Would you choose an Induction?

I was wondering given the following how you would be feeling and what you would do:

Scenario - previous labour from start to finish was 2hr 19min - you live in a rural area with limited mobile reception however only 20-30 mins from the Hospital. You are having a normal pregnancy so far. You mention to your DH (darling husband or D'Head however you choose to interpret) that you are slightly concerned you will not make it to hospital however YOU do not feel its necessary to bring up with your MWs or your Ob therefore haven't at any of your previous appointments.

Your DH decides to bring it up on YOUR behalf at an appointment with your Ob, who then decides that it MAY be in YOUR best interest to check the cervix around the 38-39 and if its soft, to then proceed to do either a Stretch and sweep, rupture the membranes or insert those balloon thingys to Induce Labour.

The ONLY reason Ob is talking about Induction is because you have laboured quickly in the past and you live out of town and you MIGHT (which is hypothetical afterall) NOT make it into the hospital. There is nothing wrong with yours or your babys health, there are no medical reasons whatsoever for such intervention only the "what if"

so how would you feel about it?

Would you consider an induction (especially if you have had a previous C-sect and never wanted to go down that road again unless it was an emergency).

I have to say I am still pretty livid and thanks to the conversation am now really scared about all the what if's that I had not considered before hand..

Nae x

In that situation, I definitely would not, especially if I wanted to avoid a section :hug:

i didn't think they would induce you if you've had a previous c-section?

Um... no. And I would tell my DH that how I preferred to give birth was up to me to raise with my care providers, not him. He is welcome to talk to ME about what he wants, but we agree on what we ask for or suggest to the ob, m/ws, etc.

:wall:

I can so hear the frustration in your post here. FWIW I made my DP agree at our only ob appt at 12 weeks that he could only ask about homebirth in the context of feeling out his general impressions of the whole thing, rather than specifically say that we were considering one. But that we would be absolutely highlighting our insistence on a VBAC and grill him on hospital policies in that respect. It worked, we walked out of there with all the info we needed and DP thought our homebirth was a much better idea. ;)

Maybe talk to your DH about the risks that come along with induction and why you are so against it?

Ginger there are "other" methods of induction for women who have had a previous C-sect, they do not apply the gel or do the drip but other things for induction they certainly do.

My initial thoughts were "if u deliver at home, u deliver at home and it makes me wild that birth is so medicalised and there is this urgency to make sure all pregnant women are in hospital in time to deliver. Women have been delivering babies since the dawn of time, its a natural process".

I dunno, i say if you feel comfortable waiting till baby is ready then do that and dont let them bully you into doing something you dont want to. Be sure that YOU feel ok doing this though, and keeping in mind any risks there may be from your previous cs, if they are minimal then go for what you want :)

I have fast labours too and ive been told to call an ambulance on my first contraction but i never have and i was told that 3 babies ago.

I would educate DH on how to deliver a baby at home. Tough decision tho.


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Snap Jennifer LOL

the thing that gets my goat so much is DH knows, he knows my feelings on interventions of any kind, he knows that I have had nightmares of having another c-sect. He knows all of it. Just as he knows that I ONLY want to be offered gas assuming the labour is progressing normally and I want to use water (either shower or bath).

I just couldn't believe he did that, now I feel like I am going to have to fight for the birth I want. I almost feel like I have been backed into a corner.

I am under a Midwife lead program (Know Your Midwife) KYM, and the Middies in this program are great so I will be needing to bring this up with them so I know I will have SOME support. I have also told DH in no uncertain terms he is forbidden to come to any more appointments.

I am thinking I might book myself into a caravan park or motel closer to the hossy the week I am due :rolleyes:

:rofl: there is not a hope in hell I will be delivering at home - would rather be in the car on the way to the hospital, especially considering my first was a section.

No, in those circumstances I wouldn't allow myself to be induced. Personally, my attitude would be that if it happens even faster this time around and we don't make it to the hospital then we have an unplanned homebirth (or roadside birth). As long as you are comfortable with that possibility then it isn't an issue. But I think it's also important that your DH is comfortable with that possibility too.

