Inducing: Pros and Cons

Jaime-Lynne - posted on 04/13/2009

I was induced for both my children, ( both early, and for different reasons ) and I am Sooo glad i did. it allows you to prepare and know when it's going to happen and you have everyone you want/need with you there.

you're already in the hosptial in case anything starts going wrong they can get to it faster than if you let labour go for a while at home.

with my 1st, i went in and had the pitocen at like 10, dont remember when my water was broken and he was born @ 6:12pm

with my 2nd, i went in and had my pitocen done @ like 7:30 water broken @ around 10 and he was born @ 3:20

Jana - posted on 04/13/2009

Don't do it unless there's a problem with the baby and he/she needs to come out asap. I think the Pitocin makes labor wayyyy more painful. If you're hoping to go without medical pain management, I think you should let your body and your baby decide when you're ready. Plus, I feel like I missed out on the excitement of going into labor naturally (and gradually, like nature intends).

Brenda - posted on 04/13/2009

Good luck, I think since you're already effacing and dialating, you should have no trouble going on your own!  :)

Amanda - posted on 04/13/2009

I also had to be induced when I had my first. I started to dialate 3 weeks before my due date and was at a 4 when it just stopped progressing. Finally, when I was 3 days late, my doctor decided to induce me. I had originally planned on going all natural, but because the pitocin the made my contractions so strong and long I ended up with stadol and an epidural. In the end though I had a very fast labor. I went in at 2 and had my son at 5. I don't suggest induction but if it does come to that it doesn't have to be a terrible experience.

Autumn - posted on 04/13/2009

Good for you! There is an old saying, "Better in than out." I thought it was a stupid saying until my first was finally born. Postpartum can be more difficult than some women know...at least with the first one. Enjoy your pre-baby freedom while you can. Have a few more dates with your hubby cause they will be few and far between when the baby comes :)

Kate CP - posted on 04/13/2009

Quoting Elizabeth:

I think after all this information I am definately not going to be induced. It does not sound beneficial at all, especially when I'm not under any risk for anything. Thank you gals for all the information! It has been extremely helpful!!!!

You're welcome! Good luck, congratulations, and happy birthing! :)

Elizabeth - posted on 04/13/2009

I think after all this information I am definately not going to be induced. It does not sound beneficial at all, especially when I'm not under any risk for anything. Thank you gals for all the information! It has been extremely helpful!!!!

Autumn - posted on 04/13/2009

I've run late in both my pregnancies and had to be induced. It is not fun. With my first, they had trouble getting me into labor. They gave me so much pitosin I started having 10 minute long contractions (and I've been told they are harder than natural ones). With my second, my body knew what was happening and went into labor a lot faster. I had to have an epidural with both. When my daughter was born though she didn't seem as well developed as my son was when I had him. I actually wonder if my due date wasn't miscalculated and she wasn't done "baking" yet. My best advise is don't do it unless it is necessary. Give your baby a chance to come in his/her own time. I would love to have the chance to be sitting at home and know that it is "time" without having to look at the clock and the calender to see when my induction is scheduled for. However if the Doc tells you that there is a risk, opt for the induction.
There are risks in going past your due date like the possibility of the baby having his first poop in your belly. That happened with my brother and they had to pump his stomach. His placenta also started to pull away from the uterine wall which is why my mom was induced (he went into fetal distress). He came out just fine though, just put my mom through some stress first.

Joy - posted on 04/13/2009

I'm not sure why the doctor would suggest that at 38.5 weks unless there is a health risk. I would suggest waiting for the baby to come in their own time. I had to be induced because I was 2 weeks past my due date. The pitocin to induce was so painful. I'm not trying to be gross but it seriously felt like someone was punching my groin with an iron fist.

