Remind me why I don't want to be induced

annagrya · May 2013

So my OB wants to induce on the 20th or 22nd which would mean I would be just shy of 40 weeks (my ticker is off, 5 days ahead of my EDD). He wants to induce out of convenience and I am not ok with this so I told him I wanted to wait and go spontaneous. I have a doula and the plan is to labor at home for the majority if possible and then head to the hospital later to hopefully avoid some interventions. As the days roll on and labor hasn't started (I know it's early still) I am sooooo tempted to put that induction back on the table. I know people get passionate about this subject and I am asking, please flame me for considering an elective induction! I need the harsh reality.

BTW: This post isn't meant to judge other's choices about inductions, I just need support since I already had decided that I didn't want to be induced.

hollowstar · May 2013

I was almost induced last time and was so glad that my son came on his own 'ahead' of schedule!

You don't want to be induced!

- Due dates can be wrong. Your baby could actually benefit from a few more days (or more) of cooking. That means stronger lungs, better digestion (less spit-up), and just being healthier in general.

- Pitocin SUCKS. I've heard many horror stories. It's almost impossible to avoid an epidural and then it's a vicious cycle of them cranking it into your body and numbing you out.

- New studies show that pitocin is bad for babies long-term.

- Being induced DOUBLES your chances of having a c-section.

Jasmineeelizabeth · May 2013

Elective induction is selfish.

It carries risks for you, and your baby that are not worth taking for convince.

What's wrong with your OB?!

hollandmama · May 2013

I'm FTM but I will just tell you: be strong mamma! You can hang in there for a few more days. Remember your baby will communicate with your body when s/he is ready to be born. Let him/her choose his/her own birthday and give yourself a bigger chance of having a great birth experience!

If you already have a doula, don't throw your plans out of the window... be patient

h2babe · May 2013

I am due on Monday and yesterday my doctor offered to induce me "if I am tired of being pregnant", which I declined. I am taking the rest of the week off work anyways, so I figured I will relax and he will show up when he's ready! Hang in there!

Runaway22 · May 2013

Your OB is a tool. Tell him to GTF over it. It's not the safest option for you or the baby, at all. I'm actually kinda pissed at him just hearing about it, lol

I was induced at 42 weeks, and responded badly to the Cervidil. I experienced uterine hyper stimulation (imagine minutes upon minutes of one big, long contraction, no breaks in between), and fetal distress (dropping into the 50's and 60's), and of course, it ended in a c-section. We couldn't get LO's heart rate back up consistently, so they did an emergency c/s under general anesthesia. I was asleep for the first 3-ish hours of my first child's life. Not the end of the world, but still sooo lame.

As for normal inductions, I hear pitocin SUCKS. I've also heard of women laboring for 30+ hours, only to have a c/s anyway.

Your OB is being totally selfish.

cwhitloc · May 2013

I know it sucks being pregnant at the end b/c you are so uncomfortable, but it really is better to have the labor come on naturally. You can be induced by other methods other than pitocin, however, if you haven't even started labor, they will most likely end up resorting to that. The reason behind why you have a higher chance of csection is that the contractions with pitocin are much stronger and can cause fetal distress. For that reason, you could end up having to just go ahead and have a csection if labor is not progressing as the doctor says it should. I know for a lot of OBs out there, a csection is more convenient, because it's a controlled environment, there is no waiting game. So, i would be concerned your OB would be quick to go that route too.

JellyTwoPointO · May 2013

You have a horrible OB. I'm sorry, but you do.

THIS is why maternal health care in the US is so terrible. This right here.

annagrya · May 2013

Jellybean902:
You have a horrible OB. I'm sorry, but you do. THIS is why maternal health care in the US is so terrible. This right here.

I know it too I just didn't know it for sure until this last month and I felt overwhelmed at the prospect of switching providers. So, as a compromise, I hired a doula to help be an advocate in the hospital against some of these unnecessary interventions. I feel like hindsight is 20/20 and next time I have a baby, it will be with a midwife. Thank you all so much for your honesty. It really helps!

jillianjigs7 · May 2013

Last pregnancy, with DD, my OB swore she was going to be HUGE so induced me just 2 days shy of 40 weeks. Now, while I had a good experience being induced, I definitely don't want to do it again. He thought she would weigh over 10lbs but was born weighing 8.4. This time around he is saying the same thing. He thinks this little guy is going to be HUGE and wants me to have a growth u/s to determine size and then said maybe induction. I swear, some OB's just want to make it easier on themselves.

Lolalipsy · May 2013

Jasmineeelizabeth:
Elective induction is selfish.nbsp;It carries risks for you, and your baby that are not worth taking for convince. nbsp;What's wrong with your OB?!

