It's a hard decision to make for a number of reasons, not the least being that people have VERY strong opinions of "natural" versus "non-natural" that they are only too willing to express even without provocation and I'll be having this baby side-by-side with Noah's two sisters, both of whom I'm sure will have huge, perfect babies medication free.....
Noah REALLY wants me to get the induction. We are both in LOVE with our OB, she is absolutely amazing and was soooooooooooo incredible for Arie's birth. She supports all decisions I make and is a very cautious practitioner. She just puts me at ease like very few people have this time around. She would not do the induction unless I was effaced/dilated, there was an amnio done for his lungs/growth scan done for his size (if that was a concern) and my Bishop score was incredible. It would just be such a comfort to know she would be there and I could wear my own clothes and walk around with my water broken and not need an IV and just everything else.....Plus Kara would be able to come down and be in the room when I had him which would be so so amazing.
So....here I am asking for opinions (good or bad, for or against). I am weighing my options currently.
Thus far here is my pro's/con's list as I see it (I know others might have things to add to either side).
Pro's
- My family would be able to plan more accordingly for the birth and not have to waste tons of money flying down so would possibly be able to stay longer
- Kara would be able to be in the delivery room with us as Keats arrived
- Child care would be easier to figure out
- Dr. Walker would 100% be there to support me in my delivery
- I would be able to have all of the comforts I want for birth, my own clothes, no IV unless needed, walking around even after my water is broken, choice of birthing positions (including squatting if wanted), I get to cut the cord, Noah or I could catch the baby if we want, etc
- Dr. Walker knows all of the "issues" we've had leading into this pregnancy (and there have been a lot) so I wouldn't have to be describing all of my worries (not feeling Keats move, etc) to a dr I've never met
- I have already been induced twice so I know what to expect and trust Dr. Walker enough not to fear c-section with her
- If I go into labor earlier than the planned induction, at least my last few weeks will be less stressful
- I can plan for my job more accordingly (in terms of when paychecks will stop, when they will start, and figuring out lesson plans to match CC guides)
- I will be able to plan better for KTIP (yuck....when will school be done??)
- This is Noah's PREFERENCE
- I will be more at ease
- I will have an actual end in sight.....seirously....I truly feel like I have been pregnant FOREVER.....I know that is selfish, but unless you have been pregnant as frequently as me, please try not to judge too harshly :/
Con's
- It would make using a doula pretty much out of the question. I have gone back and forth on this. I LOOOOOOVE Lorna (the woman we are planning on using) but I will have only met her twice by the delivery and that makes me feel kind of exposed. Plus, I would really rather have my sisters there (Kara and Ashley) than someone I don't really know, but Noah would really REALLY like to have a doula there.....so while I am torn on this one, it is going in to con's list for me because Noah is my support and I want him to feel supported in this process.
- Induction does increase the risk of c-section, although again, this is a torn con because I've had two inductions (and Arie's induction really shouldn't have worked considering I was not effaced at all and barely 1 cm dilated when my water broke!!) and both went fine....but still it's a risk and I'm scared to death of surgery....never had one before-really don't want to start with a major one
- I'm afraid of the pain it causes when you have to get pitocin (although Dr. Walker said that would be her last resort, she thinks stripping my membranes will be enough to get labor going as that is what started Arie's labor)
- As lame as it is, I don't want to have to deal with the judgements and people's opinions
- I get nervous that I will blame myself forever if something goes wrong
okay............so even if no one responds, at least I'm starting to think it through!! We have a growth scan at 34 weeks and a BPP that day as well, so I think depending on those results, I will begin my discussion with Dr. Walker. She feels safer being there just with all of my issues, but we'll have to wait and see what my heart says in the long run......Thanks for listening to my rambling....What a way to come back after like a month of not posting!! :) Sorry about that!! Keats, at least you will know you were loved and thought about STRONGLY long before you arrived!!
