...that is my question! I had my doctor's appointment yesterday, I have 5 1/2 weeks to go and he was talking about scheduling an induction. I was induced with Alexandra, and had a really hard labor (throwing up, shakes, pushed 2 1/2 hrs, MAJOR bleeding) and my mom thinks it's from the pitocin. So, I am determined to let nature take it's course this time.
My question to you is, what are some SAFE methods you may have tried to get things going? No Castor Oil Please! My friends in my neighborhood have told me a couple of things that I didn't know you could do, one of which is nipple stimulation! (sorry to the men reading this, it's not an erotic thing)
I really don't want to be induced, I'm so afraid of bleeding to death and whether it was linked to the pitocin or not, I've told myself it is. I would like to have the baby 7-10 days early(I know, probably in my dreams!), so I need tips soon to get prepared.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
To Induce or NOT to Induce.....
Posted by Kirkland's at 7:35 PM
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I've been induced with all three of my kids and haven't had any problems. I thought with Max that I would wait and see...let nature take its course, but I couldn't. I was sooo ready, so I caved. Nipple simulation does bring on contractions. They made me do it in the hospital with Ben during a non-stress test. So, apparently it works. I don't know of any other good ideas. Nothing ever worked for me, but then again, I never tried Castor Oil. I can't believe you are so close. Wow!
SEX, BABY!! My friend out here, that has had both of her kids two weeks early, say sex every night! Wish I knew more, i'll ask around.
Be careful when you ask for advice from me because...your going to get it!!
1st I COMPLETELY agree that you shouldn't be induced. If your doctor is talking about it this far in advance then you know it's not for medical reasons. I know there are times when it is necessary but I think those are the only times it should be done.
Ella came early and it was a great labor. I just assumed Jack would come early too! Let me tell you what you get when you assume: a baby that is 10 days late!!! I didn't want to get induced because of experiences my sisters and several friends had both had, but I knew he was getting big. I finally agreed to get induced if he wasn't here at the 11 day overdue mark. Glad he came the day before. He was 10 lbs. I tried EVERYTHING!! Okay, except for the Castor oil. SO NOT WORTH IT!!
My theory is that those things only work if you are ready anyway.
My last two were overdue also and I had wonderful natural deliveries. Nora was actually born in the car on the way to the hospital, but I'll spare you the details. I am eventually going to blog about it for posterity.
Everyone gasps when I tell them that both my boys were 10 lbs.
My WORST delivery experience was with Jack and it was when I had pitocin. They were anxious to get me to a 10 once the dr. arrived. IDIOTS! I told them all they had to do was break my water, but it took them 30 minutes of me in agony with the pitocin to give in and guess what...5 min. later I had a baby boy.
My point is...you know what is right for you. If you don't feel good about induction then DON'T DO IT!! Now, if you do, don't think for one minute that I will judge your decision. You asked for my opinion and I'm giving it. Like most things in life it's personal for each individual.
I will be praying for you however it turns out!
Melanie, I have been induced twice and went on my own once. Hands down, the one where I went on my own was the easiest - and the recovery was the easiest. It just felt like my body was more ready. I know it's tempting to get induced but it really is better when it happens naturally. My opinion only, though. (The one where I wasn't induced, the baby was 9 lbs. 12 oz. and it felt like nothing!)
I had to have c-sections (yuck)-- but I did here SEX will do it. I will spare you the details, but there are two actual medical reasons for it working.
Your hubby will be happy to help, I am sure! The only downside is that you are probably not thinking it sounds like much fun at this point in your pregnancy!
Go get a foot and hand massage. I was warned to stay away from both when I was prego with the twins. They say it causes contractions- can induce labor. Who knows, I never tried it, but after a few more weeks, you can give it a try. Good luck with everything!!
good luck, Melanie! I'm so excited for you! Unfortunately I have no tips for you. With Trey I just let nature do its course and I went into labor on my due date...Let me know when she is here, though!
