Lets face it! The last couple weeks of pregnancy are miserable, uncomfortable, and downright painful for some women. One thing women do not take into consideration in most cases in the end of pregnancy are the risks of labor induction, and the benefits of allowing labor to start on its own without medical intervention to jump start it.
With nearly half of all American women having their labors started, and 60% of women having their labor augmented or sped up in the 
hospital through medications, this information is increasingly important.
But why should women let labor start on its own?
There are a variety of different reasons :
- Pitocin contractions are much stronger than contractions of a normal labor. I can attest to this as I have had pitocin with one labor, and a natural labor with my second child. Pitocin causes much stronger contractions which can have an impact on mom and baby.
- Induction normally requires some kind of an IV line, which can make getting comfortable, changing positions, or moving around much more difficult.
- Because induction drugs such as pitocin cause longer, and stronger contractions, this can sometimes set the baby into fetal distress, which is typically seen with heart rate issues.
- When your labor starts on its own, in the majority of cases, you can know that your baby is truly ready to be born.
A 2007 research study showed an increased risk for complications in inducted labor which included :
- Increased use of vacuum extraction, or forcep-assisted delivery.
- Cesarean Section (40% of all inductions will end in a cesarean delivery)
- Increased use or need for an epidural, or medication based pain relief methods.
- Babies born with low birth weights.
- An increase in late pre-term deliveries. (33-36 weeks gestation)
- Longer hospital stays
- Increased NICU stays for the newborns
But how do you know when labor induction is necessary, and when it is not?
In some cases, and conditions during pregnancy, a labor induction may be medically necessary, and it is important you speak with a trusted provider about these situations to discuss the risks and benefits, and weigh out your own situation.
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) formally known as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has set guidelines for labor induction, and in some cases their own members are not following these guidelines and suggestions. The six situations that ACOG has identified, and recommended induction for are :
- Ruptured membranes for longer than 12-24 hours. Meaning, if your water has broken, and your labor has not started within 12-24 hours, augmenting of labor may be medically necessary. This does not mean that the baby must be delivered within 12-24 hours of the water breaking!
- You have an increase in your blood pressure caused by the pregnancy, or a condition we know called preeclampsia.
- Your pregnancy is post term, or overdue. This means over 42 weeks gestation. Not because you have met your due date.
- You have other health issues such as diabetes, or gestational diabetes that could have an impact on the health of your baby.
- Your baby is growing too slowly, or may be suffering from a form of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
- An infection in the uterus.
These are the cases that ACOG suggests inducting labor for.
When is induction not necessary?
Induction is not medically necessary, or necessary in several cases or situations we see many inductions taking place for today. Some of these reasons include :
- A suspected “big baby“ If mom and baby are healthy, and fine, induction for fetal macrosomia (a baby bigger than 8 pounds 12 ounces) is not a reason for an induction.
- You are uncomfortable…
- Your amniotic fluid is low, but you and your baby are otherwise healthy.
We are all uncomfortable towards the end of our pregnancies! We have a bowling ball sitting on our bladder and grinding into our pelvic bone, it is just preparation of the uncomfortable situations motherhood is going to bring too! Hahah!
What kind of questions should you ask your provider if induction is suggested?
Being a critical thinker, investigator, and overall looking into your care is almost always a smart idea, and can help you out in the long run. I learned this through my first pregnancy, and it make my second pregnancy and birth much more pleasant. Some sample questions include :
- Why are you recommending labor induction?
- What are the risks to me, and my baby if I wait for labor to begin naturally?
- Can we try more natural methods of induction before using drugs?
- What kind of natural methods of induction do you recommend?
- Are there any research studies that show decreased risk, and decreased likelihood of a unhealthy outcome in my situation?
- Is my induction likely to be successful?
- What is my Bishop Score and how does that impact my success rate?
- Is my cervix ripe? (Your provider can tell you if your cervix is ripe. Women who are induced before their cervix is ripe are much more likely to have cesareans, even if cervical ripening drugs are used.)
Just to close my post up today… A due date is not a deadline! In most cases, studies show that estimated due dates, can and still are up to two full weeks incorrect in either direction today. With the advances in ultrasound technology, and other methods of dating a pregnancy, there is still room for error.
Wow, intense! fact of the matter is c-sections are more about what’s best for the medical establishment, and less about saving anyone. Hospitals make more than 2X the $ for a c-section as for a normal vaginal birth. I am a CLE and when I did my clinical hours at the hospital by agency works with I was distraught at how normal healthy birthing women are treated. No babies yet for me, but when I do start my family, I’m birthing my babies in the bathtub. El, keep posting, MANY of us are learning from you experiences and won’t allow ourselves to be scared into surgeries.
Labor inductions. Dr’s impatience and hospital bottom line seems to sum up that whole procedure.
