To Induce or Not to Induce - Grand Rapids,MI

I was induced twice. Horrible experiences. second ended in c-section. Would take to much time to go into details.
The point is that inductions don't always go as planned. I was past exhausted with both, they took so long. I'd rather pay a sitter to be at the house when I come home from the hospital with #3. do you have a sitter who can stay for 2 days if the induction takes that long?

Don't do it. You're talking your health and the health of your baby versus your convenience. And yeah - I totally get that it's really really difficult to find someone to stay with two small kids... but wouldn't you rather that hassle than 24 hours of labor using pitocin and an epidural, stalled labor, and then a C-section where you can't lift either of your small kids for several weeks? That happens in quite a few inductions. Ask your doctor for the statistics! Or worse, to find out that your doctors were wrong and your lovely baby wasn't as big or ready as they expected and needs to stay in the NICU?

Yes I've been induced for my one child I have. The dr thought that the baby wasn't getting nourishment (although every sonogram we had said that yes, he was getting great/normal flow and everything looked fine). It went okay, except I never dialated past 5 cm. I was given 'cervidel' the night before, then the dr broke my water at 6am. At 5:30pm, I decided that since I hadn't gotten past 5 cm, I should have a c-section.

In your situation - you said "I've always been adamantly opposed to being induced." I would not do it if I were you. Get your in-laws to come for a week before baby's due, then your parents the week baby's due, and then the in-laws again the week after baby's due. Can they do that? Or stick with your babysitter idea. 6 hours away -- could they jump in the car the moment you call and tell them you're in labor?

Part of the fun is not knowing when. I would only get induced if it was medically necessary. I've heard horror stories of being induced, the more intense pain, failure to progress, higher chance for a c-section.

Please do not do this. I am a former NICU Respiratory Therapist and now a homebirth midwife. Your baby needs to decide when it is ready to be born. You should never be induced unless there is a true medical need. Your doctor should also be reprimanded by his board for even agreeing to induce you a week early. This is ethically wrong.

When your baby's lungs are completely mature he/she will send out a chemical to let your body know to start labor. Before this happens the baby is not ready. You maybe 39 weeks pregnant but your baby is actually only 37 weeks. The lungs are the last organ to fully develop and that may not happen until 37-38 weeks. Most of the time it occurs earlier than that but I have seen many cases where the lungs were not fully mature at even 38-39 weeks. If the lungs are not ready and you force the baby out, it will have trouble breathing and will end up in the NICU. It could be there for several days. Do you really want a baby in the NICU for several days being poked and prodded all for the sake of conveniance? Then who will watch your other two children while you and your husband go back and forth to the hospital to be with the other baby? I have seen this happen many times. Trust me, its not worth it.

Or what if the induction does not go as planned and you end up with a c-section? The baby could still end up in the NICU because c-section babies also sometimes have trouble breathing.

Figure out another plan. Your friends will probably not mind coming over in the middle of the night. Women do this for each other.

Please do not force your baby out. Every second counts. Your baby is where it is suppose to be until it decides otherwise.

Take Care.

I was induced with my first one. I won't give you the story of it all, but let's just say it wasn't all that good.

I can understand the draw of having an induction. Here's my question: Do you typically go into labor around your due date? Is it possible to have family come visit the week of your due date and stay until you deliver?

Congratulations on baby #3. I have 2 kids (3yo boy and 12mo girl). Both of them were induced. For my first baby, my OB recommended an induction, when she found that my amniotic fluid was low during a routine weekly visit (one week before my due date). My son was born 6 hours after induction (no C-section). In terms of pain, I had an epidural and I did not feel the contractions at all. The nurse had to tell me when to push, because the epidural really took away most, if not all the pain. My husband laugh because he said I should of been more out of breath from the labor.

With baby #2, my doctor was on-call on the Sunday before my due date, and asked if I would like to be induced. I said yes because I really wanted her to deliver my baby instead of one of her partners. My daughter was born 4 hours after induction (no C-section). Also had an epidural and did not feel much pain.

Best of luck to you. No matter what you decide, in the end, you will have a wonderful addition to your family. Congratulations again.

