the unnecessary cesarean

patamber12 · August 2015

So this is my first post since joining the board during my first trimester, I'm 38 weeks today, and usually spend my time scrolling through reading everyone's posts and replies, I've seen a reoccurring theme of scheduled inductions and c-sections along with the hopes that labor will occur naturally prior to what doctors have planned for you. I'm aware that there are a variety of reasons for the plans of intervention by doctors whether because of foreseeable risks or those unforseen. I was given an ultrasound at my apt yesterday, 37 & 6 while seeing mynew doctor, I moved states at 35 weeks, due to the measurements my son is predicted to weigh 7lbs 7 oz at this time, with another possible 2-4 weeks left, I'm 5'3 and weighed 115 prepregnancy and someone mentioned to me that if he continues at this rate that there is no way possible I will deliver my son vaginally and without medications. While I know that this statement is unwarranted for a number of reasons I've realized that not all women are aware that the idea of needing an induction or cesarean due to an estimate of the baby's birth weight is not a mandate but rather a suggestion which can warrant further explanation and multiple opinions by other physicians. We are our own best advocates. This not only applies to labor but all other aspects of your health care, do not accept opinions as fact, because an educated guess is still just that, a guess, do your reasearch, get more information, and if you find that these opinions lack the necessary evidence, explore other options.

good luck to everyone as we near the end of this journey and begin another.

etayislove · August 2015

This. So much this. I can't believe the astronomical numbers of women on these boards that are saying, I want to go naturally but I only have until this date, most dates being before their EDD. Yes, sometimes it's warranted, but it floors me to think that ALL of them are absolutely necessary inductions or sections.

jessrjennings · August 2015

I agree with you completely. I wish I could have a natural birth. Unfortunately do to a blood clotting issue I have to be induced at 39+1. Babies are much safer and cheaper to keep inside for a long as possible. Everyone needs to enjoy these last few weeks of pregnancy because you never know if or when you get the chance to do it again

Mufflerlove · August 2015

All the posts about OMG my baby will be 9 or 10 lbs are making me ragey today. My first was 9 lbs 10.5 oz and I delivered her without meds 11 days late. Just because they are in the 90 + percentile is no reason for an induction or csection.

verveine407 · August 2015

Maybe we are reading different boards? I see most of the people commenting on these induction/csection comments having posted on other threads and sometimes facing multiple issues regarding their own health and their LO's. The GD and BP threads get long fast! I am happy to read your opinion but I think we all know that it is part of being a good medical consumer is to listen to the advice given and make informed decisions. Self diagnosis from the internet and making choices based on conspiracy theories are also choices people make. Most of us have not had our LOs yet so a lot of what we talk about is hypothetical, wishful or worrisome thinking. (I am expecting to give birth on the 15th and depending on how close I am to a nap I want that date to move up or down a week!) This is an open forum - not everyone here is going to share our opinions, be from our birth month, or even be a woman for that matter. Sept 15 is a by and large a very welcoming place - we range from hypno water births to repeat csections- we are also a really large birth month (thanks to all that mistletoe and those new year's kisses!!) I am glad you decided to post, but I seriously don't think we have a induction epidemic.

kanga915 · August 2015

AMEN, OP!! Thank you for posting this. I am so tired of replying to those posts individually. I hope some moms take your post to heart. A lot of women on here don't even want to accept the true definition of "full term" or the possibility that their measurements are inaccurate. I'm a very strong advocate of unmediated, intervention-free births whenever possible, and that possibility is much, much bigger than most doctors will admit to.

patamber12 · August 2015

Just to clarify I don't believe that this board, Sept 15, has an "induction epidemic", I believe that America itself has seen an unnecessary increase in inductions and c-sections which can be seen on not only this board but a multitude of maternity websites, this is not to say that all inductions are unnecessary or that every individual posting about an induction is doing anything more than attempting to gain a reaction. The intention of this post was to share my opinion with fellow pregnant women who are being bombarded with options from both professional and personal standpoints on how and when their child should be born along with every other aspect of their pregnancy.

etayislove · August 2015

Personally, on this board, no I have not noticed that it's particularly crowded with the big baby scare tactics or the placental failure. However, on the boards as a whole? Yes. It's a rather large number of women getting scared and pushed into interventions when they don't want to be or need to be. Women need to birth in a way acceptable to them, agreed, if it includes a epidural or whatever. So many times though, I see this wording,"Well, I wanted to start labor/ or birth naturally but..." and most of the time it's because the baby is too big or too little by ultrasound. Most of them don't even realize that an induction can fail, or that cytotec is a very dangerous drug not intended for induction, or pitocin labors are more intense and babies stress causing the emergency section to now save their life. The doctor suggests these things as a option, without making it so, and instead of explaining all sides they scare into doing what is easiest for them and can be best controlled and monitored. Meh, give me my midwives and evidence based care.

Atlasmom · August 2015

Well said!