Sara - posted on 04/13/2009

If there isn't a medical reason to be induced (diabetes, high blood pressure, etc) then I would just let nature take it's course. I was induced for a medical reason, but being induced can lead to some serious complications for you and the baby and you are more likely to have a c-section as well. I would not have chosen to be induced, but for me the benefits outweighed the risks and my baby and I came out fine, I gave birth vaginally after only about 18 hours of labor (whoo-hoo!). I think you already know what you want to do, especially if you want to go natural. Just take some swift walks around the block, that'll get things going! :) Best of luck to you!

Ariel - posted on 04/13/2009

I was induced with my first child by my descion and if i had to do it again i wouldnt, I was in labor two days and then they decided that they were going to send me home because i wasnt progressing any so i was upset with the whole situation because I too wanted to go all natural but after two days of labor and then they were going to send me home i just told them i wanted a c-section because i couldnt take it anymore. I would suggest letting your body go when its ready! Good Luck with your little one :)

Kerry - posted on 04/13/2009

i was induced a week early. had 4 lots of the stuff over 3 and a half days and it was horrible i swore after that i never wanted another child lol. the induction didnt work at all and i had to have a c-section which was lovely :-) good luck

Kate CP - posted on 04/13/2009

It is *so* tempting to just say "Yes, let's do it! Get it out!" but it's also more complicated that way. If you want a natural birth then I would wait and let baby decide to come out on his own. Walk a lot, squat and roll your hips (helps open up the pelvis) and if you are up to it and your partner is feeling up to it...have sex! It's a natural way to speed up labor. An orgasm is a contraction of the uterus and can help get things started some times...and it's so much more pleasant than sitting in a hospital bed hooked up to IVs. ;)

Rebekah - posted on 04/13/2009

Well, here are some cons to inducing: (1) not allowing your body to do this naturally, (2) can cause more pain, (3) can lead to a C-section (not always, but can), (4) your body can hault the process of the induction and you could be in labor for a VERY long time (I had a friend that this happened to), etc.

If nothing is wrong, allow your body to progress naturally.  I understand wanting to get it over with, but your body knows when the right time is for this baby to be born.  And your body knows what it needs to do to allow you to handle the "right" amount of pain.  I did my labor all natural, no medications, and I'm glad I didn't have an induction and I went into labor on my due date.  I only had an 8 hour labor - let things happen naturally and just relax through it.  You can do it.

Lisa - posted on 04/13/2009

Well it seems most everyone is against induction. - I say that if you are uncomfortable and wanting the pregnancy over, then do it. - I was induced with my daughter at 39w5d. It was NOT the most wonderful thing because induction does bring the contractions faster and harder, BUT I got an epidural and was great. I am currently 36w right now with #2 and hoping he decides to come on his own, but if not will probably be induced again. It's your call! It's your body! Good Luck in whatever you decide!

Emily - posted on 04/13/2009

If the baby is dong well inside he or she will come when ready! First babies are 8 days late on average. Induction hurts more, it leads to a higher instance of cesareans too.

Brittney - posted on 04/13/2009

I would say let it happen naturally. I was induced with my first and it took me 36 hrs of labor and then she couldn't fit though my pelvis and i had to have a c-section. I think back on it now and wonder if I would have let it all happen naturally if my body would have just worked harder to accomidate her better. I know it's so temping to just want the baby out, but from other stories I've heard,  labor is much shorter going in to labor on your own.

Ashley - posted on 04/13/2009

i was induced with my son because of pre-eclampsia and it was a horrible experience!!! i almost had to have a c-section but didnt. i am currently pregnant and really hope that i go on my own this time. i would say let your body go on its own!! good luck and congrats!