[...] Let Labor Begin on its Own! – Pregnancy, Parenthood & Playtime … [...]
[...] Avoid Elective Labor Inductions [...]
[...] for labor induction, especially since labor should only be induced for necessary medical reasons. Letting labor begin on its own is key for a healthy birth experience for women. It is also the way our bodies are meant to work in [...]
Well DUH you see it all the time on the Birth Day show! Those shows are geared toward women who have emergencies! It’s TELEVISION! Man if you don’t know that the media puts exciting emergencies all over it instead of boring, normal, uncomplicated pregnancies….. Tell me about these women? Perfectly NORMAL uncomplicated pregnancies? No pre-eclampsia? No Diabetes? Breech baby? No Physical malformations or deformities of the uterus, vagina, or cervix? etc…
I never claimed that you DID know women who have had those risks. But your answer actually supports my point of it’s less common to have risky pregnancies than the media makes it out to be. If you put down the remote and read a book (Gentle Birth Choices, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Birth the Bradley Way, just to name a few), or a watched a documentary (The Business of Being Born), or perhaps looked up some WHO information on the web, you might be better informed. Unfortunately for you, at this point you are just a victim of our country’s focus and trust on the media for all their information.
MY FIRST C-SECTION WAS UNNECESSARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am not claiming it was necessary!
I personally know of none but then again I never said I did. But on the Birth Day show I see it all the time. Elwood has said in many different places that her first was unnecessary. My statements are fact.
Additionally, how many women do you personally know that have had severe risks post 40 weeks? That, until that point, had had completely normal, low-risk, uncomplicated pregnancies?
Just because you don’t believe that doctors don’t do unnecessary C-sections doesn’t mean they don’t do unnecessary C-Sections. El has NEVER said that BOTH of her c-sections were unnecessary. In fact, I just went back to her birth stories and re-read them to see if maybe I was mistaken. And to my benefit, I was not. Her stories are about her first unnecessary C-section and her second LIFE-SAVING C-section. Are you sure you speak only English? Because it would appear that we’re reading from 2 very different web-pages and talking about 2 different women. Maybe the woman that you’re reading from doesn’t know what she’s talking about, but I KNOW that the woman I read from is smart as hell and INCREDIBLY educated.
I’m going to assume that you have a close relative or friend whose life was saved because of a C-section. And that’s amazing. I’m so happy that the doctors were there for her. I’m also going to assume that the complications that lead to the C-section were NOT because of doctor screw-ups and interventions. I’m going to assume they were legitimate medical emergencies. That being said, I’m thrilled that lives were saved. But you’re coming from an emotional point of view. You’re defending a stand-point that doesn’t need to be defended. We KNOW that inductions are sometimes necessary (sometimes being the key word). But they are not always necessary. We KNOW that C-sections can and do save lives. But it is not always necessary to perform them. We KNOW that the risk for complications increases past 40 weeks. But do those risks outweigh the risks that come along with induction, epidural, and C-Section? Our point is that these things occur too often when they are NOT necessary.
Nothing you have said is based on fact or statistics. Yours are emotional arguments that will not pan out against facts and statistics. They are based on your feelings and your own personal experiential opinion. I’m afraid that you will not get a single one of us to agree with your arguments, especially about El. You’re making untrue claims about someone because you don’t agree with her. Not cool. Disagree. Fine. But support it with something solid and substantial, not flimsy and faulty.
The World Health Organization would disagree with you!
They estimate that almost HALF meaning 50% of c-sections are NOT medically necessary.
I can say that I was born in the United States and I speak only English. Can you say the same thing? Elwood has said many times that hers were unnecessary. I don’t believe that doctors do c-section unnevessarily. Pregnancies that go beyond 40 weeks can and do caused problem for the mother and the baby.
As entertaining as Beacons can be sometimes, she’s equally annoying. Beacons, is your native/first language English? I just want to make sure we are all ACTUALLY speaking the same language.
Once again, you’re failing to recognize the IMPORTANT nuances of what is stated by El, Krista, and myself. Never once have any of us said induction is NEVER necessary or C-Sections NEVER save lives. Again, I have several friends who LEGITIMATELY needed these interventions, and I’m THRILLED that our country is blessed to have these interventions when they are MEDICALLY NECESSARY. And I’m quite sure that El would claim that the C-section she had for her 2nd son WAS necessary and likely saved her son’s life. What we are against are UNNECESSARY inductions and C-cections. That means “inductions and C-Sections that are unnecessary” NOT “Inductions and C-Sections are unnecessary.” Doctors tend to be risk managers instead of birth supporters. That’s what we have a problem with. When the mother and/or baby are in LEGITIMATE distress, thank God our OBs are trained for that kind of thing. Doctor’s rely too much on their technology in order to control labor which is not an exact science. It is not a normal bodily process that is meant to be controlled, much like when a person dies. The AVERAGE person lives to be about 80-85 years old, but you don’t see people helping them die quicker if they go past that age. In fact, you see people trying to make them live longer. It’s the same thing with pregnancy. You can’t rush it. Baby will comes when baby is ready, just like people will die when it’s their time.
