Anonymous wrote:Induced bc I was leaking amniotic fluid (sometimes you DO have to induce) and then pitocin for 18 hours to no avail. Hoping for VBAC with #2 but not so optimistic.
No, most of the time you do not need to induce, although since 75% of maternity care in this country is not based on science, we have all sorts of protocols which will insist on induction (and other ridiculous interventions) that are not actually necessary.
The best and latest scientific evidence we have shows that when there is an amniotic leak, expectant management (ie, waiting) and active management (ie, inducing) have the same - generally very good - outcomes. The expectant management group had to wait anywhere between 1 and 6 days for labor to spontaneously begin -- again, with no worse outcomes than the actively managed group.
About 10% women will begin the labor process with their fluid leaking/breaking. Have a conversation with your OB about getting monitored, having zero internal exams, maintaining normal nutrition, and (patiently) waiting for labor to start. Usually when it finally does begin, labor will move very nicely and quickly to a spontaneous vaginal birth.