Inducing Labor - Lutz,FL

I just had a baby a couple of weeks ago where my doctor did the same thing. I went to him when I was 38 weeks and he stripped my membrane and I had my baby that same day. I had a healthy 6lb 9oz baby boy. If you feel comfortable about your doctor doing it then do it. It doesn't hurt and you could have your baby that same day. It is merely your decision what you want to do. Do what is going to make you happy.

I was induced. My son was two weeks past due date. I went in at 10 pm. Started pitocin. It was very painful. I have my son 9pm the next evening. I was ready to have him so I think that helped with the pain.

Wait!!!! This is an important developing time for your baby. I was induced 3 times, after 40wks. each time it took an additional 3-4wks for the baby to be ready to be born, even though I was ready. Inducing brings on contractions but they are harder and faster than normal labor. Intercourse will also induce labor, so will a few tricks like cod liver oil - but everything will be INTENSE! so if you don't want to do drugs try to stay away from induction.

Wait M., I let things happen naturally with my first but let the doctor do that for the second but I hated it and found it invasive and uncomfortable. Let things happen in their own time.

This is really a very personal decision. In my opinion, once you have hit 38 weeks, there is no reason not to. It doesn't hurt you or the baby to have it done, it just speeds up the process a little. Other people believe the baby should be allowed to "cook" until it's ready to come out on it's own. Being 36 weeks pregnant right now and super miserable, it's my opinion that if it doesn't hurtr the baby - go for it!

Is there a reason that your Dr. is suggesting that you are induced early? I had this done with my first child (I have 3) and I did not have any problems whatsoever. I had however passed my due date. I really love, respect, trust my OBGYN and I know that she would not ever induce early unless medically necessary. What is two more weeks if it means a healthier baby and a much easier delivery? Good luck, I know you will make the right decision!

I had this done for my first pregnancy. The day before my due date (40 wks), I wasn't really dialated or effaced much at all (don't remember exactly). The Dr had some concern that the baby would be quite large (turned out to be 8 1/2 lbs, not too big, but I am a small person). If I didn't go into labor on my own in the next few days, she wanted to medically induce, and I didn't want to do that, so I opted for "stripping the membrane." It's kind of an old school thing, I think a lot of doctors don't do it anymore (they mostly prefer to use drugs). It HURT. A LOT. But I didn't care, because I was so READY to have the baby. And it worked. I went into labor that night, my water broke at about 5 am, went to the hospital, and had the baby early afternoon. So for me, it worked out. But you should talk with your Dr some more about the pros and cons of 38 weeks vs. 40 weeks, and what the plan B is if it doesn't work. Good luck in your decision. Best wishes for your beautiful new baby!

M.,
Here is my story, and you can take what you want out of it. At 35 weeks, my water broke at 10 pm on Sunday night. I called the doc at 8 am when I had not gone into labor. He had me directly admitted to the Maternity ward. They checked me and infact, I had ruptured my membranes. I was started on an antibiotic to help prevent infections since the membrane had ruptured nearly 12 hours previous, and also started the induction drug pitocin. The doc had the nurses uping the medication every 20 minutes and nothing would help the pain. It was much worse than having my first daughter completely natural. I ended up having to have an epidural, but within 1/2 hour after having the epidural placed, it was time to push. In a couple of pushes, Maddie had made her intrance. They took her immediately to the nursery and gave me a nursing pump since I wanted to breastfeed. I didn't get to see her until 1 hour before they were transferring her to a specialty hospital across the river in Kentucky. I lived in Indiana 3 years ago when this happened. When I finally talked my doc into releasing me and we got to the hospital, she was hooked up to just a picc line to help deliver medicine. Later that night, she collapsed her left lung and ended up on a nasogastric tube in order to feed her breastmilk to her, the billiruben lights to help with the jaundice, the picc line for medications to keep her infections under control and also to keep her in a medication induced coma, chest tube to keep her chest cavity clear of any air that might be preventing her lungs from inflating fully, and a ventillator to help her breathe. I know this doesn't happen to everyone, but I do want to stress that the induction was MUCH WORSE for me than having my other daughter completely natural, no medicaitons what so ever and she is completely healthy and has been since birth. I didn't even go to the hospital until she was crowning. Mistake on my part I know, but I will pray for you and your little miracle and can't wait to hear that it all goes well as my second birthing process didn't. Now for an update on the baby, she came off of the vent in less than 24 hours, was off of the chest tube a few days later to help her lung to heal from the collapse, she had to be on there a little longer. She was transferred out of the nicu that evening into the intermediate nursery and then the following tuesday she went home after only 8 days in the hospital. She is a happy, healthy 3 year old now, but we should never play with our or our babies health. I say hold out and wait to see if you can go into labor on your own kiddo!