Try ordering the "Induction Pizza" (order it by that name and they know exactly what you're talking about) at Trio....It's a garlic pizza and I know a TON of pregos that SWEAR by it. Didn't work for me when I was trying to get Elle out, but maybe it will be a winner for you! Good luck:)
I was induced with all 3, but was already dialated to a 3. All I need was my water broken and off I went. I had good experiences with it, but my body was ready. I had all my babies in 3-4 hours. My 3rd was natural and the recovery was sooo nice compared to my epidural deliveries. I have heard that
Massage of the ankles/feet in certain spots will cause contrations. Hang in there. She'll be here soon. Listen to your "mommy voice" and do what feels right for you. How exciting!! She'll be here soon!
I'm not a fan of being induced either--I recovered so much easier from my second two deliveries than the first. (And if you can manage to go totally natural the recovery time is amazing.) But I think babies just come when they're ready, even if you try to bring them early. My mom used castor oil, but it only worked the second time when she was already two weeks overdue--and I've heard the side effects can be pretty nasty.
I think the baby comes when it's ready, which sucks, I wish it would come when I am ready, but the dates are just guesses and if the baby needs a few more days I think we should let it be! We all know it will come out eventually, Claire was 9 days late, and it was a painful last 9 days, but she was healthy, strong and ready for life! I also think the bigger they are, they better behaved they are?
Another vote for non induction!! I was induced with my first. It was awful and ended up in a C-section. Because of that lovely surgery my doctor will not induce me for any other delievery. It increases the chance of a uterine rupture. So the last four have come naturally. And they have all come before their due date. Here is the trick. Please forgive me for being super graphic, but it worked with all four!!!! SEX!!! Lots of it and the....how do I put this.... the more aggresive the better. After you do the deed, lay there for as long as you can take it. I never moved afterwards and just went straight to sleep. It takes a couple days, and I think your body also has to be somewhat ready, but it worked for me every time!!!! I also bounced a lot on my exercise ball. I would strattle it and bounce. While I watched t.v., did my hair, read scriptures, I bounced. I am not sure if that helped or not. But I at least felt I was contributing to the cause! Good luck. Follow YOUR intuition. It is actually so fun waiting for that day. It is hard but very exciting doing it on your own.
Mel, I can't believe your doctor is ALREADY encouraging you to be induced. Obviously, he's trying to make HIS life easier and planned out. Not yours. As you know, I haven't actually given birth yet, so I don't have any personal advice, but from everyone I've spoken with, things I've read, and the labor & delivery class I've been taking, it's SO much better to just let nature take it's course, even if that means going a little over your due date (we'll see if I'll be singing the same tune come March 29th and I'm not dilated even 1 centimeter!) Just trust your own insticts, though. As a lot of people have commented here, I've heard sex will aide in labor induction. My sister swears by it. There's actually an inducing agent (for lack of the actual medical name for it) in semen that softens the cervix. Plus, I'm sure Chris will be grateful since he'll be deprived for several weeks. :) Good luck!!
WEll... personally I don't think it's a good idea to be induced for convenience sake. ALthough tempting. I agree that it should come naturally... and Benson did come three weeks early. We were in a hotel the night my water broke and what do you think we were doing??!?!! (Idaho Falls, remember my lovely story??)
Get stressed about something...
Exercise... do squats!!
move a lot be really busy...
My Dr. told me that you have a higher chance of a c-section and a longer labor if you are induced with your 1st child, but it is not this way if you are induced with your other children. So..if you choose to get induced, hopefully it won't be like last time. Since you haven't tried going on your own..go for it. What have you got to lose (but your patience!)
Hi there! Just found your blog while blog hopping -- old friend of Chris' from DC. Saw this post and had to comment. I used this herbal formula called "Gentle Birth" by Mountain Meadow Herbs. Not only did it help with my labor (only 4 hours) it also has a lot of great herbs to help with bleeding. . . My midwife always uses it and gets great results. Good luck and hope everything goes smoothly for you all.
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