Inductions even for medical reasons are still considered elective because you have the choice not to go ahead with them.

jane.says · May 2013

Lolalipsy:
Jasmineeelizabeth:
Elective induction is selfish.nbsp;It carries risks for you, and your baby that are not worth taking for convince. nbsp;What's wrong with your OB?!
Inductions even for medical reasons are still considered elective because you have the choice not to go ahead with them.

This comment isn't helpful at all. If someone is being induced for a medical reason (GD, pre-e, failing NST or BPP, IUGR, etc., ,etc.) it is COMPLETELY unfair to make that woman feel like it's "her choice" to be doing it by calling it "elective".

whoopsybaby · May 2013

Because pitocin is the devil. I had an induction for medical reasons w/ DD2. The labor, although thankfully short, was ridiculous and I begged for an epidural. Totally opposite to my relatively pain- and med-free first delivery. I dread being induced this time for any reason. Hang in there.

Lolalipsy · May 2013

jane.says:
Lolalipsy:
Jasmineeelizabeth:
Elective induction is selfish.nbsp;It carries risks for you, and your baby that are not worth taking for convince. nbsp;What's wrong with your OB?!

Inductions even for medical reasons are still considered elective because you have the choice not to go ahead with them.

This comment isn't helpful at all. If someone is being induced for a medical reason (GD, pre-e, failing NST or BPP, IUGR, etc., ,etc.) it is COMPLETELY unfair to make that woman feel like it's "her choice" to be doing it by calling it "elective". 

I see your point completely but the point I was trying to make was that no matter what the reasons may be for an induction technically they are elective as ridiculous as that may sound. But nice that you twisted my words to mean something completely different!

It's quite appalling to have someone refer to an induction as selfish.

JellyTwoPointO · May 2013

annagrya:
Jellybean902:
You have a horrible OB. I'm sorry, but you do. THIS is why maternal health care in the US is so terrible. This right here.
I know it too  I just didn't know it for sure until this last month and I felt overwhelmed at the prospect of switching providers.  So, as a compromise, I hired a doula to help be an advocate in the hospital against some of these unnecessary interventions.  I feel like hindsight is 20/20 and next time I have a baby, it will be with a midwife.  Thank you all so much for your honesty.  It really helps! 

I think hiring a doula was a FANTASTIC choice. I especially believe in them for hospital births for this very reason. I hope that you and her can advocate for the health of you and your baby and not let that doctor bully you into doing whatever is convenient for him. Good luck to you!

santoriello21 · May 2013

I had to be induced because my contractions were so close together with ds. The baby and my heart rates dropped and they had to give me a shot to stop the contractions and stop the pitocin. They said it might have been too much for us. We ended up being fine, but I would not volunteer for this unless it was medically necessary. If I get close to 42 weeks then I will do it.

thegoodpotato · May 2013

The temptation to induce gets really overwhelming the closer you get to our due date, so I absolutely do not judge that little voice that says "you could get it over with now." I am all about letting things happen naturally, and I completely sympathize.

I went to 41 weeks, and was getting to the point where I was willing to schedule a c-section just to get her the heck OUT!

(They don't do that in Canada... At least not in rural BC)

I know its tempting, and it's great to acknowledge your feelings... And know that you're doing the best for your baby by keeping him/her in there as long as need be. Baby knows when to come.

BelhurstBride · May 2013

Well if you're being induced with an unfavorable cervix you might as well plan on a c/s.

homebird · May 2013

With DD, my OB wanted to schedule an induction at 40 weeks. I asked him how long he was willing to let me go and he said 42 weeks. So I said "Ok, we'll schedule an induction for 42 weeks then!"

As my due date came and went I got really discouraged. I never felt like "Oh, today's the day!" or that anything was changing. But she was born at 41 weeks exactly, and then I was glad I waited.

I wanted to avoid an induction because I didn't want to endure pitocin induced contractions, and I was afraid that if they "forced" her out too soon it would end up as a c-section. I would rather be pregnant for an extra week or two than have to deal with pitocin or a c-section or any other unnecessary medical interventions.

spring6984 · May 2013

If there is no medical reason to induce, then it is not worth it to do so. Your baby will come when s/he is good and ready. Everyone else in the world seems to want to rush these babies out, when in reality, the best thing for them is to bake in there! Why risk the yucky side effects of induction medications (which often times lead to epidurals, which lead to more meds), if you don't have to? Make plans...keep busy...go out to eat, do stuff around the house to get ready for baby, go to a movie, go on a date. The more you sit around waiting, the more difficult it will be to keep your mind off of it. I am 40 weeks today. My midwives are letting me go until I'm 42 weeks (as long as everything looks good at my 41 week US and non-stress test)...and I'm fine with that if that's what is best for my baby!

