Question about inductions...

5littleladies wrote: Ok, I know ultimately this decision will be made by me and my ob, but I would love to have input from you ladies as well.


Tomorrow I am having an ultrasound to try and get a guesstimate on how big Alyssa is. When I had Brianna she had shoulder dystocia (shoulders got stuck on the way out) and while I didn't think much about it at the time, I've been reading about it and have found some pretty awful things that could have happened to her because of it-i.e., broken bones, paralysis, worse things that I don't want to talk about, etc. Brianna was 10 days late and a pretty big baby, both of which can be a factor in shoulder dystocia. ANYWAYS....I am now terrified of Alyssa being too big and having the same thing happen, but with a less fortunate outcome. My dr. said if it seems like she is on the big side we will talk about not letting me get to my due date. Honestly, I don't think she feels all that big yet, but if Brianna had been on time she wouldn't have been so big either. Where is the question you say? If Alyssa doesn't seem to be too big, and dr. doesn't seem worried, would it seem unreasonable for me to ask to be induced around my due date in order to prevent her getting to the size that Brianna was? I've never been induced, don't want to be induced, frankly am terrified of being induced, but I think I would rather take the risks of induction than deal with the possible alternative. Am I just being paranoid-on both points? Are inductions really terrible? I've read horror stories and I've read stories by people who say they are easy-peasy. I'd love some feedback!

amynicole21 replied: I was induced both times. Honestly, I think it helps when it's not your first child. With Sophia it was a TERRIBLE experience. I was so upset when they said they needed to induce with Nora, but it was soooooo much easier. 4 hours start to finish. Just about perfect! I think you'd probably have a decent experience since this is your 4th delivery.

MomToMany replied: There's risks to an induction as well. I guess you will have to weigh both sets to see which is better. I've been induced twice, and I won't ever have it done again. It's better if nature takes its course.

5littleladies replied:
Amy-Did you have an epi with your deliveries?? I've never had one and would like to keep going without but I'm wondering if I was induced if I would be more likely to need one. My labor with Brianna was pretty painful and I've heard that inducing makes it more painful.

chloe&tysmommy replied: I was induced with Tyler and it was awesome...but I can definitely say that I didn't feel much because of the epidural although you could still feel the pressure and that was strong. and my SIL was induced with hers and she said it was really bad...

I wasn't induced with Chloe and that was insane pain but she was also my first.

So I'm probably not much help to you...but good luck with your decision

Boys r us replied: I went on my own with Tanner and was induced with Braedon. I will tell you, my experience being induced was so much more enjoyable than Tanner's birth! The next time if I have a choice next time, I will DEFINITELY choose to be induced!

Now, I can't say that the difference in my experiences were b/c I was induced or not, it may have had nothing to do with it. But I can say that being induced was in no way a bad experience, except for the fact that I couldn't get one wink of sleep the night before b/c I was so anxious!

5littleladies replied:
I am aware of the risks of induction-I think I pointed that out. I would absolutely rather go naturally but I also don't want to risk my baby's safety by letting her get too big and having possible complications that I have already had in a past delivery.

coasterqueen replied: Well I was induced with Kylie...awful experience.

They ended having to give me pitocin after I went into labor with Megan because I wasn't progressing after getting an epi (epi slowed it back down) ....really didn't want it but had no choice, she was 4 weeks early, not "cooked" yet and they wanted to get her out since I was already at 5 cm.

You have to do what is ultimately right for you but I don't know. If it were me I'd probably do it after my due "date". Docs are more wrong than right when it comes to weight. I don't know, it's hard to give advice on it because everyone's body is different.

ammommy replied: I don't think that your doc will induce if there is no medical reason. I was induced with Alec 2 days before my due date because we feared that he would be huge (not too bad of an experience as far as the actual induction). That was the soonest that she could find a medical reason, even though I was on the verge of begging for 2 weeks because I was so miserable.

Obviously, I have nothing to compare it to, but I don't think that the contractions were too bad until I hit 5 cm even with the pitocin. This is coming from a lady who wanted to get hooked up to the epi at 7 months, just in case

aspenblue1 replied: I was induced with Isabella and had an induction scheduled with Kyrsten but went on my own.

Induction can make the labor worse. I don't think mine was much worse than when I went natural.

I would talk it over with your ob, but I can say if they told me that I needed to be induced I would do it again.

JilliansMom replied: I had a wonderful induction experience.

