they have ever seen to pitocin. My uterus contracted after 45 minutes on the drug and wouldn't relax until I delivered 11 hours later. I essentially had one non-stop contraction for the whole time (despite the fact the amount of drug was reduced three times). I did Bradley classes and a lot of reading and research and feel this helped, along with my extreme stubborness :)
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  • doodlemonkey22doodlemonkey22 member

    Been in your situation before, but for different medical reasons. Yeah it stinks. And they will pull the "it's what is best for your baby" card every time you start to protest. It's one thing to be hooked up the an IV for 4-6 hours if you do most of your laboring at home. But if you must be induced you are hooked up to the IV for 24-48 hours. Not easy to deal with.  It really is a hard situation to be in because you don't want to put baby's life at risk but you want to have SOME control over your own body. I posted a question on this board once and got a nasty response from someone that being induced is a CHOICE and that I chose to be bulldozed by an OB and be induced. Pretty harsh. When your baby's health/life is on the line it doesn't really seem like a choice.

    Every hospital has different rules. As someone else mentioned, some hospitals let you move around and eat/drink until you ask for an epidural. But it sounds like your hospital isn't one of them. I have no insight on your particular condition, but maybe you can talk to your OB about trying to induce naturally first.  I tried to start labor naturally with 2nd pregnancy for a week (and I tried EVERYTHING), but it did not work for me. Then tried Cervidil to start labor. That didn't work either. Ended up being induced with Pitocin but at least I felt like I really exhausted all my other options first. Best of luck!

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