I hate when people say crap like this. Don't act so fucking surprised; this is YOUR fault, you know.
Well, I guess your idiot doctor, trying to fit you into his schedule and billing cycle before he goes on vacation, is partially at fault too. But YOU are the one who showed up at the hospital on the doctors orders. YOU are the one who signed a consent form for induction. YOU are the one who extended your arm for the IV. And YOU are the one responsible for making sure you are aware of the risks of any medical procedure.
Among its many risks, induction makes you much more likely to "need" a C-section - in fact, it is estimated that up to 40% of inductions end in a C. 40 percent! It usually goes something like this: cervix not dilating (yeah, cuz it wasn't ready to start dilating in the first place), baby's head not engaging (no shit, baby doesn't want out yet), baby's heart rate begins to drop (pitocin contractions are much longer and stronger than natural contractions, and can lead to compression of baby's blood and oxygen supply), doctor tells mom that baby is in distress and will need to come out NOW, parents freak out and consent to surgery that probably would have been unnecessary had you just let your baby come in his own time.
Some people seem to think this is no big deal. But C-sections have many of their own risks, including infection, hemorrhage, uterine rupture, failure to bond and establish breastfeeding, and even death. And early induction/c-section - before 40-42 weeks - presents its own unique set of risks, like immature brain and lung development (pretty important stuff).
So why - other than in true cases of medical necessity - are so many women choosing to induce, when these risks are printed in clear black ink on the consent forms?
My answer: SELFISHNESS. I know how uncomfortable the last few weeks of pregnancy are. I am a relatively small person and had Pubis Symphysis Disorder with my pregnancy so bad to the point that sometimes it was excruciating just to get out of bed. I totally get the desire to be DONE. But you know what? My baby's health and development are way more important to me than my own comfort. Maybe I'm sensitive to this issue because I nearly gave birth at 29 weeks and was on strict bed rest for 8 weeks to avoid having a preemie... But I gotta say that getting induced because you are uncomfortable or "done being pregnant" is really not a great way to start off parenthood. You know, since the child's needs are supposed to come before your wants, and all that.
I know that there ARE situations that can truly cause a need for an induction ("the baby is too big" is NOT one of them), but if you can avoid it, do. And if you STILL decide for induction, even knowing the risks involved, well, don't expect me to feel sorry for you as you are wheeled into the OR for your "emergency" c-section.
Thank you for sharing this! I do think that a lot of the responsibility needs to fall on the medical community in informing mothers of potential risk of their actions. But it seems informed consent really is DEAD in America. So it falls on the mother to do the research, which sadly they don't always do.
ReplyDeleteStories like this are way too common. I'm guilty of the above scenario as well to a point. I had my first child when I was 18 and was scared into an induction at 39 weeks for a baby who would be "too big" if we waited any longer. I was thankfully able to avoid a section, but she was vacuum extracted due to my stupidity and caving into a pericervical block. I have since done a LOT more research and 6 years later her brother was born at home on his own time:)
Thanks for getting the information out there! If more people like you post things like this, maybe we can change the face of birth in this country :)
I FUCKING LOVE YOU!!!! I've wanted to say this to SO MANY damn people IRL but bit my tongue.
ReplyDeleteI love you, Erin! I think you are the best! I can't stand inductions either and then people complaining about them or the negative ramifications of them. I blame OB's mostly but if we lived a society where parents actually researched things like birth and circumcision instead of BLINDLY doing what a doctor tells them to do, doctors wouldn't have so much power over them. You're right, it's selfishness. Well, that and laziness.
ReplyDelete"I researched circumcision and decided it was best for my son." = "I spoke to my OB about for 45 seconds and he told me to do it but I don't really want to say that so I'm going to tell you that I researched it."
Victim blaming at its finest
ReplyDeleteI got flamed when I said this on my PERSONAL Facebook. Seems that people who make these decisions take it really personally when you say it was a selfish mothering decision. In the end, I know the OBs are mostly to blame because of their fear mongering and the. Our society is to blame for not encouraging people to question ideas and research, but anywayyy you should post the free PDF pamphlet for INFORMED CONSENT and INFORMED REFUSAL. Most couples aren't informed about their right to REFUSE during their hospital tour. That's right ladies, you don't have to show up for that schedules induction for a big baby!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your argument at its core. There is no reason to be induced early if not for medical necessity and safety of the baby. However, I do think that the baby's size does play a factor. I was induced on my due date and had an 8.5 lb baby, I am a small person. Fortunately I had no complications and had a healthy and safe delivery, however the doctor said of I had gone even one more week I would probably have needed a c section due to the size of my pelvis vs size of baby.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the size of the baby that matters, it's the circumference of the head. And your size doesn't matter all that much - your pelvic bones move to accommodate the baby's head. While there are some babies who really are too big - those are generally babies whose moms have uncontrolled GD. The VAST majority of "big" babies are capable of being birthed naturally.
