Trying to avoid induction

S.B.Thomas · February 2014

I want to first start off with saying that I am trying to get ideas should my next doc apt (in a week) not show any progress. I do not want to hear the whole "let your baby cook" stuff because I know. I want to know all my options.

I am 38 wks 6 days with my first pregnancy and I just had my doc apt. My doc told me that I have not made any progress from last week. Only dilated 1 cm, if that, and my little girl is not fully engaged. He has also told me that she is a big girl and is not comfortable with me going far past my due date (Valentines Day). I have been fortunate that both of us have been healthy, aside from my sever morning sickness for the first five months that sent me to the hospital twice. But all in all she is good and I have been good. I have been hoping for a natural birth and have been doing the exercises, breathing, teas, etc.

My doctor today said he wanted to look into dates for possible induction but he knows that I want to avoid that if we can. So he is holding off till next week. But if I do not show any progress he will want to schedule an induction.

That being said...I really would like to avoid a medical induction because I have heard how much harder it is and I really want to labor at home. I am dead set against a c-section unless my life or my little girls life is in danger. I am also wanting to avoid an epidural because I have had a number of friends who got them and then they stopped progressing and ended up with c-sections. So I want to go as natural as will be possible.

So my questions is for ideas on how to move things alone. Basically I want to encourage her to fully drop, that way my body can possible start progressing and give me more leverage to hold off on induction. I have been having BH for a while, I am having stronger contractions now (not regular) but none of this does me a bit of good if she does not fully dropped.

Also I would like to know of stories that other first time moms have had with possibly this same situation. What are my chances that she might come within the next two weeks without me being induced since I am not showing any progress.

megs68 · February 2014

I would not agree to an induction simply because the doctor is guessing she'll be big. The ACOG says a term pregnancy is 39-41 weeks so you should not be,limited by that one specific date. Ultrasounds are historically inaccurate as are guesses from the dr. I had th exact induction with my first you are trying to avoid at 41 weeks and it led to the typically cascade of interventions and a c/s. I tried it all to bring on naturally but couldn't. You could try to get her to drop through walking, an exercise ball, a chiropractor or accupuncture?

ncbelle · February 2014

First - your baby, your body, your decision on whether or not to induce. You can request an NST to see how baby is doing if you have concerns about your placenta breaking down, losing fluid, etc.

Second - Even the ACOG does not recommend induction (or a c-section) for a suspected "big baby."

Third - You can go from zero to baby in hours so what your cervix is doing today means nothing about when you will actually deliver.

There's some good evidenced-based information here that may help you make your decision: https://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ClickedLink=1072&ck=10650&area=27

Good luck!

megs68 · February 2014

I wanted to add what PP said too that your medical decisions are up to you. Not the doctors or nurses. You. So you are well within your rights to refuse anything you're uncomfortable with, especially an induction. I refused a c/s with my second until 42 weeks, hoping to VBAC, and I finally felt comfortable with it. We are taught to obey doctors and go along with what they say without questions but you are the one in charge of your medical decisions and should never agree to anything you don't want.

PrimRoseMama · February 2014

Walk, have sex & wait. Really, that is all you can do. Your body & baby will start labor when it's ready.

PrimRoseMama · February 2014

My docs wanted to induce near 41w3d. DS came on his own the day before I was scheduled to go in.

S.B.Thomas · February 2014

Thank yall for the comments and thank you ncbelle for the link. It was helpful. At this point, I am going to stick with holding off. I have to admit that I have been hoping she would come early, but I wanted it to be on her terms. I am not interested in forcing her out before she is ready. So until I start getting the feeling that she is not doing well, we will just take each day as it comes.

Rrrrrachel · February 2014

I would not induce just because doc thinks baby is big. It's not a legitimate reason to induce, assuming there aren't any other things going on you haven't mentioned.

Rrrrrachel · February 2014

And on Tuesday I was high and right with baby sunny side up and lodged on my pelvis. By Thursday I was holding a baby!

CurlieWhirlie · February 2014

The medical profession must feel a bit like the Church after the invention of the printing press — doctors are used to being the one and only authority and having patients just do what they say, but now that medical information is so much more readily shared and available because of the Internet, patients are making informed decisions and advocating for themselves. So frustrating! Poor doctors.

