Although posting this might doom me to a fate I do not want, I think it's important for me to elaborate how I feel about this issue.
"When will they induce?"
SPOILERS! (Click to view)
They won't.
Not that they haven't offered already. I simply refuse to be induced because I'm uncomfortable or because it's more convenient for the doctor.
The most common Western method of labor induction uses synthetic Pitocin to jump-start labor. Pitocin will start contractions whether the mother's body is ready or not. Because the mother's body is not always ready, labor fails to progress 40-50% of the time, starting a chain of events that can lead to a caesarean section. Synthetic Pitocin also has other serious risks, including fetal distress and cardiac arrhythmia. In addition, most women find that Pitocin causes very intense and painful labor.
source
The way they would choose to induce me would be Pitocin. This is a synthetic version of a chemical called Oxytocin that is one of the many things that initiates labor naturally. Oxytocin levels can be increased with natural labor induction techniques, including nipple stimulation. The recommended doses of Pitocin are also often ignored, with the Labor and Delivery (L&D) staff upping the dose very regularly. I'm not comfortable receiving an overdose of any drug, let alone one that can cause serious side effects. While it's a leap to say that if Pitocin was given at the recommended dose I would be getting the same effect as nipple stimulation, it's not far off either.
Because of these serious side effects, a woman on Pitocin has to have a fetal monitor on at all times. This is another intervention I'm not comfortable with. Forget that with that monitor strapped to her, the laboring woman no longer is the center of attention, with everyone, including well meaning partners staring at the machine printout. Forget that continuous monitoring leads to people freaking out thinking there is a problem when really it's just a hiccup or even the laboring woman shifting position. Why don't I want that monitor strapped to me the entire time? It'll slow me down!
One of the best things a laboring woman can do is to keep moving. Walking and being upright encourage gravity to do a lot of the work. Moving in different positions also helps the baby to twist and turn and find the least resistant way through the pelvis. Least resistance sounds like the way to go for me...
Pitocin causes longer and stronger contractions. This means that more often than not women choose to have an epidural. (the epidural rate for hospital births varies by hospital, but my childbirth instructor said that it's close to 95% nationwide). Unfortunately, epidurals are not without their own side effects and complications. including that loss of mobility issue I mentioned above.
There is also evidence that Epidurals slow labor. Which also does not sound like something I would be interested in doing.
So far all the things I've mentioned lead to an increased risk of c-section.
C-sections are incredibly convenient for the doctor. They can be performed in less than an hour from start to finish for them. But what about the patient?
Major abdominal surgery is not a trivial thing to recover from. Add to that the stress and physical demands of having a new born.
The current Caesarian rate in the US is close to 35%. Most of these are not necessary. (otherwise they'd be spread out evenly over the days of the week, but C-sections rates increase based on things like long weekends.) The World Health Organization says that it is unnecessary for the rate to be above 15%.
Unfortunately, like with epidurals there are major risks for both mother and child. But these risks are often glossed over.
Informed consent is not so informed anymore.
In conclusion:
Yes, I'm uncomfortable. Yes, I want to meet my baby.
Do I want to risk all that is involved? No.
So I will wait. Patiently at times, not so patiently at others.
Unless there is a medical reason to induce, she can stay there as long as she wants. (although any of the natural, risk-free methods, like walking and sex are totally fair game.)
