This will be short and sweet, since I feel like too much on the topic is really unnecessary.
I really, really, really wish that OB's would tell their first time moms the risks of induction. I realize that its more convenient for the patient, and more convenient for the dr.'s to just schedule inductions these days, but you never really hear the statistics of those inductions that end up in c-sections.
I was a "great" candidate for an induction. I was 5cm dilated, and already contracting. They broke my water and started pitocin. I never dilated past 7cm. Even though hind sight is always 20/20, I think that had I waited until my body did its own thing, miss O's birth would've been vaginal and a lot less traumatic.
But, no one told me that an induction has higher possibilities of ending in a c-section.
So, that's all I want. Just for women to KNOW this fact before they sign up for that time slot.
7 comments:
AMEN SISTER!!! It is SO frustrating to hear of a woman getting induced BEFORE her due date with her first baby. A lot of my friends have had this and it always ends up with either an epidural or c-section. Let your body do the work, and if it stalls, then weigh the risks and benefits. I guess it all go back to making sure you are well educated in childbirth well before your due date.
I totally agree. So, so. Induction is so common and I swear every time I hear about someone getting induced they either had a scary delivery, with baby's heart rate going up and down from the pitocin, or the mom getting a fever from her epidural, which is a very common side effect, or of course the "failure to progress" issue that pushes women into c sections they very likely didn't need if the doctor had encouraged them wait until their body and the baby were actually ready to do the work.
Bottom line, you can't just blindly trust doctors. Just because they tell you, "Sure, we can induce you next week, it's close enough" that doesn't mean it's the best option for you. You still gotta do your research.
Of course I'm not talking about people who induce for medical reasons. No judgement there. I just don't think CONVENIENCE is a good enough reason, personally.
I completely agree! That was one of the many things I loved about my OB/GYN who delivered my babies -- he let me go almost two weeks overdue with my first baby because he refused to do inductions that weren't medically necessary. My daughter was in no distress, I was feeling fine and really wanted to avoid an induction, and he was totally on board with me. He felt strongly that a woman's body should be given a chance to do its own thing, and I remember him telling me, "we don't want you to end up with a c-section you didn't need just because we got impatient." Wish there were more doctors like him!
Yes, so many women DON'T know. Even though I was induced with some of my labors, I did KNOW the risk so it was my own fault if it came to that. Although, my dr did not tell me that risk, I just happened to know it myself.
I wonder what the percentages of that are. I was induced with my son, but that was because I had elevated blood pressure. I didn't have complications from the induction, but I did end up getting an epidural (that I was hoping to avoid) because of the ups and downs they kept doing with the pitocin.
But I do know plenty of people who had a c-section after being induced too. I hope that my sister and sister-in-law don't have to deal with that.
Devan- exactly my point! I don't care if you want to get induced- its your body and your baby. However, I hate the fact that so many women don't know that you are at more of a risk to get a c/s than if you just waited until your body did it on its own. Just giving the facts and letting someone decide on their own. :)
Mommy Daisy- There's an artical I stummbled apon in my search for statistics. Its only a study done on nulliparas, (fancy dr. term for women who have never given birth.) It claims that induction doubles the rate of c/s in first time moms. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYD/is_1_38/ai_96891958/
I have been induced with my last two pregnancies, and HATED IT!! I wish that they would let me go into labor on my own, but I am extremely high risk. They won't even let me go to my due date. But I have a great doctor, and I haven't had to have a C-section or an epidural. Thank you for putting this out there for the mom's who don't know the risks.
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