Pregnancy: Second Trimester Community

I completely agree with you. I think that a lot of doctors are too quick to induce, perform a c-section, write someone off on medical leave, etc...

I was induced when I was pregnant with my boys. I was almost 38 weeks with twins (2 weeks more than term). But, the reason was medical. My OB knew that I wanted to avoid a c-section at all cost. They had been doing regular growth scans and at 34 weeks both boys were measuring over 6 pounds. Now, the growth scans can be off by a pound give or take. So, my OB was worried that the boys were getting too big to guarantee a vaginal delivery. So, she induced me. The birth took over 19 hours even with the induction but in the end I was able to avoid the c-section.

I have the same beef with most OBs when talking about twin births. They automatically decide to plan a c-section. I know there are a lot of risks when it comes to delivering twins. But there is no reason why a vaginal delivery cannot be attempted. My OB took every precaution. I delivered in the OR with full staff waiting in case they needed to perform a c-section. In the end, the c-section was not necessary.

I think some women are just too impatient. And sadly, it`s generally that cute little baby that risks suffering in the end...

With my first pregnancy my water broke at 36w5d, but I was still only dilated 1 cm. That was at 4:30 in the afternoon on a Monday and the dr waited til the next morning to give me pitocin b/c I still wasn't dilated anymore. I went the whole day and only dilated to 4. The dr came in at around midnight and told me that I had to either have an epidural or a c section (I was trying to go all natural). So, of course I took the epidural. 2 hours later I started pushing and he was delivered vaginally after 50 mins at 3:18 on that Wednesday morning.

So, what I am trying to say is that even though it took me 35 hours I still delivered vaginally. I don't understand why women want to have all these inductions and c-sections when it isn't medically necessary. I think when you get induced it makes labor pains much much worse! I just hope this time around if my water breaks again that I can dilate on my own without pitocin. It's awful!

Ohmigosh I know!!! It's like doctors' nowadays don't know how to deliver multiples anymore! What the heck did they do in the old days??? But then again - people back then weren't as "sue happy" either so doctor's probably didn't have to worry liability as much either.

But it's so nice to hear that they actually gave you a chance to deliver vaginally rather than just doing the c-section. That's very rare nowadays...And to show them that you actually did it was probably a big highlight for you! Awesome!

I 100% agree! I also dont understand why they give women the option for a c-section. I mean really? you want to put yourself through more pain!? Why would you opt for that unless medically urgent. It really makes me mad...my SIL was induced and things did not work out great because the baby was not in the correct position. His poor face was so swollen and bruised because instead of coming out head first he was face first. The poor guy looked like he had been in a fight. He is good now but still...I would question any Dr that wanted to induce me, ESPECIALLY with my first pregnancy at 39 weeks! I figure when the baby is ready that is when my labor starts...unless of course I am like 42 weeks ..then I might intervine...but i'd rather just let mother nature handle it!

agree. i was only induced right after my 40 weeks because i'm so small, that my OB thought he would be too big for me to deliver naturally. unfortunately...i still had to have a c-section. 16 hours of labor for nothing! this time around i really want to try naturally again...but i apparently have an incompetent cervix...so we'll see. i dread having to go through the recovery period again! women these days need to suck it up and deal with the back pain, swollen ankles, sleepless nights(after all it is only an intro to what's coming!), and waddling around like a duck!

Thanks for all the replies ladies!!! I was worried that I was going to be the only thinking like this. Nice to see that I'm not!

I feel the same way. What women don't realize is that the baby's position has so much to do with a successful labor and delivery. I read an article by an ob (who was opposed to unnecessary inductions) that explained it as the baby's head being kind of like a wedge pushing against the cervix. If you are induced before the baby has moved into position you don't have that pressure helping your dilation along. I guess dr's just hope that once your uterus starts contracting the baby will move down, but with all the c-sections resulting from inductions, I think that's not a very safe bet. The thing that makes me really mad is the variety of pitiful excuses for inductions. "My dr's going on vacation and wants to deliver me before he leaves." Or, "My mom's coming to visit next week and I want to have the baby by then." Or, "I'm just so done with being pregnant." Of course, we ALL feel so done with being pregnant by like 37 wks. but that doesn't mean the baby's ready. I think maybe part of the trouble is that c/s are so common anymore that maybe dr's don't think it's that big of a deal if delivery ends in the OR rather than the delivery room. But as a woman, I know I'd like to avoid that at all costs, and I'd like my dr. to help me avoid it, by giving me the best possible information and chance for success.
BTW, if you don't mind me asking, why do you call your first delivery an "unnecesarian"?

OK, I sort of feel like a jerk now cause I just read a related post over on 3rd tri and it probably looks like my comment was aimed at that post. It wasn't. I wrote it before I read that one. Bad coincidence, and no judgement or offense was meant. Sorry!