Is there a medical reason that you can't wait and just have the baby naturally like God intended? I would have it natural. Just walk alot. It will help when the labor comes. I had to have my first one induced because my water broke and I didn't go into labor. What a long labor that was. Was only in labor with the second one for about six hours total. My sister in law had this procedure that you are talking about. She almost bled to death and could never have other children. She blames the doctor for not telling her all the risks. Each person is different so you need to check all the pros and cons and decide for yourself. No one else has to endure the labor but you.

If it were me I would wait until the baby is actually ready to be born. It doesn't sound like it's a true medical emergency, therefore could possibly be one of the common practices done by Dr's today.... seems more and more Dr's are inducing, stripping membranes, c-sections, etc. If it because of a size concern, please take the time to read as much as you can or get GOOD quality info from good birthing sites... mothers have been safely birthing babies of all sizes and weights forever.
Doing un-natural procedures to try to induce labor before the baby is naturally ready puts lots of added stress on both, especially the baby. Contractions are different and put A LOT of pressure on the baby, differently than they would have if they had come on their own. Baby needs to develop and prepare on their own. Yours has 2 more weeks to 'bake'!
I would ask LOADS of questions about why they feel this is even necessary and research as much as you can to make educated and informed decisions. Do you have a doula or someone you have consulted during your pregnancy? I would look up a doula or pregnancy/birthing site and chat with other moms and doulas or a midwife. They usually are fans of minimizing invasive procedures when not actually medically necessary. If it's not, I wouldn't rush the baby out....

I had it done. That morning at 3:00 I started contracting. It doesn't hurt anything if you are ready for a delivery I say go for it. For us it was going to be a rainy weekend and I was so ready to deliver. Alot of people said let things happen naturally. Your choice. Good luck

Hi M., My doctor stripped my membranes two days before my due date and I gave birth that night! It didn't hurt at all- just like getting a pelvic exam. Good luck!

I know you've had a ton of responses, just something else to add to the mix... There was a study recently that suggested babies born via c-section before 39 weeks were at increased risk for respiratory or other preventable problems. Though you're not talking c-section, inducing before you are ready can be a very long labor that will often end in a c-section. My doctor was hesitant to induce at 40 weeks, even at my "advanced maternal age (41)." I find it odd that they even want to induce you that early, unless there is another reason. I also would imagine the the risks mentioned in the study would apply to babies who are induced regardless of whether you get a csection or nor, simply because they are not ready. If you do decide to induce, at least wait until 40 weeks. I know the heat is horrible (my son was born in August), but it will be here before you know it.

Hi! All 4 of my children were induced because I carried 41+ weeks. While there are some benefits,such as being done with your pregnancy :) and having it planned :) this last induction was a big mistake for me. I was over 40wks, but the baby was still not ready...though I was slightly dialated, the baby was still up pretty high, and from the time they ruptured my membranes to the time he was born, was over 12 hrs, and I developed an infection, I had a fever, the baby had a fever, then they said the stress the labor put on the baby caused him to have extremely low blood sugar, so they put him on an IV for two days. Now I never expereienced anything like this with the other 3, but it just goes to show every labor and delivery is different, and I should have never expected that my 4th would be the easiest...it ended up being the most complicated. If I had to do it over again, I would have just let the apple drop when it was ready. Good luck. It's ultimately up to you, and your doctor can tell you if you are favorable...but I just wanted to share my experience with you...because it was not what I expected would happen at all. Take care!!

Hey M.,

I had my membranes stripped, my 9th month, with my first child and ended up being 5 1/2cm by the time I was 40 weeks. It does hurt though. The procedure itself hurts as well as the cramping afterwards. I know at 38 weeks you probably will do anything to move things along! Hope this helps! Good luck!

L.

It really is your choice. With my first daughter it did not help. I was enduced at 41 weeks. With my second daughter she was born 2 days later. It is all personal preferance. It won't hurt you or the baby. The question is do you think that the baby needs to stay longer? Are you "tired of being pregnant" ? Congratulations! Good Luck whatever you do!

Hi M.-

Unless there is a medical reason to induce labor early, I would avoid it. Many times it ends up being a c-section. Your baby will be well served if you wait for natural labor or if you go past the due date (I think that the normal practice is allowing the pregnancy to go 42 weeks), to try inducing then. I realize that the last weeks of a pregnancy can be excrutiating, but for your health and your baby's, please try to let the pregnancy take its natural course! Allowing your baby to stay inutero (sp?) is the best thing you can do for your baby as it provides a safe, nutrient rich environment for your baby to fully develop.

No No No!!! Unless there is stress to you or the baby do not let them manipulate you into doing this. I was induced for the convenience of the mid-wife...yes mid-wife because she was leaving the practice before I was due and i didn't want a stranger delivering the baby. boy was I wrong. There is a reason why it takes 40 weeks,the baby or your body is not ready before then. If I had it to do over again I would not induce. I wound up having to have an emergency c-section which I know in my heart would not have happened had I waited. And if you are asking others for their oppinion then something in your heart is telling you this is not what you want to do. Trust your instincts and do a little research as well. Check out the c-section rate to those who are induced. It's extremely high...Congratulations on your baby and I hope whatever you decide that things go well for you!