The AVERAGE pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. That means that there are some that go shorter, and some that go LONGER. Pregnancies that last LONGER than 40 weeks are necessary in order to calculate this average. I would bet, however, that if the gestational age at time of birth of 1,000 babies were averaged out, it would be LESS than 40 weeks now because of all of the unnecessary interventions that occur in our country.
IN SOME CASES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Learn how to read!
No they don’t. You say that they are unnecessary.
Um, well apparently YOU aren’t educated enough to READ because the majority of my posts INCLUDE exactly what you typed.
Go crawl back under your rock.
You’re not educated enough to know that c-sections save lifes. Not educated enough to know medical intervention is sometimes necessary to get a healthy baby.
I agree el! I agree!!!! Well I mean that I agree that you ARE educated, not that you’re not educated. You get it….
That is your opinion, I disagree as most do.
You are not very well educated at all.
No, I am simply educated.
You just assume
Beacons, It’s interesting because I’m quite sure that I read the same birth stories as you, and I am quite pleased that everything that I read in her birth stories IS lining up with what she’s saying here. I haven’t found one single thing in anything el has posted that does not line up with her pregnancy, labor, and birth philosophy or with her own personal birthing experiences. And she did NOT want the first induction. Nowhere in her birth story does she say “I wanted an induction.” And I quote:
“At my last visit at 39 weeks and change, the Wicked Witch expressed concern that I was losing weight (15 pounds by this point) and that we should go ahead and schedule an induction before it has an impact on my son. Of course like any mother would, I freaked out and agreed. I didn’t want to have something happen to him, and in a way, I was happy because I was uncomfortable like EVERY pregnant woman was in the end.
I went in that Tuesday to get induced.”
She states that she freaked out and agreed. Yes she also states that she was happy because she was uncomfortable and worried about her baby because she trusted her doctor. She was a first time mom and misinformed, just like most of the women in our country. But that does NOT mean that she WANTED the induction.
Weightloss could mean that nutrients aren’t getting to your body and hence, not to the baby, meaning an undernourished baby. So induction for weightloss “could” be plausible. Beacons…where oh where did you get your information from? It does not sound like you’ve read ANYTHING at all. It sounds 100% like you are responding out of PURE emotion and experience instead of facts and statistics.
I know exactly who you are, and I know exactly what happened in my pregnancies, as well as births.
It is SILLY of you to assume you actually know the full story of what someone else went through
and all the details of a strangers experiences.
Your stories are all over the net and what you have said in them is not what you are posting here. You making yourself look really silly by assuming that you know who I am.
There were a bunch of various speculations by my provider at the time, which included fetal growth restriction which is no joke.
You know nothing about them PJ so stop pretending.
Why would an induction need to be done because of weight loss. Yes Elwood I do know about your pregancies because ou have posted them all over the net.
No, I was told I needed an induction because I had lost 15 pounds in less than a month after my brother in law died.
And all the complications I had with my pregnancy to begin with. You know nothing about my medical history or my
pregnancy with either of my children.
Beacons, it’s kinda weird how you focus on an absolute I didn’t even make and completely ignore all the points I *did* make. Oh right, that’s because you make absolutely no sense and have no facts to back up your position. I don’t mind continuing the conversation because if you’re reading what we’re writing maybe we’ll eventually influence you for good!
Katie, I don’t know you but it sounds like you really know your stuff! It’s really important to be open-minded and well educated as a parent and I think you’re getting off to a great start! I love your posts too
Katie, Elwood wanted the induction the first time.
PS Beacons…3 cm after 7 hours of labor with intervention is NOTHING.
My sister was only 3 after 9 hours of natural labor and then ROCKETED to 10 in the last 2 hours of labor for her 3rd child. And 4th?! 5 cm after 5 hours of hard labor, and then to 10 cm 3o minutes later! Every woman is different, but I’m sure you know that already.
Beacons I agree with you that not all women should or CAN have a natural birth. I’m 100% sure I’ve NEVER claimed that that is the case. I would never make that claim. I thank God that there are Ob/Gyns for people like elwood(and her SECOND birth), who NEEDED interventions. I just found out that my friend Kris has 2 uteruses and an anatomical malformation in her cervix and/or vagina that is going to make it literally impossible for her to have a vaginal birth. THANK GOD FOR OB/GYNS! Thank God for Ob/Gyns when my cousin has Pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes and is extremely high risk. Thank God!
And I thank God that truly many babies ARE born healthy with these interventions. But not without consequences.
What you’re missing in El’s stories about her births is that in the FIRST birth there were interventions; an unnecessary induction which lead to an epidural, and ultimately a C-Section. Not uncommon. It is VERY common for women who are induced TOO EARLY to not progress? Why we ask? Why are they not progressing!?! We gave them the drugs! We are letting them relax by giving them an epidural! Why isn’t she dilating?! The answer? Because the baby isn’t ready to come out! It’s just not the right time. If the baby isn’t ready, it’s highly possible that the mother will not progress. Which is what happened with El’s first child. Interventions GALORE!
And with her second? There was a biological, physical reason she wasn’t progressing. Baby was stuck and in a distressful situation. This is how her labor progressed naturally. Did it suck? Hell yea! Is she still likely frustrated that she had a C-Section? Most likely! But my guess is she’s VERY grateful that there ARE ob/gyns available that can help in those legitimate emergencies. Otherwise, who knows how poorly her second birth could have turned out.
But is she still going to fight against UNNECESSARY interventions? My guess is hell yea.
Beacons, do you know what circular logic is? Look it up. I think you’ll be able to relate.
Interesting since big babies seem to get mentioned so often…I just found out my friend Misty was told she was DEFINITELY going to have a big baby…8.5 pounds! (but not that big). Her BIG BABY was 5.7 pounds. I have NO idea how she birthed that BIG BABY!? Doctors can be wrong. Very very wrong.
In my experience, the women who are “ok” with the way that their baby came into the world don’t always know that they could have had a different birth. What you often find are women who have accepted the way their child came into the world as opposed to being HAPPY about that. Of course these women are happy that their children are happy. Quite honestly, I’ll be MORE thrilled and relieved that my baby is alive and healthy if I, for whatever reason, have to have interventions with this baby because I’m SO incredibly aware of all the risks. I’ll be thrilled that the doctors didn’t kill my baby or me with all their interventions.
And here’s the thing. I know at least 2 women personally who had labor interventions and had MORE difficulty connecting with the child connected with that labor and birth than they did with their other children who were birthed naturally. Being a parent is difficult enough as it is. Why make it harder on yourself or on the mother? That’s why I initially started checking out natural childbirth…I’m TERRIFIED to be a mom, and I know that I want to do everything in my utmost power to be a good mom, and what I’ve found is that it starts with Pregnancy, labor, and birth. It doesn’t start AFTER the baby is born.
I am NOT saying that babies born with interventions are doomed to an unhappy life as I’m sure Beacons will go there in a minute. Nor am I saying that mommy and baby will NEVER be connected if interventions are used. What I’m saying is, why risk it? Why add to the stressors of being a parent? I’m sure I’m speaking to a brick wall as I type this, but I still feel the need to get it out. I’m not even sure why I bother because I’m sure some ridiculous claim about birth through c-section is completely natural and that monkeys can fly to the North moon will come up. But I’m still going to try. And if the intended audience isn’t reading, I’ll at least have a couple people reading to take a look and nod along in agreement, just as I’ve done with all their posts.
That doesn’t change that 40% of women induced with end up with c-sections.
Clearly if she was already 4cm dilated, she was READY to be induced, and her provider actually know
what and how the Bishop Score works.
As for the risk of hysterectomy, it increases with every c-section… some information on this :
1st Cesarean
Risk of Hysterectomy : 0.65% (1 in 154)
Risk of Blood Transfusion : 4.05% (1 in 25)
Risk of Placenta Accreta : 0.24% (1 in 417)
2nd Cesarean
Risk of Hysterectomy : 0.42% (1 in 238)
Risk of Blood Transfusion : 1.53% (1 in 65)
Risk of Placenta Accreta : 0.31% (1 in 325)
Risk of Major Complications : 4.3% (1 in 23)
Risk of Dense Adhesion’s : 21.6% (1 in 5)
3rd Cesarean
Risk of Hysterectomy : 0.9% (1 in 111)
Risk of Blood Transfusion : 2.26% (1 in 44)
Risk of Placenta Accreta : 0.57% (1 in 165)
Risk of Major Complications : 7.5% (1 in 13)
Risk of Dense Adhesion’s : 32.2% (1 in 3)
4th Cesarean
Risk of Hysterectomy : 2.41% (1 in 41)
Risk of Blood Transfusion : 3.65% (1 in 27)
Risk of Placenta Accreta : 2.13% (1 in 47)
Risk of Major Complications : 12.5% (1 in 8)
Risk of Dense Adhesion’s : 42.2% (2 in 5)
Krista. My nephews wife was dilated to a 4 for the last week. They inducted yesterday and she delivered with no problems last night. so your idea that one would have a c-section today is wrong. A woman having a vaginalbirth could end up having a hysterectomy, too.
Ooops, in the woman who was an HBA4C- 3 c-section were after inductions. 1 was because she was already a c-section mama thanks to over zealous doctors.
Yes, Beacon, all of the issues (well, not getting nicked by a scalpel) I mentioned can happen in a vaginal birth. However research (yep I have many studies I can link you to but I won’t bother because I know you won’t look at them and I know you definitely haven’t researched this for years like myself) indicates that they are MORE likely to happen with c-section births. Like hysterectomy for example, with a VBAC (probably even lower risk if you haven’t had a c-section) there is a 1 in 435 you will need a c-section. There is 2x a chance of needing a hysterectomy if you have a c-section instead of a vaginal birth. I personally know many women that are forced into 3rd and 4th c-sections because of lack of support from Drs and guess what?? There is a 1 in 41 chance that a woman will need a hysterectomy during a 4th c-section, 1 in 8 chance that there will be *some* complication during a 4th c-section- whether it be hysterectomy, injury to bladder, bowel, thromboembolism (oh yeah, that kills people too), and/or additional surgery due to hemorrhage.
Ya know what, here are some articles just for kicks. And guess what?? They are even written by an OB (with a real MD) who are concerned about unnecessary intervention (like what is mentioned in Danielle’s article), the rising c-section rate and its risks.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/20100426_Test_leads_to_needless_C-sections.html#axzz0prCoLk8f
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/health_science/weekly/20100531_Dangerous_delivery_shows_peril_of_multiple_C-sections.html#axzz0prCeIU4b
Oh, and for what it’s worth- women can have slow dilation for a variety of reasons. One reason is the sphincter law- ever tried to go the bathroom with a room full of people watching?? Birth is like that for some, everything shuts down when they perceive danger. Add induction when you’re body isn’t ready, not being allowed to eat or move during the most physically trying moments of your life, and a DR who is impatient and you have yourself a recipe for c-section. You yourself said that you were in labor for 3 days. Danielle was given a tenth of that time. You *wouldn’t* have had a vaginal birth in a hospital today just like many other women today don’t- because Doctors often can’t just wait and stop messing with nature.
I’ve had several friends who have had multiple c-sections and that were told they had big babies or they’re body didn’t dilate, go into labor on their own, etc and that they would always *need* c-sections. All of those women have gone on to have vaginal births (with patient, caring homebirth midwives, of course). If you don’t believe it happens check out this video of a woman who had a vaginal birth after FOUR c-sections. All 4 of her c-section were after inductions where Doctors assumes she couldn’t birth her babies. She proved them wrong the 5th time when she was able to avoid induction and do as nature intended:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUBriTYAgSo
I wish you the best of luck on your HBA2C, Danielle!
Its ok, all of the IP addresses you have registered with have been in Utah
Again Elwood one does not always live where their ip address is.
Your IP address says differently
As for the trauma, or unliked birth outcomes, I know very few people in Connecticut who feel like this. Maybe a dozen who have come to ICAN of Connecticut for support.
Most are all over the country, from Florida to Ohio, and California to New York state. ICAN has chapters in nearly every state in the US, as well as several countries Internationally making this a world wide issue.
Again Elwood I DO NOT LIVE IN UTAH. And well maybe it’s just a thing where you live. I know many people all over the United States and all they care about is a healthy baby not how the baby came into the world.
Well then maybe that is just a Utah thing.
Well come to think of it, no so much because I know a woman becoming a midwife who lives in Utah who had a c-section and
hated it. So I guess it must just be the circle of people you know.
There are women EVERYWHERE who didn’t like their experience, vaginal or cesarean.
Like I have said most women I know don’t care how the baby came. Just that the baby was healthy.
[...] number for labor induction, especially since labor should only be induced in a medical situation. Letting labor begin on its own is key for a successful natural birth experience for so many women. It is also the way our bodies [...]
What does one have to do with the other?
There are thousands of women out there that are unhappy about their births, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t grateful or thankful for their children. Insinuating that is just stupid and ignorant.
If everyone was so peachy keen about their births, there wouldn’t be international support groups for mothers like ICAN or Solice for Mothers.
You are unhappy about their births.
Do you not know how to read?
Where have I ever said that I am not happy I have two healthy boys?
Something you are making up?
Then did you lie in your stories? Because they both say you weren’t dilating. You are just not happy that you had to have a c-sectionnever mind that you have two healthy boys.
My birth stories are posted for all to see, nothing to hide.
http://momotics.com/births/
I think I would know what happened, I mean, I was there… LOL
In the stories that I read you said that you weren’t dilating.