I was 40wks and 3days when I was induced, and I was only 1 cm and 80% effaced. They started the Pitocin very slowly and I didn't progress past 2 cm the first day, so we turned off the Pitocin that night, but I continued to have my own contractions all night long. We re-started it the next morning.
I progressed VERY well the 2nd day. I was at 10 cm by 1:30pm.
I ended up having to have a c/s, but only b/c my baby was big and facing the wrong way, plus my pelvis was a bit small. But other than that...it would have been a successful induction.

There's nothing to be scared of in most cases. Good luck!

5littleladies replied:
I don't think I would even be considering it so seriously if I wasn't so sure about my dates due to an ultrasound at 6 weeks. I'm not going to ask to be induced before my date, unless Lissie is really big already (which I doubt) and then in that case I think my ob will recommend it. I'm just thinking, ok, if the ultrasound says she's 7 pounds, even if she is only 6, if I go late again , depending on how quickly she's gaining weight, I could end up with a 9+ pounder again. KWIM? I'm really in no huge rush (for the most part ) to be done with this pregnancy, I just want my baby to be safe.

moxee24 replied: I was 40wks & 2days when i was induced, i had also been dialated to 3 cm and fully efaced(sp?) for a week at that point. I had also been having small contractions for that week, but nothing i was doing would put me into "full" labor. So i was induced, not as bad as most women say. The Dr. broke my water and then let nature do the rest. I was able to walk around if i wanted, didn't have to stay in bed. From the time my Dr. broke my water to the time i had my DS was 12 hrs & 31 mins. start to finish, all natural, no meds.

I think most women have some fear of being induced because they aren't ready for baby to be here....but I think if your Dr. thinks it won't be a problem to wait for "nature" then you should be ok.

If it was me i would tell him thought that if i was not in labor or had my baby by my due i would want it scheduled to be induced, only for the safety of the baby's health.

My P&PT's are with you while you have to make this decision, i know it's a tough one....LOTS OF HUGS!!!

~KARA~ replied: I had 3 wonderful experiences with being induced!!
oldest dd was 10 days early, labor was 3 hours 2 min, enought pain meds to take edge off.
Youngest dd was 2 weeks early, labor was 90 min and had pain meds to take edge off.
this last time my son was 17days early, labor was 57min and NO pain meds at ALL.

I was planning on having anymore babies I would go with the induction again. I will say how ever not everyone has good experiences(as some have posted above) but others of us have had good experiences.

and good luck on your choice!

kayla's mama replied: When I had Kayla I was at 40 weeks to the day. They had me on potocin for 12 hours. Got my epi at 11:00am. She finally came at 10:30pm. I have nothing to compare it to but I only pushed for 15-30 min. I never felt any of my contractions. I'm sure you already know this, but I'll say it anyway. Be prepared to swell really bad. I looked like I had elephant legs, aka kankles No one told me about the swelling!!!! Only you and your Dr. can make the right desicion. Hope you have a healthy and safe delivery.

5littleladies replied: Thanks for the replies ladies!! I know no two women are alike, but it is nice to hear the different situations I could find myself. If anyone else has any input I'm still here-no baby yet.

mom2tripp replied: Jennifer--- I wasn't induced with Tripp but I just wanted to wish you luck with your delivery. I know all will go well and you will have a healthy beautiful baby girl to bring home to join your other princesses

My3LilMonkeys replied:

I just wanted to point out that this is not necessarily true. In the upper class community near where I live it is normal to be induced...they all want to schedule their deliveries so that they won't be inconvenienced by the baby arriving at the wrong time!

Now my experience...I was induced with my first daughter (10 days past my due date) and it was a short, fairly easy experience for me...they started the pitocin at 9am and she was born 3:02pm. I had an epi with her but not with my second child so I can't really compare the pain levels. I wish you the best of luck and I'm sure that whatever decision you and your dr. make will be the best one for you!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I was induced with Maddie and Ethan. I didn't have any problems either time. As a matter of fact it was pretty wonderful. I had an epidural both times RIGHT away so I didn't feel anything. The pitocin can bring your contractions on STRONG, FAST and HARD so you may want to be cautious if you go that route. The epidural was a piece of cake as well.

Feel free to PM me if you have more questions. I will tell you anything you want to know.