DeleteMy son's head was 15.25 inches. That's pretty damn big. And I didn't need a section (he was also over 9 lbs)
Your body won't grow a baby too big to birth (aside from some rare complications, obviously). 8.5 is not that big, even if you're small. Even the ACOG doesn't recommend inducing a woman for macrosomia ("big baby") unless the estimated size is over 11 pounds. Plus, there's no way to know the size of a woman's pelvis aside from X-rays and CT scans, and I'm assuming you had neither. Plus, the pelvis is not a solid piece of bone, it has pieces that shift and open as your baby is born. Your OB is feeding you bullshit.
DeleteMy neighbor had a 7lb baby that was born blue and not breathing b/c he was stuck. Broke her pelvic and his shoulder being born. He was flown to another hospital and now has lasting effects from lack of oxygen at birth. So yes, a baby can be too big even if the baby is a small weight. There's more to the story but that's the short version. Mind you, this labor/birth was not due to an induction and she was one who truly needed a c-section.
DeleteAgain with the personal anecdotes, Lauren. They do not outweigh scientific fact and statistics, which tell us that it is EXTREMELY RARE for a woman to be unable to naturally birth her own child - sounds like your neighbor was one of those rarities. The fact still remains that estimated weight alone is not a valid reason for induction.
DeleteI was not commenting regarding the induction vs. size of baby issue, I was just commenting that sometimes, yes, in rare cases, a baby can be "too big".
DeleteLauren, look up "iatrogenic complications". So your neighbor with the stuck baby, was she induced? Did she have an epidural? Was she stuck in bed? Was she made to purple-push in the lithotomy position? All of those things contribute to malpositioning (which is what would be the case with your neighbor, not "big baby") and increases the risk of shoulder dystocia.
DeleteWow....so, after reading your post, I read "About BB&B". No big shock to find out that you are a very young twenty something. I hope for your sake, you learn to tone it down, especially if you are planning on becoming a Professional Registered Nurse or a Lactation Consultant. You are using your attitude of "I don't care if I offend people" simply to be a bully. Hopefully, time and maturity will "season your soul". If you genuinely have a heart to educate people, as you stated, then first become educated yourself, and try to be kind...if it's in you.
ReplyDeleteFirst I have to say I agree with Crazylegs and everything she said. If you truly intend to work with the public you're not going to be able to "talk" the way you do on your blog to your patients. Next, I have to say, I've had 3 very successful inductions and it drives me insane that though yes, there can be complications, I think it's up to the mother to educate herself and make the right decision for herself and not come across a blog like that this may attempt to scare her Not EVERY induction is made with a bad decision or b/c a mom is 37wks and tired of being pregnant. I have known many women that have been induced and yet out of all of them (30+ that I can think of) NONE have had c-sections. Maybe we have better doctors, who knows. My first induction was at 40wks, I had double the amnionic fluid I should have had, there were plenty of risks should I go into labor at home, I couldn't be alone, If my water broke I was to call 911, etc... for my sake and sanity and the safety of my unborn child I requested an induction. I would rather be in a medical setting when I went into labor than at home should something have gone wrong (nothing did thankfully). My second child I asked for an induction and because of the size of my previous child (almost 9lbs) and my small frame, after I hit 40wks my doctor was willing to do it. My most recent induction I once again requested but for the sake that I had a January due date, I live 1+hr away from the hospital on windy, country, mountain roads that you cannot rely on to be plowed if there is snow. (There are no fire/police depts on the way to the hospital) I have two older children that we would need childcare for yet do not live close enough to family for them to come over, nor did we have neighbors at the time we could ask for help. All in all it seemed better to plan the induction. My doctor agreed but refused to do it prior to 39wks, which is when I was induced. Even though this same doctor has done one of my previous inductions he still sat me down and informed me of the risks, he told me why he would not do it before 39wks, how since I was having a boy they tend to not handle labor as well as girls, etc... What my doctor did should be what ALL doctors should do and make sure that you are informed about what an induction is, what are complications, pros/cons for your particular situation, etc... And the two of you together agree it's the best option for yourself and your baby. And I do have to say that depending on what website you read or believe, will depend on if that 40% chance of