I was induced with my first at 41 weeks. Never got past 3cm. Wound up have a c-section. I would never consider being induced *before* my due date. But if I got a call from a friend of mine at 3am saying she was in labor and dropping off her kids on the way to the hospital, I'd be totally cool with it. Your friends will be more understanding than you think. If you have a fenced in yard, your dogs will be fine until your husband can get back to take them to the boarder. All details can be worked out. I would not opt for the induction if I were you.

I was induced with my 2nd baby and regret it completely. The ONLY reason we decided to induce was b/c my 1st baby was much much larger than we expected and he almost got stuck on my pelvic bone. We wanted to avoid that this time just incase she was on the large side as well.

I wish I would have waited as long as I could. Unless it's a life or death situation, I believe a baby should grow and thrive off of the safest place possible as long as he/she can.

That being said, to answer your question, the entire induction process was smooth and easy. No major side-effects or health issues arose.

Let your friends know about your dilemma. Then when you go into labor your husband can call one of them, they can do the phone tree thing, and figure out who can help out, for how long, and when. Can your neighbors feed/walk the dogs? Give them a key now. Could you hire a doula to take some of the pressure off of your husband, as he will likely be trying to coordinate care of the kids and dogs, as well as tend to you?

Labor is different. Pit makes contractions so hard and so fast you do not have time to recover in between. Mine where about 30 seconds apart both times. I was induced at 42 weeks both of my births, and I would have much rather it had happened naturally.

You need to weigh the options here: Induction carries a significantly higher risk of resulting in a c-section, which means 3-4 days in the hospital, more expenses (it's more costly for you & insurance), and a longer recovery time (if it goes well and you don't have complications). Vs. inconveniencing friends who care and want to help you.

I am one of the statistics. Against my judgement I was coerced by my doc into an induction and it resulted in an emergency c-section (prolapsed cord because the baby's head was not engaged in the pelvis and when they induced they ruptured the amniotic sac and the cord prolapsed). I was in the hospital 4 days and took months to recover, physically and emotionally/psychologically.

So, as you can guess, I will tell you DO NOT GET induced. Especially not a week early--your baby will come when he's ready.

When you are induced, things can still happen on an unpredictable time schedule. If you wait until your baby is ready (and labor starts naturally) it is the best scenario for you baby and you.

My sister had to be induced due to complications. Then she had further complications and had to have an emergency c-section that she may not have needed if she hadn't been induced.

I agree with everybody who advised you not to get induced. I don't have personal experience with this (I probably shouldn't even be responding) but I heard that getting induced is even more painful AND it can lead to c-section :( I have a feeling that your friends would be more than happy to watch your kids for you until your family arrives to take over. Good luck with the birth!!

Ugh... so not fun! My body just doesn't DO the whole labor part of childbirth so with all three of mine i was technically induced.

Not to give you horror story but think "fast" and "hard". You are strapped to the monitor at all times. With my first two I was in the hospital and had the usual assortment of nurses and Ob waiting around. They didn't like me moving around cause it messed with the monitor or baby shifted and would set off the "alarms" so the monitor would have to be fussed with over and over. Do it often enough and the nurses start to get annoyed, lol! Ended up with an epidural with both of them (not that it mattered to me!)

My last one i was determined to have naturally, but my first contractions did nothing even after 8 hours. However I had a midwife with that one and she literally held my hand and was with me just about every minute. She had a wireless monitor that she could strap on me to "watch" baby's heartbeat which allowed me to walk, rock, bounce on an exercise ball, ect. I wasn't stuck in bed. Even still... 4 hours after having started the pitocin drip baby was born. I still ripped a little bit with him and he wasn't even my biggest. Although I could have gone home the next morning (after the typical observation), I opted to stay the two days.

If your doctor is good with it and your hubby was a big help with the first two, you'll probably be ok. But i would definately be asking about their procedures on what happens when you are induced (how is baby monitored? Is it constant monitoring? How much can you moved around? Is the monitor wireless or are you tethered to the machine?). You might even call the L&D and ask the same questions - their answers are probably better and more likely to what will happen.
Hoping its nice and easy for you!

