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[always_seeking]

I'm now 38 weeks. At my doctors appointment, yesterday, she casually informs me that she'll be out of town next week (from Wednesday to Wednesday). She mentioned that "if everything was favorable" she would induce me Tuesday before she leaves. Otherwise, the partner doctor would deliver in her absence.

My SO and his mom are totally against this and they don't want to mess with nature. Personally, this kid has wore out his welcome in my space and I would be happy to see him come Tuesday (or sooner). I've read that inducing is more painful and I'm deathly afraid of the pain.

I'm also deathly afraid of getting an epidural; although pain medication would be okay.

These decisions (induce or not, epidural or not) are just too much for me to deal with now.

Are there any positive stories about inducing and epidurals out there in fora land? Any pros and cons for either? Any doctors out there with recommendations? Your feedback and stories would be greatly appreciated.

[crazybatlady]

Hi always,

I'm sorry that you're suffering through those last weeks--they do seem to take forever, and with good reason. But I am totally opposed to inducing for convenience sake, and I think you and your baby will be much better off if you wait until you are both ready for the birth and it happens on its own.

The baby is an active member in a healthy vaginal birth, and it's usually best to wait until the baby's body and your body are geared and in tune and ready to go, although as a woman who has given birth to a couple of kids, I can totally relate and sympathize with how you are feeling right now. But just because science can duplicate the hormones and chemicals that a woman's body releases during labor doesn't mean the baby is ready to cooperate, and without cooperation comes pain.

On a more positive note, if this is your first baby it is highly unlikely that you will deliver before your doctor is back into town anyway, unless you are wrong about your dates. Just assume your baby isn't due until a week after your due date and sit back and relax.

Good luck,

cbl

[wareagle]

I agree with cbl - don't mess with Mother Nature.  On the other hand, my first was right on time - the exception to the rule that first babies are generally late. 

I had an epidural.  It worked miracles. 

[_touchedbyanoodle_]

At 38 weeks, you don't need to worry much about the baby being ready. The decision really sits on what kind of a birth you wish to have. Pitocin is a b*tch and if you are induced, you should plan on really, really wanting that epidural. Then again, going into labor on your own can still be a b*tch and make you really, really want that epidural. Honestly, since it sounds like the decision is overwhelming for you, I recommend not making one. Let the baby come when baby comes. Decide on the epidural when in labor.

The doctor isn't very involved in your labor anyway; they "catch," whereas the nurses will truly shape your experience.

[always_seeking]

Thank you all. I think I will just hold on a little longer for the baby to come on his own. I guess, at most, it's just a few more weeks.

Noodled, you're right. I can make the decision about the epidural at the time. I'm not a "medicine taking" type person so the whole idea of an epidural scares me silly.

This is my second baby, but my first is a teenager, so everything seems to be a new experience with this baby.

[collegekidsmom]

I think I have heard this story more times than I would care to count. Inducing before the baby is ready leads usually to:

-pitocin pain that natural coping methods don't work for
-nothing happens
-epidural because of pain
-labor doesn't progress
-doctor then says something about cord wrapped around neck, baby too big, fluid too low, your're not progressing, monitor looks bad, heart rate's down, blah blah blah
- break your water
- now there's a fever
-got to get this baby out
-you can't take any more anyway
-c-section
-confusion

All this induction 9or should I say usually failed induction) is unbelievable to me. I have hardly ever seen it work out and just go along. Seems to many times just end in C-sec after lots of pain and lots of drugs.
in my state, C-section rate is 37%, and reported at 50% in some hospitals. If you want a c-section, you can skip the nightmarish induction and have one. But, if you've already had a baby, what if you just wait until the baby is ready to come, stay home until as late as possible, and then you might just have a short and manageable labor. It can be not so bad and if you don't like medicine, you can just go without.Drug-free births are totally possible and you might not need an epidural. It is there if you desire it at the time.  It may just go along easily. I would just think positively and expect it to go well. As the others said, I would definitely wait until the baby's time if at all possible. Sorry this is a tough time and all best wishes to you and your new little baby.

[walker_percy]

[In the voice of Christopher Walken in the cowbell skit on SNL] You're gonna want that epidural.

[artsearch]

"[In the voice of Christopher Walken in the cowbell skit on SNL] You're gonna want that epidural."
***
Nothing constructive to offer here, except that skit was the funniest thing on that show I've seen for several years.

[always_seeking]

I must watch more tv because I don't have a clue

[anon4now]

Hi, OP,
ALl I can add is my own experience: inducing was a bad idea for me and resulted in a long long labor (26hs) and probably should have resulted in Csection. I wish we had just waited til the baby was ready. Big first lesson: take things as they come, stop rushing and overscheduling.

