My (maybe) induction. I need to get some advice.

[singa06]

My due date is in two weeks and my OB and I agreed that I will go 7 days over then be induced. I am happy with that as I will become too anxious about the well-being of the baby and the functioning of the placenta any later than that (even though I will be monitored every 2nd day after my due date).
Anyway, I just had a few issues I wanted to learn about. The first one is, on my due date my OB said he will do an internal and try to “get things started”. I am assuming that has something to do with the cervix etc. How affective is this at getting labour started? A few hours/days or not much luck?
Also with induction, it will be on the drip. I am wondering if I have other medical induction options (that are proven to work...gel????) that are not as extreme as the drip. (I am scared about the intense/strong contractions as I want to try and avoid pain relief.)
I thought that maybe at my next appointment in one week I could talk to my OB about other options instead of the drip (I want to be prepared in what to say/request).

[singa06]

Bump

[emilysmumma]

Congratulations on being so close to meeting your bub.
I know you've said that you'd be too anxious to wait more that 7 days over your EDD, but an EDD is just that, an estimate. Lots of things come into factor into why babies come later than the proposed date and they turn out not to be overdue at all.
Babies come when they are ready and being induced before bubs is ready means you are more so to have intervention during the birth.
I was 14 days over with my 2nd bub and had 2 cervical sweeps at 4 days over and 8 days over to no avail. This is where a finger is run along between the membranes and the cervix.
I was 7 days over with my 1st bub and on the 6th day had the sweep and delivered her the next day. She was obviously ready and I do think it helped things along a bit as I was having sporadic contractions that morning before the sweep.

You can have gel inserted and that can be done a few times over a few days as far as I know. This would be preferrential than the drip that gives you instant hard and fast contractions. It doesn't build up the contractions as in natural labour so you are more likely to have pain relief such as an epidural which then is highly likely to lead to a c/s.

So certaintly go ahead with the induction if you are worried but bubs is not going to stay in there forever and it's only a matter of a few days more waiting when all said and done.
Hopefully bubs comes early anyway and the worry is all for naught, lol.

[headoverfeet]

Sorry really busy today but just wanted to back what Sarah said ^ and show you this flow chart

http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=276434

[mumma2cubs]

Hi Singa06,

I just wanted to give you my experience with induction and wanted to let you know that they aren't all as terrible as those against it would have you believe.

Firstly, induction does come with risk, however I won't go through the "cascade of intervention" because I am sure your OB would have discussed this with you.

Depending on how ripe your cervix is at time of induction, these are your options:

1) If cervix isn't favourable, you will get a gel inserted about a day before pitocin to see if that will help. This can be applied a few time if necessary. I didn't need this as I was 3cms and fully effaced at the time - I started taking Evening Primrose Oil caps and Raspberry Leaf Tabs two weeks prior to help my cervix become favourable.

2) Once you've ripened your cervix either via gel or it happening on it's own, you'll be monitored for about an hour whilst your waters are broken. Then it is up to you to work with your OB to decide on how long you'll allow labour to happen on it's own without the use of pitocin. Ask if you can walk around the hospital and keep active if you want to progress

3) If you progress enough, you can avoid pitocin. If you don't, you'll be started on a low dose to push things along. My OB is happy to use pitocin to kick start the process and if contractions are strong enough to then switch it off to see if my body will take over. Usually if you respond well, you can avoid pitocin for the whole labour and a benefit to this is you can remain active rather than in bed.

If you have any more questions, let me know - my induction was intense, but with my placenta breaking down at 38 + 4, I wasn't comfortable letting nature take it's course.

I believe inductions can be positive, BUT you NEED to be well informed of the process, your rights and what you want in your birth experience. Don't be afraid to say no to your OB if he is proposing something you just aren't comfortable with, or be firm in your wishes as to how it is carried out.

If your cervix is ripe, the chances of it going without c/s intervention is fantastic. If your cervix is not favourable, consider asking your OB for the gel and a few days of close monitoring to get things more favourable before inducing with pitocin. If your cervix is closed, forced contractions won't do you any favours and bub may get stressed.

Do research, ask questions, read others opinions but please, please work with your Dr closely to ensure the experience you get is what you want from the start.

I will need to be induced again this time round, and I have already listed the things I will not do again to my OB and he has been brilliant.

Good luck!! How exciting that you're close to meeting bubba!!

[AmberMama]

I was induced as per my ob's recommendation at 40+6 with the gel. They inserted it at around 4pm, and at around 10pm I started getting period-type pain at around 10.30 that night and when I was given an internal at 11.30, I was 4cm dilated. 3.45 the next morning I met my daughter. My induction was quite a positive experience, my labour was short and intense (though I don't have a basis for comparison as to how intense a non-induced labour is) and I would definitely consider it again if needed. That said and done from what the middies told me my experience was a little more uncommon in that it all happened so fast and with relatively little intervention. Good luck with it all :)

[mumma2cubs]

It doesn't build up the contractions as in natural labour so you are more likely to have pain relief such as an epidural which then is highly likely to lead to a c/s.


Hi emilysmumma,

I was hoping you could explain this to me....yes I agree that induced contractions are pretty full on and I did have an epi because it got a bit too much for me, but at the end of it before the pushing stage, I had the option to turn down the epi to a level that meant I could control my muscles for the pushing phase, thus meaning I could birth vaginally instead of assisted with forceps etc or a c/s.

So apart from the inability to push (which can be fixed by allowing enough feeling to come back before pushing), what other reasons would pain relief result in a caeser?

