- Share This Post
- submit
- 2
-
Sparkle (1)
Elective inductions are on the rise in the United States, and while this means many excited mothers get to meet their babies sooner than if they waited for labor to begin spontaneously, it also means they are much more likely to meet their babies as a result of a cesarean section, which of course comes with it's own set of risks to both mother and child.
According to a study linked on Birthfriend's Place to Ponder:
In 2004, the National Vital Statistics Report showed the total induction rate (in the United States) to be 21.2%. Of that number, 25% were reported to have no apparent medical indication and were done for the convenience of either the patient or the physician (Martin et al., 2006). This rate represents a 9.5% increase since 1990. An even higher induction rate of 41% was found by the Listening to Mothers II survey (Declercq, Sakala, Corry, Applebaum, & Risher, 2006).
The desire to bring about the onset of labor is nothing new. Throughout history, women have tried to induce labor naturally through "home remedies" such as nipple stimulation, Castor oil, herbal remedies, sexual intercourse and more. As I neared the 41 weeks marker with my son, even I tried to naturally jump start labor by way of acupuncture to increase my chances of having a home birth. I went into labor that night. Had I reached 42 weeks, my likelihood of being legally allowed to have a home birth would have decreased.
The way I see it though is the difference between using natural means of inducing labor and medical means is the end result. With either one labor will begin only if the woman's body (cervix) is ready. However, with the natural methods, if labor doesn't begin, the end result is the woman is still pregnant and has to wait until her body is ready. With the medical/pharmaceutical means of induction, if labor doesn't begin or progress according to the care provider's timetable, the end result will most often be a c-section.
It is important to note that a woman should consult with her care provider before trying any induction method, even natural ones.
If you are leaning towards a medical elective induction, in addition to discussing your options and risk factors with your care provider, it is also important to do your own research and be an informed customer so you can make the choice that's best for the health of both you and your baby.
Although the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommends against elective inductions citing "Induction of labor is indicated when the benefits to either the mother or fetus outweigh those of continuing the pregnancy" (in other words, when medically necessary), many doctors are more than happy to accommodate a mom who is tired of being pregnant. Some doctors routinely do inductions at 40 weeks, even if "it's perfectly normal for 80 percent of healthy babies to have anywhere from a 38- to 42-week gestation" and even if a woman is not asking for it.
NedaAnn (AKA Iluvmysweetpea) who blogs at The unstable mind of an unhealthy body told me on Twitter that when she was preparing for the birth of her daughter four and a half years ago, she and the rest of the women in her childbirth class were told that at 40 weeks they would be induced. "We were told that at 40 weeks our fluid started to diminish, so it was a danger to baby. That's why we needed to be induced." On top of that, she said, her doctor who practiced at Albert Lea Medical Center in Minnesota told the class they use Cytotec for inductions. Having had done her research about the safety of Cytotec, she asked him about it and was told it was "not that bad." Her daughter Trinity came a month early, so she never had to deal with a possible induction, but NedaAnn believes, "Pregnancy used to be 42 weeks long, so why are we inducing at 40 weeks or before? I know there are legit reasons in a few cases, but overall it is a matter of convenience and I just don't think the risks are worth the convenience. And Cytotec should be banned."
The issue with Cytotec (misoprostol), if you are unfamiliar with this drug, is it has been FDA-approved only for treating ulcers, NOT for inducing labor. According to Marsden Wagner, MD, MS, "On the Cytotec label it is explicitly written that this drug is contraindicated for use