It probably wouldn't hurt for you both to start doing some reading and prep on what you need to do if you were to end up birthing at home, so that if it happens you have everything ready to go at the time. I think this would be especially beneficial for your DH, as I imagine he might be the one who would 'catch' and at the moment that possibility probably scares him to death. If he feels even a little bit prepared, he might be more comfortable with it.

But hey, I totally get your frustration! My DH has asked some really unhelpful questions at my OB appt's too. But then I tend to figure that if he isn't allowed to partake in the conversation, alleviate his concerns and generally be part of the process it isn't really fair for me to have him there either.

You're not that far from hospital, I was 45 minutes from mine and I live in the city.

Also, do you have a landline? If so, then there's really no problem and if you deliver at home you're still not far from medical help if needed.

I would probably just suggest that you go straight to hospital when labour starts.

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Jude 07/10/2008 | Lilac 16/06/2011

kuraiza - yep thats the plan :D its more if I need to start pushing on the way there (or I cough and out she comes :rofl:) and we need to pull over then with all the hills we have no reception to call for help.

I have rung the local Ambos and had a chat with the guy at the station and he has given me some good advice too. I think getting into the car and getting to the hossy as quickly and safely as we can will be our best option as an Ambo could be coming from anywhere, not necessarily the closer small town we live near and could take anywhere from 15min - an hour. We can ask them to meet us enroute which I didn't know would be an option.

The Ob has just thrown me into this loop of panic unnecessarily because of DH which is less than helpful. I was already worrying about a few things that I have not aired in here and this talk of induction has made me worse. Even his views on my choice of pain relief excluding other options unless under emergency situations left me feeling less than thrilled.

I just cannot wait to see my Middies nowI need to know SOMEONE will be supportive of my decisions :D

No, I wouldn't consider an induction under those terms. Given all is going well in your pg and even having a previously quick labour, I still wouldn't and I don't even think I'd consent to a stretch & sweep. I know my gf had the balloon thingy with one of her pg and she said it is very painful. I actually didn't think an OBS would consider induction if you have had a c-sect but perhaps I am mis-informed??? My gf is pg with her third, previous two labours very quick, with the last being 23 mins! I have no knowledge of her being considered for induction (she lives about 15 mins from hospital)

i wouldn't consider induction under those circumstances. i agree with PP that i would educate myself (and it sounds like you're already doing it) on my options (i.e. get into the car & drive there, home birth etc) and that your DH needs to do the same.

has he said why he brought it up at the appt? does he need to talk through some of his own concerns with you? as in, maybe there's an underlying worry that he hasn't shared with you & it would be better all around if you guys could get all of your concerns out into the open.

:hug:

I absolutely would not have an induction under those circumstances and especially not 2 weeks early!! You are not far from hospital, you're closer than I am and I live in a city. You will make it in time. And if you don't, help will not be far away.

I would also not be so hard on your DH. Maybe he is scared? You told him you didn't want to ask the OB about it but that leaves him worried that you will not make it to hospital and being the one in charge of delivering the baby. He has all that responsibility but isn't allowed to ask questions about it? I imagine it would be a pretty scary thought even if it's not accurate (because it's more likely you'll make it to hospital). He was only trying to get information. The OB is the one that came up with the crazy idea of an induction 2 weeks early when he could have just said 'come in as soon as you go into labour.'

Sloane - yeah we had a "discussion" last night about it, he brought it up because I hadn't :rolleyes: He is not too concerned about the birth etc, not squeemish, not phased by anything really (afterall he has been shoulder deep in a cow on more than one occasion)

RCC - they DO consider inductions for previous sectioners, the process is a little different but they do still do it - well I know my Hossy does. They do not use the gel or the drip but do the S&S, rupter membranes, balloon thingy and there was something else but I cannot remember for the life of me what that is.

