Women's experiences of induction & what happens to your baby during inductions

[BellyBelly]

Who is scaring? I don't think anyone is scaring people in here. Information is power.

[Amber4]

I agree, information IS power! It's when we stop thinking and talking that fear and misinformation gets a grip. Thanks Kelly for posting the info about the Ricky Lake clip. I also had a read of the induction article on the BB site and found it really informative.

Unfortunately I seem to be in a bit of an induction tug-of-war with my OB and suspect I'm losing ground now. When I got diagnosed with GD at 28 wks he pointed out I may well need an early induction at 38 wks due to macrosomia.. but I've managed to diet control the GD really well so that's now not necessary. Then during my 37 and 38wk appointments he's asked me quite a few times if I'm keen on having a 'social induction' because of being 'over it'. ?#!@?! DH and I have continued to say no thanks, having hoped and prepared for months for a drug-free and intervention-free birth.

Today, am feeling a bit disheartened after discovering my BP has gone up quite a bit and OB feels it's an indicator of developing PE. To the OB's credit, I know this condition could become serious and he's willing to let me be re-tested in a few days before inducing, BUT if the tests show my BP is still high and/or protein in my urine then apparently I'll be induced right away. Two OBs that I've consulted this pregnancy have acknowledged that inductions performed prior to 40 weeks have a higher chance of resulting in emergency c/s.

Whilst I can try to accept my own situation (not the OBs fault that my BP has increased and I am, ultimately, paying him to keep me and bub safe), what concerns me most is the way intervention now is considered all so routine. It's taken for granted as being the norm. Prior to my BP being an issue I was repeatedly offered a social induction. Numerous friends have opted to have an induction right on 40 wks because they've been filled with anxiety about something going wrong if they leave it any longer. Even in my case, the OB's opinion was final: "you will be induced if x happens". Not "we can discuss the benefits, risks and alternatives if that's the case". I find it all really concerning... particularly when women are often not informed of the risks and hey, it's not like we're talking about getting your teeth whitened here!

So, thanks again for your efforts to help women become empowered and informed. I am working hard to accept that whatever will happen with bub's arrival will happen and I will, after all, survive no matter how it unfolds or how difficult it may be. I just hope like nothing else that she turns up of her own accord in the next 48 hours!!

[Mummato2]

Amber4, sorry to hear about your BP

Inductions are fantastic when they are medically necessary - and I know that in a LOT of cases inductions are not medically necessary.

Trust in your gut instinct - if there is protein in your urine or your BP raises to a really high lever, you can still have a good induction experience - just know what your OB's plans are - is he willing to break your water (if cervix favourable) and leave you so you're not on the clock etc? Is he willing to limit monitoring or provide you with portable monitors so you can still plan to move around etc?

It sounds as though your OB is prepared to work within your birth plan - I am crossing my fingers that it was just a once off higher reading

[BellyBelly]

PE can be a really serious condition and something you wouldn't argue. But sometimes your BP can go up randomly, especially with white coat syndrome If you're feeling anxious or stressed, just having it taken by your doc can make it go up. I know women being monitored where the doc got a high BP then later the couple went downstairs to the midwife clinic and BP was normal! So unless there are more ongoing signs I would be wary.

Also with GD, the cochrane database has done a review of all studies and found that there is no benefit in inducing women early with GD, it only increases the risk of c/s without improving incomes. There were no reduced instances of things like nicu admissions, shoulder dystocia or other issues related to the baby being supposedly 'big'.

Here's some good articles. You don't have to DO anything. There is such thing as informed consent and doing something against your will or decision is ILLEGAL.

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...enci-goer.html

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...induction.html

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...om-brewer.html

[~me~]

Interesting article and links Kelly...quite right, information is power and it is great to have all facts on hand when you need to make a difficult decision. Also good to have other peoples experiences too. Great thread!

Amber, wishing all the best with whatever path you take.

Just thought I let you know that I have had inductions with all three of my babies. The first time with two lots of gel and waters broken (10days over) and the second with waters broken (10days over) and the third with waters broken and again over. Funnily enough my OB said while breaking my waters they were as tough as old boot leather
All healthy and delivered vaginally. I did have an epidural with all three as well.
My third was delivered with just me, with DH and OB and encouraging me to push and out she come with no forceps or suction.
I have not experienced going into labour naturally but from what I hear and read inductions are more intense and quicker and that has been my experience.
Good research doesn't lie so trust your instincts as I am aware and have read that inductions can have a high C section rate so use the information to make an informed decision, nothing scary about that..that has just not been my experience. Whether this was down to just good monitoring by my OB who knows. My GF also was induced (same OB) with a very small baby due to a non functioniong placenta and she also delivered vaginally and I believe these usually result in a C Section too.

Take care Amber..will be thinking of you

x Heather

[BellyBelly]

Miss Heather - gels are a bit different to synthetic oxytocics (syntocinon in Aus or Pitocin in the USA) which is intravenous and doesn't stop being pumped into you until well after the labour (unless you're confident enough to tell them to take it out/stop if it gets too much or not what you want - have helped a couple of women achieve this in their labours - and no it didnt make their labour stop as much as they will tell you, which is the reason most object to stopping it in the first place). Gels just ripen the cervix - yes it can still hyperstimulate but its different to the drip. If your labour didn't start with the gels and/or waters breaking, they would have put you on the drip since all other avenues are exhausted. Some women are given gels and just get niggles and it doesn't take... so they need the drip.

A drip will highly likely prevent you from having a natural third stage also. Because your uterus is under the pump from the synto, they want to keep it going so you don't bleed. Its truly a cascade as they describe it, one thing leads to so many others.

[Sequoia]

A drip will highly likely prevent you from having a natural third stage also. Because your uterus is under the pump from the synto, they want to keep it going so you don't bleed. Its truly a cascade as they describe it, one thing leads to so many others.

My third stage of my very fast first labour consisted of my OB asking me to cough, and the placenta came out easily.

I was induced (due to PE and low fetal movement), first contraction at 9.00am, yelling for epi at 10.30am, OB came back at 11.00am (to check if my waters had indeed broken), I rested for an hour, pushed for close to an hour with my OB and MW and DS popped out at 1.02pm.