Do you know why you labored for so long last time? Was she too high? Drugs being weird? Too big?
I know this boards leans anti-induction but my sister had three great inductions so I've always had an open mind about them. I mean, it can't be longer than 48 hours, right?
Probably too big, too high and too stubborn, like her mama.
God, even a 12 hour induction sounds better. I survived the pit contractions for 12 hours before requesting an epidural.
Wow, you are my hero. I survived them for about 5 minutes before begging for the epi. lol. My biggest fear this time is not getting to the hospital in time for the epidural.
My first delivery wasn't as bad as yours, but I pushed for 3 hours and had a 3rd degree tear. Both things I wanted to avoid the second time. We also lived 45 min away from the hospital the second time. We discussed induction if I got close to my due date (mostly to help with planning for grandma being here to watch ds1).
What happened was at my 38 week appointment I was 5 cm dilated, so she stripped my membranes, with instructions that if I was having regular contractions later to go to the hospital. She said they wouldn't send me home being 5 cm already, and that if I didn't progress, she was on call the next day and would break my water.
I went to the hospital that night with contractions about 5 min apart and I was at 6. I stayed there all night, and my OB broke my water at 8 am. DS2 was born at 9:53 after 20 min of pushing. I ended up with a 2nd degree tear.
I think if you get closer to 39/40 weeks and have made a little progress I would wait, maybe ask to have your membranes stripped. If not then you can talk about induction at that point. Scheduling an induction didn't need to really be done ahead of time for me, she said it could be a decision we made as I approached my due date.
If baby is sunny side down, engaged, and I was naturally dilating then I would wait and see what happens up until ~38w and then schedule an induction at 39w. Colored mainly by the fact that I had a GREAT induction. Induction does not always mean emergency C-section.
If baby is looking to be stubborn again, I would schedule an elective C-section.
Oh yeah, just wanted to say that with both of my deliveries, I laboured down for 2-3 hours before pushing - with the epi, I basically felt nothing so it allowed the baby to fully engage in the pelvis. Both kids were pushed out in under 30 min.
Yep, I labored down for an hour with my first, and I think it really helped! I pushed for 15 minutes.
@vicmo ,@tambcat , what does laboured down mean? I guess I should know...
Oh yeah, just wanted to say that with both of my deliveries, I laboured down for 2-3 hours before pushing - with the epi, I basically felt nothing so it allowed the baby to fully engage in the pelvis. Both kids were pushed out in under 30 min.
I labored down for 2 hours before pushing for 3.5. Ugh.
I broke my tailbone as well during birth and I would probably strongly consider the csection. My ds got stuck on the tailbone and needed a vacuum to get out, pushed for 3 hours. I heard the loud pop as he broke it. Unfortunately, you have no idea what position your tailbone is in now. Mine was sticking up and the Dr. actually felt it before it broke and asked about if I had broken it before. (I had in a fall). It did hurt like hell to try to stand up and still hurts today -9 years later.
@vicmo ,@tambcat , what does laboured down mean? I guess I should know...
Just waiting and not pushing once you're fully dilated. You wait until you feel the need to push, or until the nurse says it's time in my case.
ah ok. I don't think that happened to me then. I just pushed when the nurse told me, there was no waiting around. lol. I was induced at 8am (pit started/water broken) and she was born at noon.
I think she was high and never really engaged my cervix. I was 41 weeks and only 1 dilated when I went into the hospital after my water broke. And I think I broke my water rather than DD; I bent over to put my shoes on and pop!
Well, I can't see how old she is, but I think most OBs want you to labor down now instead of pushing if the baby is high. So hopefully you would be able to avoid pushing for 4 hours and wouldn't start pushing until the baby is engaged in the cervix. So if you want a vaginal birth I would talk about that with your doctor. I think if you induce and the baby is till high you are going to run into similar problems (or could, obviously this could be completely different and the baby be born easily too).
If I wanted a vaginal birth I would do the following. I would get an estimate of the baby's size. Although they can be inaccurate if would give me a better idea of whether or not to induce. I don't think that 8lbs 9oz at 41 weeks is overly huge. I would then work on spinning babies to get the baby in to the easiest position for birth.
