Induction Question

Both my deliveries were super fast onset in regards to labor but my water never broke on it's own so my midwife broke my water and within three pushes I was holding my newborn.

Breaking my water is what did it for me both times (and that was after being induced with one, and going into labor with the other with no progress). The only thing I can say is that if you are still HIGH it's a bit uncomfortable. Ok, a bit painful. But it definitely brings it all on faster.

Good luck!

If your body isn't at all ready to begin labor, breaking your water is probably not going to do the trick.

I didn't want to be induced when I had my baby back in January, but I went in for a non-stress test. They determined during that test that my baby had an irregular heartbeat. They couldn't figure out why the heartbeat was irregular (I was a full week overdue), so they strongly suggested I induce. I weighed the pros and cons (and realized that if something was wrong with my baby had I waited, I'd never be able to live with myself), and decided to do it. I was terrified.

They broke my water and started me on pit a little later, but I didn't deliver until 22 hours later. I didn't take an epidural, either, and if I had, I'm almost certain I'd have ended up in a c-section (which I really, really did not want). My husband coached me through every single contraction.

From what I understand, having a fast labor naturally is somewhat desirable. Sure, it might be a little more painful than a slower labor, but I can tell you from experience: induction is really, really intense. I'd take a fast, natural labor any day after my experience. It's weird that your doc is worried about this, I think. Women deliver big babies all the time—bigger than 9 lb 1 oz, even. Your second labor is supposed to be easier than the first, too, but I know it doesn't always happen that way.

Your previous labor experience is never a reason to induce for your second labor—and neither is baby size.

There is no logic to your doctor suggesting an induction for having a fast labor the first time around. If you went into labor on your own, and your labor progressed rapidly - wherein lies the problem??? You are right to not want pitocin. It is often the beginning intervention to a whole cascade of other interventions. I really would question why your doctor is suggesting this? Does he/she have a vacation planned? Does he/she prefer to manage labor medically rather than let his patients go into spontaneous labor (often times at 3:00 a.m. or on a Sunday - how inconvenient!) Please don't let your doctor pressure you into medical interventions you do not feel comfortable with. Trust your instinct here - I can tell you are already skeptical of the situation because you are asking for advice. I would be glad to offer additional information - you can email me at:
____@____.com
J. Saavedra, AAHCC
childbirth educator certified in The Bradley Method of natural childbirth

I think many posters have good points here to consider but ultimately I don't see a MD after any of their names so I'd discuss it in detail with my doctor and trust that your doctor has the best intention for you and your baby.

I was induced both times, it sucked, baby # 2 ended up being an emergency c-section that still haunts me but my BP was high on my due date and it was medically necessary. I trusted my doctor and asked him all the questions I needed to know and ultimately he did what was best for me and my baby. It's another story if you have no faith or trust in your doctor.

Forgot to say.......Congrats and Good luck!

Why? The size of the baby can cause some concern, but if your baby isn't ready to come out yet, then why have him/her come out? I had above average sized babies (8 lbs, 10 oz - on his due date and 8 lbs 5 oz 2 weeks early). My family had a history of large babies - all of my siblings were over 8.5 pounds with my brother at 11 lbs 10 oz and my maternal grandma never had a baby under 9 pounds. I told the doctor this and he let nature take its course. He would tell me at every appointment, "Yea, there's a big baby in there." But, he didn't even mention induction.

That being said, I went in for my 38 week check up and had high BP, protein in my urine (pre-eclampsia) and much less baby movement. I was already dialated to 3 or 4cm. My doctor decided to deliver that day. It was for my safety at that point. I barely needed the pitocin and my son was delivered in two pushes.

I'm usually a fan of taking what the doctor says to heart and following his/her instructions, but in this case I have to ask again, "Why?" Ultra sounds can be off by pound either way in determining the size. Are you doing ok? Is the baby thriving? If yes, then let your body start labor naturally. Take some nice walks with your child and hubby, have sex, wash the floors on your hands/knees but I'd hold off on the induction unless it's a matter of safety for you/the baby.

I just had my third child on Saturday...my water broke and NO contractions...my midwife told me it is safe to have water bag break with nothing happening for up to 12 hours (risk for infection happens after 18 hours according to one of our pediatricians)...well, contractions never really took off while I waited at home for 12 hours and so went into the hospital and had my first experience EVER with pitocin. I would try the water bag first (because with my second, the minute my water broke I went into crazy fast labor)...pitocin may need to follow if breaking the bag does not work...but definitely worth a try to get things going without pitocin.

Good Luck!

Hi C.,
Pit is the pits way too many interventions follow. Remember it is your body and baby so you know best. If they say they want an induction get a medical reason why. Ask how many the practice does? What percentage of c-sections do they have? Good Luck.
J.