I was induced with my first because I believed my doctor (naively) when she told me it would be better than waiting. I greatly preferred the experience of giving birth completely naturally (twice) to being induced. I'll spare you the horror story, but I would go to pretty much any length, personally, to avoid that experience again. I was induced with cervadil and pitocin, and it was a horrible labor. That is my experience, but my sister has been induced for all three of her children and never had a bad labor or birth. My sister-in-law was induced with both of hers, and the first was completely fine, the second ended in an emergency c-section. It's true that c-sections are more common with inductions because no matter what you throw at it, your body just might not be ready (not to mention, overdoing the drugs can stall labor).

I was induced...and I would NOT recomend it. It was painful, they used this balloon thingy, they missed 4 times and that was so painful and it didnt work, after more than 24hours of nada they finally gave me pitocin, which did nothing for me. I ended up laboring for 37hours and ended up having a c-section. I will never ever have another induction.

Rent the DVD - The Business of Being Born, and you won't want to be induced.
It hurts more and you don't get the chemical rush/high that a natural birth gives you and your newborn. It also leads to more C-sections due to the baby's heart rate going up due to all the stress it is under from the induction medications.
Good luck with labor! :)

I was induced with all three children. The first my waters broke but i did not go into labour and i was group b strep positive. The second i was overdue and needed to deliver for my and the baby's health and The last after I went into labour naturally and then did not progress. I did not need a c-section and recovered well from all births. I have nothing to compare it to, but it was fine. My labours were long, but all resulted in beautiful healthy babies. If I hadn't induced it may have been a far worse outcome.

My daughter has 7 children and with the ones she was induced her labor was longer and harder. I think the ones that started naturally went better, but I was not the one on the table giving birth. I think having someone come over and pick up the kids, bring them to the hospital to see the new baby then take them back home t their house until you get settled and home is the better idea.

I dont think Id want to be induced and go thru what everyone says is a harder labor. Never been induced so dont know but I believe the moms who say this is how it can be. I think you should talk to your friends and explain the situation and when the time comes, you take your kids to their home and go have the baby. Dont other moms usually do this for one another? When I had my 2nd, we took our first up the street to a friend at 4:45am. She had agreed because shes a friend. She had 3 kids of her own, and she was still wlling because she was a friend. It was a school day and she got him ready for school and dropped him off with her kids just as I would have done, because shes a friend. My husband stayed with me a couple hours after the baby was born and then went to work. Our son went home to the neighbors house and she watched him until dad came to get him to visit me and baby sister in the hospital and then dad took him home, fed him dinner and put him to bed. This is what friends do for one another. You just go talk to them, ask if they can help. If they have kids, they understand how this goes and should be willing to help. Or am I wrong and no one does this for friends any longer? About 9 months ago I was willing to go next door and stay with 3 girls while M. and dad went and had their baby brother. I would have gone at 3am, midnight or anytime of day just to help. All they had to do was ask me.

Yes - both times, one week before my due dates. I was already dilated 5 centimeters with my first, and 6 with my 2nd! I was on bedrest with both up until that final week, and feeling lots of pressure everytime I got up to shower or use the bathroom, so my doc suggested the inductions. My labors only lasted 4-5 hours after the pitocin. No complications with either delivery, and I had epidurals with both, however with my 2nd, it didn't take effect in time, so it was a lot more painful. Good luck and congratulations!

I was induced with my first two because my water broke and I didn't go into labor. I had no trouble but did end up having an epidural both times. The first time I wanted to go without and I did not manage the pain well since I had no breaks between contractions and they had given me maximum doses of pitocin to get me into labor. Once labor started my first son was born within 5 1/2 hours, including 25 minutes of pushing. My second was born with around 3 hours of actual labor and 25 minutes of pushing. He was also 3 weeks and a day early because my water broke and labor didn't start but he was 7 lbs 6 ounces and had no trouble or complications.

I went into actual labor with my third and had NO pitocin!! :) I did push him for 10 minutes. I never had complications from the induction, a little nausea from the IV pain drugs I got the first time around (don't do it--they're narcotics!!), totally superficial tearing with my first two (I didn't have to get stitches, but they helped), and a quick recovery. I left the hospital after 24 hours with all three kids.

