Ken asks…
Need personal opinions and experiences please!?
I am 39 weeks and 4 days pregnant and the past three appointments I have had with my doctor have been disappointing. The past three weeks I have been stuck at fingertip (almost 1cm dialated) and the doctor cannot feel the baby’s head (there was an ultrasound that confirmed she isn’t breech). I have dropped a lot the last 6 weeks. I do realize that any woman can go from almost 1cm to 4cm within hours and that labor can happen at anytime but the doctor said that he is hoping she arrives before Monday. He said that if she isn’t that he is going to set up an induction date for the following week as to avoid an unecessary c-section. He was going to strip my membranes at my 39 week appointment but couldn’t because I wasn’t dialated enough. When I was 37 weeks the baby weighed 6lbs 12oz and he fears she is going to be a large baby like her father was. So my question is: Is natural labor easier/faster/less painful than an induced labor?
Also the reason the doctor wants to avoid her coming late and larger is because I have already had my birth canal torn during pregnancy and I gushed blood and I am very anemic.
Michelle answers:
When labor is induced, they usually give you pitocin which increases the frequency and intensity of your contractions to help you dilate more. This is often very painful. I have heard it is more painful than going through labor naturally.
In general cases, inducing labor can actually increase your chance of a C-section. However, in your case, I’d probably have to agree with your doctor considering the risks.
Good luck!
Steven asks…
Today is my due date – what would you do?
Today is my due date (mixed feelings, yay I made it and aw no baby yet!)! This is my second child. I had to be induced with my first child and was also 9 days late. There were also some complications with meconium and I had some hormonal deficiencies during that pregnancy which might indicate why I did not go into labor naturally with her. It was awful!
Here is my dilemma. I have a doctor appointment tomorrow and if I have not had the baby by then he will induce me. He has given me this option because of my history. My mother also never went into natural labor with me or my brother (both C-sections), so there could be a genetic element to it as well. I am REALLY sad about this. I really wanted to feel what it was like to go into labor naturally – the whole timing of the contractions and the mad rush to the hospital. Plus it really sucked spending most of my labor in a hospital room, I would like to be home for the beginning contractions. I am kind of considering opting out of the induction for a while to see if it will happen. HOWEVER – I have an extremely active 20 month old daughter that I am having serious trouble keeping up with and who is bored out of her mind because mommy can’t do ANYTHING! Also, I am in so much pain and have been for about a month now. My pelvic area feels bruised and my legs are so sore and wobbly and sometimes have these muscle spasms where my legs give out (no joke, kind of scary). It really has been utter hell. Also, this week the baby dropped so low that I can only sit with my legs WIDE apart and when I do sit my belly actually touches the chair (totally gross). My back is so bad because of this and I just am MISERABLE!
So what would you do? Would you continue being miserable and wait and see if its going to happen naturally (with the great possibility that I will be induced anyways). Or should I just get scheduled for Tuesday and get it over with!?? ARGH
thanks!
The doctor is actually giving me a choice when I want to be induced, so really it is my decision…
Michelle answers:
Wow that sucks. If i were you tho I would listen to your dr. I know as sad as it will be not going through natural labor at least you will now that your baby will be born healthy. If you are miserable the baby may be as well he/she can feel your emotions. Its your call 🙂 but I would rather be safe than sorry. Good luck!!
Daniel asks…
If my doctor wants to induce me because I live far away, can I say no? ?
With my 1st pregnancy I was induced because I live so far away, an hour and a half from the hospital. This time I want to have a natural birth and experience my water breaking and having normal contractions and all the usual normal birthing process. But I have to wait until next month to ask my new doctor. My insurance is changing and I have to look for a new doctor. But if and I am hoping it is a big IF they want to induce me because of how far away I live can I really say no?
Hopefully there won’t be any medical problems that cause an induction, so far everything is going really well.
Is it really my choice or can the doctor for me to?
I know I have to wait until I can ask my new doctor, but I want to know all of your opinions.