With my first the labor went really fast...3 hrs from the first contraction(immediately following my bag breaking in the family room). I also live 45 minutes from the hospital, but somehow made it in only 25. My doc also talked about an early induction for the same reasons. My second however tried to come at 33 weeks and after 4 days in the hospital she and I stuck it out till 37 weeks at 4 cm dilated with 1-10 contractions every hour but varying. When I finally hit 6 cm, at 37 weeks I was admitted, though I wanted an epidural. (after 4 weeks of contractions I needed the relief) ONce the epidural was in there was no progress, so my doc said enough, we're gonna move it along for you, which I was thrilled with. They broke the bag and started the pitocin at the same time. Mind you I was admitted at 9:30pm, and my bag was broken at 12am. I only had the pitocin running and my bag broken for about 20 minutes when they told me to push and she was out by 12:23am. I had no problem with the pitocin, though it was only running for 20 min, or bag breaking making labor longer. I was open to just come what may in the hospital, and doing watever the doc said she needed to do. With my first, I had a "birth plan" but threw it out on the way to the hospital, because I just decided that I didn't have the energy or focus to focus on a plan. My only plan was getting the baby out as quickly and safely as possible.

When I had my first, I went in to the hospital at 4 cm. They said either way I was having the baby today - either go home and come back, or they could break my water and start the show. If things didn't progress on their own after breaking my water, they were going to give me pitocin. We decided to stay and get things started.

The doctor broke my water and 15 minutes later, I was contracting every 1-2 minutes. 45 minutes later, I was at 8 cm. He came back in the room and told the nurse to turn down the pitocin - she told him I never had any.

So long story short, you never know how your body is going to react. Like every pregnancy, every delivery is different.

Good luck and go with your gut. You have to be comfortable and unless there is a medical reason, then you should be the one to make the choice.

When my doctor broke my water with my son he was born within 20 mins. With my second child, my daughter, I had pitocin and I was in hard labor for almost 9 hours. I ended that with a C-Section. Good Luck I hope it all goes well.

Hi C.! I was induced at 41 weeks because I wasn't dilating. I went in and they started pitocin at 6 a.m. By 9 a.m I hadn't dilated any more but was still having very strong contractions so they gave me an epidural and waited until noon. When my doctor checked me then, I was only dilated to 4, so he broke my water to speed things up. This didn't work. By 6 p.m I still had only dilated to a 5 and I ended up having a c-section because my docto wouldn't let me go any longer (he was scared I would be too exhausted since I had been up for over 36 hours. My problem was a little bit unique because when they took my daughter out, she was not only 8 lbs 11 oz she was transverse and I never would have delivered her vaginally. My epidural was actually the worst part, the rest of the time I mostly watched t.v and slept! Good luck and congratulations!!!!

I had my water broken with my 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Had a big baby first time around as well. I did have the pitocin prior to them breaking my water, but that did not really bring on labor. Once my water was broken that was when labor really started for me. My suggestion is if you had a quick delivery after your water broke the first time, then it will most likely be the similar for the second (not always true). Breaking the water doesn't hurt, just uncomfortable. Just remember that after your water is broken, you're committed to either having labor start naturally, have pitocin or if either of those don't work c-section. Have faith that all will go soothly.
The second child is easier to have, your body is stretched from the first and somehow you remember how to push (even though you don't think you remember..it's just in the back of your brain somewhere). Hope this helps! S.

My water broke on its own with my first child and I had my water broken with my second child. I was in labor longer with my first ... With my second it was three hours from breaking my water that DD showed up!! My water broke on its own at 10PM and I didn't have DS until almost 10AM.

This said, I don't know that there is any predicting what these little babies will do ... :)

Hey C., yes i was induced with my second child. I was in labor for about seven hours- i hope that will ease your mind a little...

Breaking your water doesn't guarantee labor starting. With my first my water slowly broke about 12 hours before my daughter was born and with my second my water didn't break until right before I pushed, both on their own. Do what you want, your OB is working for you so you call the shots, not him.

The thing about breaking your water is that it doesn't always put you in active labor...my water broke on its own 30 hrs before my son was born. Breaking your water is an intervetion and they tend to become a chain reaction and you/your body, are no longer "running the show" so to speak. The Doctor is now "in the driver's seat" and calling the shots because hospitals have time limits on birth and progression and also doing something "unnatural" (because your body is not releasing the water and outside sourse is inducing this) you body may not respond the way the hospital/or doctor are looking for and then more interventions (like pitocin) are then kinda forced on you. Women in labor are often bullied with fear and false information. This is not always the case, but educating yourself, asking LOTS of questions, and following your heart, is the key.

As I said, my water broke at 2:30am on its own. We waited until 12pm to go to the hospital because I was not in active labor and did not want to be rushed or given pitocin. (Your body naturally regenerates water, and the risk of infection comes when people are putting their hands in you to check you all the time at the hospital.) My baby was still active and moving. I was not in active labor by 3pm so the doctor warned that he needed to see progress because he knew it had been more than 18hrs and in the hospital they don't normally let you go that long without something like pitocin. I used a breast pump to stimulate my body into active labor. I would recommend an electric as they have much stronger and faster sucking/speed settings.(If you do not have one, I would ask if they have one at the hospital.) It did not take any time at all and things were progressing.