Rebecca - posted on 04/12/2009

I also have been induced with thwo out of foue of mt babies and found the pain ten tme worse than going into labour naturally. Good on you for asking for advice before you make your decision, my doctor pushed me into an imediate decision with very little info and as it was also my first I assumed the doctor knew best. It turned out a natural birth but as Brenda stated you are at much higher risk of c-section which I was not told, and after pains are much stronger with induction as your body has to wear them off,unlike natural where your body knows it has alreay finished its job. You could ask the doctor or midwife to peform a "sweep" which is they run thier finger around the cervix to encourage it to open on its own. I had this done with my other two children and went into natural labour within 24- 48 hours after. This is a safe procedure when performed by a professional that can encourage the body to hurry up without the risks of indcution, especially if you early still and in good health. Being 3cms will make this easier, and it will be more likely to work as your body has begun on its own. Good luck, I wsh you well and hope that all goes the way you would like for you and for your baby!!

Jolene - posted on 04/12/2009

If there is no reason to induce early, then don't. If your already 3cm and 75% effaced let your body continue with what it is doing naturally. Your body and baby will know the right time.

Elizabeth - posted on 04/12/2009

Thank you! That is some good information! I am already about 3 cm dilated and 75% effaced so it seems my body is getting ready to do it on its own :)

Brenda - posted on 04/12/2009

I would advise against induction, especially if it is your first child.  To be quite honest, you are at a much higher risk for c section.  I was induced with my first due to mild pre eclampsia and it was not fun.  For one thing, they use a ripening agent against your cervix to start, and if you dialate 1 CM (for most this is the way it is) then they can break your water if they feel you aren't progressing fast enough.  Once water is broke they have a 24 hour time limit before you MUST have a c section due to the extremely high infection risk.

I went in at 7am, had the agent applied, had my water broke at like 4, and then my son wasn't born until 12:30pm the next day.  I had 20 hours of hard, pitocin induced back labor that did not get any relief from any method of laboring, and we tried everything from heating pads, laboring on fours, you name it.  And if you want to go natural, you probably won't be able to with pitocin induced labor.  The contractions are harder, longer, and have more peaks inside each contraction making the pain MUCH more intense.  I wanted a natural birth, but ended up having two doses of Stadol (non narcotic form of Demoral) along with an epidural.  Both of which I was totally against when I went in.  Most women with inductions end up needing meds or an epidural.  (Some don't, and they are super lucky).

I got the meds and epidural after probably 8 hours of hard labor, and as it was I almost didn't make it before a c section.  The doctor almost had to use vac extractor because I was so exhausted.  If I hand't had the meds and epidural I don't think I would have been able to deliver vaginally due to sheer exhaustion.

I may have to be induced again, due to gestational diabetes this time, but I'm already starting to dialate at 36 weeks, where with my first I was finally at 1 cm at 40 weeks when I went for the induction.  My body was not ready to labor, and they simply had to keep increasing the pitocin because when they didn't I didn't go any further.  A Failure to Progress is often a reason given for C section and is very likely with a first labor with induction.  Another issue is even a week early, baby's lungs may not be as fully developed if he or she is not ready.  Full term is anywhere between 37 and 42 weeks, and anytime within that window is perfectly normal unless there is indication mother or baby are in distress.

Personally, unless you have a medical reason, I strongly advise against an elective induction.  Usually it is a matter of doctor conveinence.  And they will tell you that your body makes pitocin already and that it doesn't make labor worse as well.  It doesn't make you have more pain, it just makes your contractions harder and longer with less rest period in between (a fact I confirmed with the nurse at my L&D when I asked how I knew I was in real labor since I haven't experienced a spontaneous labor).  I think when I started pushing, I had contractions every thirty seconds which would peak five - six times and all told last a good minute to two minutes.  A natural labor will not be that severe and usually has longer times between the peaks and a longer rest period.  And to be honest, it causes a LOT more stress on you and your body because your body has not completed its own getting ready process (hormone releases, etc).

Now, there is no wrong decision, but I just know the incredible amount of pain and disappointment I went through because I had so badly wanted a natural birth experience.  The only salvage to that was by the time I delivered my epidural had completely worn off, so I did deliver naturally, so to speak...  Good luck with your decision, whatever you decide, and know either way, before long you'll be holding your baby in your arms!