So for me induction was no trouble. There is a lot to be said for planning and convenience. We were super-lucky with the third. My husband's friend had taken my oldest for the day to give me a break, got back late and stayed with me until my husband got home after 11 since I'd been having contractions, he stayed and put the boys to bed while we went to the hospital, and then he went home when my in-laws' got there around 3 a.m. We had been panicked about planning since we don't have family nearby either. Good luck!

I was induced with my 2 pregnancies & my third went into labor on my own. My 1st pregnancy I was over a week overdue & my second was scheduled because I had a 9 pound baby the 1st time. I would advise you to let nature take it course. Especially since it's your 3rd child. Being induced was not fun. The pain was a lot tougher than with my 3rd. It took a long time to get induced & then all of a sudden things went real fast. I was so happy when I went into labor the 3rd time around. I kept saying this isnt labor, I feel ok. Then I checked in the hospital & I was 4cm. had the baby in less than 3 hours. With the other induction I was admitted for 13 hours before I delivered & the second went faster 6 hours with induction. Good luck but sometimes we dont get to choose.

An induced labor can take a lot longer then a natural one, so your scheduling could go wrong with this option as well, unless you were open to some medical interventions to speed things up.

My mom was 6 hours away and friends 2 hours away when I went into labor with my second, we'd just moved so I didn't know anyone close by. We took our daughter to the hospital early, I needed IV anti-biotics, and our friends met us there and took the daughter away. My mom arrived just after the baby was born, so she was able to take over child care with my oldest. It worked out well.

Talk with your friends. I would be more then willing to do child care for someone who was having a baby, even though I have kids of my own. If you were my friend I'd offer to come pick up your kids, even in the middle of the night, and keep them until your out of town family could take care of them. People usually have big hearts and are understanding of your situation.

Best wishes!

Not sure what kinds of jobs your family have but could one of them set up office remotely? My sister did it for 3 weeks when my third showed up and I am eternally grateful, both to her and to her boss for allowing her to work remotely for so long!

Best of luck!
~C.

I was given pitocin (the chemical used to induce) on accident at 9.5 centimeters. Whoa. Take note that "fast and hard" doesn't always mean *quickly*. From noon -730 pm I had contractions every 10-30 seconds. My labor got stuck in transition. Not fun. I was given a choice between and epidural or a c-section at around 5 oclock. The moment that epi went in I fell asleep (I don't remember that part). Woke up 2 hours later and my son was born 30 minutes afterward. Transition is only supposed to last for 2-10 minutes. NOT 7 hours.

I wouldn't induce if there was any other viable option to try first. Including hospital daycare (many, but not all, hospitals have "sibling daycare" where siblings can play in the daytime and sleep at night). But I would ask your friends, let them say no, rather than just assuming it would be too much. MANY people would be honored/thrilled to be asked. Some others, it would be impossible for them. But DO ask.

I know you made your decision, but I will tell you that I had an induction and it was very quick, not the horror stories some of these women will have you believe. A friend of mine was in your position with no family around and had both of her children induced. She also said it was a very easy, quick, positive experience. I love it when people will try to tell you what to do when they have never experienced it. Good luck with your birth.

In your case I'd induce.. I was induced (not by choice) and it wasn't horrible. I contracted harder but other than that no big deal.. The only thing I'd probably be against is having my membranes stripped.. Pitocin I could handle again.

I had pitocin with my second and had no problems. I delivered her within 4 hours of it starting with no set backs and no complications. I don't think induction is bad when needed, but for your situation I would look into some other options first. I understand the need to have things in order, but maybe you should talk to your friends and give them a chance first. I know even with my busy schedule that I would be more than willing to do a little extra for a friend having/getting ready to have baby. Then if that doesn't work out then look more into the induction.

