Should I induce naturally or let the doctors do it with meds?!?

Question

I'm 37 weeks pregnant and 2 cm dilated. The doctor wants to induce me at 38 weeks but i'd rather do it more naturally. I've been reading alot of info on the "red rassberry leaf tea" and the "balck cohosh". As anyone used them or know anymore information? I've read alot of mixed things for both so I'm a bit lost on what to do.....
I was 3 weeks overdue with my son which is why they want to induce as well as this one is causing ALOT of pain for me.

Answer 1

Naturally, if it is safe. Much easier and faster. Good luck! And congrats!

Answer 2

Red raspberry leaf tea is awesome and very very healthy - don't touch the black cohosh.
Do not induce unless this is deamed medically necessary - like an emergency. There is no reason to. You are wise for wanting it to be more natural. Docs love inducing because it's convenient for their schedules. I have had 4 babies all natural. With #3, I was in the hospital and my water had broken (on it's own) and my contractions weren't very regular. After 6 hours, I made the decision to have a "whiff" of pitocin (not a full induction, by any means) - they gave me a little bit (lowest setting for a couple of minutes) and bang! All the contractions evened out and they immediately turned the pitocin off. I had my daughter within 1 hour.
Why the heck would your doc want to go 2 weeks early??? I can see maybe pushing for 40 weeks, but 38? That's crazy. I have used doctors and midwives and mine would have never recommended this unless it was necessary. I don't know how much pain you're in, so you're going to have to decide when enough is enough.
I watched my sis in law be induced and it was a nightmare labor. She was in so much pain - pitocin makes the contractions much harder than normal. Her nurse "forgot" to turn her drip off when she became regulated (every 4-5 mons apart) and so she ended up having long contractions with no break in between. She said it was insane - she got no rests, no breaks, just solid contraction waves. She was determined to have no epidural, but anyone else would have been begging for one.
My feeling is once you have one intervention, you make it all too easy to keep having more of them. They induce, they break your water, they say "You have 24 hrs to have this baby or you'll go up for a c-section", they offer epidurals because you're in more pain, they need you to push RIGHT NOW something is wrong, but you can't feel enough to help from the epidural (say the cord is around babies neck a few times - I have seen this happen when my aunt had my cousin), so then you get cut wide open - etc..... Why? I am a big believer in natural birth, as few interventions as necessary (by all means - if something's wrong, it's okay), no drugs, no cutting, no stitches. Awake and aware healthy babies. I have seen too much of what can go wrong and how good everything is when it's done right. I have never heard anyone say they were happier being induced. So it really needs to be worth it.
One thing you can try (and it won't work unless your body is ready to go into labor) is castor oil. Completely harmless - causes diarrhea and sometimes that stimulates contractions. I used it 3 times and it worked every time. I was also 40 weeks along when I did it.
My advice is try to stick it out. Drink the Raspberry leaf tea though - it's very good for preparing your body for labor. I used it with all 4 pregnancies, as advised by my midwives. Best Wishes!!!

Answer 3

I wouldn't suggest being induced unless you absolutely have to. I would at least wait until 40 weeks before considering it. I was 39 weeks when I was induced, and ended up with a c-section. Same story for several friends of mine. Pitosin can affect the babies heartrate, you might not progress, etc. Plus, it makes labor much harder. I would wait it out as long as possible. Best of luck!

Answer 4

Blue cohosh is what starts labor, not black cohosh. I took raspberry leaf tea with my fourth pregnancy. My labor was 33 hours long! The third labor was only 11 hours long.