Comments on babyREADY: Induction of Labour - why are we in such a hurry?

I was induced once. It was awful. I won't be doing...

2010-06-02T01:54:29.936-04:00

I was induced once. It was awful. I won't be doing that again!

I was induced twice, once because of high blood pr...

2009-08-12T10:20:21.328-04:00

I was induced twice, once because of high blood pressure and once because my midwife didn't want to deliver my baby at home and sent me to hospital for induction so she didn't have to! The other five times happened spontaneously.

Despite 4 c-sections, my first three labours began...

2009-07-10T17:39:45.083-04:00

Despite 4 c-sections, my first three labours began all on their own. At the very least I took comfort in the fact that they were born when they were ready.

My fourth was a scheduled c-section and I absolutely refused to choose my baby's birthday. I hated that it had to be that way. In the end, my OB picked the date because I just couldn't do it.

A baby (in utero) and mother communicate in ways that we just can't comprehend. Why people are so eager to mess with that I will never understand.

I loved being pregnant both times. I just radiat...

2009-07-09T22:14:29.455-04:00

I loved being pregnant both times. I just radiated! My first went 42 weeks and the labor took forever but he came out at 8 lbs and the midwife was shocked that he didn't look post date at all!

With my second I went 43 WEEKS and he was born at 7.5 lbs with a robust and healthy placenta. Imagine if I was induced at 37-38 weeks? He would have been too tiny and completely too early!

Nature is wise beyond human perception.

Emily, you are quite right. In the end my baby wo...

2009-07-09T18:19:07.048-04:00

Emily, you are quite right. In the end my baby would likely have chosen a head down position. That said, I had (not long previous to my second being born) witnessed fetal demise from a prolapsed cord after rupture but before the baby was in a head down position. I suspect that that had considerable bearing on my decision to consent to the induction.
I also agree that there are doctors "out there" who are busy trying to convince moms to be induced. I happen to work closely with a group of OBs who (for the most part) have fairly low intervention rates and are fairly open to letting moms decide what is best for them. That said, their intervention rates are still (as is the case across Canada as a whole) WAY higher than the SOGC suggests they should be.
You are quite right and thank you for taking the time to reply.
Take care

Sam - I had a UC with my now-1-yr-old, and I belie...

2009-07-09T17:56:12.251-04:00

Sam - I had a UC with my now-1-yr-old, and I believe she would have been classified as "unstable lie." She kept flip-flopping (daily!) between head down and transverse, but ultimately made it to head-down about a week before she was born, at 42 w 4 d. Your baby probably would have picked a position eventually.

"In my experience, when care providers suggest lab...

2009-07-09T17:51:36.129-04:00

"In my experience, when care providers suggest labour must be started artificially and early there is a strong medical reason for it."

It has been my experience that many care providers suggest induction for supposed medical reasons, such as too little fluid, too much fluid, macrosomia, borderline NST, significant dilation, no significant dilation, etc.

Now, whether these care providers are simply looking for a "real" reason to induce in order to get mom to comply, or if they are just CYA, or if they really believe what they found was clinically significant, I can't say. But I am becoming increasingly wary of care providers who find medical reasons to induce, especially right around the due date.

Both my children were 'late'. My youngest was bor...

2009-07-09T17:45:42.099-04:00

Both my children were 'late'. My youngest was born at 41 weeks and 3 day, I was more than ready to meet my child but I still didn't want to be induced. I had 2 wonderful midwives who did everything they could to get the 'show on the road'. My son was a big baby, 10lbs 9oz, but showed no signs of being post-term. As he is still a big boy now at 2, that was just a sign of his body shape. I have always felt that a due date is nothing more than a pretty good guess. I know too many mothers who get pressured into induction over the fear of having a big baby only to have a tiny pre-term baby. If we have a 3rd I am sure that child will also be picky about their birthday.

I think one of the keys (and certainly it is only ...

2009-07-09T17:23:43.898-04:00

I think one of the keys (and certainly it is only ONE) of being successful at going into labour on our own is by being surrounded by people who truly support you and who believe in your ability to go into labour and birth your baby. I also think another key is believing (I mean TRULY, in your gut, without a doubt, NO hesitation BELIEVING) that you can truly do it. All of it. No bits or pieces but rather the WHOLE thing!!