That said, I was really glad I had the epidural. Had planned a no-medicines birth, but the epidural let me finally relax and rest enough to go ahead and deliver the baby vaginally. For me the epidural was a godsend because I was alert and aware, as was babe when she finally arrived (though grumpy! and 10 and a half pounds, 23.5 inches long!!).

Main thing is, make the decision YOU are confortable with, on both counts. Good luck and happy birthing!

[qrypt]

My wife's experience was almost exactly as collegekidsmom describes: induce, failure to progress, fever, c-section.  She was most unhappy. 

Inducing simply to suit the schedule/convenience of the doctor is an outrageous thing to do.  Let the baby come when you and it are ready. 

[wildwest]

Try the forums on the following site:  mothering.com

They might be useful.  Although warning:  the "agenda" of the site does seem to be pro-natural birth and anti-drugs, so you might find it one-sided.

[slac_vap]

Hang in there, always_seeking!  You're getting so close!

At your next appointment, your doctor should at least be able to tell you if you have started to dilate, which should inform the decision about whether to induce.  I was dilated 2 cm for about a week and a half before I delivered (two weeks early), so my doctor was pretty confident early on that I wasn't going to go all the way to 40 weeks. 

Do you know who is covering for your doctor while she is away?  I went to an OB that was in practice with two other physicians, and their standard of practice was to have all patients see each of the physicians at least once during the prenatal period, as any one of them might be on call when a patient delivers.  Of course as others point out, I only saw the doctor for the last 45 minutes of the process anyway, and she basically just caught the baby and sewed me up.  Certainly, though, it's important that the physician on duty know your history well.  Perhaps you can arrange to meet the covering physician briefly just to put your mind at ease.

I was not induced, so I can't comment on relative pain.  But the pain of regular old childbirth was enough to compel me to have an epidural.  I did not make that decision until I was in labor.  I was five centimeters dilated when I got to the hospital.  By the time I got the fluids necessary before the epidural, I was already 8 centimeters before the actual pain-relieving meds started flowing.  It hurt.  Then I had the epidural, which took about three minutes to put in place.  Then it didn't hurt anymore!!!  Seriously.  It was awesome.  I just don't think I would have been able to handle it without the epidural.  Pushing was seriously hard work, without having to worry about such intense pain.  Of course, I am a wuss, YMMV.

[magimax]

I want to chime in on waiting.  I have never given birth but have been doula to my best friend for her last birth.  She told me all about her first birth (at which I was not present) - it was an inducement and a NIGHTMARE.  Because she was not ready to give in to an inducement, her mind totally rebelled and consequently her body fought the entire process.  She was so angry and upset and in pain - no way to bring a baby into the world. 

For her second, she took command of the birth from the start, even switching doctors in her 37th week when her previous doc mentioned inducement.  She labored at home until the contractions were overlapping, then we went to the hospital, where the contractions stopped (of course).  The nurses were *awesome* and just said, hang on, they'll start again.  Sure enough, they did.  She labored along, just fine, and had the baby without ANY - repeat - ANY medical interventions, even the fetal monitor, although the nurse would check periodically with an internal monitor.   She refused all medications, she didn't even have an IV in.   She didn't even tear, although some damage was done to her rectum because she was trying to hold the baby in while waiting for the doctor to arrive.  She was such a trooper and I was in total awe. 

The moral of the story is - this is YOUR body and YOUR baby.  Do whatever feels right to you.  INSIST upon it.  We were blessed to have a wonderful nurse who understood that we wanted to be left alone, so she did.  If you do not feel comfortable being induced, tell the doctor you will refuse it and even check yourself out against medical advice if you feel it's being pushed on you.  My friend was basically taken prisoner - literally and figuratively - when she went in to the hospital when early labor started with her first.  Babies come of their own accord and have for eons.  Yours will too.  Hang in there!

[abdspouse]

I'm in the same spot, always.  I'm at 39 and 1/2 weeks.  My doc said that at my appointment on Wed. (my due date) we can make a decision about inducing at some point during week 40.  I have heard about all the downsides, so I am unsure about what the right decision will be for me.  On top of this, my husband is walking in his graduation ceremony on Aug 4th and has family coming from overseas.  I really don't want to be in the hospital while they are all here, but is that a good enough reason to mess with the natural process? 

Honestly, one big downside for me is the fact that I would need to be in the hospital for the entire labor, instead of being able to wait at home.  I think I will be so much more comfortable in my own clothes and in my own house than at the hospital.

So, I don't have any advice, just sympathy.  Who knows, maybe this girl will take things into her own hands here soon, so I don't have to make the decision.

Good luck!