pain relief

[BellyBelly]

The reason there aren't many positive experiences with induction is because sadly many aren't. You can read my induction article for stats and more info, but artificial oxytocin often acts at a much higher level than what normal oxytocin would and it results in less oxygen circulating to baby. It means you have to be monitored continuously often resulting with mum on the bed and also doesnt act like real oxytocin, the hormone of love, when it's artifically put into your body as it can't cross barriers. Also it depends on each woman, some of us have a uterus more tolerant than the other.

We all have choice in what we want to do, but it's not something I would want to promote because fact is those who have inductions are at a very high likelyhood to have pain relief and other intervention, usually several. Not always. But the statistics reflect this. I think most of us would love to have a natural birth with no drugs if we could - but that doesn't mean it's better or essential or anything - we all have different preferences based on our own experiences. It does make me uneasy though when people post promoting pain relief and inductions. Often the only risks we are told about these things are 'you might get a headache, backache etc' but what about the baby? No-one gives you those risks. But like I mentioned, I couldn't have coped with my augmentation. My body worked perfectly fine at home with Elijah - got to hospital at 9cms and pushed him out - so don't see the point being there especially when my chances are better at home for less induction and intervention. Check out the homebirth stats in the gentle birth thread - you might be shocked especially when induction and caesarean rates in hospitals are exceeding 30%. We're losing the race for normal birth. It's sad really. It's not more dangerous being at home, many studies and independent reviews have stated this. In terms of caesars we are talking 1.5% for homebirth (inc transfers). Induction about the same. In NZ, where midwifery led care is the norm, infant mortality is at its lowest ever.

Inductions - To Induce or Not Induce