It's true (@FeministBreeder) that many of us don't know AND we don't even know WHAT we don't know so we make decisions based upon what little information and strong opinions are presented to us. I agree with you that there is a "small percentage of women who have a great experience with induction who tell everyone who will listen how great induction is [when] statisitcally speaking, they are wrong." The risks of induction are quite significant. Even doctors know this and that is one of the reasons many don't jump to induce the minute a woman complains of being pregnant or passes her due daye.
I was induced with both of my children. I was on bed rest with baby #1 for Pregnancy Induced Hypertension and was induced at 39+6 with an artificial rupture of membranes and oxytocin. Baby #2 was an "unstable lie" because he kept changing positions. After my second ECV for transverse presentation the OB my midwife was consulting with agreed that prostaglandin to bring his head into the pelvis was the safest way to encourage him to stay head down.
I was better informed with the second pregnancy and felt a part of the decision making process with #2 compared to #1.
I wasn't in a hurry though. I already had a 3 y.o. to take care of. It was easier with #2 tucked safely in my uterus where he was being cared for. ;o)

Holy moly. What up with the Anonymous poster!?

2009-07-09T17:16:21.153-04:00

Holy moly. What up with the Anonymous poster!?

Great post! why are we in such a hurry??? I loved ...

2009-07-09T16:58:38.984-04:00

Great post! why are we in such a hurry??? I loved being pregnant too! I wasnt bothered at all when I went past my due date, but my midwifes were. I felt so much pressure to go into labour, it was awful. I just wanted to be left alone to enjoy my last days of pregnancy, it made me totally stressed out! I went 10 days past my due date, but I had a great/quick labour and birth so I guess it was a little "yin and yang" going on.

My impatience (combined with my doctor's belief th...

2009-07-09T16:31:55.036-04:00

My impatience (combined with my doctor's belief that some women's bodies just don't ever go into labor) is what caused my cesarean.

I admit it. It was my fault. I didn't know any better, and I didn't have anyone around (no mother/father/sisters/brothers) to tell me that birth was normal. Though, extended my family does like to tell the story of how I was an entire month overdue - I guess it didn't occur to me that babies (like me) came out just fine when ever they were ready.

I found all that out the hard way. So the second time around I told myself I was going to stay pregnant for as long as it took, no matter if I was 1 week, 2 weeks, or 6 freaking weeks overdue. Nobody was coming near me with Pitocin.

My VBAC baby was born the day before his due date. It actually caught me off guard.

What bothers me most is the small percentage of woman who have a great experience with induction who tell everyone who will listen how great induction is. Statistically speaking, they are wrong. *shudder*

I LOVED being pregnant {both times} and unfortunat...

2009-07-09T16:30:45.908-04:00

I LOVED being pregnant {both times} and unfortunately had to be induced with my first due to her heart decelerations at 8 days post date.

I can remember being saddened because I was so sure that my body was defective since I hadn't gone into spontaneous labor.

With my second, I went into labor the day of my due date and was SO relieved that my body did in fact function as it was supposed to.

Several friends were pregnant with me and many of them were pressured by their OBs to induce. A couple of them did induce because it was more convenient and that made me sad.

I feel that the baby has a plan and as long as everything is functioning correctly and the baby and mother are healthy then induction shouldn't be attempted just out of convenience.

I find the second article, about the determination...

2009-07-09T16:30:22.268-04:00

I find the second article, about the determination of time of birth to be interesting, especially from an anthropological view point. To birth at dawn allows the mother to protect her newborn in full light as apposed to the danger of dark.
As someone in their 36th week, yeah, i'm ready for it to be done, but I know when it's over, you do feel empty. No longer physically connect to the baby, it can take a while to be alone with your body again! At least that's been my experience.

Great post! But I will admit I never, ever missed ...

2009-07-09T16:23:04.096-04:00

Great post! But I will admit I never, ever missed being pregnant. ;)