Let me begin with due dates. Due dates are only an estimate of how far along mother and baby are. Yes, they are accurate, but not enough to satisfy me. The fact is, most couples are not taking charge of their fertility. The average couple does not know the exact date of conception. Not that that is always a bad thing, but without knowing for sure, you can not fully trust that good ol' due date. My husband and I are fortunate because we do chart. We follow the guidelines of Natural Family Planning. Whether trying to conceive or avoid pregnancy, we have charts marking my fertility. It has been such a blessing. We have known exactly when each baby was conceived. It is also empowering. I go into my first prenatal appointment already knowing how far along I am, and telling the doctor my due date. They are usually pleasantly surprised to find truth to what I say.
For couples who do not chart, their due date is a good estimate. This usually means that the 40 week pregnancy mark may actually only be 39, even 38 weeks. So many people are being induced because they think they are past their due date, and it is completely unnecessary! They make actually be a week or so earlier than thought. Only they will never know for sure because of a lack of knowledge.
I get extremely irritated at the number of inducements (like c-sections) being done out of convenience. Taking something out before it's ready has negative consequences! We won't take a turkey out of the oven before it's ready to come out. WHY are we so willing to do so with our babies? The comparison may sound silly, but there is so much truth to it.
Lastly today I came across this story on Fox News: Induced Labor Tied to Fatal Birth Risk.
Here is just a short bit from the article,
Researchers in Canada concluded that labor induction doubles a woman's risk forOne in five births involve induction...that is not a good statistic. As the expectant mothers, we need to be the ones to deny consent for such practices. Sure, if there is a truly valid reason to be induced, I will do (always) what is in best interest and health of my baby. ALWAYS. There are just a lack ofvalidd reasons. And sorry, convenience is never a good enough reason.
developing the complication, which is a leading cause of delivery-related
maternal death. About one in five births in the U.S. involves medical
induction, and the researchers believe the practice may be responsible for as
many as 40 cases of amniotic-fluid embolism and 15 deaths each year in this
country.
I am so blessed with the ob/gyn I have. I remember during my first pregnancy, they explained to me that unless there is a significant reason, they will not even discuss inducing labor until 41 weeks. Yes, we're all uncomfortable, sleepless, and irritable at that stage of pregnancy. But isn't it worth it if it's better for your baby, and you?
3 comments:
I've never met anyone who was induced for reasons of convenience. You can't really think that the majority of OB/GYNs are inducing women just because they don't want to be pregnant anymore. Everyone I've met was induced because the baby was in danger, myself included. If 20% of pregnancies are induced, I'm willing to bet that 90% of those are for valid reasons - one freak accident does not make all inductions bad.
Stacey-I did not mean to give the impression that OB/GYNS are inducing because women don't want to be pregnant any more. Not at all. I know there are plenty of vaild reasons, such as in your case.
I also know several people who were induced or whose doctors tried to induce them without valid reasons. Those are the situations which upset me.
For instance, my sister was induced with her first. They induced her at 38 wseeks. The reason? Oh, the baby may be SEVEN pounds. SEVEN! Seven is average. I know women who deliver 9 pound babies vaginally. My sister is not some ultra-petite person where a 7 pound baby would threaten her. After all, her cervix dilates to 10 like the others. That story was the worst.
Another woman I know wanted to be induced so that her baby would not be born the same month as her other. They wanted the baby to be born in September and not October. That was it. And she didn't want a c-section because of scars. (I'm tihnking-do you have no stretch marks? lol) She wound up going into labor on her own, and the baby was born Spet 30th!
And unfortunately, the study was not only citing one freak accident.
There are may valid reasons to use Pitocin and induce. However, may studies are showing that doctors are inducing labor more and more frequetly like they are c-sections. (noting it to be patiet choice, etc)
Actually, I've been given the option to be induced. I have very slow first stage labor with a fast second stage (actual delivery). A lot of women are induced because of mental and emotional exhaustion, in which technically there no medical need.
People have the expectation of a "text book" labor, and when it doesn't go that way they get anxiety and stressed. But what do I know I've been laboring since Thursday at 38 weeks with contractions that never get close enough and my cervix is at 5cm since then but I'm at home!
Sure I'm tired and more then anything bored, I'm sure if I whined enough they would offer it for me. If the baby and mother are healthy, doctors and women should let the body do the work. The biggest problem is that it creates havoc for everyone else's schedule because I need someone on call for the week or so I'm not in "real labor" to take me when I'm in "real labor".
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