Labor, and being induced

[hunterx]

My wife is due September 26th with our second child. Our first, Olivia, came a day before her due date and was not induced. She was all natural, except the epidural my wife received to ease the pain.

This time around my wife is a bit nervous that they will induce her early. Last week she went to get checked and was already 2cm dialiated. We are still 15 days away from her due date, but she is worried that at her appointment tomorrow they will schedule her to be induced if she has reached 4cm. We both would prefer a natural birth unless she or the child were at risk, more for philosophical reasons than medical.

I told her just to tell the doctors no, if they suggest being induced before her due date. They said at 4cm they could admit her to the hospital, maybe that means they will expedite the process by breaking her water and getting things rolling, I am not sure. Can they do that without inducing?

Thoughts, suggestions? Experiences with this?

[Skinz4Life12]

my cousin had a baby early in july and was induced on her due date. the baby came out perfectly healthy and is doing great.

my other cousin was just induced this past weekend (a few weeks before her due date) and gave birth to her second child. the baby came out perfectly healthy as well.

i'd take the advice of your doctors based on my cousins' recent experiences

[twa]

did they say why they wish to do so?

inducing is basically just giving them a copy of the chemicals produced in regular delivery from what I understand.
My wife tended to carry over term and inducing would probably have been better with the second child losing weight in the womb.

[chipwhich]

I don't think they are going to induce her at 2cm 2 plus weeks early. Not in my experience.

They will send her home.

[Dictator]

If they break the water, the baby will need to be delivered within 12 hours. Breaking the water does not induce labor. They'll give petocin (sp?) to induce the labor.

[Forehead]

My wife carried both of our children past their due dates. We went into the hospital when it became obvious that something was happening. She wasn't induced, but her water was broken by a doctor both times to get the ball rolling. Of course, the epidural she took each time slowed the process back down, but both births were natural beyond the water breaking and epidural. I don't think inducing labor is actually necessary unless she's two weeks past due, but I might be wrong so don't take that as gospel.

[twa]

If they break the water, the baby will need to be delivered within 12 hours. Breaking the water does not induce labor. They'll give petocin (sp?) to induce the labor.

Yep
http://www.childbirth.org/articles/pit.html

I'd want a reason before allowing them to break the water

[Stadium-Armory]

My wife and I have four kids, and we delivered each of them via 'the bradley method': no drugs, no epidural, no induction.

Without being too long winded about it, I'll say that there's a 'drive through' mentality to child birth that we were able to avoid by being informed and confident. I've heard stories of doctors wanting to schedule inductions because they are going on vacation, or whatever the situation may be. **** that. Your baby will come when its ready and a doctor worth a salt should put you first. Its your choice, don't let them strong arm you in to anything. Wait, the baby will come :) (At some point, if the baby is way way past the due date, certainly its reasonable to induce).

http://www.bradleybirth.com/

[Skinz4Life12]

no epidural? wow that's hardcore. that was probably an easier decision for you to make than it was for her :)

[hunterx]

Thanks for the replies, seems like we are all in the same line of thoughas me. I wasn't at her appointment last week and I don't know why they would talk about inducing her or admitting her too soon. I don't see a reason to rush it unless there is a life at risk, and there isn't at this point. I think she is just anxious for the baby to come, but also being the mother she is nervous as to why they want to admit her at 4cm without heavy contractions and even mentioned induction.

[Stadium-Armory]

no epidural? wow that's hardcore. that was probably an easier decision for you to make than it was for her :)

Yea, it was totally her decision I just followed her lead. 4 times.

[Corcaigh]

Both of ours were drug free too. Just a TENS machine to help with pain management.

Both were born at home supported via a community midwife program. We didn't plan the first one that way, but planning and "delivery" don't always align on a project like this. :ols:

EDIT: first was a week early, second was a week late.

[LadySkinsFan]

Four cms dilation means that bacteria can be introduced into the uterus, so that's why they will then induce. They may give her pitocyn to bring on labor and they may insert a "hook" to break the placenta to bring on labor. Beware of the hook not working the first time in. If it is pulled out, insist on them using a new, sterile hook. They didn't on me, I ended up with an infection, baby went to NICU and I couldn't see her for almost 3 days after birth. I also ended up having a C-section. The above is one reason why I only had 1 child. That and I never had sex with a man again, the Great Heterosexual Experiment was over!