December 2022 Moms

Already discussing induction

I’m due Dec. 5. Baby boy has been tracking ahead at every ultrasound and appointment since day 1 basically. And my blood pressure has been so n the high side of normal for that long as well. Last week at my appt my doc mentioned he thinks he would like to induce me at 38 wks! That just over 3 weeks away! I was really hoping to try and do this as med free as possible, but that may not be an option now .anyone else discussing birth plans with the dr yet? I’m nervous to be induced, my 1st came on her own. But I’m excited to meet my little guy 

Re: Already discussing induction

  • I was induced at 38 weeks with my son bc I had high blood pressure. He was my 1st and my body needed a lot of persuasion so it was long and ultimately I had to get an epidural even though it wasn't my original plan. Every induction is different. My neighbor was induced in May with her 2nd and after cervical ripening her body started contractions and active labor on it's own. If you saw my other post about PPROM, I will unfortunately be induced today at 34 weeks because risk of infection is so high. I was so wishing for spontaneous labor this time around (but at full term). You've got this!
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  • I've had the talk as well. This is my 4th pregnancy but the first to come to term. I'm scheduled to be induced at 39 weeks due to depression 🙃 showing up stronger and having to go on a close monitoring high dose. I feel you on schedule and not having options. I heard 👂 👀 that there is like a type of nerve tap [id look it up] that is an alternative to an epidural. I plan on doing that if its a option and laughing gas. I've had lumbar punctures many times, but I just don't want to be bed ridden for labor. I want to move and let my body do its thang!
  • We've been talking about induction pretty much since my pregnancy was confirmed, solely due to my age (41). I switched providers to a midwife practice, and they sent me for an ultrasound at Maternal Fetal Medicine, MFM recommended inducing by 39 weeks, again just due to my age. So at our appointment today, we talked more about it; we're not going to make any solid decisions or talk dates quite yet (I'm 31 weeks tomorrow), but we did start talking about the process, what it's like, what decisions will need to be made, etc., and they confirmed that they will be recommending induction. I thought I'd heard other people say they were able to start cervical ripening meds outpatient, but at my hospital it's all inpatient, so they said you can be in there for days before even really inducing the labor just waiting for the cervix to ripen. Ugh. I kinda want to get a date set, though, if this is what we're going to do... I'll be 39 weeks Christmas Eve, and I'd rather just wait until after Christmas if I can, unless baby wants to come on his own before that. 39+2 is still 39 weeks, right?
  • The plan for me since day one has also been induction at 39 weeks due to age (I’m 40) and blood pressure. My blood pressure has been really good so I asked to make sure inducing wasn’t still the plan and the answer was yes. I guess I’m just not as concerned since I’d like an epidural and no plans of natural birth. However I say speak up for yourself early and often. They should be willing to do everything they can to give you the birth you desire. Of course unless there is danger to you or the baby. You’ve got this mama! I’m so excited for all of us! Can’t believe the time is here to meet our little ones. 
  • I have low platelets that keep dropping. They want me to take steroids and induce me at 38 week.  I really want to go into labour naturally - so after a week of agonizing over this decision I’ve decided I’m going to go with my gut.  I’m fully aware that sometimes babies don’t show up and I’ll need to be induced anyways- and it can be more difficult when the baby is bigger / my platelets might fall lower so I can’t get an epidural- But I’ll always wonder if I don’t at least try!

    get as much information as you can about why they recommend the induction, as well as the pros and cons of both choices and then so what feels right for you!  



  • @sprout1234 What are your platelets at? My midwives haven’t suggested steroids or early induction for me yet. Mine were at 103 last check. (I have low platelets outside of pregnancy too - they’ve dropped from 138 prepregnancy to 103 now.) I’m worried about not having the epidural option! 
    BabyFetus Ticker
  • @omnommer my platelets are now in the 60s! Epidural/Spinal is off the table if below 70-80 I was told, the prefer them above 100.

    So if I don’t do treatment or it doesn’t work I would need general anesthesia if I end up with a c section which would not be great.

    the induction I think is just because they want to time the birth for when the platelets would be at the highest point after starting steroids.  
  • @sprout1234 ok, thanks! I hope everything works out to raise your platelets a little! 
    BabyFetus Ticker
  • @msd15 what did you decide? 
  • I’m being induced due to pre-existing conditions and elevated blood pressure. MFM recommended week 37-38 would be ideal. OB set date for December 13th which is week 38, as long as my health continues to do well. 
  • @sprout1234 I haven’t made a decision yet. At my apt last week my doc checked my cervix and it was not ready at all. No dilation or softening at all. My belly is getting so big and uncomfortable that I’m honestly hoping he will be any to induce next week. I know so many time they say the baby is big and then they end up being average. But he feels huge to me. Bigger than my daughter felt at this point, and I’ve not gained as much this time. Still want to try to go pain meds free if possible, thanks for asking. 

