How Well Do You Know Your Labor Terms?

How Well Do You Know Induction Terms?

July 24, 2008

There's much focus on home births and cesarean sections these days so many women are unaware of labor induction until their doctors suggest it. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, in 2005 the rate of induction of labor was 22.3 percent. That is double the number of inductions conducted in 1990. Since rates have increased so quickly, let's see how well-versed you are in your induction terminology.

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23 Comments

macgirl 4 years 43 weeks

Well I didn't want a c-section so I would have gone for the induction anyways. -oh and i'm not one of those vag or nothing types, just really scared of someone cutting through my stomach muscles ;-)

Greggie 4 years 43 weeks

And you. *lol* But that sounds reasonable. :)

macgirl 4 years 43 weeks

Actually yes. Since I am "AMA" they did some special bi-weekly testing in my last month. I had asked if they deemed my fluids too low would they try and induce me or did I go straight to c-section. She said they would most likely try and induce but it was ultimately up to the doctor.

Greggie 4 years 43 weeks

macgirl, will they do them for medical reasons pre-due date? It seems like post due date would be a medical reason anyway, so the policy would be better if it were medical reasons only.

backfat 4 years 43 weeks

Yikes. I was induced last month a week before my due date and I didn't need a c-section. I guess I dodged a bullet there. I had no idea the rate was so high. How scary.

backfat 4 years 43 weeks

Yikes. I was induced last month a week before my due date and I didn't need a c-section. I guess I dodged a bullet there. I had no idea the rate was so high. How scary.

macgirl 4 years 43 weeks

I was technically induced as my labor wasn't progressing with both sons (9 years apart). Both ended vaginally. I was a bit shocked to see how many of them ended up with a C-section. My OB was going to do a real induction the week of my due date (cough -gigantic hemorrhoids- cough) but the hospital changed its policy to not do inductions until post due date (that wasn't a first time mom option at all though).

macgirl 4 years 43 weeks

JennyJen 4 years 43 weeks

I was nearly a week overdue and not dilating at all when I was induced.

Greggie 4 years 43 weeks

I personally don't consider overdue and not dilating properly to be an actual induction, just "help," so to speak. Not that I'm a medical personnel, just saying those situations don't even hit my radar as being remotely unnecessary, or at all questionable.

Evalicious 4 years 43 weeks

I was scheduled for an induction, b/c my daughter was overdue and nothing had happened (no dilation, no thinning, nothing) Then - My water broke three days before the induction was scheduled, but at the hospital I was still not dilated or effaced. I was only at the hospital for an hour before they lost my daughter's heart beat and I had to have an emergency c-section. My water broke at 2:15AM, went to the hospital at 4AM and she was born at 7AM. My body never did what it was supposed to do, and according to my OB/GYN and my husband's uncle (Dr.) I could have been in labor with contractions that led to no where for hours. C-Sections are not to be taken lightly though, they should only be performed when circumstances are dire and necessary - not b/c a mother decides she wants her child born on a certain day.

BlairBear 4 years 43 weeks

I have been induced all three times, no c-sections. My first was overdue and I wasn't dilating on my own anymore. The second was induced at 39 weeks because he was so big, 8lbs,7.5 oz. My third was induced because I was in labor but the contractions weren't "good enough" as they liked to put it. Also the doctor thought she would be big and I didn't want to get ripped a new one (again) by another big baby. I have had all of the above done to me while being induced. I guessed low on the last one because I figured I went through it 3 times with good results, maybe most others did too.

lms 4 years 43 weeks

I was two days overdue and then I was taking forever to dilate. They gave me pitocin. Pitocin is no joke. The contractions were absolutely horrible and they never gave me an epidural b/c they said I was too far gone...even though I was asking for it forever. They also gave me a sleeping pill. It was crazy because I would fall asleep as soon as the contraction stopped and wake right back up when it started. If they did any of the other things to me I don't remember. I delivered vaginally. My total labor time was 25 hours. That is one of the reasons I only have one child today!!!

Greggie 4 years 43 weeks

" I think in many respects inductions are over performed, and while they have a medically necessary place, I question the widespread use of the process (particularly pitocin and more advanced measures)."I completely agree. I fully understand their medically necessary place - if I hadn't been induced and waited for natural labor, my son probably would've died since he had no amniotic fluid. But I question the "Hey I'm going on vacation this weekend, wanna be induced before I go?" doctors.