I'll be horse back riding before I'd let them at me though :rofl: well at least sitting on the washing machine :lol:

Have pm'd you. Hugs hun

No. I would never accept an induction again after what I went through. But my story is fairly out of the ordinary. All the same, no.Fight as hard as you can. :hug:

I think your DH maybe scared and that was his way of dealing with it. Men go through a lot of trauma even in a normal birth... My DH explained that it's 2 of the worst things he has been through... The end is awesome but getting there is terrible in his opinion.
I would not opt for an induction but what I would opt for is sitting down and having a frank and open discussion with your DH xo

I too wouldn't choose an induction under the circumstances (unless something else cropped up) but would suggest sitting down with DH and discussing contingency plans and ways of dealing with the situation should it be necessary. I think he brought up the question because he is worried about how he will cope if it happens - which is entirely understandable. He may well feel a lot more secure once those concerns are addressed and he knows what he can do to help if it's needed - men often like to plan these things well in advance, kind of that whole protector/fixer of problems thing.

FWIW, my DH is being a worry-wart at the moment too.

TBH I'm not quite sure why your DH is in the poo. I obviously don't know him, but I guessed he raised it at your appt because you had discussed concerns with him. My DH will voice things that I have said to him and I see that as being him looking after me, not speaking out of turn. After all, I'm his wife, this is his child and he is concerned about both our welfare. JMO though - like I said, I don't know your DH or you.

As for being induced, no not something I would consider. I had a quicker labour than you did with my DD2 and it is a genuine concern for me too - I am about an hour from my hospital and OB and TBH I don't know how I am going to deal with it closer to my due date either.

I guess the only thing you can do is try to make sure you have backups around you so that the second you feel labour come on you can get someone driving you to the hospital.

Hmmm LuluHB - with all due respect, just because you are someone's wife does not mean they can speak on your behalf. Unless of course you are in a coma or not of a sound mind.

ETA - the below is general not directed at any one person :D

I have had plenty of opportunity to discuss the matter with my shared care providers and I am not backwards in coming forwards IF I felt it was necessary to bring it up with them I would have.

HE should have spoken to me before letting his male ego take over. It may very well be HIS child but the fact of the matter is regardless of HIS wishes, this is my body and I will not be pushed into ANY decision by him nor anyone else... ESPECIALLY when there is absolutely NO reason medically to go down this road.

Anyways,

DH is in the poo A) speaking on my behalf about something he should have discussed with me first before bring it up with MY (not ours) health care provider. B) He has more or less started the Ob's intervention train rolling ... yes I can say no and I can and will fight for the birth I want however I shouldn't have to, he should have kept his blinking mouth shut. C) no he was not voicing HIS concern - he is not concerned about how or where or when I have this baby, he was literally speaking on MY behalf (he has admitted this to me). :dunno: I cannot see why people are questioning my being angry at him but then perhaps others are happy for someone else to be their voice :dunno:

This has been amplified of course by the Obs "interest" in doing an induction which I will now have to nip in the bud, and have some good well worded arguements to back myself up (just the way this Ob is he has been in the business for a Loooooong time) - sheesh you should have heard what he was banging on about when I said I didn't want an Epi because of my C-section :rolleyes:

It shouldn't have happened. Simple. Thats why I am cross at him.

You're 1000000% justified in being angry at your H :hug: Loke you said, sure you can fight for your birth, but you totally shouldn't have to.

No. You know that ;)
Anyhoo - I don't think it's too late to call one of the 'local' IM's to discuss your situation, and the possibility not only of paying off their services after the birth, but for a lowered fee, given your circumstances. I know of one who lives near one of my favourite markets ( ;) ) who would be up for a conversation about it. She can be an advocate, and/or, if needed, can help you birth at home if it came to that, for any reason.
If you have to do it at home, you'll be ok. I think it's also reasonable to expect that you'll make it to the hospital :) Part of your apprehension is an anxiety that, whilst it has a basis in PAST events, has very little bearing on the present situation. The Ob is assuming you want intervention, because he's probably used to women who think the promise of interventions is reassuring and will eliminate the reasons for their anxiety. I know you don't, but it doesn't mean you don't have that anxiety - just you don't have the delusion that interventions will fix it. Make sense?
Anyway, I think you'll rock it, I REALLY do, and I wish I could put my confidence into a powder and mix it with my chai, I would :hug: