Labor Question?

Question

This is my second baby, last week I was 2cm dialated and 50%effaced, cervix is soft and baby has dropped. My doctor scheduled me to be induced the 22nd. I would like to go into labor on my own, I was induced 5 years ago with my daughter. What do you think the chances are of me going into labor on my own or do you think I'll have to be induced like my first.

I was induced with my daughter at 41 weeks just because I was a week over 40.
I will be 40 weeks on mon. the 15th

Answer 1

If you aren't overdue and the baby isn't under any stress, then just tell your doctor you don't want to be induced. My first child was induced and with my second the doctor told me at my last visit that if I hadn't had the baby before the next visit we could induce, but luckily he came on his own the next day, so you have a good chance of going into labor on your own, but if you don't want to be induced and there is no medical reason to do it, then its your choice don't do it.

Answer 2

I was in the same boat last year with the birth of my second child!

With my first child I was induced, six years later with child number two I was scheduled for an induction because of a strep test and the need for antibiotics during my labor (also I live over an hour from the hospital I wanted to birth in). I was 3cm dilated and 50% effaced at my last exam one week prior to induction. 12 hours later the little lady decided to arrive.

I was really looking forward to going into labor on my own, but really the experience was basically the same. The labor lasted the same amount of time and was just more painful since they make you wait to progress to a certain point before you get the lovely epidural.

I hope that you get the birth experience that you would like- but keep in mind that the important thing is a healthy baby, not the way you deliver her or him!

Best Wishes to you!

Answer 3

Well before I had my son I was only dialated to one, and my cervix was only a little effaced and I had to be induced, therefore I am going to say you have a better chance to go into labor on your own than I did, and let me tell ya I tried everything to go into labor on my own and nothing worked. It really just depends on your body and the baby I guess but for some reason I get the feeling that a lot can change in 12 days and chances are you will go into labor on your own. =) Good luck, and hey if you have to be induced, its not nearly as bad as I heard. I was done in just 14 and a half hours and it was my first kid, and he was a big boy at 8lbs 5 oz.

Answer 4

Did you ask him why he wants to induce you? Are there medical reasons? Are you or the baby going to be in danger if he doesn't induce. You don't have to go along with your doctor's wishes. My doctor wanted me to get induced almost 3 weeks before my due date because my baby might be big. I asked him how big. He said over 8 pounds. I just told him I didn't want to do it. He said, "ok we'll talk about it next week". I went back the next week. He said, "you ready?" Nope. I never got induced. I had a smooth labor. When I was getting ready to push, the doc (in a sarcastic tone) said, "see, I tried to get you to get induced, but you said 'no, I want to have her on my own'. Now, look, you're laying here having her early anyway". I said, "hey, check your chart, my due date was yesterday, and, as I recal, I went into labor last night." He didn't really have a response. I found out later that he was in the process of relocating. He never told me this. Anyway, he was at his other office in the next state several days a week, so he just wanted to work my labor in around his schedule. Another woman I now went to him, and he didn't tell her he didn't deliver at that hospital anymore, just the hospital where his new office was, until she had been going to him for a few months. I would find out what else is going on and why he wants you to get induced. These doctors often have their own agendas.

Answer 5

Why were you induced the first time? Maybe that answer will explain why your doctor has chosen a date to induce this time. I would think that if your not overdue and you're not having complications that you wouldn't have to induce quite yet. My first child came on her own, a week late, and my second child came after I requested to be induced because he was just making me miserable and ill. Had I known that inducing labor would make labor quicker I would have requested that my first child was induced as well...I was in labor with her for a long time and a lot of that without meds.

Answer 6

Have you tried walking alot, that has helped me when my son was over the due date and I had an appt to be induced but I walked alot and 2 days before i was to be induced my water broke and had my son about 10 hours later. From the time the doctor made my appt to be induced to the time I went into labor was about 2 days,,and I had the beginning stages of labor pains early in the AM at 1, I had my baby at 245pm that day. So i was like taking walks for 2 days.

Answer 7

From everything I've heard, induced labor is more difficult than natural labor (too abrupt a start, basicly) so I can understand you wanting to avoid it. It seems like a long way out to decide that you have to give birth then....

But generally I wouldn't sweat it yet. Relax, take lots of walks, get plenty of sleep and double check your birth preparations. If you aren't going to be truely late by then (not just past your 'due date'), I would ask for a second opinion on the need for induction at next week's visit.

Answer 8

Unless there is a true MEDICAL reason for induction, just say, "NO" because after all, it is YOUR body. Don't let them induce you based only on dates. Insist on being allowed to go "post-dates" as long as you and baby both appear to be healthy. A normal pregnancy is anywhere from 38 to 42 weeks in length.

ETA:
Have a lot of sex between now and then. Semen helps to ripen the cervix and orgasm can bring on contractions.

Use Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) to help ripen your cervix. Take 2 capsules and prick them with a pin. Insert them up near your cervix. If you want, you can squeeze the oil out and rub it into your cervix. Do this every night before bed.

Walk a lot to bring baby down to put more pressure on your cervix.

Answer 9

When the apple is ripe, it will fall from the tree. If you and the baby are perfectly healthy, tell your doctor you want to wait until the 42nd week to be induced. That is your right, but if after week 42, you need to be induced. I bet you will go on your own though.

Answer 10

The chances are better that you won't have to be induced with a 2nd one. The 22nd is a ways off. Put it out of your mind for now. Why worry about it until the 22nd is here?