J0C0TX · August 2015

I hope you get the birth you want. Some of us have to work with the birth we need for our health. I'm about to deliver my 3rd child by rcs and it's what we need, not because of some arbitrary date or anything else but because I'm a very bad vbac candidate.
I've read the naturally inducing posts and yes I roll my eyes but I know it's coming close to our time and I know I've got feet and ankles that resemble an elephants, heartburn that could kill at times and am just plain tired. Does that mean I want this coming before 9:16? No. But at times (like those mentioned here) I'm tempted to say I wish... But I don't. I want him to be as cooked as possible as do most women. It's just pain and exhaustion that has them want to rush away the time and vent.

chelseajeanene · August 2015

Well I do agree with what you are saying. But I've never read a single post on here about people expecting to get induced or sections based on their babies weight alone? That seems very odd to me. I also believe that the women who are looking for natural ways to induce shouldn't be spoken about negatively, you don't know how far along each person is and just to TRY natural methods does not mean anything is going to happen. Whether anyone agrees with what they're doing or not, it's their babies and their bodies and they can choose what to do with them and just because others don't agree doesn't mean they're bad people for trying. I personally won't be trying to induce myself but I completely understand the temptation to try

patamber12 · August 2015

https://www.advocatesforpregnantwomen.org/articles/forced_c-section.htm

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-for-induction-or-c-section-for-big-baby/

Just so we're all clear on what the issue of this post was, first off there has been an increase in inductions and c-sections that are not absolutely necessary, this is not to shame anyone who has either been induced or had a c-section due to complications, secondly it is to inform women and raise the issue that one doctors opinion on the need to plan an induction or c-section is not a mandate it is an option and should not be taken as concrete without further information.

J0C0TX · August 2015

They may not appear necessary in some ways but perhaps they are in others - you don't know.
I'm just at a point where a crusade like this is going to irritate the crap out of me.

ccook83 · August 2015

I am 37 weeks today and little man is frank breech. My OB (who I have only been seeing for a week I have been seeing a GP for my whole pregnancy but he is not comfortable dealing with a breech baby) is going to try and turn the baby tomorrow. If this is unsuccessful we will discuss my options. The good news is a frank breech is the only breech he will attempt a vaginal birth on so that's good he is open to the possibility of me having the baby naturally as long as it's safe for me and baby. The part that I am struggling with is the abysmal support of those around me for even considering having a natural birth. My family, friends, husband's family as well as my husband are all pushing for me to have a c-section if the baby does not turn. If I have to hear the comment "why would you put yourself through that (a vaginal birth) if you don't have to?" one more time I'm going to lose it! I've had a few other complications along the way and this is my 2nd (I had my first little man totally natural with no complications everything was totally textbook) the thought that I may not get the same experience with this one is breaking my heart

babyplut · August 2015

I hear you!! I'm 5"4 and and was 115 lbs when before having my first two and they were 8 and 9 lbs. I had them both naturally no problem! And the weight estimate seems to be more often wrong then right!

Bspauldo · August 2015

I completely agree with OP. I have multiple friends and family members alone who have been induced on the sheer fact that they made it to 40 weeks and their docs basically said "time to induce, pick a date". One of which was going on vacation and told my friend that they will induce her 4 days before the doctor left... Seriously?

The doctors at my practice won't even talk about inducing me until I'm over 41 weeks, granted I'm having a pretty amazing pregnancy with no complications and I'm sure it would be different if my pregnancy had any complication. It's just a known fact that there are many unnecessary inductions. My doctors all know I'm against being induced and feel strongly about going to 42 weeks to avoid it, if it's safe.

I don't think this post was to create any type of tension for those expecting mother who medically need induction but more to advocate self-advocacy for those to allow their bodies to do what come natural.

After all, an EDD is an estimate. Isn't that why we were all told "two weeks before, two weeks after".

booksandcleverness81 · August 2015

Thanks for posting this and providing links! I think @Bspauldo got it right last post, this isn't about shaming medically necessary inductions or c-section but empowering and advocating for informed decision making. No matter what people have read on this forum induction pressure for issues like "big baby" does happen! I have a friend right now who is due 3 days before me and she has already had hers scheduled at 38wks because her baby was estimated at 7.5lbs at 36wks, no other reason. I mentioned that ultrasounds can be wrong and she didn't seem to believe me. One of the reasons I'm not delivering at her hospital is because their c-section rate is 2x the national average (mine is half the national average), and it's probably because of situations like this!

junebaby20 · August 2015

I delivered DD1 via scheduled csection in 2012 for her "size" and will never apologize for it. We did our research, spoke with all our doctors, prayed and made the best decision we could. And that to me is advocating for myself. Getting all the information to make the absolute best decision. Turns out we made the right call. And will this be a vbac? Nope. Could I possibly? Yep. It's nice and scheduled for a multitude of reasons. Again not going to apologize for it. It's no ones business.
Just arm yourself with all possible scenarios. Educate yourself and trust your instincts. Everyone else can really just take a flying leap.

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