ssemovsk · May 2013

Runaway22:

Your OB is a tool. Tell him to GTF over it. It's not the safest option for you or the baby, at all. I'm actually kinda pissed at him just hearing about it, lol

I was induced at 42 weeks, and responded badly to the Cervidil. I experienced uterine hyper stimulation (imagine minutes upon minutes of one big, long contraction, no breaks in between), and fetal distress (dropping into the 50's and 60's), and of course, it ended in a c-section. We couldn't get LO's heart rate back up consistently, so they did an emergency c/s under general anesthesia. I was asleep for the first 3-ish hours of my first child's life. Not the end of the world, but still sooo lame.

As for normal inductions, I hear pitocin SUCKS. I've also heard of women laboring for 30+ hours, only to have a c/s anyway.

Your OB is being totally selfish.

What the hell is wrong with OBs? Induction for convenience? Sure, thats what med school has taught you - great!

BakerMommy · May 2013

I have had both induced and a natural birth. The induction was far more difficult; I felt like I got hit by train afterwards.

Plus, the vanity reason. You have to be on fluids while on pitocin [Or if you have an epidural, I can't remember, but if you have to have pitocin, it's very likely you'll want an epidural], so you'll be very swollen in all of your post birth pictures. I'm really sad about how I look and all of the pictures after DD1 was born.

ScarletOflaherty · May 2013

If this is your first I wouldn't do it. C-sections from failed inductions are incredibly common in FTM's.

Jasmineeelizabeth · May 2013

Lolalipsy:
jane.says:
Lolalipsy:
Jasmineeelizabeth:
Elective induction is selfish.nbsp;It carries risks for you, and your baby that are not worth taking for convince. nbsp;What's wrong with your OB?!
Inductions even for medical reasons are still considered elective because you have the choice not to go ahead with them.

This comment isn't helpful at all. If someone is being induced for a medical reason (GD, pre-e, failing NST or BPP, IUGR, etc., ,etc.) it is COMPLETELY unfair to make that woman feel like it's "her choice" to be doing it by calling it "elective".

I see your point completely but the point I was trying to make was that no matter what the reasons may be for an induction technically they are elective as ridiculous as that may sound. But nice that you twisted my words to mean something completely different! It's quite appalling to have someone refer to an induction as selfish.

Uh, what are you talking about?

Choosing to have an induction for a non medical reason is what I meant by elective. In my opinion I don't believe woman who have a serious medical condition that is life threatening for themselves or their babies have a reasonable choice in the matter. When the risk of being pregnant outweighs the risk of being induced it's not called an elective induction, the same way a c-section for medical reasons is not called an elective c-section.

To chose to undergo an induction because you are sick of being pregnant, or for your doctors convince are selfish reasons seeing how there are risks involved for the baby.

I don't understand the point you are trying to make.

Lolalipsy · May 2013

Jasmineeelizabeth:
Lolalipsy:
jane.says:
Lolalipsy:
Jasmineeelizabeth:
Elective induction is selfish.nbsp;It carries risks for you, and your baby that are not worth taking for convince. nbsp;What's wrong with your OB?!

Inductions even for medical reasons are still considered elective because you have the choice not to go ahead with them.

This comment isn't helpful at all. If someone is being induced for a medical reason (GD, pre-e, failing NST or BPP, IUGR, etc., ,etc.) it is COMPLETELY unfair to make that woman feel like it's "her choice" to be doing it by calling it "elective". 

I see your point completely but the point I was trying to make was that no matter what the reasons may be for an induction technically they are elective as ridiculous as that may sound. But nice that you twisted my words to mean something completely different!

It's quite appalling to have someone refer to an induction as selfish.
Uh, what are you talking about?
Choosing to have an induction for a non medical reason is what I meant by elective. In my opinion I don't believe woman who have a serious medical condition that is life threatening for themselves or their babies have a reasonable choice in the matter. When the risk of being pregnant outweighs the risk of being induced it's not called an elective induction, the same way a c-section for medical reasons is not called an elective c-section.
To chose to undergo an induction because you are sick of being pregnant, or for your doctors convince are selfish reasons seeing how there are risks involved for the baby.
I don't understand the point you are trying to make.

Yes I can see it clearly washed over you!

newmommin · May 2013

With my daughter, I didn't go into labor at all, so finally my Dr induced me a week past my due date. After about 6 hours, I was told that they wanted to perform an emergency cesarean. Everything wound up being fine but it did add a lot of stress. If I had a choice I would wait until baby is ready, unless you're 2 weeks or so past your due date, the Dr should be okay with it. I would just explain to them your plan and go from there.

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