A&A'smommy replied: I had a bad experience but I think that was because 1 she was my first and 2 my hips never did really spread very far

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: i was induced both times and it was wonderful
With Katy is was questionable if it was medically necessary or them being nice. I felt very little movement so had to have biweekly NST's and at from 35-37 weeks they watched the fluiud level fall, at 37 is was in the too low range they could have put me back on bed rest with orders to drink gallons all weekend but they instead (much to my liking) sent me in for an induction. Dr. came in and broke my water i got the epi right away then they starterd the pitocin...It was simple and painless and from start to finish 10 hours
With Matt I think the Dr. was trying to get rid of me I had had loads of problems with early labor and was under house arrest (bed rest) off and on from like 13 weeks but full bed rest from (i think) 27 weeks until 36 weeks with the dr saying there was NO WAY I would make it past 36 weeks and would be exceptionallty lucky to go past 35. I had my parents at my house (from a different state) the entire month of January since they wanted to be there and the dr. didn't have much faith that I wouldn't be delivering any day. ant 37.5 weeks I was finally induced after a nice little bout of fluxuating blood pressure where it would go from 60/40 - 170/120 and then back to normal with in about a half hour. Matt's was scheduled so I went in at 6:00 monday morning they had lost my paper work so nothing was started until almost 8 and that was just a regular IV at 9:30 the Dr. came in to break my water and they started the pitocin then Matt was born about 4 hours later and after about half a push. With Matt I attempted to get an epi but he was too fast from the time they got it placed so he was a med free delivery and it wasn't so bad. If the induction is supposed to make a labor more painful I probably wouldn't have known i was in real labor because it was only moderately bad.
Good Luck with whichever you choose.

angelhair replied: i think if the epidoral had not worn off during the hard labor part being induced would have gone a lot better. they induced me a week early and i had strp b so i am glad it was planned so it gave the antibiotics a chance to work. they hooked me up and then gave me protican and when it got painful they gave me a epi but never connected the pump(that was a freak thing so i would not worry about it happening). while the epi worked though it was great and i felt no pain so i think you will be fine. if your doctor feels being induced would be safer i would go with that.when are they thinking of inducing you by the way love dee

Mommy2BAK replied:
Do you honestly think it is better if nature takes it's course if someone was 2 weeks past due? I just cannot see how that would be safe.

5littleladies replied:
I don't honestly know if they will or not yet. My appointment is on Tuesday and based on my ultrasound and what my dr. said I am just guessing that it is a good possibility. Actually if my dr. doesn't advise it on her own I will probably ask to be induced around my due date-just for Lissie's safety.

Mommy2BAK replied: I was induced, and my labor went extremely smoothly! Good luck on whatever you do!

MomToMany replied:
Yes I do! It happened to me TWICE! Wouldn't have wanted it any other way!

People are too caught up in the whole medical side of it. A mother's body knows what to do and when to do it. People just need to relax & let it happen on its own.

THERE'S NO MEDICAL REASON FOR INDUCING.

coasterqueen replied: I actually agree that we should let nature takes it course just like Mollie does. But I also have to say that unfortunately even I am not sure I could. With Kylie I was a naive first-time parent who did what my doctor thought was best. I told my doc that I wouldn't even breath the word induction until after I had gone past two weeks with Megan. Course she came 4 weeks early, lol.

Edit to say the reason why I don't think I could wouldn't have anything to do with baby's well being per se but for comfortability.

We ALL have to do what we think is best for our bodies, babies, family, etc. Just the same with any other subject: sleep, CIO, feeding, etc, etc.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
My neice had shoulder dystocia and now she is 10 years old and has bad back problems from the doctors pulling her out - her spine is crooked and she's so self concious about it. And it sounds like that is the least serious thing that can happen from it. I would rather get her out before she's too big than have her end up with a crooked spine or paralized or worse!!

Sometimes a woman's body decides to have the baby too soon, and doctors stop it to save the baby's life. I don't see how this would be much different.

coasterqueen replied:
VERY VERY good point Sara!.

elvisfan replied: I didn't read all the reply's so maybe I'm repeating something. I was induced with my last child who was born 10 days ago. I was terrified as I had never been induced before. He was 7 days late. My doctor said since I was beginning to dialate (I was 3cm and 70% effaced) that there was no need to wait.

The next morning I went in and it was actually very easy for me! He was born in 2hrs. Now I did have some problems but it wasn't from being induced. It was because I had meconium in my amniotic fluid when they broke my water. That is dangerous for baby. But my labor experience was the best yet.

Have you dialated at all? I guess I should read to see if you updated at all!
I also think if possible to let nature take it's course but sometimes it can be dangerous for the baby and/or mother to wait.

So I was terrified of being induced and it ended up going really well for me.

