Many of you know I was nervous about how I would go about delivering my next baby about a week after Brighton was born. For some reason it has been at the back of my mind all year long, like it's some pressing decision I needed to make. If you don't know, my labor with Brighton went from, "Is this a contraction or gas pain?", to "holy hell I think I'm going to have my baby on the freeway, call 911!", to having her screaming and flopped onto my belly in just under 2 hours. My doctor didn't make it in time to deliver her, but the first words out of her mouth were, "oh, we'll have to induce you next time". So that is were the nerves come from. I've heard really bad labor stories resulting from inductions, but I also know statistically your labor possibly gets shorter with each birth, and I really don't want to have this next baby in the car.
I had the best recovery anyone could hope for, and I give a lot of the credit to the lack of pain medication/epidural. I was really able to control (and feel) my pushing (yes, all two of them). Dr. Bustillo who delivered Brighton had me controlling my pushing like a gas pedal, and while it was crazy painful, I really think that is why I didn't tear.
I had my first doctor appointment, and told Dr. Moore of my concerns, and to my surprise, she didn't think I was crazy for not wanting to be induced! I thought for sure she would think it was a bad idea and try to tell me it was really necessary. (Side note: If you don't know, being induced using petocin, results in much harder, more painful, longer contractions, so you are really crazy to go the no epidural route from what I've read/heard). She also told me since it's my 2nd baby, that my chances of an induction ending in a c-section are super slim, and my chances are great to have a reasonable delivery time. Both of these things made my day!
So my two options are: no induction, but possibly crazy fast labor again. OR being induced with possible tearing, possible longer labor but with an epidural. Either way, I think I'm happy knowing I'm not a complete nut if I don't get induced, and knowing I'll more than likely have a great labor anyway even if I am.
This has been on my mind for so long, and I know I've had discussions with a lot of you about this, so I thought I would share and get it off my chest :) Either way I go, I think I'll take some birth classes so I'm a little more prepared.
Never early enough to decide these things right?
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ReplyDeleteThose both sound like really good options. I'm glad you are at peace with it all. I know it's been on your mind. See you soon!!
ReplyDeleteJodee your blog is so cute... I really love that we can keep in touch! Brighton is such a little doll. I cant even imagine being on the freeway and almost having your baby!! I say be induced... That way you can be prepared and organised, well rested and not have to worry... I am happy for you!
ReplyDeleteHOME BIRTH!!!
ReplyDeleteJust kidding ;)
not really...it was the best thing EVER!!
You should just have Braden take Midwife classes just in case:)
ReplyDeleteI was induced with Kaymee (my oldest) and I didn't have any problems. My family has a history of being labor for days...yes DAYS...and my doctor thought for sure I wouldn't have her until the next morning, but an hour and a half later, she was born! So seven hours after being induced, she was born. I know to you 7 seems like alot ;o) but it was really fast for me and I only pushed for 20 minutes. I did tear but that was my fault, I was sick of pushing so I just pushed really hard. But all in all, I had a good experience. Although, I do love my c-sections now :o) I doubt my good experience will make up for all the bad ones you've heard about, but just thought I would let you know! :o)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking, maybe it should depend on how dilated you are as the due date approaches.
ReplyDeleteMost of the horror stories about petocin I've heard are from women who were at 0 or 1/2 cm when they were induced (like me, for example). If you are at a 3 or 4 the last week or two, maybe it would work out. Seems like your body is already on the road to labor rather than forcing a start from nothing.
Just a thought???
You have to do whatever makes you most comfortable, but let be honest your 1st labor was great (aside from the craziness)! I say go natural again...now that you know what your labor is like you might have a little more time once it starts. Or like Kendall said...make someone come to you! Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteAsh, YES. I forgot to mention that part. If I'm dilated to a 3 or 4 like last time, she said it's not even called being induced... she won't let me go home if I'm like that again, she'll keep me :)
ReplyDeleteCan we go to birthing class together!!? Or do you have to go through your own hospital? I am definitely doing it, just to be prepared if I end up doing it alone..since Justin has "hospital smell issues" :) Better to be safe than sorry right?
ReplyDeleteWe should talk. I'll give you a call soon. Perhaps after this one. I might be induced, but my dr thinks I'll go early. How can he tell anyways.
ReplyDeleteWhen I got pregnant with Gavin I was super stressed about everything, because you have an idea of what to expect.
I think when you're already dilating they call it an "augmentation" but they still give you pitocin. That's what they did for me. It was intense, but once I had the epidural it was TOTALLY fine! But I wasn't progressing so I ended up have the c-section. If I DID have to push I still wonder if it would have been difficult because I was SO numb! I bet you wont have a prob with an induction/augmentation since your labor went SOOOOO fast! Good luck with your decision!! I know you'll choose what is best for you!
ReplyDeleteHey Jodie,
ReplyDeleteThis is Jaelyn. I don't know if you remember me, but we danced together a long time ago. Anyway...I ran across your blog and had to tell you my experience being induced. I had the same concerns as you, because I was induced with my second and I wanted to do it natural (no epidural, or meds)like I did with my first. They used cytotec to soften my cervix and it worked enough to dilate me to a three with like no contractions. When I got to a three my doctor broke my water. I went from a three to delivered in 1 hr and 15 minutes, so pitocin wasn't needed. Which I was happy because I was able to do it natural again. Which was crazy fast. Now, I am worried about my next deliveries because I have strep b, or at least I did with both of mine, and if I wasn't induced it could've potentially gone really bad without getting enough antibiotics before I delivered. So, what do I do about the next kid(s)? Do I get induced everytime? What if I don't have enough antibiotics? Oh the joys! I can only imagine how fast your next kid will come...that is some crazy fast labor you had! Good luck with this one! Feel free to visit our blog, www.thelovellclan.blogspot.com