Scottnsaranhenri · February 2014

You can try The Miles Circuit as a way to bring the baby into the proper position. Just google it. Very simple, takes about 90 minutes, but can be very effective.

iverske9 · February 2014

Since this is your first child I would take a step back. I did not progress at all past 1cm until a day after my due date, and then it went full speed. I delivered a 9.1 lb baby healthy and fine with little tearing and absolutely no issues (I did get a epidural later in the labor but labored at home until 6-7 cm) . The doctors said the same thing to me as they are saying to you and I just told them that since everything looks healthy and I have never had a baby before I want to see what my body is capable of.

To help move the baby along that last week, I did all the wives tales: Sex, spicy food, exercise ball, etc. If you are anti induction, and your child has been healthy up to this point I would say I do not want to be induced. If you go past your due date then have a conversation about it if you want to.

It sounds like you know what you want and while I understand everyone saying for baby to cook, I am going to say relax and let your body due what it does best. You could go into labor tomorrow or on your due date. Until you try delivery you will never know.

gobbo1985 · February 2014

Go for long walks, if it's cold walk the mall. Have sex, play with your nipples, have a HOT bath. Take evening primrose oil, it's suppose to soften your cervix and help you dilate. Eat spicy food and pineapple. Try everything but do not do castor oil, you will poop like crazy! And bounce on a yoga ball.

JesseKhloe&Me · February 2014

Evening Primrose gel capsules (at Walmart) & Rasberry Leaf tea (organic, natural, decaf) (at any health food store) both help soften your cervix & prepare it for labor. The tea, along with exercising those muscles also help strengthen you for natural birth so your pushes are more successful. Also anytime you are sitting in bed or on the couch, sit with you legs apart & feet together like you are meditating. When you are standing around in line, the shower, etc. rock your hips side to side to encourage your body to drop baby. All of this from my midwife. Good Luck.

RebeccaY1 · February 2014

I would never accept an induction for a supposedly large baby. I've read so many books that talk about doctors pushing this even though the baby might not be as large as suspected.

Keep in mind that it's your decision to induce. I would ask a ton of questions before going through with it, especially since you really seem to want to go natural.

1) What are the medical indications for induction?

2) Is the drug approved by the FDA for use by pregnant women?

3) What is the scientific evidence that this drug may or may not make things worse?

4) What are the risks to me and my baby if I induce, choose not to induce?

5) What are the short term/long term consequences of inducing?

6) How often do your patients need an epidural after taking this drug? c-sections after taking this drug? vacuum extractions and forceps after taking this drug?

7) What are other possible solutions besides induction? What are the risks/benefits for these solutions?

8) What will happen if I don't do what you're suggesting?

I agree with other posters that it seems ridiculous that your body would begin to dilate at 38 weeks. You might not dilate at all until 40, 41 or 42 weeks. You might not be ready yet.

pdilly2b · February 2014

I'd take a step back. You seem to be approaching this from the perspective of "How can I make my doctor happy?" as opposed to "What is best for me and my baby?" The two are not necessarily the same thing, even though it would be nice if they always were. This is your body, your baby, and you are paying his salary. He works for you, not the other way around.

Having said that, why is he even checking your cervix? There is no information to be gained from doing that. How open you are prior to being in labor had no predictive value for when labor will start. None. You can go from closed to in active labor within a couple hours or walk around 4 cm dilated for weeks.

If it were me, I would refuse another exam. Then he can't try to blow smoke about "progressing" or not (and it is just smoke, because it has 0% predictive value).

As others have said, this goes against ACOG. I would ask him why he thinks it's warranted to do so?

Are you drinking Red Raspberry leaf tea? That helps tone your uterus and will get some contractions going. Not sure it will do much to really affect your cervix, but if you want to feel like you're doing something, that's an option.

Also, if you do get pressured into an induction at some point or it does actually become medically necessary, make sure to know your Bishop score and only allow them to proceed if it is favorable. No point in stressing out yourself and your baby when you could have predicted from the get-go that the induction would fail. If I were in that situation (medically necessary that the baby come out - like for a real reason, not suspected size), I would opt for a c-section rather than a failed induction plus a c-section.

Good luck!

JuneMrs · February 2014

Due dates are an estimate/educated guess. Your body and your baby decide when it's time for labor. If conditions are "ripe" as they say things like sex, walking, etc. can help move things along but it's up to your body. If it were me I'd be leary of a doctor trying to rush your body along unless the baby or you are in some kind of danger.

mwakelin · February 2014

A week after my due date I wasnt even 1cm. So I don't know why he expects u to be making progress this early. Also the weight doesn't make a difference and he can't tell accurately anyways. It all depends on how big the head is!

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