Yes, I did have a second c-section to save my son’s life. He was STUCK. He was in the direct OP position and became stuck. I progressed further than 3cm which I did with my first labor, meaning dilation was not an issue.
I know exactly what happened. I stopped dilating, because he was not dropping into the birth canal. He was stuck at a -1 station because of his positioning.
My birth stories are no secret, they are posted on my personal blog, along with a video depicting both journeys.
I am not sure of your point though.
But yet you had a c-section the second time. I have read your birth stories where you have said that you were not dilating.
I was not dilating fast enough, 3cm at 7 hours into an induction is not failure to progress or not being able to dilate.
Had I had a real issue dilating, then I wouldn’t have progressed further in my second labor.
Thankfully with my second child, I switched to a much better provider, a loving midwife who not only spent an awesome amount of time
with me, but stuck with me for my whole duration in the hospital, my entire cesarean delivery, took pictures for us, and spent time with me
every morning before leaving the hospital for the office to see her normal patients.
Krista, Everything you mentioned can happen during a normal birth too.
You have said many times that you were not dilating. I guess the difference between you provider and mine is that mine cared enough to stay with me during the whole labor and delivery.
Actually, I could have delivered my first child with no problem had my provider not decided it was time for her to go home for the day.
7 hours with an induced labor is SHORT for allowing a trial of labor. There was no reason for my first cesarean section at all.
And I will deliver my third child
Katie, None of my children were delivered by an ob. Not all women can or will have the baby naturqlly. Not even Elwood could deliver could deliver her babies by herself. When you don’t dilate the baby can’t be born without help.
Katie- Thank you for the links! I’m glad that you’re taking the time to educate yourself so that you have facts to base your decisions on instead of blindly listening to the Doctor’s scare tactics. I wish you a safe and happy birth!
Beacons- I don’t know why I even bother responding to you because your logic is so flawed. You JUST stated that you went into labor with your own child ON YOUR OWN (no induction) 12 days past your “due date”. Do you have any idea how difficult that is to accomplish in this day and age? Almost all women who go to an OB are guaranteed that their Doctor will attempt several times to induce them between 40 and 41 weeks. It’s best for their wallet, calendar, and malpractice insurance. And guess what?? Many women’s bodies aren’t ready at that point (you just agreed with that by stating you went to 41weeks 5days). Therefore, the induction leads to a host of other problems for both mother and baby who are not ready for the experience that Docs and pitocin force them into.
It’s is not asinine for a woman to hope that when her child’s delivery is over there is a happy and healthy mom AND baby. It doesn’t have to be one or the other, they aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. And not that I have to justify anything to you but avoiding c-sections IS what is healthier for my children too (not just me). Medical research has shown that c-sections increase the chances of MY CHILDREN having asthma, trouble breastfeeding, nicked with the scalpel during surgery, spending time in the NICU, being stillborn, miscarried, having placenta problems…the list goes on. Not to mention infection, massive blood loss, hysterectomy, infertility, post-partum depression or post-traumatic stress syndrome, and maternal death as a risk to the mother. Certainly a dead or severely depressed mother isn’t healthy for a child either, is it??
As woman we should be working together to make this world a safer, happier, and healthier place for us all instead of tearing each other into shreds.
Ladies, Beacons is obviously missing a few screws. She keeps repeating the same arguments even though they make no sense whatsoever. This is an excellently cited NON-biased article that is simply providing information. It is not aggressive in any way and it is obvious there is no hidden agenda.
The take away from this can be summed up with two points: 1. women have been delivering babies since the dawn of time, and our bodies KNOW how to do it. We don’t need drugs, surgery, or doctors tellings us what the body innately knows better than any doctor could ever know. 2. Did you know, Beacons, that the United States has the 2nd HIGHEST infant mortality rate of any industrialized nation in the world? Go look it up, I promise it is true. That being said, I don’t think the system is working that fabulously. The power that MADE the body HEALS the body…AND delivers babies.
Katie- you may be interested in this article: http://www.naturalnews.com/028853_ultrasound_fetus.html
Thanks for the post!
[...] labor induction. Despite so many resources that show labor should begin on its own, when there is no medical induction for labor [...]
You couldn’t POSSIBLY be more wrong beacons. I’ve heard time and time again from women I personally know, and from stories that I’ve read on the internet, that they have had their labors induced because doctor’s fear a big baby. Prime example: My friend Lauren was told, based on the ultrasound (which is actually pretty unreliable) that she was DEFINITELY going to have a big baby (over 8 pounds, which BTW is NOT a big baby). She refused the c-section, birthed her daughter when she was ready to come out, and she was a whopping 6.5 lbs. WHOA! The doctors were wrong?! Who’da thunk?