Agree with this. We do a lot of laboring down to save on pushing.
Honestly, I'd do a c-section and recovery wasn't a big deal but I know that varies from person to person. I've wrote before that I had to work through emotions of "not really experiencing labor" but in the end, it was quick and relatively pain-free.
I thought guidelines were recently revised to say that anything under five hours (omg) of pushing was normal for a first baby?
Yes, with an epidural. Many OBs at my hospital (which has a high c-section rate, and I do not agree withbmany of their practices) don't follow this guideline and push for a c-section around the 2-3 hour mark.
I believe it's 2 hours? without an epidural for a first baby. I have to look them up, it's been a while.
I had a similarly long labor and pushing with my first but thankfully nothing as traumatic as what you went through. I had a surprise induction with my 2nd and it was very unfavorable conditions because I was only 35 weeks and no previous signs of labor. It actually went amazingly smooth and he was born quite easily. I just wanted to share a positive induction story
Post by longtimenopost on Apr 8, 2016 9:31:43 GMT -5
First, know that you do not have to make this decision today! I can relate to the anxiety as I had a similar choice. Ultimately I decided that if at 39 weeks I was favorable for an induction I would go for it, but talked with my doctor about when we would opt for a c/s (earlier than a normal laboring woman - basically if things were not progressing as quickly as we liked to avoid something like a 24 hour labor then a c/s.) Then, from 37 weeks on I did EVERYTHING I could to try to go into labor on my own . Likely since this was my 3rd I had a lot of false labor but finally the real deal happened at 38w3d.
Personally, I would absolutely ride it out. Having had both a c section and a vaginal birth I would not choose the elective c section. I also wouldn't do the induction bevause it may increase the likelihood that you need a c section etc.
I would personally do the elective c/s, only because I had a failed induction that turned into an emergency c/s which was terrifying.
But I think a case could be made for any of the alternatives here. I've come full circle on c-sections after having a RCS and would never judge anyone who opted for it for medical concerns.
My personal order of preference would be: induction (if favorable for induction at 39 weeks), wait it out, c-section. I would discuss with your OB each week. If the damage from DD was her size, perhaps ask them about doing a growth scan at 38 weeks or so to help you make the decision as to whether you would like to do the induction vs. wait it out.
Oh, I labored down too for an hour. Pushed 20 minutes, BUT DS was small. I assume I'll be able to cough out another small baby.
ETA: I also lasted 12 hours with pit contractions - I slept through them even with it cranked up to the max. It was breaking my water that did me in.
Also it irrationally pisses me off when people who haven't been induced come in all anti-induction. I have insomnia so I'm salty today.
Me too. It especially irritates me when people act like it makes a c-section inevitable or extremely likely, since that's not based on fact.
To be fair, it is based on fact. Inductions can be very successful provided the woman is in a favorable position. I don't remember all of the specifics since it's been a few years since I was in this position myself, but dilation, efacement, baby position etc all come into play with the success of an induction. An induction performed when a woman is not showing signs of readiness on her own absolutely increase the likelihood of a c section. It's not a guarantee, but it increases the risk.
Eta: editing to say you are right. It doesn't make it inevitable and that is NOT based on fact. The fact is it can increase the risk of a c section not that it WILL happen.
Thanks to all of you for the responses and suggestions. And for not being dismissive of my previous experience and current feelings about it.
My next appointment is next Thursday. I think I'll ask about the following: - if they have any feedback on the likelihood of breaking my tailbone again - a growth scan at 38 weeks to determine baby's size (I know they can vary widely) - how and when we assess a Bishop's score - how far in advance I need to schedule an induction
My feelings about it fluctuate widely by the hour. Someone up the thread mentioned being in labor for 24 hours and the exhaustion. Yes. Omfg yes. I was so exhausted and lost so much blood (which I guess is common if you've been labor ing for a long time). I am AMAZED I didn't end up with PPD. Doing that again is less than desireable, especially with a 3.( year old at home.