Just two more cents :) I was induced but still no epidural and it was ok (waited until the night before official 42 weeks but still considered not doing it since I so strongly preferred to be in a natural birthing center). It turned out fine and I was very glad to have done Bradley classes and to have avoided the epidural. But more importantly with my 2nd I had moved to a new town with no friends or family around about 4mo before giving birth. I was pretty nervous about childcare...I am very sure I worried too much about this issue. Once I finally made the first requests to people about watching my 2yr at any hour at very short notice I was overwhelmed with options and felt silly for not asking earlier. In retrospect, I realized that I would have done the same thing for another mother if it was at all possible...I would make the sacrifices as needed. Also, I for sure lined up more than one person just for the possibility of the unknown and uncertainty of the length of time I may need them. It sounds like you know what you are going to do but I just wanted to throw in that encouragement that if finding care for your household is the only issue...please don't be afraid to ask trustworthy people for help. I know for me it is hard to be so helpless but the times that I have been and relied on others have been good for the soul! :) Blessings on your next birth no matter induction or no :)!

I was induced with my first at 37 weeks due to pre-e. Started the pitocin at 8am, epidural at 10am, she was born at 12:34pm and she was 8lbs 7 oz. With my second, we chose to induce at 39 weeks because we also had no family in town and needed to have someone available to stay with my oldest. I was also worried about the size of the baby since my first was so big at just 37 weeks. Second time they started the pitocin at 8am, epidural at 10am and she was born at 12:43pm.

I was induced with both my kids. No medical reason for me. I am a planner and was very impatient. For my 1st I was 39 weeks. It lasted 22 hours. I took pain meds and ended up throwing up every 30 minutes the whole 22 hours. I had to push for 30 minutes and it was exausting!
My 2nd I was 38 weeks. He was 10 hours. It was going great. I sat and watched TV. Declined pain meds because of what happened last time. My epidural ended up failing on me. They tried to adjust it 3 times and finally gave up and took it out. I could feel everything. The pain was horrible. I had to be put on oxygen because my face and arms were tingly feeling. Also I would pass out between contractions. But, I had about 4 minutes between contractions and I remember the nurse was so great because she let me squeeze her hand as hard as I could and she helped me to breathe. But, once things were really going, he came very quickly. 1 push and it was all over.
If I were to have another baby, I would probibly still be induced. Really though, my birth story is really nothing compared to some. I am very lucky and thankful there was nothing seriously wrong with me or my babies and I had no "real" complications. If you feel that you want to be induced, then go for it. Sometimes it's just easier

Yes, I was induced due to the baby being late and in distress (deaccellerations of the heart, waters broke, pooped in waters) and my failure to progress after 15 hours of labor. It ended in an emergency C section, but I am not sure if that is due to the induction or the other issues. My baby was born healthy and is now 3 and thriving.

I 'm now preg with my third and in the same situation as you- except my nearest family is 30 hours away and I don't know a sitter! I don't think I would induce labor though, without a good medical reason. You never really know how long your baby needs to be in there. Is there a way that your sitter could come for more than a day or your brother or sister could relieve the sitter once you go into labor? Wish I could be more help, but I personally don't know what I'm going to do when the time comes!

Waiting to go into labor is the BEST thing to do! I was induced with daughter #2. Doc said I wasn't dialating fast enough, even though I was going a centimeter an hour which is normal. The contractions were coming fast (every 30 seconds and lasting 90 seconds) and past the point of painful. Baby's heart rate was going up to 160 and then quickly falling to 30....TROUBLE! I "politely" asked him to turn off the drugs...things went back to regular contractions and all was well BUT it was scarey, stressful for baby and uneccessary! If you have a sitter that would be on call for you I would say go with that. Or a friend that would just come over for the birthing time...hospital stays are so short these days anyway. On the other hand, many babies are born safely and without too much chaos with a planned inducement. BUT... My niece, who had gone past her due date...was induced and it didn't work. She went to the hospital all ready to go, they gave her the "pit" she had some pretty intense labor. Nothing happened and they sent her home. She went back a week later, induced again, this time it worked. After laborng twice, needless to say she was exhausted by the time baby arrived. It's good you are doing your homework. Be sure to talk in detail with your doctor so you know what to expect so you can make the best decision for you and yourfamily. All the best to you!

I just read the "So what Happened"...good choice! :)