I’m BARELY in my 3rd trimester and I’ve been told by my caregivers that there’s the possibility that I’m going to have a big baby (fortunately I know more about my body, what I’m eating, and my family’s history than they do). There’s also the possibility that I’m going to sprout wings and fly to the North Pole, but it’s very unlikely. First of all, there’s NO way they could even know this because my baby is still growing and has NEVER measured big in the ultrasounds. Women have also been told they have an inefficient pelvis for the size of their baby and are not even given a chance to try to birth their baby.
I’m well aware that elwood didn’t write it herself. But somebody wrote the study BASED ON TRUE STATISTICS. Statistics which I’ve seen replicated time and time again. My mother works in the NICU in a hospital in DE, and at any given time, several of her babies are there because the doctor’s induced mommy too soon because baby was measuring too large. Oh, and by the way, their main problem was low birth weight. I’m not sure where you get your information from, but it’s about as unreliable as a screen door in a sub-marine.
See Paula, I don’t need to google anything.
I am not the one making the claim. Typically, when someone makes a claim about something, it is their responsibility to prove what they have said.
The burden of proof is on you at this point.
Try google
Really? Can you cite your sources for your claims?
It’s only assoicated with low birth wieght if an induction is done because the baby has stopped growing or if there are other problems. Otherwise it has nothing to do with the wieght of the baby. Again she didn’t write it she took it from some elses study.
Elwood, You have said many times and in many different places that you are a medical professional. I know many people do not agree with you.
You are right, I am not a medical professional. Never had been, and may never be one.
But I am an educated consumer, doula, and someone who works in the childbirth community.
Krista is not “listening” to me, she is simply agreeing with me, as many people do.
Wow, 4 posts in 1 day. Boy oh boy. I realized I didn’t cite the abstract.
http://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(05)00038-4/abstract
There we go!!:-)
This article briefly states information about low-amniotic fluid and “risk to the baby.” It also says that Induction ought to be the FINAL solution after 3 other things have been suggested.
http://prenatalyogacenter.com/blog/understanding-low-amniotic-fluid-in-late-pregnancy/
Another citation of that study:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press/2003/February/030207A.htm
Andddddddd here’s the abstract for the actual study from the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Hope this information has been helpful:-)
Some how I interrupted myself while I was typing something about elwood citing the information about high-risk situations and accidentally sent.
What I was saying is that elwood actually cites the information that you brought up as “reasons for a c-section.” I’m just going to re-copy that information for you, in case you can’t find it up top.
~~The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) formally known as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has set guidelines for labor induction, and in some cases their own members are not following these guidelines and suggestions. The six situations that ACOG has identified, and recommended induction for are :
* Ruptured membranes for longer than 12-24 hours. Meaning, if your water has broken, and your labor has not started within 12-24 hours, augmenting of labor may be medically necessary. This does not mean that the baby must be delivered within 12-24 hours of the water breaking!
* You have an increase in your blood pressure caused by the pregnancy, or a condition we know called preeclampsia.
* Your pregnancy is post term, or overdue. This means over 42 weeks gestation. Not because you have met your due date.
* You have other health issues such as diabetes, or gestational diabetes that could have an impact on the health of your baby.
* Your baby is growing too slowly, or may be suffering from a form of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
* An infection in the uterus.~~~
ACOG. The people we hold in charge of our uterus’s. They have made these claims for induction, NOT c-section.
Additionally, I’m waiting on my sister to find that article about amniotic fluid and risk to the baby as well. When I find it, I’ll be happy to share it with the whole class.
Beacons, if you actually read the article and read elwood’s comments, you’d understand that NOT ONCE did she claim that induction CAUSES low birth-weight babies. She said that induction is associated with low birth-weight babies, and I’m quite sure she even went into detail about the reason for that. Most women who schedule inductions for risk of a “big baby” often end up with babies that are 5, 6, or 7 pounds (which brings down the national average of birth-weights, hence low birth-weight baby), a size which most pelvis’s should be completely capable of handling.
The purpose of this article is to point out the dangers of UNNECESSARY inductions and UNNECESSARY c-sections. You brought up cases that fall under the “high-risk” category, which is NOT what this article is discussing. She also cites that information with-in the article as MEDICAL REASONS This article that elwood so beautifully wrote is about normal, low-risk pregnancies that have no other problems or complications other than being “post-due”. Our country is of a huge convenience factor and many many women are scheduling inductions and c-sections for convenience and at the suggestion of their doctors (many of whom have NEVER or RARELY seen an normal, natural, un-medicated birth). Elwood’s whole point is to discuss the dangers that accompany rushing the baby out of the womb, not to poo-poo MEDICALLY NECESSARY INTERVENTIONS.
Krista, if you are listening to her I feel sorry for you. I know plenty of women who have had c-section and have been just fine. Most women just want a healthy baby. My third child was 12 days over due. labor started on its own and then he got stuck. He arrived after 3 days of hard labor. I delivered him with no drugs. I guess some women are stronger than others. Elwood is NOT a medical professional.
