An Impatient Society: A Look at Inducing Labor Early

You hear it all the time. A woman goes to her doctor and says, "Doc, I'm going crazy. You got to get this kid out of me now!" The doctor reluctantly says that he'll see what he can do. The parents, elated that they will finally get to see their precious baby soon, get jazzed up for the experience of their lifetime. They run home, get packed and head to the hospital when the doc gives them the heads up sign. They arrive, get settled and wait for the pitocin to kick into full gear. An hour goes by, then two, then ten in some cases. The parents start to fret. They thought this was going to be easy. The doc comes in and says, "Boy this baby's stubborn." The mother already drenched in sweat curses him and her husband.

After hours of tormenting contractions, the doctor says, "Well, the baby's heart rate is going too high. He/she is probably in distress. We need to do a c-section." The mother and father both look at the doctor and then each other. Their seemingly easy experience just turned difficult. They prep for surgery, wheel the mother in, while the father dons on surgical garb and then head to the OR. Once in there, they go at breakneck speed. Their only job is to get the baby out and soon.

Finally, the squeaks of a newborn crying fill the room, the mother weeps, along with the father, and they both rejoice that their newborn made it. Granted, not all cases are like that. Some have no problems after being induced, but I know far too many people that have had complications that affected their subsequent deliveries. Ok, before you drop your jaw clear to the floor; I am going to tell you that my last child was born five weeks early and I was in labor with her for forty-two hours (this is where you drop your jaw.)

This is my experience, but also an informational article that displays c-sections and the risk of uterine rupture in all its glory. I will not get too graphic, but feel that ALL women and their partners should know about this deadly risk, before they think about inducing or trying VBAC after a c-section.

This has been a very controversial issue for as long as I can remember to induce or not to. We all know that inducing would be easier, faster and the like; nevertheless, what people don't understand is the traditional style of waiting until the baby is ready, far outweighs the risks by electing to be induced early. I only mention this, because I was one such mother that wanted to take the easier way out, so to speak. It nearly cost me my son's life. He just turned ten to which I am very grateful we could celebrate, as he was induced early and ended up blue after an emergency c-section. I am also celebrating my youngest daughter's birthday this month as well, and my life, as it was a narrow escape seven years ago, when I went into early labor at 36 weeks. After 42 hours of labor, my daughter was born naturally, but shortly after, my uterus ruptured into my bladder and I began hemorrhaging. After a blood transfusion, hysterectomy and bladder repair surgery, with nearly six hours in the operating room, I was saved. Why did it happen? I wanted to know. Not one doctor could tell me. All they said was, "These things happen." To who? The Queen of England, Ms. America? Well suffice it to say, it happened to me. I was twenty-six.

When my son was born c-section, I was twenty-three and like every other mother out there, wanted my child out NOW! Never mind that my first child was almost nine pounds and that she ripped me to you know where. On top of that she was nine days late! I cursed and screamed, but alas, we both made it. I was eager to have another, as I was informed that the next one wouldn't be so bad! HAH! Whoever said that must have been on speed or something. It just got worse. I became pregnant with my son eleven months after my first was born. Before I go on with my story, I want to include some very real and scary facts for you to ponder.

- More than one out of every five babies (22 percent) is born by cesarean section. This number has not decreased substantially in 10 years, despite the benchmark of 15 percent set by the Centers for Disease Control in 1990.

- Well over half of all American births involve some kind of surgical or operative procedure cesarean section, episiotomies, vacuum extraction or forceps.

- Between 1989 and 1997 the use of drugs to start labor (induce) or increase the strength or frequency of contractions (augment) doubled. Induction of labor is associated with an increase in cesarean sections.

- The rate of babies induced before the 37th week of pregnancy doubled, from 6.7 percent of inductions in 1989 to 13.4 percent 10 years later.

- Many babies who were induced were pre-term, meaning that they were born before the 37th week of pregnancy, which is deemed mature.

- C-sections, while very safe, have added risks including infection, injury to the baby and a longer recuperation time.

- One interesting thing to note: Uterine rupture only happens in 1% of women, but I now know of four women, not including myself that has ruptured their uterus.

- Almost 17 percent of first-time mothers had a Caesarean last year, a 5 percent jump, the CDC reported. Now, I could go on, but I won't. To me, those numbers are scary. One thing that disturbed me was the fact that doctors never tell you these alarming statistics. I was never told that vying for a VBAC could risk rupture. If it is just convenient for you or doctor to induce labor early, you need to be aware of the risks.

1. Is my baby in distress that inducing or c-section would affect the baby's welfare?

2. Would it hurt to wait until the baby is ready?

3. What are the risks of inducing labor and consequently risking a c-section, thus creating more problems for me and the baby?
Its not that inducing is necessarily bad; in fact, it is vital in some cases. The most common reason for labor induction is that the pregnancy has gone two weeks or more past the due date. The baby may get too big if you carry it this far past your due date. It may not be able to get enough food from inside your body. Your doctor might also recommend labor induction if:

• Your water breaks before you go into labor.
• You have high blood pressure.
• You have a serious infection.
• You have diabetes.

Your doctor will only recommend labor induction to protect you or your baby However; women-and I was included-want the pregnancy over with NOW! They are tired of having a football in their stomach, a ballerina kicking its toes up and in the ribs; the nauseous feelings, backaches…well you get the picture. I am here though, to tell you, is it worth risking the life of you or your child?

Back to my story. Four days before my son's due date, I went in to be induced, for fear of having another big baby that could cause complications. They strapped the fetal monitor on and I listened to my baby's heartbeat. The beam that parents feel was evident in our expression. My husband thought this would be a piece of cake.
They started the pitocin and I lay back, waiting for labor to start. After about an hour, his heartbeat suddenly dived from 145 beats per minute, down to below 90. Something was wrong. The doctor was called in and I lay there, now frightened something was happening to the baby. Only after informing me that the cord was wrapped around my son's head and that we had to get him out of there now, did I start to panic. On my hands and knees, they rushed me to the OR, while the doctor held the cord from off his head. This was the time I started hyperventilating. I watched doctors and nurses scurrying about, prepping me for surgery, as well as themselves. I just prayed that my baby would make it. After literally five minutes, he came into the world. There was no sound. I was drugged and so didn't know what was going on. They whisked him away, saying he was in distress. No one told me he wasn't breathing. Fortunately, they got to him in time. It has been ten years and since that time, because of my c-section and the complications with my last child, I have had four more surgeries from scar tissue and complications.

Luckily, my son and daughter have remained healthy. I can thank God for that. I will tell you this-elective surgery can cause more problems that it's worth; if you have to have surgery, like I did, then by all means do so, but if you don't, please consider the risks that are involved.

Because I chose or demanded the doctor induce labor, I will have pain and scar tissue the rest of my life, not to mention, never having another child. If I would have waited just a few more days; my health would be so much better.

Please ponder this article and ask yourselves-is it worth it?