Also, my second birth my water broke when I was pushing. Labor had nothing to do with water breaking. My labor started at 1:30am, got to the hospital at 3:30am, in my room and ready to go at 4:30am, (I would say my water broke about 6:20am)my daughter was born at 6:27am.

Good luck to you and it is your body and your birth. If you do not feel comfortable people have changed OBs at the last minute to have the birth they desire. Don't let your self be frightened or bullied!! You remember each time you give birth for the rest of your life, the doctor doesn't!

Make sure that you do lots of walking after words.

Best of luck,

C. R

I remember getting to that 37/38th week and being anxious to have the baby, but now looking back I which we would have just let nature run its course. At 38 weeks I had regular, but mild contractions every 5 minutes when I went into the hospital. This went on for about 5 hours then the dr. decided to break my water. The contractions then stopped completely so they had to induce with pitocin. They want you to give birth within 24 hours after your water breaks to minimize the risk of infection. With pitocin, contractions are much harder than without. It took awhile for the contractions to be regular, but they did and they came on strong. There was no doubt as to the gestation. I was definitely 38 weeks along, yet my son was born in respiratory distress. He was vented and within 10 hours transported to Christ (witnessing him in the transport unit attached to a ventilator was the single most horrifying moment in my life). Luckily, I had a relatively easy labor--no tears or sutures--so I was able to get discharged (they only transfer babies, not their mothers. Otherwise, I would have been stuck at Palos while he was fighting for his life at Christ. He did come home, after 9 days, with about half of that time in the NICU.

If you do decide to speed up the process, make sure your OB does a lung development test. He may say that you don't need it because you're far enough along, but as I said before, I was 38 weeks.

I hate to add to your fears, but I just wanted you to know of the risks. Good luck!

my daughter was 3 hours from 1st pain to delivery. with my son, the dr broke my water and I had him in 5 hours. i was with my daughter when she had her children (with pitosin). I would not recomend it to anyone. Seems like it makes it much harder..and did NOT speed things up.

C., If your doctor thinks it is best for you to be induced, do it. I was induced 3 of the four times I gave birth, and after receiving the pitocin, I delivered within 3 hours. They had me come in, gave me the epidural, then the pitocin and then broke my water. It was very easy. My babies all came really fast and I could still feel the urge to push and everything. It is better than him telling you to have a C-section!!!! Good Luck!

Don't do it. If your next baby is big and you have another fast labor... so what? Your body will not grow a baby that it cannot birth, I promise. As for breaking your water to initiate labor, this can really just be the start of a whole cascade of interventions. Think about the worst-case (and not atypical) scenario: They break your water. 6 hours go by and you have no contractions so they start you on pitocin and they have you on the monitor the whole time. Baby's heart rate starts to drop because the contractions are unnaturally strong, so they put an internal monitor into the baby's scalp. Shortly thereafter the baby goes into distress and you end up with a c-section. Yes, I know lots of women have inductions and it all works out just fine, but I've heard WAY too many stories like this.

Why mess with it unless you're worried about the baby's health? Unless there's a MEDICAL REASON to induce, I suggest letting nature take its course - it almost always works. :)

Oh one more thing - ultrasound estimates of the baby's weight are +/- 15%. This means that they can be off by over a pound. Just keep this in mind if they try and scare you....

I am training to be a natural childbirth educator and a birth doula, so feel free to call me if you'd like. I'm up to my eyeballs in research and would happy to give you more info if you need it. ###-###-####

Breaking the bag of waters to augment labot makes contractions stronger and more painful, and you're more likely to have back labor because the natural 'cushion' your bag provides is gone. It is certainly a better option than pitocin, but you're often 'on the clock' with that as well.

Either way natural is always safest, but talk to your doc about 'being on the clock' and make your wishes really clear. Hopefully you can come up with a decision that pleases you both.

Let us know what you decide to do!

Hi Carrrie,

I was a week late with both my children and my doctor broke my water both times. The labor went pretty quick on both. second child was three pushes 9 mins.
I would talk with your doctor more if you are uncomfortable with the idea.
good luck,
L.

what about letting nature take it's course? if your water gets artifically broken, you run the risk of cord prolapse (which could KILL your baby if a c/s isn't preformed quickly enough), not going into labor and ending up with a c/s. every labor is different, just because you delivered quickly with the first, doesn't mean you'll deliver quickly with the second. if the baby isn't in optimal position to deliver it will be a long/painful process, if the water is broken early, it just wedges the baby in. and, you have to be around 2 cm dilated to break the bag.
C.
NICU RN

Yes, my doctor broke my water and my son was born almost 12 hours later with no ill effects. Breaking my water and giving me pytocin still in the hours before noon did not really help much. My son was born at 9:36 pm by caesarian section.

Find out if you have any other options. Have you taken any natural birthing classes? Have you investigated any processes that you can engage to calm yourself and your little one in utero before the blessed event? Always consider natural processes before invasive/disruptive ones. Try contacting a "doula" in your area and ask what she suggests.