Oh yes....I was being flippant, wasn't I? I'm sorry. Maybe her doc could be persuaded to induce her when she's in that much discomfort and mentally stressed. It's usually an IV now...I had a tablet that was supposed to dissolve under my tongue. After my son was born, I spit it out on the pillow. It works fast! But it is certainly a prescribed med and labor would be closely monitored. I'm sorry I didn't give more thought to my earlier message. This isn't a subject to tease about. I hope things start moving along soon. It must be difficult to feel so ready.
OT..Help..a little please
Mar 14, 2007
30 Replies
This isn't the Pitocin course for everyone. No epidural here. No nothing. I just want to balance out the story.
Sending every good thought, prayer, hug and scrap of endurance I can find. I do know how you feel, and can truly empathize! My son sat SO low that I experienced the same dilemmas you are contending with now. I do hope you can hang in there till the baby comes naturally and safely and with all the love this group sends your way. Also praying for a swift delivery and recovery!
nor was the labour I described pitocin, I don't have stats to hand, but I suspect it's well over 90% get epidurals and of course many women choose epidurals anyway, so for some it may make no difference. The other problem is that if you induce a labour with pitocin that wouldn't otherwise have started for another couple of weeks you risk the body not being ready and full dilation never being acheived and you can't just stop and go home, it means delivery by c-section. It's a good thing that that can be done when there is a medical need in either the mother or the baby, but the risk profile is more concerning when it's more a matter of convenience (and that's not to downplay Joanna's suffering, I know what that's like, yet I was very angry the way induction was pressed upon me as a solution, I needed support to the natural end, not a solution). It can be straightforward and simple, but even if that happens 50% of the time, that's still an awful lot of women and babies who suffer.
Anne
Ok, fine.
I was induced with baby #1 because my water broke but I was not in labor after 24hrs. I would not wish that upon anyone. I could not have an epidural due to history of back problems. So they had me so drugged that I would wake up during a contraction, scream and my eyes would roll in my head. My SIL said she didn't see the color of my eyes for more than
10hrs. When baby did come out he was black and blue, literally. Two black eyes and bruising every where on him. I walked around with frozen ice packs between my legs for more than a week. If it ever came to that I would sooner opt for the c section, if it was medically necessary only. It truly was the most horrible thing in my life to go through, and I've been through a lot in my short life, more than most people I know.Anyways today Dr says I am 80% effaced and about 1cm dilated. He striped my membranes really lightly as he said she is so low he could feel her head. Normally stripping the membranes hurts, while they are doing it only cuz they are trying to reach too far inside. Well today it wasn't even what I would consider uncomfortable. So he says any time now. I all ready knew that. But it still better be sooner rather than later. Instead of waking up to pee every couple of hours I'm waking up every hour because my hips hurt so bad.
I appreciate everyone's comments to my small dilemma and I am THANKFUL for all the prayers! Hopefully my next update will be after I'm home with the little bundle of joy. Take Care Joanna
Best wishes Joanna. Actually I hope you aren't reading this.....that you're in the delivery room. Hurry up BABY!
Hand scrubbed your kitchen floor? Debra in VA See my quilts at
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Ah Joanna I remember when baby # 4 was 3 weeks late. Drs were talking about induceing but I kept insisting that babies come when they are ready, and unless there was something medically wrong, I would wait. I think I had finally given up hoping that he would ever come out, when he finally showed up! Baby # 5 I had pneumonia and pleurisy about the 8.5 month mark. They wouldn't let me take ANY drugs and I was sure my belly should be black and blue from all the coughing. Boy this topic is bringing back memories! Still praying for you! Marilyn in Alberta, Canada
Ah, Joanna. I hope you are not here and not reading this. I hope you are at the hospital. I remember so well thinking that during delivery, they would say, "Mz Esther, we have a problem and we are going to have to cut off your toe". And I would cheer, "Take them all. I want this baby girl Now". After she was born, I asked them to take me to the hospital roof and let me broadcast to the world that our little girl was here. She was 6 weeks overdue. Glad. Glad. What a wonderful day. Wishing you a happy birthday and holding you close in our prayers. Polly
I'm sorry you had a bad time of it Joanna, I was induced for the same reason first time, also, the baby was vunerable as he was very small for dates, it was actually pretty sucessful as pitocin inductions go, I had an epidural, but had moderate back ache for about 2 months afterwards, which really made me wish I'd managed to hold out a little longer. Good for you for sticking it out and letting nature take it's course. I'm sure you've figured out how you handle your labours by now, but sometimes odd things happen and I've known of people have an epidural for the first time with number 8 or something, but you may want to re discuss the issue of epidurals as about
90% of the times I've heard someone say they can't have an epidural due to a back problem, it turns out they can. The interesting one is when they are told they can't and when a reason comes for scheduling a c-section, it all of a sudden becomes possible to give them a spinal, it's pretty rare these days for someone to need c-section under a general anaethsetic and when it happens, it's usually a matter of there not being time to get the mother under any other way.Good Luck
Anne
PS sometimes it creeps up on you fast, 2nd time I was not progressed as your doc says you are and had my baby 6hrs later!
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