9 comments:
I would get induced. - this is your 3rd and you life is chaotic so it would be nice to be able to control at least one thing in your life. =) You are a great mom and Keats is lucky to have you!
i think you should do it... i am pretty opinionated about this stuff, but i don't really even consider stripping membranes induction... plus since you were induced before and resulted in vaginal delivery you have much more of a chance of being successful this time. you could use the breast pump too so maybe you won't end up needing pitocin. sooo happy to hear how open your doc is!!
Thanks girls!! I really need the support-I hate making big decisions!! haha....but Sarah-you hit it right on the head. It would be WONDERFUL to have control over just one thing right now....
ps-N, that's what I did with Idina-the breast pump. It worked well but not as quick as they would have liked with my water broken, but I'm 100% going to do that again before the pitocin because I felt like it helped progress me some at least!!
I would plan for the induction, unless health wise he isn't ready. You need to only worry about what is going to work for you. Don't let other opinions, as strong as they may be effect your intuition on the matter. You ultimately know what is best for you, for the baby, and for your family. Definitely ask your dr to start stripping your membranes starting a few weeks before if she can. It seems to me like you trust her. To be honest based on what your pros and cons are, you have already decided what is best.
TRUST ME, planning ahead when you already have two children is a huge benefit.
I am a huge advocate of induction. I have had two close friends who actually lost their babies (one due to cord accident around the neck, one to a blood clot that formed in the cord) during the last week of pregnancy. They would have their sweet babies in their arms today if they had not felt so much pressure to keep everything natural. A lot of things can go wrong in that last week as both you and the baby are running out of room. I don't want to be an alarmist, but my doctor agreed that the risks of carrying too long really outweigh the risks associated with delivering a week or two early. I had a close call with Wesley and I outright demanded an early induction with Carigan. She was absolutely ready and I know it was the best decision for both her health and mine. I realize this can be a touchy subject and that everyone's opinions (including mine) is shaped by their varying personal experiences, but I read your list of pros and cons, and it seemed that your pros were reasons to YOU, and your cons were mainly reasons to other people that you may fear will judge your decision. I have done it both ways... Anna Kate came on her own, no drugs, 100% natural. I was induced early with Carigan, had petocin, epidural, the whole 9 yards. No comparison, and not because of the pain... because of the risk and the fear and the worry and the ability to bond with your baby. And having your doctor there and your family there is important. I support ya whatever you decide though. Praying for you and can't wait to see Keats!
I wish there was a way you could just not care what others thought in this subject... birthing a child is YOUR story, not ANYONE else! This is YOUR birthing story, this is YOUR son, this is YOUR health. God allowed you to be pregnant, and God ALLOWED drugs and medicine to be advanced in the way that it has! You birthed Idina with NO epidural, and the only drugs used were to induce her! I would say that's pretty amazing. You know where I stand, Jae. I don't give a crap what anyone thinks about epidurals or pain medication or IV's. I've grown up in hospitals and while I've seen the crud that can go wrong, I know for a fact the GOOD that goes along with modern day meds and help!
I say be induced. I think Kara NEED to be there in the room, and while I don't think you will even last until the 31st (you are usually 38 weeks when you give birth!) if you DO make it, GET INDUCED. I can be there RIGHT after my GRE! Kara will be there! It will be so beautiful and such a blessing and Jana, whatever happens? HAPPENS! GOD is in control. This is YOUR story that you are fulfilling because He is allowing you to.
I LOVE YOU!
Whew. Sorry! I just don't like caring what others think! I think this is such an individual thing that happens in our lives and no one can tell you a right or wrong way in this matter. Heck, when I'm pregnant I would LOVE an epidural and I don't even mind getting cut open! But who KNOWS how labor will go for ME! THAT'S what makes it all SO beautiful! You are beautiful and amazing and I have faith in you whatever you decide!
No need for me to go into detail about what I think, since I've never been one to hold back! You do know how I feel and all that really matters is what YOU feel. It does make sense in so many ways for you to schedule the induction and leave the rest of the equation up to God. I support you no matter what and I am praying for these final weeks!! LOVE YOU!!!!!
I vote go for it! Induction is the way I went for both and honestly the pitocin didn't seem to increase pain for me. Best of luck either way. Keats will love you no matter what.
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