Induction that led to a natural birth?

Re: Induction that led to a natural birth?

• smilejenn member

  July 2013

  I would also love to hear these stories. I have an induction scheduled for next Friday and it's possible that an epidural will not be an option for me due to low platelets. I'd love to hear some positive stories of women getting through the pitocin contractions without epis! I've had two inductions before, so I know how painful they can be.
  

  

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• be888 member

  July 2013 edited July 2013

  I went in at 41w1d for an induction, hoping for a pain-med free birth. I had a great Bishop score and was already contracting put not painfully. I was a tight 3 cm, 60 % effaced, and my midwife suggested to start with a Foley catheter to get me to 4 cm before starting Pitocin. I lost the ballon about 4 hours after insertion, and started contracting about half an hour before they were to start the Pitocin. 

  
  

  My goal of a pain-med free birth was not attained, since I got an epidural because of very intense back labor. My son was posterior, and the back labor had me begging for an epidural when I hit transition. It was the right decision for me, and I don't regret it one bit, especially since I did not fully dilate to 10 cm for another 12 hours!  I feel like I could probably have done without the epidural if it was not for his position, since I was still managing the pain in my abdomen. I hope next time I can make it without it. 

  
  

  I just wanted to share my story to show that induction does not always = pitocin. Best of luck to you if you end up needing one!

  
  

  

  16 Ch. du Barrage, Lac-Beauport
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• mrs.JL member

  July 2013

  With my DS I was induced at 42wks. I had cervadil inserted and was told the something may or may not start in 12-24 hours. However, within 2 hours I was having crazy intense contractions which turned out be my uterus clamping down so the cervadil was removed and I was told I was 4 cm! After it was removed things kept a regular pace. I hadterrible back labour and really no break from pain. I stayed in the shower at the hospital most of the time and my husband applied counter pressure through most contractions. My MW broke my water after 9cm and then shortly after I was given pitocin to strengthen the contractions. After 2 plus hours of pushing the MW had and OB assist with the vacuum and I ended up with an episiotomy. The vacuum was very painful. However, I had no pain meds and DS was born 14 hours after my induction started. He was8lbs 10oz and 22.5 inches long. When my MW measured his head she exclaimed " I guess that is what took so long!" In short I was induced, delivered a large posterior baby and was able to do it with out pain meds. My best advice would be to educate your self on the stages of labour, have great support and never doubt that you can do it. Good luck!

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• abell77 member

  July 2013

  With my first child my water broke as the first sign of labor and then I had no contractions whatsoever.  My natural birth friendly hospital allowed me to go nearly 60 hours before encouraging me to get things moving.  I was terrified of pitocin, so I agreed to cytotec.  In retrospect, I have mixed feelings about the cytotec now but that's for another post:)  Long story short, I made it through the rest of my labor with no further interventions.  The contractions were rough and I had a posterior baby with back labor, but it's still possible.  Good Luck.

  

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• lindsey1427 member

  July 2013

  I think that women who have a natural birth deserve a medal, and women who have a natural birth after an induction deserve a trophy (possibly several)!  

  

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• Justnooch member

  July 2013

  abell77 said:

  With my first child my water broke as the first sign of labor and then I had no contractions whatsoever.  My natural birth friendly hospital allowed me to go nearly 60 hours before encouraging me to get things moving.  I was terrified of pitocin, so I agreed to cytotec.  In retrospect, I have mixed feelings about the cytotec now but that's for another post:)  Long story short, I made it through the rest of my labor with no further interventions.  The contractions were rough and I had a posterior baby with back labor, but it's still possible.  Good Luck.

  lindsey1427 said:

  I think that women who have a natural birth deserve a medal, and women who have a natural birth after an induction deserve a trophy (possibly several)!  

  My experience was really similar. No contractions after my water broke at 11am, but they only gave me 12 hours before they moved things along. They wanted to give pitocib but I objected and they agreed to cervadil. By 9 am the next morning I was about 4 cm dilated so they gave pitocin, which worked FAST. LO born at 12:19, about 24 hours after water broke. No epidural and no episiotomy (I think thanks to midwife delivering).

  
  
  

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• JJ_13 member

  July 2013 edited July 2013

  I was induced at 41w2d because of some concerning results of an ultrasound administered at 41w1d. My midwives knew I wanted to go naturally, but recommended induction because of concerns about the baby. I trusted my midwives and consented to the induction the next day. We induced with Pitocin at 1 pm. I was already having some early labor contractions and in retrospect think perhaps I should have just waited it out, but the midwives appeared to be quite concerned about letting me go longer. Anyway, within 20 minutes of the Pitocin hitting, the contractions were intense. I am not going lie - the pain was unbelievable. I was not successful in practicing any of the breathing/relaxation techniques that I had planned to do. The contractions were almost immediately around a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10 and came almost seemingly on top of each other. Throughout all of this, I had bad, bad back labor and my doula and DH took turns applying heat with a rice sock and doing deep, deep massage on my lower back. This went on for 6-7 hours and I began to enter transition. The contractions then became a 10 on that scale and were mind-alteringly painful and intense. During transition, my water broke on its own. Through out this time I felt like I had to poop like crazy - the pressure was intense, but my midwife, who had entered the room by then, told me to try to "relax my anus" - she said that over and over - in retrospect, I find it hilarious. About 30-ish minutes later, I sat down on the toilet, they wanted me to try to pee. I couldn't pee and felt a sudden burning and overwhelming need to push. The MW came into the bathroom and asked if I wanted to move to the bed. I didn't. She said, ok, lean back on the toilet seat and give me a gentle push so we can see where we are. I did and she said, ok, with the next contraction, give me a big push. After that one, she told me that I needed to push through the burning, not fight it (she was amazing and could tell I was afraid of the pain). Three pushes later, our baby girl (gender was a surprise!) was born. 7 lbs 13 oz, 19.7 inches. 8 hours of labor, 12 minutes of pushing. Pitocin, but no other drugs. I didn't intend to deliver her on the toilet, but I guess that's how it goes sometimes! In retrospect I wish I had moved to the bed because the MW could have provided more perineal support if I was on the bed pushing using the squat bar or on my side, and I did have 2nd degree tearing. I had bruises on my arms from beating on the underside of a table in my room (apparently this was my way of dealing with the pain) and almost lost my voice because I yelled and shrilled so much. It was an amazing, liberating, empowering experience. Induced, but epidural-free birth IS possible!!

   

  ETA: And our little girl was JUST fine - the u/s was... you guessed it... unreliable. I don't regret our decisions because I'm thankful that she was 100% healthy and given the information we had at that time, I think induction was the right choice, but I was also annoyed that, in retrospect, the induction was unnecessary.

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• AACaHa13 member

  July 2013

  Oh wow! thanks for sharing!! You sound like a tough girl! I am glad it all worked out. I would've done the same if my midwife suggested the induction. Sounds like it went as well as it could having to be induced!!

   

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