I read that same post over there too AFTER I had posted this! So I know how you feel. I was worried I was really going to upset someone!

Long story with my first birth. My c-section was unecessary, however, I wasn't aware of it at the time. I was one of those patients who never questioned her dr. and did whatever she was told. But I had a jack*** for a dr. who was very impatient with how I was progressing and decided to take me in for a c-section after 22 hrs of labor. I still wonder to this day if it was so necessary - why did it take them another 45 minutes to get me ready and back there before they started???? But anyway - I wasn't dialating the average 1cm/hr and that wasn't good enough for him. He was very rude and kept using the "dead baby" card on me and told me that there could be legal ramifications on me if I gave birth to a dead baby. I still have lots of issues with it - and maybe I'm partly to blame. It was my first pregnancy and I just assumed I'd have a regular vaginal delivery and never did much other reading or research on the topic. It wasn't until after my recovery when I was still dealing with some issues that I started to read and research things that were in my medical records on my son's birth. And boy did I learn A LOT. I wish I would have known all this stuff now that I didnt' know then. Then I know it could have been avoided. I would have put my foot down and avoided a lot of other unnecessary things. Thankfully when this dr. kept wanting to induce me I kept saying no - so I did go into labor on my own (10 days past). There were just a lot of issues with the dr. You know - I really looked at him as someone who would do what was best for me and my baby and give me all the information I would need. But he didn't. I've learned that getting all the information is something we have to do on our own and we can't always trust doctors to give it all to us.
Thankfully now I go to a whole other practice where my dr. is awesome. I delivered by 2nd boy by vbac after 26 hours of labor. I'm just one of those women who have long labors (unfortunately). But you know what? My body does work, it does know what to do, it just takes a little longer to get there is all. Sorry for this long post - I was trying not to get into to much detail on the whole thing but once I get started it's hard to stop

Well I have to agree with everyone's sentiments and throw in one other perspective. My daughter was born just shy of 35 weeks and spent a week in the NICU. She had great care and is now a beautifully healthy 3 year old, but leaving the hospital without my baby was heartbreaking. I didn't get to cuddle my baby as soon as she was born and I didn't get to nurse her until several days later.

Some of us don't have the option--our bodies just don't cooperate. I didn't have a choice, but it frustrates me that women find it so hard to just let their babies be until it's naturally time for them to enter the world. Of course, I agree there are medical necessities to take into account, but aside from that I wish we could all learn to be a little more patient. I'm expecting my second and I'm taking every precaution to ensure this little one stays in the womb as long as possible!

Thanks for that perspective. My husband was a micropreemie and this is something he reminds ME of when it gets near the end of my pregnancies and I start getting really impatient and whiney (yes I admit, I whine). He reminds me how lucky our baby is to be able to stay safe and secure in the womb until it's ready to enter the world. It's sort of a hard pill to swallow coming from a man who has no idea what it feels like to not be able to tie your own shoes but it does put things back into perspective for me, and help me see beyond my temporary discomfort.

I completely see what youre saying. But I am on the other hand, one of those mothers who got the c-section when it wasnt really "medically necessary." Basically, there was some issues as far as my due date goes.. They thought I could have been AT LEAST a week further along than what they originally told me but wouldnt change my due date to fit that since they very rarely do change it. So I kind of had 2 due dates. It got to my 39th week (of my original due date) and my doctor gave me the option. He said that the baby is very healthy and you can safely deliver at 37 or 38 wks (cant remember which now) and I could decide if I wanted to be induced or not. He went through the process with me and what to expect and gave me no reason why there would be any complications during that process. Baby was in good position and everything. I had a very tough pregnancy (basically morning sickness/all day sickness that lasted for about 5 months, I kept losing weight etc etc) Finally it all straightened out.. But I personally was just ready. And if I would have thought that there would be complications or it was harmful to my baby than I wouldnt have done it. Im sure though if it was a really risky thing to do, doctors wouldnt do it or would strongly advise against it. My labor and delivery went great (besides peeing in the doctors face during one of my pushes) and now I have a beautiful healthy little girl. Im probably going to get persecuted on here since there is so many of you that dont agree with it, but Im pretty sure, like I said, doctors wouldnt leave that option up to patients if there was reason to believe it would harm the child. Im not trying to start fights, but I guess I just wanted to add in here someone elses perpesctive from the other side of the topic.

I just had to say that the part you posted about "peeing in the doctor's face while pushing" made me laugh. But I'm sure they've had much worse happen

And don't ever be afraid to say your opinion here - even if it isn't with what everyone else is saying. That's what these boards are for - so feel free! It's always good to hear different perspectives

I have been induced with all three of my boys. I was 2 weeks late and had low fluid with the first. 1 week over with the 2nd and the third weighed almost 9 pounds so she took him a week early. I have had good experiences with all three inductions and no complications.