Just wanted to add that mine was so fast I didn't need an epi. The last half hour was the only time I even really wanted one.

5littleladies replied:
Ok, I have to take issue with this statement. If there was such a thing as inductions even 100 years or so ago, many, many mothers and babies would have lived that died probably for very simple reasons such as baby getting stuck due to size, or other medical reasons that we are now aware of. I am NOT saying-Oohhh everyone should run out and get induced for any little reason-absoultely not, but you cannot tell me that sometimes inducing for the safety of the mother and baby is not the way to go. That's like saying "I'm not going to give my child medicine because their body knows best how to heal itself and anything else is not natural". I'm sorry if I am getting defensive about this topic (which I started ). I have legitimate concerns regarding my baby's safety that may, or may not be resolvable by simply helping her out a little early and blanket statements such as the one quoted are simply ignorant and make me angry. And now I'll get off my soapbox.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:

Excuse me?? So, instead of having medical intervention we should let the babies and mothers die?? Is this what you are saying? We aren't animals, Mollie! Even animals have interventions in their births now.

Sara you made a good point as well. Jennifer you and your doctor will make the best decision for you and Lissie.

Mommy2BAK replied:
Are you kidding me??

What do you think would be the reasoning??? Vanity???

kimberley replied: while i agree we should try to let our bodies do what they naturally do, i also believe it is personal choice. my induction experience was horrible but i do know many who had success. someone said that Dr's won't consider induction unless medically necessary and i strongly have to disagree with that. my OB (in cahoots with another at the hospital) pretty well scared DH and I into agreeing to an induction stating "i don't want the death of your baby on my hands". we later learned it was completely unnecessary and she would have been safe another week BUT it was Labor Day weekend and he didn't want to hang around and deal with me and my third birth all weekend . i reluctantly agreed to a pitocin drip which made Jade's heart rate fluctuate dramatically. it scared me because it would drop really low on the hard contractions. i told them i didn't want my water broken because everyone i know who had this done had awful, excruciating contractions. i was in enough pain. they did it anyway. then they put a fetal monitor on her head (mark was there for months) when i repeatedly said i didn't want that, they ripped her out of me (cutting cord and not letting me hold her right away) to see she was just fine . then the worst part was they yanked the placenta out... and i mean tug-of-war yanking cuz they didn't want to wait for it to naturally expel. i guess my problem with the whole thing was that once i said yes to one thing, they completely took over the birth and it was almost as though i wasn't even in the room. no matter how adamant i was, they ignored me. hence why i am having a home birth with a midwife for this baby. good luck with whatever you decide.

mom2tripp replied: If our bodies could do it all by themselves then why was the medical profession ever created in the first place???? Some women need inductions, some women need C-sections like I did. Would you have rather me delivered Tripp vaginally in a breech position causing posible harm to myself and the baby???

I listen to my body but I also listen to what doctors have to say as well, after all they are doctors of a REASON!!!

kimberley replied:
i hope it wasn't my post you took offense to because all i am saying is that Doctors are NOT Gods.. they make mistakes, they do things for convenience sake.
i just think that us moms should take a more proactive role in the birth of our children instead of leaving it all up to the doctor. childbirth is not surgery, it is a natural process that women have been doing alone for years. there is probably some woman right now squatting in a field birthing a baby on her own . i understand that complications happen, but most of those can be detected ahead of time and some are even caused by unnecessary interventions from doctors. do research, get second opinions and remember... nobody knows your body better than you do.

amymom replied: I went naturally with both my children. However, my daughter was born at 42 weeks and I was scheduled for an induction at 7:30 am and she was born at 8:15 am. (Natural labor began at midnight) .... So I did not have an induction, but we were doing NST almost every day for the last week and checking fluid levels.... so yes I would have had an induction for her sake.

However, there are many ways to 'naturally' bring labor on. Maybe try those for a few days then choose along with your doctors.

Good Luck and easy Labor vibes whatever route you take.

mom2tripp replied:
Nope it wasn't your post at all

ITA you should always listen to your own body, what I was trying to say is that sometimes no matter how much you want to do things without medical intervention sometimes you just have to!

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
Oh my that sounds like a terrible experience! Not just the induction but the way you were treated. I don't blame you for wanting a midwife this time!

msoulz replied: I'll be interested to hear what you decide and how it goes. I have already had a discussion with my doc regarding the size of this baby. My first was 8 lbs 10 oz three days after ultrasound pegged him at 7 1/2 lbs. And it took foreceps to get him out, he was immediately taken to a team of folks in the room, but he was OK. And I got to spend an extra day at the hospital, which is good and bad I guess.