Greggie 4 years 43 weeks

" I think in many respects inductions are over performed, and while they have a medically necessary place, I question the widespread use of the process (particularly pitocin and more advanced measures)." I completely agree. I fully understand their medically necessary place - if I hadn't been induced and waited for natural labor, my son probably would've died since he had no amniotic fluid. But I question the "Hey I'm going on vacation this weekend, wanna be induced before I go?" doctors.

nevadamtnbear 4 years 43 weeks

As the recipient of most of the induction techniques - didn't do the prostoglandins, I'll NEVER do an induction again unless it is the absolute last resort and necessary due to immediate and tangible health concerns. While I was fortunate to not end up with a c-section, I ended up pushing for 9 hours (no joke, just confirmed with my new OB because when I put that on my forms she was skeptical, rightly so, and when she got my delivery notes, it's confirmed). That was way too long. I was induced due to PIH and my OB measured out my bean to be over 8#'s in the last ultrasound. Due to the extraordinary blood pressure issues I was having and his predicted size, she opted to induce at 40 weeks. My bean never dropped (hence the extraordinarily long push time), I was so exhausted by the end we narrowly escaped the c-section because I had worked him down far enough to be vacuum extracted, and he came out into our world weighting a whopping 6lbs. 14oz. Hindsight is always 20/20, and from what I learned from that experience, we could have waited and monitored everything on a day by day basis rather than going with an induction. I think in many respects inductions are over performed, and while they have a medically necessary place, I question the widespread use of the process (particularly pitocin and more advanced measures).

nevadamtnbear 4 years 43 weeks

As the recipient of most of the induction techniques - didn't do the prostoglandins, I'll NEVER do an induction again unless it is the absolute last resort and necessary due to immediate and tangible health concerns.While I was fortunate to not end up with a c-section, I ended up pushing for 9 hours (no joke, just confirmed with my new OB because when I put that on my forms she was skeptical, rightly so, and when she got my delivery notes, it's confirmed). That was way too long.I was induced due to PIH and my OB measured out my bean to be over 8#'s in the last ultrasound. Due to the extraordinary blood pressure issues I was having and his predicted size, she opted to induce at 40 weeks. My bean never dropped (hence the extraordinarily long push time), I was so exhausted by the end we narrowly escaped the c-section because I had worked him down far enough to be vacuum extracted, and he came out into our world weighting a whopping 6lbs. 14oz.Hindsight is always 20/20, and from what I learned from that experience, we could have waited and monitored everything on a day by day basis rather than going with an induction. I think in many respects inductions are over performed, and while they have a medically necessary place, I question the widespread use of the process (particularly pitocin and more advanced measures).

Liss 4 years 43 weeks

4/5 not bad.My SIL had to be induced a couple of weeks early because the baby was starting to lose weight instead of gaining it. I remember our MIL was so mad she was going to be induced. She said it wasn't a good idea it would make it harder for her. I felt so bad for my SIL because part of the family was giving her such a hard time. The doctor was worried about the baby so she had to do it and as my SIL said it was her first baby and she had nothing to compare the labor to so she wouldn't know if it was worse than normal. She had a long labor but didn't end up needing a c-section.

Liss 4 years 43 weeks

4/5 not bad. My SIL had to be induced a couple of weeks early because the baby was starting to lose weight instead of gaining it. I remember our MIL was so mad she was going to be induced. She said it wasn't a good idea it would make it harder for her. I felt so bad for my SIL because part of the family was giving her such a hard time. The doctor was worried about the baby so she had to do it and as my SIL said it was her first baby and she had nothing to compare the labor to so she wouldn't know if it was worse than normal. She had a long labor but didn't end up needing a c-section.

Greggie 4 years 43 weeks

I guessed high on #5 because I seriously don't know anyone in "real life" who's been induced who hasn't ended up with a c-section, including myself. Although mine would've happened with natural labor as well, so I shouldn't be included in those statistics.

valancyjane 4 years 43 weeks

Re question 3: A co-worker's son was born with a fairly large scratch on his head from when the doctor's broke the mom's water. When I saw the baby at 3 weeks the scratch still hadn't healed. Yeesh. For this and so many other reasons, I am hoping to avoid any induction interventions. Let Mother Nature do her own thing.

Greggie 4 years 43 weeks

I disagree that the focus these days is home births and c-sections. Induction is huge, and it's being used for numerous non-medical reasons. Women today can be induced a week early for the sole reason that their mother is visiting and doesn't want to miss the baby. It amazes me what doctors will do. Now I'm off to take the quiz.

Greggie 4 years 43 weeks

I disagree that the focus these days is home births and c-sections. Induction is huge, and it's being used for numerous non-medical reasons. Women today can be induced a week early for the sole reason that their mother is visiting and doesn't want to miss the baby.It amazes me what doctors will do.Now I'm off to take the quiz.

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