    @rac2718 thank you for sharing. I hope mine goes just like that!
  • I will be getting induced by 39 weeks at the latest. I tend to have larger babies and progress far without any painful contractions (literally walked in to the hospital after my water broke with my 2nd and was at 8cm and wasn’t having any contractions). Right now she is breech though so I may be having to schedule a c-section.
  • I just got the news that my hospital dosen't offer laughing gas. So sad. Only epidural or iv pain meds. Looks like I've got choices to make.
  • @msd15 good luck! I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

    @admiralnilla from those I know who have used laughing gas- you might not really be missing out. For some people it doesn’t help at all and others have told me it really only helps take a little edge off. 
  • @msd15 I was talking to some girfriends and doing some digging. They say (wives tales on both) eating about 6 dates a day will help with getting body ready for labor. I ate my first 6 and holy moly! Baby got to moving like never before all day today. 
    The other one is eggplant. If you like ACTUALLY want to start labor, eat eggplant. It worked for my friend and quite a few in her birth month group at the time. 
    Again wives tales but worth looking up if your bored.
  • I'm also getting induced, management of my diabetes isn't going well etc. It'll be on Dec 9 in my 38th week. I was honestly really sad at first but now I am really looking forward to it and keeping an open mind. Working on my birth preferences and planning special things around the birth (nails with my bestie, a dad joke book present for my partner etc) has really helped. 
    I've been eating the dates, raspberry leaf tea, scheduled some rounds of acupuncture week of induction to help, and my doula suggested okra water. I'm also walking and stretching to help open up my pelvis. I don't know if these things will actually help but it makes me feel like I'm doing something about it. 

    I'm hoping to put off an epidural as long as possible to retain more movement and use laughing gas. I heard the gas takes some practice to get used to it. But a doula shared with me that in some cases an epidural can relax the laboring person enough to continue birth if they stalled or something. And nurses and doula can help keep movement going even after epidural. That really helped me reframe the possibility of having an epidural.
  • Hello! I’ll be a first time mom, and I’m advanced maternal age. I’m due in February, but have been lurking in this thread. 👀 

    My doctor recommends induction at week 39 due to my age. I was wishing for laboring at home for as long as possible, quick active labor in the hospital, and no epidural. That probably won’t go according to plan. I know you’ll all be super busy after birth, but I’d love to hear your induction stories later. This might help me plan a bit. I’d love to hear any tips or advice. Thanks!
  • @ellief_0926 congrats on the birth of your November baby! 

  • @ellief_0926 My main concern about an epidural is that it can negatively impact breastfeeding (baby may be less likely to want to eat in the golden hour). Are you choosing to breastfeed? If so, how long did your baby take to first successfully feed?
  • @00kim00 I had no issues exclusively breastfeeding my 1st son. I had an epidural and he had no interest in latching during the golden hour. It didn't impact it. I did do a ton of kangaroo care/skin to skin his 1st week of life. With my now 3 week old preemie, I was able to nurse him for the first time when I was released to the NICU when he was about 3 hours old (no epidural but also no golden hour). He immediately had a beautiful latch. We've had no issues breastfeeding. While in the NICU he had bottles of expressed milk at night and breastfed during the day. Now that we're home, I'm only breastfeeding. Make sure your providers know you want to breastfeed and request a lactation consultant. If you have time to take a class or watch something virtually, it can be very helpful.
  • @00kim00. No issues with latching so far besides slightly sore nipples.  Baby latched in the first couple hours during skin-to-skin while they stitched me up.  
  • I just found out I’m getting induced early as well! How long did induction take for you all? 
  • I'm getting induced 12/7 🤯😳
  • Me too! We’ll be induction buddies from afar! 
  • I did end up getting induced. Was supposed to go in the evening of the 22 to begin the induction, but the morning of the 21st I woke up with a head ache for the 2nd day in a row. As it’s a sign of high blood pressure my dr wanted me to go ahead and come to the hospital and begin then induction. My little guy is as born on the 22. They inserted a balloon type thing to dilate me, left it in for about 12 hrs, then after started Pitocin. Few hours later they broke my water. I got an epidural before the water was broken. All in all it went really smoothly and my dr and the nurses were all so wonderful and encouraging. 
  • omnommeromnommer member
    edited December 2022
    @dogmom19 My induction took 6 hours. But, when I arrived I was 3 cm dilated and like 50% effaced. They didn’t need to use any cervical ripeners. They broke my water and we waited like 4 hrs. Started pitocin (low dose to strengthen contractions but not make them any closer) and I got my epidural, and baby was born 2 hours later! 
    BabyFetus Ticker
  • sarahsays25sarahsays25 member
    edited December 2022
    Surprise induction for me🙈 Started seeing flickering lights yesterday and took my bp to see it was pretty high. They sent me to labor and delivery for observation and decided to induce me since I now have gestational hypertension and I'm 38 wks. I've been here for over a day now and still am no where near in labor lol. They put me on cytotec since I was only 30% effaced when I came in. Made it through 2 doses of that to have severe contractions that they had to give me a break from it since I was only 50% effaced and still closed. I was planning on trying to not use an epidural for as long as I can but I'm definitely probably going to use it lmao. Trying to stay positive and focus on seeing my baby soon🫶
  • For what it's worth I'm pregnant with my first at 48 and we have no plans to induce.  My pregnancy has been going well and my practitioners says my age on its own is not a medical reason to induce. 
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