I don't know what the plan would be yet, induction or C section, but my doc did say the shoulder getting stuck can be a very serious complication, and as the last baby was pushing 9 pounds and I am not a hippy girl, we will be looking very seriously at size and alternatives. My primary goal is to have the child emerge in whatever way is best for him or her with a secondary goal of not having myself ripped apart any more than necessary to accomplish goal #1.

I can't (won't) imagine the devistation if we were to go to the end and discover we should have either induced or gone C for the safety of the child. The pain of labor/birth is endured for a very finite period of time but damage or loss of a child goes on forever. Mother nature is not infallible, and neither are doctors, so we do our best to combine the two for the most favorable outcome.

mummy2girls replied: i was induced both times.. yes there is medical reasons to get induced.. i had to because my blood pressure slyrocketed and i was showing signs of PIH..preclampsia. so yes there is medical reasons out there. Some people have bad experiences and some good. It just depends. And yes there are docs out there that just throw out the word induction just because:( I say only if it is needed to then yes do it but if there is no reason to then i would just let nature take its course!

MomToMany replied: I'm sorry I've upset so many people with my posts. I'll stay away from topics like this from now on.

I take back my comment that there's no medical reasons for inducing. I can see if the mother or baby's health is in danger where it might be necessary. There's lots of risks from inducing as well, from side effects from the medication to the effectys on the baby from it. Going natural whenever possible is the ideal for both mother & baby. But inducing for the sake of convenience is wrong.


Good luck Jennifer. I hope everything goes well with whatever you decide.

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
Mollie - I agree that going natural is best....some of the time. I also agree that sometimes induction and medical intervention IS what is best for both mother and child - I`d rather have my child induced than die from childbirth, kwim?

lol

On the other hand - I wouldn`t schedule a cesarean for the sake of convenience, nor would I plan to go in on a monday to have my baby becuase it was more convenient for me or for my doctor. kwim?

I htink that in today`s world, where 'natural events' take up so little space nowadays..what with working, money issues, government issues, timing to get a sitter, etc etc etc..... it`s become an accustomed form of convenience to have inductions planned....

but, selfishly, I wouldn`t mind planning my next kid`s birth... i`d like to 'know'... know what I mean?

Every woman is different, every baby is different, and every doctor is different in that their advice is usually so different from one doctor to another. What one doctor might be opposed to, the next is willing to be open about it, and the next doctor will included the issue in regular practice... `

it`s all about the benjamins.

Good luck in what you decide Jen!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Offering your opinion or information is fine Mollie...but using words like "best way" or the "ideal way" really offends me. There is no right or wrong or best in my book! I am so greatful for the choices we have these days!! If you choose to go naturally, great. If you choose an induction, great. I was induced. Not for convenience, but because of a medical reason. I had a wonderful experience. My child is fine.

I have a friend who had a twelve pound baby and I won't even go into detail about what happened. My sister's SIL lost a child because she so desperately wanted to have a VBAK and waited several weeks after her due date. We don't know for sure if this was the reason exactly, but you can sure bet that the mother blames herself for waiting now! There are risks on both ends.

P&PT's to you...I'm curious to know if the baby is here? I don't know your EDD.

5littleladies replied:
Nope-she's not here yet. My due date is Sunday (the 18th). Tomorrow I will find out what my dr. thinks is best in terms of inducing. I'm guessing she will want to induce me this week. I'll let everyone know tomorrow.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Good luck Jennifer! I know what ever decision you and your doc make, everything will be fine! Yay...I just got that good baby vibe!

MomToMany replied:
I'm sorry I've offended you. But no one, like your Dr., has never said ".....is the ideal or best way to do this......." on anything?? I find that hard to believe. Most Dr.'s WILL say that going natural is the "ideal" way. If they don't, there's something wrong.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
I think the only thing wrong (and sad) is someone who is insensitive to others feelings and to make us feel less adequate for making a choice that you on the other hand wouldn't. It's so one-sided.

You can certainly believe what you want, but I do find offense to your remarks. I am obviously not the only one. I had a wonderful doctor who let me make my own choices. Shame on you for trying to make me feel differently. I sure hope you feel that you win the "best mom of the year" award for going natural. Congrats.

coasterqueen replied:
I agree that most doctors would say the ideal way would be to go naturally, not being induced. Of course a doctor would, that's what every mother wants is to go into labor, feel what it's like for your water to break, etc. So I agree a doc would say and I also think every mother would say that no inductions would be "ideal".


