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When Labor May Be Induced (and my responses)
- Aug 27, 2009 at 12:23 AM
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Health Tip: When Labor May Be Induced
(HealthDay News) -- Labor is induced in about 20 percent of U.S. pregnant women, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says.
Labor may be induced -- causing the woman's cervix to open in preparation for a vaginal birth -- if the health of the mother or baby is threatened, the ACOG says. Here are some possible reasons for labor induction:
- If the woman is more than 42 weeks pregnant. -- WHY? There have been no studies showing an indication for routine induction past an EDD (ESTIMATED due date) which could be off by two weeks or more. Ask yourself, how many women do you know have been induced or pressured to induce WELL BEFORE 42 weeks of pregnancy? Most inductions, in fact, are done between 38 and 40 weeks, which is leading to a risk of pre-term and low birth weight babies, who are then sent to the NICU, have to fight off infection, have more breathing problems, at a huge cost to the parents and the country.
- If the woman has pregnancy-related high blood pressure. Granted, pre-eclampsia and/or eclampsia can be a definite medical reason for induction.. however, careful monitoring, home treatment including bed rest, as well as proper nutrition, rest, and prenatal care will go far in preventing and treating pregnancy related high blood pressure.
- If the woman has a uterine infection. To be determined how and by whom? The body is not inept at caring for a pregnant mother and her unborn baby.. in fact, infections of many sorts can cause labor to begin, even pre-term. Therefore, for a woman to not go into labor while having an infection would raise the question of if there is an infection in the first place. Not all documented infections would require something as drastic as induction of labor, either! Again, careful monitoring, perhaps treatment of the infection and/or bed rest, fluids and more are chosen by women all over the world.
- If the woman has a condition called placental abruption, where the placenta pulls away from the inner wall of the uterus. This may actually lead doctors to decide to deliver the baby by Cesarean section. This one I would not question as far as choosing to make sure mom and baby are safe... while some abruptions heal, many do not, however they are very RARE. What I do question is stimulating a uterus that is already having a bleeding problem.. medically with artificial/synthetic drugs. Be sure to find out the risks and benefits of any and all procedures before proceeding.
- If the woman's water breaks too early. Breaks too early for what or whom? Your body will continue to make amniotic fluid, particularly if there is no dehydration issue. A few simple rules of not inserting things vaginally reduces/minimizes infection. Ask yourself if your doctor is on a time table. Avoid going to the hospital.. one of the most likely places to pick up an infection and avoid VE's (vaginal exams)!
As with all cases, every labor and birth is different and sometimes things take an unexpected turn. What I would like to remind you is that birth is a NORMAL, HEALTHY EVENT. It is not the medical crisis that surgeons (ob/gyns) are trained to expect. Believe in your body, believe in yourself! Educate yourself. Ask informed consent questions:
WHAT procedure or course of treatment are you recommending?
WHY are you recommending it? Is this the "ways it's done" or are there other options?
HOW would it be done and what are the risks/benefits?
WHEN would it need to be done and what would happen if we wait?
WHERE will I see improvement? Where can I find more resources on this?
An induction quickly becomes a cascade of interventions.... some you may not have planned on or expected. Believe in the power of birth-- your body is not broken! Your body is an amazing well of knowledge, nature, wisdom, beauty, power, and strength!
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Comments:
Thanks for posting this! I would think that in a case of abruption that inducing is asking for problems, in my opinion its safer to do a c-section (true abruption prior to or during labor).
I was going to say the same thing as Cynthje: If there were a true abruption (a nurse once told me an abruption shows up on the monitors as a very distinctly abnormal pattern) I'd be wanting emergency surgery, not drugs to artificially stimulate my uterus even more.
I agree.. although I have seen two abruptions during labor that sealed over. However, labor was already underway naturally, birth was imminent and the risks/benefits were discussed. I do know there is no way I would allow artificial stimulation of my uterus if there was an abruption.
Wonderful!
This plus many more ridiculous reasing doctors push inductions that are unnecesary! (big baby? GBS+? etc...)
They also dont seem to mention that once your labor is induced your chance of an "emergency" c-section skyrockets to over 50%.
i COMPLETELY disagree with the blood pressure thing.......and i think its dangerous that you are suggesting that someone with medical issues not listen to their doctor.
Placentas tend to piss out earlier on women with high blood pressure. Preeclampsia that goes untreated can cause organ damage and kill the baby.
I fully disagreew ith you on pre-e. I developed severe pre-e in week 35 of my pregnancy. So we decided to induce. I never even got a dose of pitocin...my kidneys were no longer functioning and I required and emergency c-section. Its a good thing I didn't argue with the doc and go home to be on bed rest.
Also I had health issues when I was born post term. I had seriously low blood sugar, which was blamed on being born post term. Mom said it was somehting about glucose producing stores run out.
Might I just add that the average length of a 1st pregnancy is OVER 41 weeks and the average for subsequent pregnancies is over 40, so 42-43 weeks is WELL within the healthy range.
I love your posts!
- Jade812
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