Where did you get your MD from?
I have never claimed to be a medical professional.
I agree Krista! Beacons doesn’t understand, she is the “a healthy baby is all that matters” type of person.
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Katie, I’d appreciate that. Thanks! My 2nd was born at 42 weeks, 2 days. Very healthy and with none of the risks or “fetal death” (not even meconium)that the Docs were so worried about.
Beacons, C-sections CAN BE emotionally and physically overwhelming and all Danielle is trying to do is provide research and guidance to help women avoid unnecessary surgery. I don’t know what your agenda is but leave her be! I wish I had had someone like that giving me important life-changing information before I consented to my 1st unnecessary induction. I just didn’t know better. Beacons, until you’ve been in the shoes of someone like myself who has had 2 truly awful birth experiences please don’t judge us for trying to improve the environment we live in and attempting to empower our fellow women. I wouldn’t wish the depression and nightmares my c-sections have caused on anyone and if a little education can prevent that then more power to those who provide it!
Where there is a infection in the uterus a c-section is performed so the baby doesn’t get it. No medical experience is necessary to know that. Oh and by the way Elwood is not a medical professional either
Beacons, where did you get your MD from?
In the case of uterine infection, operating instead of inducing can cause a more serious infection, spread for infection, the chance of a antibiotic resistant infection, and a longer recovery
It’s not a fact that being inducted causes low birth weight in babies. Pictin does not cause low birth weight in babies. Low or no amniotic fluid is a reason for induction. Infection in the uterus is a reason for a c-section unless you want a very sick baby on your hands. C-section are not bad as she would have you believe. There are some people who babies were born with no drugs used which is best for the baby.
My sister is almost 2 weeks post-due at this point, and she actually did find an article about amniotic fluid levels and induction and the necessity (or lack there of…). I’ll see if I can find it.
PS beacons, how is this misinformation? I saw nothing non-factual in there. It fits with EVERYTHING that I have read myself.
Great article! I really wish someone had told me this info. before I agreed to my 1st child’s unnecessary induction. They really are more common and unnecessary than most women realize.
I found this article thanks to your births journey video. It was so beautiful. I echo all of your feelings and only wish I had the strength to face the birth of my sons (very similar to your stories) in the way you have yours.
By the way, I wouldn’t even bother responding to any ignorant comments you receive. The audience you are trying to reach will get your message and the others who choose to be blind to scientific research and facts can live with their own choice.
Oh, and if you have more info. on not inducing *just* for low amniotic fluid, could you e-mail it to me? The DRs tried inducing me with my last son for that reason and I knew they were trying to bully me and it was an inaccurate crock of crap!! Thanks!
The only uneducated, or foolish one here is you.
You are the one who looks foolish by posting all this misinformation.
Hahahaha I gotta admit I totally came back to see if Beacons had replied! And you’re right Beacons. People with common sense know NOT to take certain people seriously. I couldn’t agree more with you.
Which is why people come here to see your comments…. Comic amusement….
People with common sense don’t take certain people seriously.
Thanks Katie!
Good to see some out there with some common sense!
What a wonderfully cited article! Thanks for getting that information out there:-) I’m sure many people wouldn’t have done the research themselves, so thanks for doing it for us! Personally, I think you used the information you found in that article beautifully and look forward to reading more of your work!
Yes, I used a study to share information. Which was the whole point of the post.
When a study is published, it is something anyone can use the information for.
You look awfully silly Paula.
Yes, you used a study for your information, information that isn’t yours.
I said that I CITED a study. Do you know what that means?
There’s the PJ think again. You said that you were using a study and now you are saying that you’re not.
PJ, any person with half a brain could make out exactly what I meant.
You insinuated that induction causes low birth weight.
Labor induction has been linked with late pre term births, which has also been linked with the baby birth weights decreasing over the past decade.
The pitocin itself is not going to make a fetus lose weight while the induction is taking place, but the baby being born before it is ready will not
allow it to gain the 6-12 ounces a week they are supposed to gain in the last month of pregnancy.
You are aware I hope that induction does not cause low birth weight babies.
First off Anon, these are all my words, I simply CITED a study done in 2007. Do you know what citing a source is?
Second, I have never said ALL babies are delivered by an OB/GYN or a midwife. It is common knowledge that
Family practitioners all across the country delivery babies.
[...] reading here: Let Labor Begin on its Own! – Pregnancy, Parenthood & Playtime … Share and [...]
These are not your words. They came from some study. Oh, I watched the show Birth Day today and the doctors that delivers the babies on this episode were family practioners so I guess that blows that all babies have to be delivered by and ob/gyn, or midwife.