Jennifer - if your due date is Saturday do they really think inducing before then would make a difference? I have no real opinion on inductions because I went for an induction due to my docs advice with my 1st. I just don't see what tomorrow versus Saturday makes a big difference. They don't gain that much weight in that amount of time, do they?

and my thoughts are with you hoping you have a safe and easy delivery.

5littleladies replied:
No-you're right, it wouldn't technically make that much of a difference if it were just a matter of a few days- it's a question of if I went overdue like I did with Brianna, and in that case it could make a great deal of difference. Lissie could have another 3 weeks of cooking left if I were to go overdue again and we don't want that to happen. If it were just a matter of getting to my due date and being assured of her coming out on her own, believe me, that is what I would do!

coasterqueen replied:
Duh! Can I please claim mommy brain....PLEASE. I totally forgot that you were talking about going PAST your due date. That makes more sense. I just kept thinking what is a few days going to matter...now I see. Well if it were me I'd try to schedule it on or right after my due date and hope that maybe this one will come on time.

Are you doing any of the natural things to get things going. Oh hubby! Ohhhhhhh hubby! j/k. We are all wishing for the best. We know how long of a road this has been for you.

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
There isn`t any need for this. Let`s all let Jen do what she wants to do - we dont`have to go to this type of post to make ourselves heard.

Jen - Good luck - and it IS your decision, nomatter who thinks it`s either right or wrong - and if you want advice, we can certainly give you advice rather than making this post aobut a very intense difference of opinion.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Jen, I hope you know that my post above was not meant towards you. And I suppose I apologize to Mollie too. I respect everyone here who supports something they feel strongly for like BF or having a natural birth, but I expect that respect in return. And when someone points out that choosing an induction is "wimping out" or blatantly telling me that my doctor was WRONG for telling me A or B, it really hurts. So I'm sorry again for hijacking this post. I should have said it elsewhere. Please know, Jen, that I only wish you the best and was only trying to say that my induction experience was wonderful!

5littleladies replied:
No-I didn't take your post that way at all, and I am grateful to hear that you had a positive experience!

I'm so sorry to everyone else though-I did not intend for this post to turn out like this. I was simply looking for some reassurance.

kit_kats_mom replied: Hey Jenn. Just wanting to chime in...yet stay out of the drama. I'm going to tell you my experiences only because you should have the information you need....not to scare you because I've heard of women who have wonderful inductions. And IMO childbirth is scary and painful no matter what you do.

I've done it both ways. I had K naturally. 12 hours of some of the worst pain I've ever experienced but I lived. She did need an internal monitor because they kept losing her heart rate. Not fun. I had really wanted an intervention free birth experience. I wanted to be able to walk around and help nature along. Instead I was confined to the bed writhing in pain. Not the beautiful experience I'd imagined at all.

Lauren was induced since she was past due and I'd been in 'part time labor" for 2 full months. I was ok with being induced since my doc seemed to think it was the best for us but Lauren didn't want anything to do with the pit. She had heart troubles from the time they started the pit to the time it stopped. That caused them to break my waters and put an internal monitor on her...again stuck in bed. I was intent on not getting the epi though since I just felt it was better for me to not have it. Well, I was wrong on that one. After we'd lost her heart rate for the third time (I was off of the pit by now) the doc advised that if it happens again, they may need to do an emergency C section. (SO NOT ON MY PLAN!) and I could either get the epi now which may help me progress and avoid the section, or I could be knocked out and not see my baby for an hour or so if the c section was necessary. Honestly, neither option sounded good. I was scared out of my wits and didn't want to do either. Ok, fact is I"m a needle phobe and I just did not want a needle in my spine. It was a terrible choice but my DH talked some sense into me and I tearfully agreed to get the epi. That helped things along and she arrived about two hours after that. Happy and healthy.

Anyway, just be prepared for any of the interventions if they do decide to induce. I was not and I may have waited a bit longer if I'd thought that it would happen to me. I guess I'd heard all of the awful induction stories but I'd thought, not me. My body will soak in the pitocin and my cervix will open up like a lotus blossom. My body will expel the child gracefully and painlessly. LOL

5littleladies replied:
Thanks Cary. This is why I asked the question-I want to be fully informed going in, even if it isn't fun information. I do plan to be prepared for whatever might happen-Alyssa's health is what is most important!