2 questions regarding induction?

Question

Im 41 weeks pregnant.
Had a non stress test today and an ultrasound. Baby is fine weighing 8lbs, amnio fluid is fine, having painless contractions but internal exam shows cervix still closed!
They said they would induce me in a week.
Two questions:

1) Why are they making me wait another week? If thats whats best then so be it but was just wandering given that my cervix is still closed surely its better to induce sooner rather then later if it looks like they will have to induce anyway. what do you think?

2) Should I have an epidural if I am going to be induced? I heard that being induced brings on v. fast and painful strong contractions?

This is all very dissapointing as I was planning to have a natural birth in the birthing center within the hospital. Now I will have to go to regular labor and delivery ward, so I thought 'well if Im going to have medical intervention may as well go the whole hog and have epidural .........what do you think?
Thanx for all your input.

Unfortunately I cannot have the baby in the birthing center after the 41st week. Must just be thier policy I guess

Answer 1

First of all, don't give up your dream. Induction doesn't eliminate the possibility of a natural delivery, and neither does being in the L&D unit instead of the birthing center.
Second, I think too many doctors induce women at the drop of a hat. I think it's great your doctor is waiting one more week. You're healthy, the baby is healthy, the baby isn't huge... it's so much healthier and safer to try to let nature take it's course. Induction is a toss of the coin. Intervention adds risk and doesn't always go as planned.
Third, if you are truly post-dates, it may just take a Cervidil to give you a little nudge and you will be on your way. Cervidil is a vaginal insert with prostiglandin that will help your cervix start to change. It stays in for up to 12 hours, but you may not need to have it in that long. Pitocin is the IV drip that strengthens contractions. It can be a bear. But some women get those slamming contractions as soon as their water breaks, with no pitocin in sight. You may not even need it.
Third, I hate to see women sell themselves short and plan ahead for the epidural. Believe in your strength and ability to deliver this baby naturally. It's what you wanted, and it's a wonderful committment. The less intervention, the safer for you and your baby. If you do opt to have it when it's time to decide, so be it, but don't just assume you'll need it. No reservations are required. The anesthesia doc is at your nurse's beck and call if the need should arise.
Meanwhile, I think you and your partner should do a little hormone "induction" of your own. Plan a session (or two!) of long, slow and relaxing sex this weekend. Male ejaculate contains prostiglandin! And it travels right up to the cervix where it can do it's work! Also, don't forget nipple stimulation. This causes release of oxytocin. With a little luck, you'll be calling your OB telling them that you're in labor. I wish you all the best.

Answer 2

1. Well I think they are making you wait for another week to wait and see if your cervix responds and there are chances you can still hve normal birth. Since your baby is fine, they are in no hurry to induce you right away.

2. Yes, induction is comparitively more painful than the natural labor. Been there done that. More or less everything is over within 10 hours and it gives you very intense contractions right from begining. Mine began just after the first medicine hit the cervix to open it up. And I started feeling pain and diarrhea ( also vomiting) withing half an hour. But everyone reacts differently. May be I was a little nervous. But yes if you ask for an epidural..go for it. It would be a very wise decission that would help you stay sane and hve less bearable pain and you can enjoy the birth process.

Talk to your doctor for an epidural, there is no harm in getting one. Don't get disaapointed. I know how you may be feeling but the health of the baby is the top most priority, be it through induction, c-section or the natural delivery. You and your baby should be healthy. Good Luck.

Answer 3

1.) they are making you wait another week because if your cervix has not begun to dialate, an induction right now will most likely end in an emergency c-section. When they induce you, they are bringing on uterine contractions NOT dialation of the cervix. If they break your water baby is coming without an exit, oxygen levels will drop and could result in serious complications for you and the baby.

2.) You only hear horror stories about epidurals. Nobody talks about how wonderful they are. I was scrared to death to get one. But I made the choice to do it before I felt the first contraction. My 7 hour labor was spent talking with my family, watching movies, and reading a book. When it came time to push, I was well-rested and full of energy. My only suggestion is that IF you choose to get one, make sure there is enough medication to get your through the pushing. If you hear the machine beep (it beeps when you have 2 hours left) get them to change it THEN. Mine ran out half way through pushing because they thought for sure I would have my son before the bag was empty. Well, they were wrong, and I got hit with the worst contractions before being able to build up to them.

If you want to have the closest thing to a natural birth, then wait to be induced. I would rather sit around for another week than go through a c-section.

Answer 4

Be patient, that baby is going to come out someday!!! If this is your first, remember that most first time moms go over their due date...being induced sooner is actually bad...the doctor looks for signs that your body is going to cooperate w/ an induction...the fact that you have not dialated yet is a sign that you're not ready (well, you are, but your cervix isn't)...I was induced w/ my daughter and went natural, I don't think it was that bad. Some things you can do to help prepare you cervix for what is to come...have lots of sex...TMI, I know, but the semen has hormones similar to those that they use to induce you and it will help your cervix to soften which is what it needs to do to thin and dialate...nipple stimulation also can help bring on some contractions...sitting on a birth ball and walking are also good to keep the pressure on your cervix to help dialation occur...remember, that baby isn't coming out until its ready! If you are induced before your body is ready, and you get an epidural, be prepared for a possible C-section. I'd say try the stuff I mentioned for a week (things can change quickly), and if you do still need to be induced, try it for a while w/o the epidural (they won't let you have one until you're at least at 4cm dialated)...good luck!

Answer 5

The best labour to go in to is the one on your own without any medical intervention. If the baby is fine and not stressed and has enough amnion fluid surrounding it then your dates can be out by two weeks either way so its best to sit it out and wait. you have waited this long what is another week going to hurt! Don't rule out the no drug natural labour just yet if it gets to much then ask for an epidural then. I had an induction with my first labour and had an epidural. Had a natural drug free labour with the second. Both had a healthy baby outcome, but I would rather the active, drug free natural delivery over the lay on my back induction/epidural.

Answer 6

Will they still allow you to give birth at the birth center if you refuse induction? Babies come when they are ready. A due date is just a guess, you're baby may need more time to develop. My little guy came over a week late and we had a natural birth. I wouldn't do it any other way! Personally, I would not have an epidural or an induction. I think the risks out weigh the benefits greatly. Go with your gut feeling.

Answer 7

i went to 42 weeks before they induced me if you're baby is 8lbs already its gonna get a little bigger in a week i thought that they would induce sooner rather than later.
being induced isn't so bad if it works mine lasted 5 hours & it was a natural birth & i had NO pain relief at all & you have the convenience of knowing that you'll see your baby soon.
but there's also the possibility that induction wont work then you may need a c-section.

Answer 8

you may go into labor on your own in the next week, and if the cervex is closed right now then an induction may not take anyway. As for the epi, get it if you want it, but an induction does not necesaraly mean worse labor, it just gets intense sooner than a natural labor. Good luck.

Answer 9

maybe they are waiting a week to see if you go into labor on your own. as for epidural, I would see if you can tolerate it at first because if you get it too early, it can wear off and when the real pain comes at during pushing, you'll feel it all. Try to last and breathe through your contractions as far as...7cm..so that it can last. But remember that tension and stiffness slows down the pushing process because you are tensing the muscles, so breathe through the contraction.

Answer 10

1 Google "Bishop score." Having a closed cervix increases the odds that the induction will fail; I suppose they're trying to better your odds hoping you'll dilate a bit.

2 If you can avoid it, avoid it. You still don't want to be delivering flat on your back after spending the whole labour basically unable to move. I'd keep an open mind to one, but I wouldn't go in there saying "Yeah, here's my spine; go for it."