I didn't have my membranes stripped, but I was dilated 1 cm and they manually stretched it to 2 cm to try to get things started. Didn't work at all. Chose to be induced a week later at 40 weeks, thinking it would be fine because I was already dilated and it was my 2nd child but I ended up with a C-section. I would recommend waiting and trying other techniques to naturally induce, such as red raspberry tea, spicy food, gardening, walking, etc. I also heard castor oil, but I have never tried that one :) Just my opinion, good luck with whatever you choose! I have heard that membrane stripping is very painful, but I don't know that firsthand. I know it's so hard not to say yes to those things when you just want to be done at that point!

Yes, it CAN hurt. Induced labor is intense. Let baby come when it's ready. Makes the labor more beautiful. Try acupuncture to get labor going in a more natural way.

Recommend this article:
http://birthing-options.suite101.com/article.cfm/strippin...

From what it says, and my memory during 2 pregnancy, there is ZERO guarantee that it will induce labor and it is painful.

I know that 2 weeks is an eternity to wait when you are just plain ready to have the baby, but the longer he/she bakes, the better. The more 'natural' the birth is, the safer for mom and baby.

If there were a 'magical' guarantee, I'd say go for it. Since there's not, it's something you have to just decide for yourself.

I know my doctors were all highly against it. I wound up with 2 c-sections anyway, so it wasn't an option for us, but there was a lot of questions beforehand about doing it.

Best of luck with your wonderful new one!
Congrats!

M.,

I don't know the reason your Dr. is suggesting inducing you at 38 weeks, but there is no problem with having an induced labor. At 36 wks a girl is considered full-term and at 37 a boy is considered full-term. I was induce with both of my children at 37 wks due to extremely low fluid levels (my body is just done at 37 wks). The first was starting from scratch - meaning I wasn't dialated at all to even get to my membrane. Either way it occurs - I didn't have any problems what so ever. Good luck and enjoy the birth of your new baby!

It is very painful - better to wait when the baby is ready the baby is ready - only he/she knows.

look around everyone was born, I don't understand why mds think they know best- your baby will come when ready- maybe not ready yet, and can you be very very sure it really in 40 weeks?
let nature take her course-k

No way! It could hurt! Your body isn't ready, your baby isn't ready. both of my children were inductions in the middle of my 40th week. Both times my Dr. did it because I was already dialated and effacing. He said if I wasn't, he wouldn't do it. If your body isn't preparing on its own, stripping the membrane will NOT induce labor. You will most likely end up in C section and the whole process will be harder on your baby. To be honest, I question your Dr. even recommending it for no good reason. My first baby it turned out I was contracting already and didn't even know it. I was not contracting with my second, but dialted and effacing. you get the potosin (sp?) first and the membrane is brocken AFTER contractions start. If you break the membrane and contractions don't result, automatic c-section. My doctor would have never brought this up, I'm surprised. Just wanted you to know that is most definately could hurt. Congrats and getting near the finish line! After 40 weeks and you body preparing, then you can consider speeding things along. For both of mine, the baby was getting pretty big and my doctor didn't want me to wait around too long. My daughter most likely would have hung around another week+ and she was 8 pounds, 9 ounces when born! Glad I induced!

Yes, my membrane was stripped twice with my son. It was first done at thirty-eight weeks. I had prelabor (firm, noticeable Braxton Hicks contractions that would last a couple of hours and then go away)for the next three weeks! I refused a vaginal exam at my thirty-nine week appointment. At forty-one weeks, when I was ready to labor anyway, the midwife stripped them again and the labor picked up noticeably. My son was born that night.

I would not recommend doing it until there is some evidence that you are ready to labor anyway. Prelabor wasn't painful, but very emotional--I kept thinking "This is it!" and it wasn't. I had to remember that in real labor, contractions get longer, stronger and closer together.

Of course, I only had 2 1/2 hours of active labor before I deliverd my nine pound, eight ounce son, so maybe all the prelabor helped! (He was also my second, I have fast labors, and the waters didn't break until I was ready to push.)

Babies are born when they're ready. I don't know what the big deal is with rushing them. A "due date" is technically called "an Estimated Date of Delivery." What if you ovulated late when you conceived or something? What if the baby just needs a few extra days?

Good luck in birthing your baby! Remember, women have been doing a wonderful job birthing for millenia and the doctors are only there for emergencies. You can do it!

BTW "stripping your membranes" is very different than breaking the bag of waters or "rupturing your membranes". Rupturing membranes is a very serious intervention because the hospital will only allow you 24 hours to go into labor naturally after the waters break. If you don't, you will be induced and, if you're not ready, you may end up with a c-section. Rupturing your membranes to begin labor is a very serious decision. Personally, I would not do it.

I never got that done.... What happened with me was i got induced 5 days after my due date with the potocin and ened up getting a c section after like a day with the meds because it wasent working and i couldnt take any more meds... I would do what u think is best... What i went through was the worst thing ever... good luck