Pros and cons of being induced?

Anonymous
My "due date" was this weekend. I had my weekly appt yesterday and my dr gave me the choice of going 11 days past my due date OR I could schedule a date to be induced later this week.

I am tired of being pregnant - but also believe that the baby will come when the baby is ready (I am totally torn here). I am schedule to be induced on Thursday - but obviously can change this.
Some of the reasons I an hesitant about being induced:
I don't want to be confined to a hospital bed for my labor - my assumption is that once they give you pitocin, you will have lots of monitors and not be able to walk around to labor.

I have a desire to avoid drugs if possible (I want to focus on the if possible here - for my 1st I did have an epidural). My understanding is that with a drug induced labor contractions come stronger and quicker and I think it would be challenging to manage these without pain medicine.


I am looking to all of the experiences of the woman on this board to share their experiences.
Thanks!
Anonymous
From what you state in your post, it sounds like induction isn't for you. Some women really want pregnancy to end, no matter what. And I know some women who get very nervous with the baby in too long (for no medical reason - they just get nervous). In my experience, these are women who are planning on having epidurals anyways. I think you are right that contractions with pitocin are much stronger than without.

I know that there must be exceptions, but I do not know anyone who has had an induction that didn't end up with a c-section. If the baby isn't ready to come, it isn't ready to come. Inducing it just induces a failure to progress. That's totally fine and works very well for some people who really just want their baby out.

But it sounds like you want the baby to come when it's ready. Why not just put off the induction date to the last possible date that your doctor is comfortable with it? Follow all the medical safety guidelines while still giving your baby a chance to pick his/her own birthday? You may still end up with an epidural and/or c-section. But you are less likely to.
Anonymous
I struggled with whether or not to be induced. I ended up waiting and going naturally, and I have to tell you I had a very easy labor and delivery - 7 hours total with my first child and only pushed for 20 minutes. I know genetics, fitness, etc may play a part in that too, but the first thing my doctor said to me after delivery was "that wouldn't have gone so smoothly if you had been induced". I think you really have to weigh the options of how the baby is doing, how you are doing, etc, but my generaly belief is that things happen when they are ready to .


Good luck!
Anonymous
All of your assumptions about being induced are correct.

I was induced at 40 weeks 10 days due to low amniotic fluid. They were also estimating that db was going to be over 10 lbs, but neither my midwives nor I thought she was that big. Big, but not that big.

They put Cervadil in at 11pm and I slept through the night. At 11am, they began the Pitocin. I was not effaced or dilated at all. I too had VERY strong preferences about not using pain medication if I could help it. I also have (so I am told) a pretty high pain/discomfort tolerance. I labored on pitocin with contractions every 2.5 to 3 minutes for 12 hours without pain medication, with the midwife raising the pitocin dose periodically.

I was strapped to monitors and an IV, but - because my midwife was supportive of my moving around - was able to detach the monitors and walk around and sit on the birthing ball or the rocking chair, taking my IV with me. This really agitated the nurses on duty because they were supposed to monitor me from the nurses station which they could not do when I was not hooked up. However, my midwife advocated for me and monitored me regularly to make sure db was okay. My labor during all of this was very intense, but manageable.

After 12 hours, I was still minimally dilated and pretty exhausted and my midwife cranked up the Pitocin again (I caught a look from the nurse to the midwife that was like "Really?!?"). At that point, I realized that I would not be able to push the baby out without getting some rest. The pain also increased to something that is hard to recall and very hard to describe (imagine feeling like there is an Edward Scissorhands creature with razor blades inside your belly trying to cut its way out).

So I consented to - and was grateful for - the epidural at 11pm. I went into a not-quite-sleep but VERY relaxed state for about 7 hours while labor progressed. Around 5:30am, I began to push and db was born vaginally around 7:30am.

I strongly believe that, if I had not walked around during labor to help db move down and had not had a clinician who was patient and understood the importance to me of a vaginal delivery, then I would have ended up with a c-section for "failure to progress" at some point.