I think my order of preference, if I had your history, would be: 1. Spontaneous labor (even if I had to wait for it) 2. C-section 3. Induction
I don't necessarily see how an induction helps you avoid trauma, except that you might have a marginally smaller baby if you're induced sooner than 41w - but that's no guarantee that you wouldn't have the same issues. So that would be my least preferred option.
Full disclosure of biases: I had a spontaneous labor and an easy delivery, so that's the "devil I know."
I would do an elective c section over induction in a heartbeat. The growth scan will be so variable at the end I don't think it will offer any valuable information. I had planned a med free vaginal birth and my c section gave me everything I wanted (and more). I would consider waiting until 40w for the c section to see if I spontaneously went into labor.
Post by hbomdiggity on Apr 8, 2016 10:52:49 GMT -5
I wouldn't completely write off the elective c. I see it as the only sure bet to avoid another traumatic birth. (that's not to say it couldn't be easy peasy - but i don't think you'll know until it happens.)
I thought guidelines were recently revised to say that anything under five hours (omg) of pushing was normal for a first baby?
Yes, with an epidural. Many OBs at my hospital (which has a high c-section rate, and I do not agree withbmany of their practices) don't follow this guideline and push for a c-section around the 2-3 hour mark.
I believe it's 2 hours? without an epidural for a first baby. I have to look them up, it's been a while.
I would do what you and your OB are the most comfortable with. If it were me, I would probably wait until I went into labor.
Both of my labors were almost 20 hours. I pushed for 1.5 hours with DS and he was 8 lbs 1 oz. Pushed 45 minutes with DD and she was 8 lbs 11 oz- but I felt so much better after DD compared to DS and my recovery was a breeze the 2nd time around.
I really think you won't know how your labor/birth will go- but I think it's a good idea to get a growth scan and check the baby's position before you need to decide.
Post by mandapanda18 on Apr 8, 2016 13:22:06 GMT -5
I would opt to wait it out and see if you go into labor on your own. I say this by experiencing an induction that after 14 hours led to a c-section while contracting hard! It was so bad, that they couldn't get the epidural in and I ended up with my section under general. I wouldn't wish my experience on anyone. Looking back, I was not a good candidate for induction anyhow, he never dropped at all (couldn't because the cord was around his neck 7 times) and I wasn't dilated at all upon check in (maybe a 1 is what the nurse said). I should have gone with the section from the get go.
hmm this is tough. Generally I would not have an elective c section as I lean more towards "hippy birth" but then I broke my tailbone about 12 years ago and it was AGONY. It still hurts now as well for me
anyway so I'm not sure. Normally I think wait and see is my preferred method but I don't know.
I had a 42 week Pitocin induction w/ #1 and it was tough, very painful and 3 hours of pushing (but not the tearing). I was worried about #2 but it was SO much better. I went into labor naturally and everything moved so quickly and I had only about an hour of pushing.
So it's really hard to say what I would do Someone on april 12 had a broken tailbone with first baby delivery but then the second went fine! But I can't remember who. Do you remember @tambcat ? I feel like it was kdrake but I don't want to tag people unnecessarily especially people who normally don't come to MM moms
also my second baby was half a pound bigger than my first (he was 8.5 lbs) and came over a week sooner, yet was a much easier labor. So size isn't everything either but of course if you were going to have a 12 pound baby that might be a big deal. but if your next is the same size or even slightly bigger that may not matter at all compared to things like positioning
I'm facing the exact same situation, idaho. 14 weeks with #2, #1 was traumatic (4th degree tear, vaginal hematoma, DD did not respond well to induction and neither did I). DD's response to the induction is what's going to sway me, but I would hold out as long as you can and avoid induction. That's my plan, at least.
In truth, I don't think it was the induction that got her, it was the pitocin/epidural combo, but I do not want to go through that again because I think the induction will inevitably lead to more drugs (in my case). If I go past dates, I'd honestly consider an elective C section much more strongly than another induction. I'm fully planning to do acupuncture this time to induce labor and anything else that I can do that's not induction.
Hugs, it's a tough spot to be in. Ultimately you want what's best for the baby, but you also need to think about yourself too.