a c-section is true. I found on a reliable site that it was average 1 section per 25 inductions, which is more like a 4% chance, not 40%. I just wanted to put my story out there and let anyone who reads this know there are positive outcomes. Also, this has nothing to do with this post but I have been meaning to ask about you not vaccinating your son. Since you are making sure you are giving him "the best" why would you not protect him from harmful disease? Maybe I should refer you to my former coworker that had the same views and all 3 of her adult children (not vaccinated as children) were extremely sick (one caught it from the other), hospitalized in isolation, so severe they were not sure what the outcome was going to be-- I cannot remember with what and it's killing me b/c I can't remember, but I can find out. Anyway, this was years ago and they are all now better but with lasting health problems and for awhile her son was so upset with her b/c of this and blamed her for his illness and she now regrets not having them vaccinated. I just wanted to put that out there. I know some shots such as the chicken pox are not "necessary" and are more of a convience for parents but some for major illnesses I think that you are just as stupid to not get for your kids as you may think I'm stupid for being induced.
ReplyDeleteLauren, as I stated in the post, I acknowledge that there are valid reasons for inductions. My frustration is mainly with the women who are just suck of being pregnant and show up for their induction without doing any research into the risks involved to her or her baby. If you are so confident that your reasons were valid, why the pissyness/defensiveness? And I'd be interested in seeing your source for the 4% c section rate, btw.
DeleteAs for your rant about vaccines, I can match your personal anecdote with countless stories of children who have been permanently injured or killed by vaccines. There are risks on each side of the issue but to me the risk/benefit ratio weighs in the favor of not vaccinating.
I wasn't pissy-- I just wanted to reassure anyone that were to read your post that there are successful inductions (though, I think it's funny that whenever someone does not agree with what you say word for word, you think they are coming across pissy. Which now, I feel I am, lol). I also stressed that my doctor and I made the choice together, I was never induced prior to 39wks, and that my doctor informed me of the risks. Not all doctors do this and therefore I was discussing my personal expereince. Personally, I'm just as annoyed with docs that will do inductions at 37wks b/c the mom is "tired" or "uncomfortable". But what I do get annoyed at is when everyone assumes that's how all inductions go and don't do the research for themselves to make the best choice for THEIR situation. I forgot to mention that will all my inductions I was already diliating and therefore it helped lead towards a more successful induction. Again, I think the doctors need to set higher standards for themselves such as my doctor did (he refuses any inductions prior to 39wks unless medically necessary). I think both doctors and patients need to do a better job discussing options with each other.
DeleteAs far as the 4%, here is one I previously found:
“Dr. J. Christopher Glantz at the University of Rochester School of Medicine found that inducing labor introduces a risk of 1 to 2 cesareans per 25 inductions "
I do have more with different percentages but I just need to find where I've saved them, might be on my other computer.
And... my "rant" about vaccines, I agree there are risks on both sides of the issue but I think the risk of vaccinating is far minimal than the risk of not. I hope your child never gets seriously ill with something he could have been protected from. I *personally* think people who don't vaccinate against major illnesses are making horrible decisions for their children and their health.
I agree with Erin. Everyone I know gets induced for convenience reasons, and very few have made it without c-sections. I was pregnant at the same time as a neighbor who had a convenience induction on her due date, which resulted in uterine hyper stimulation from too much pitocin, which resulted in the baby's heart rate plummeting, which resulted in an emergency c-section, which resulted in a NICU stay for the baby with lung issues, which resulted in an extended hospital stay for both Mom and baby, which resulted in a long recovery at home for both, etc. She called me about a week before my due date with all of these gory details and how did this happen and you better be careful, etc. It was all I could do not to hang up on her. Babies should choose their own birthdate with very rare exception.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I love you so much! Women seriously need to learn to take control of the body and mind,know their rights when it comes to birth,what Drs can do or not do,how to fire a Dr,nurse,etc,how to say fuck no to interventions and even demand a 2nd or 3rd opinion in labor.
ReplyDelete