Good luck to you and your db with whatever choices you make!
Anonymous
I was induced twice. No c-sections.
The first time I was in labor but they gave me pitocin b/c I was not progressing at all.
Second time I scheduled it. Was tired of being pregnant and worried about what to do with child #1 if I went into labor in the middle of the night. With a set date we were able to have grandparents around. Not that that is the best reason to get induced but I guess since birth #1 went fine with induction I was not scared of it a second time.
Anonymous
I was induced the 1st time - the pitocin did not make my contractions real bad - but I did have an epidural early....my DS was born in three pushes. It was a nice experience.
Anonymous
OP:
I was induced at 37w due to high blood pressure. I cried when they told me I had to be induced b/c it did not fit the idea I had in my head of what my L&D would be like. I was afraid of everything I imagined went along with induction (continuous monitoring, being stuck in bed, slipperly slope to other interventions --> C-section, etc.). I think I was about 2-3 cm when they gave me the cervadil. Next morning when they checked me, there was no further progress so they started the Pitocin (6am) and then about an hour later broke my water. I had my daughter at 8:20am with about 5-10 min of pushing. I'll never know for certain, but I believe that the Pitocin made my labor WAY more intense than it would have been had I gone into labor naturally. I ended up with a BP cuff, an antibiotic drip (would have had this anyway due to + GBS), internal fetal monitoring, and a drip for hydration so i was stuck in bed but I didn't take any pain meds, which I am very happy about. Alls well that ends well, so I can't complain, but next time I hope to let nature take its course.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!
Anonymous
I was induced for my first pregnancy. It was a rough L&D and lead to a number of medical interventions that I was not pleased with...but fortunately, DS was born vaginally and I did not need a c-section, which was my greatest fear.

My second pregnancy ended with me going into labor on my own. All I can say is the L&D was much smoother, gentler and easier than the first. I know people might say it's because it was my second, but I honestly believe the Pitocin and other medical interventions the first time around did a number on my body and stress level, thus making the first delivery tougher than if I'd just gone into labor naturally.

Good luck with your decision. It does sound as though induction is not for you.
Anonymous
I was induced for medical reasons.. preeclampsia. It was not a walk in the park but I did avoid c-section and epidural. I wouldn't advise it if you do not need one.
Anonymous
Induced at 39 weeks due to high blood pressure, started with the cream on Sunday night, had to check in due to instant contractions, went til morning with contractions but no pain or pain meds, got the pitocin in the morning, labored throughout the day with mild contractions and no meds, about one hour of real pushing and bang, out came the perfect baby I never even worried about the c-section because my doctor said they only did it if it's an emergency, and I trusted him. Overall, I guess I was lucky.
Anonymous
Here is an article that is against inducing labor: http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/plabor/0,,8nbq-p,00.html
Anonymous
I was induced at 37 1/2 weeks for medical reasons and had an uneventful/easy delivery. Had cervadil the night before and pitocin in the morning. Pushed for 20 minutes and had the baby at 2p. Worth noting, I did have an epidural, which did not slow labor down. If your still on the fence and you really like/trust your doctor, I'd talk to him/her one more time, make your decision and don't look back. The labor part is such a small part of the whole parenting business ... it's almost time for the good stuff to start.
Anonymous
Don't do it. If the baby is not ready, the baby is not ready. You're just setting yourself up for a potentially long and miserable labor.
We all know about the "tired of being pregnant" part, but just think: this is the beginning of It's Not About You Anymore!
Anonymous
Pitocin is a drug.

If you want a birth without drugs, and have no important reason for the induction, taking a drug is a bad way to start.

I was induced for medical reasons. It was the right choice. The stupid choice I made was denying myself the epidural for a very long time so I could have a "natural birth."

Pitocin is a wonderful drug - often lifesaving. It is a drug, though.
Anonymous
From what you write, it seems that you would prefer not to go the induction route. Maybe friends (or DCUMers!) can provide distraction and a little "you're almost there!" support to see you through those last, looong days of discomfort and impatience to meet your daughter.

My experience:
I also wanted to labor naturally if possible, was wary of accepting a first intervention and then having it lead to another. At my 40 wk appt, my OB asked if I wanted an induction. I was flippin' uncomfortable as heck so it was tempting, but explained my hesitation and my hopes for an intervention-free labor. OB was comfortable with my going to 42 wks. We agreed on a plan for an induction date at 41+1, where I'd have an appointment that morning and he'd determine my Bishop score.

[I'm oversimplifying here: a high bishop score indicates ripe cervix and a greater chance of successful induction, low bishop score lower chance, and correlates with prolonged labor or failed induction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_score
An ultrasound to check cervical length would also help determine readiness.]

If, based on the score, I was not a good candidate for induction , he'd send me to ultrasound to do a fluid check and, if all looked good, would reschedule induction for 41+5.

In the end, I went into labor on my own and babe was born at 40+6.

Good luck with whatever decision you come to, and enjoy your daughter.

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