Thank you for your answers.
23 weeks and 4 days with baby boy # 2
Michelle answers:
It is completely your choice how you want your birthing process to be Whether it be natural, w/epidural,c-section. Etc. No one has the right to arrange a birthing plan for you unless there are medical reasons why one would be safer than the other
You can absolutely tell the doc exactly how you want the process to go, and you should be able to come to an agreement on how you will make it work for you. As we all know, sometimes births don’t go according to plan However, you do have the right to say no to an induction that you dont’t feel is necessary
Susan asks…
I am 5 days past my due date, hoping some moms were in my same boat…?
So, today makes me 5 days overdue. I am really not that worried since this is my first baby, and my cycles averaged 33 days so I probably am not actually late. However I have not dilated or effaced, I have NOT felt even ONE contraction, but baby has come down and my doctor can feel his head.
-I was just wondering how many of you moms went into labor on their own when you showed no signs of labor coming anytime soon, you know like me: not dilated, effaced, no contractions?
-Also, did you really do anything that you think helped bring labor on, you know like walking, castor oil, sex (although sex is hard for me, we haven’t had sex, save for twice, the entire pregnancy, I just can’t get into it)?
I am just looking for some encouragement, we are hoping for a 100% natural birth, and I just wanted to see if other moms who were in my same position went into labor on their own and did not need an induction.
Thanks ladies!
Jada’s Mommy: I never thought about the Castor Oil affecting the baby too! Thanks for that! And yes, I have been trying to talk myself into sex all day. I think I will be able to do when hubby gets home, I know he will be excited! *lol*
Michelle answers:
I was 5 days overdue with my first.
-I was just wondering how many of you moms went into labor on their own when you showed no signs of labor coming anytime soon, you know like me: not dilated, effaced, no contractions?
Well, I had dilated one cm, but I had been that way for a loooong time. I went in for my checkup and had dilated to 2 cm, which I didn’t know it at the time, but it was the beginning of my labor. I didn’t feel contractions (besides BH) or had any other indicator. ( I was admitted to the hospital at 12:30 am the following morning…in very active labor)
-Also, did you really do anything that you think helped bring labor on, you know like walking, castor oil, sex (although sex is hard for me, we haven’t had sex, save for twice, the entire pregnancy, I just can’t get into it)?
I had a lot of sex during my pregnancy, but in the final weeks we had a guest and her kids (bad situation, she wanted to help with baby, but baby was late and her kids started to STRESS ME OUT) and so we didn’t have a whole lot…but the day I was in early labor, well, night, we had sex and the minute I laid down to sleep, I had a contraction and they started coming every 8 minutes. That was at about 9 pm. I also tried Blue & Black cohosh. I didn’t take much though because I had some reservations about it, and I walked…ALOT. And very far. It gave me false labor sometimes, but I do believe it helped the day I was in early labor. I also had a big medicine ball that I would roll my hips around on to help with baby’s descent.
I am just looking for some encouragement, we are hoping for a 100% natural birth, and I just wanted to see if other moms who were in my same position went into labor on their own and did not need an induction.
I didn’t need an induction at first and I didn’t want to have an epi, either. However, my baby’s head got stuck in my pelvis AND she was sunny side up! PAIN. So I had the epi, and they gave me pitocin. Five hours later, I had her. I let the epi wear off so I could feel myself push. I know you feel like it’s neverending and you are gonna eventually deliver a toddler! Thats how I felt! But stay active and busy. This keeps ur mind off it (sorta) and makes the time go by faster. Get into sex!! Your poor husband! Lube up and get started, because after you have the baby it will be another long while until you can again. Plus, it may jumpstart labor since you aren’t used to having it. Orgasm can cause uterine contractions and semen can help soften the cervix with its prostaglandins. These things together, are what CAN jumpstart ur labor. Congrats ahead of time! You don’t have much longer. You could have this baby tomorrow just sitting around, you never know.
Thanks ladies!
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