I'm going to use the epi again this time, but would love to know what else to be aware of.

Thanks!!

[4OnEarth1InHeaven]

The stretch and sweep worked well for me as my cervix was ready, as someone else said it really depends if you are ready.

Good luck end enjoy your new bub

[Rebdot]

I was induced on my due date with DD, and My Ob checked my cervix to make sure it was soft before they put the gel or cream up there to start cervix opening

I was in labour for 3 hours in which 2 of the hours I were pushing,

I thought the experience was good.

I know a friend was induced and her cervix wasnt soft and the gel didnt work and she needed the drip and she said the contractions were alot worse than natural labour,

[singa06]

Thanks so much for your replies. I will have a good chat to my OB on monday (one week before I am 'due') about my other options. I am a bit of shy person and even though I feel comfortable with my OB, I just didn't know where to start in talking about something different other than the drip. Now I will bring up the topic of the gel if I do go over my due date and tell him that I much prefer that option first and use the drip as the LAST resort, not the first option.

[4OnEarth1InHeaven]

I hope that you get your wishes and get the gel first, but you never know you may not even need to be induced and remmeber you can always try the natural ways to try and bring things on first.

[La Que Sabe]

My due date is in two weeks and my OB and I agreed that I will go 7 days over then be induced. I am happy with that as I will become too anxious about the well-being of the baby and the functioning of the placenta any later than that (even though I will be monitored every 2nd day after my due date).


sorry no suggestions here, but just wanted to ask where you got the information that you think the placenta stops functioning after a certain amount of time? and that extra time = not so good for the baby?
the baby will come when he/she's ready. and yes i get that you're anxious and want to meet your bubby [gosh who doesn't after 40ish weeks! :laughing:] but maybe you should wait until your bubba is ready him/herself?
placenta's don't 'stop' working or slowly get worse after a certain amount of time, they are there for the baby and keep 'working' until the baby is born and doesn't need it any more [usually about 7 days after the birth, or when the placenta/umbilical cord falls off babies belly button ].

i hope you don't get induced and your baby comes along soon! :goodvibes:

[ojmum]

[QUOTE=Monkey&Mum;3999855]
placenta's don't 'stop' working or slowly get worse after a certain amount of time, they are there for the baby and keep 'working' until the baby is born and doesn't need it any more [usually about 7 days after the birth, or when the placenta/umbilical cord falls off babies belly button ].

I don't have much to add as my induction at 41+3 days ended in C/S due to Foetal Distress...but i do have to add that at the birth of my child the midwife asked me if i was a smoker (which i am not) as my placenta was small and gritty. The midwife put it down to the fact that i was so overdue that the placenta was shrinking and dying. I'm no expert on these matters but i guess all i'm trying to say is that it did happen to me! My DS umbilical cord also fell off within 24 hours of his birth...i was shocked it fell off the next day, expecting it to be intact for a least a few days! I believe that my DS was well and truly ready to be born but due to his position and my body he never engaged and his placenta was starting to let him down! Like i said i am no expert and maybe i was a freak sort of thing but i would prefer not to go overdue in this pregnancy due to this...

Good luck with your delivery and if you do have an induction i hope it all goes swimmingly!

[Leeny]

My mother was 2 weeks overdue and was induced with my brother. When he was born he was extremely ill. He wasn't getting any nutrients from the placenta, blood flow etc had diminished, and the placenta was dying. He nearly died.. So it does happen.

Not to say of course that it's common, I'm sure it's definitely the minority that has a problem when they're overdue a bit.. Just do what you feel is right. If babys doing ok and you want to continue, go for it :) If the baby isn't doing so well, and your overdue anyway, I'd personally induce. Thats just me though :)

[bronny-jane]

oh so close now..
i was induced with all 4 of my babies, and i had 4 great births:thumbsup:

i prefer my waters broken, but i would never get the drip, it just sounds awful, and my body kicks into action after a few minutes anyway:D

the gel, i always need 2 doses.. but maybe my cervix is as stubborn as me:laughing:.. some people it works 1st time.. stretch and sweep, didnt do a thing for me, but it depends on alot of things, if your dilating , how rough they are.. not in a bad way;)

anyway, good luck

[singa06]

Thanks bronny-jane, my Ob did mention something about breaking my waters...Would they wait a little to see if that works, or go for the drip right after??? I never thought to ask that!

He also said that the drip is 'safer' than the gel as you can monitor the dose much more closely...

[Electric Rodeo]

I was induced with my first DS. Had some gel the night before so that my waters could be broken the next morning. I had the drip turned on as soon as they broke my waters. I agree the drip does make it intense but my labour was very quick so it wasn't a negative experience.
I am hoping to be induced in about 10 days time(not everyone's cup of tea). Will be asking this time if I can just have waters broken and see how I go for a few hours before the drip.

Good luck with it all , you are so close now:goodvibes:

[Linda01]

Hi there, i just thought i'd share my induction experience.

I had the gel inserted the day before. I was told this was to open the cervix a lil so my waters could be broken the following day. I was monitored for the night on and off. The next day I was moved to the delivery room where my water was broken at 7am. I was then started on pitocin. The pitocin amount was decreased and increased throughout according to my contractions. I did end up having an epidural after 5 hours, best decision i ever made :). Then by 6pm that night I had my baby. It wasnt as bad as i was lead to believe at the end of the day you just want your baby safe and sound. Everys experience is different though but just thought i'd share my story. Good luck :thumbsup: