If you choose to agree to the induction, here are two reasons why you may want to think long and carefully before agreeing to rupture of membranes: First, it isn't recommended when the head is high because of the increased risk of umbilical cord prolapse (the umbilical cord coming down ahead of the baby). This will result in an immediate cesarean. Second, as long as membranes are intact, you have optons. If the induction doesn't result in progressive labor, the oxytocin drip can be turned off, and you can go home and try another day. But if membranes are broken you are committed to delivery. If the induction doesn't take, you will end up with a cesararean.

To Maria's list, I would add nipple stimulation, which can ripen the cervix and can initiate labor. Nipple stimulation causes your body to secrete oxytocin. You can do this or your partner can. Begin by stimulating one nipple. If you feel a contraction, stop the stimulation until the contraction subsides, then begin again. If stimulating one side doesn't produce contractions, then move to stimulating both nipples. Again, if you feel a contraction, stop until it is over. In the studies, women did this for 2-3 hrs per day. There is also an acupressure point (Spleen 6) on the inside of your calf four finger breadths up from the top of your ankle bone. Feel around a bit. The right spot will feel tender to pressure. Simkin, Whalley, and Keppler in Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn suggest applying finger pressure "in on-off cycles of 10-60 seconds each for up to 6 cycles" (p. 269). This same point can be used to strengthen contractions in a labor already underway as can nipple stimulation.

-- Henci

I'm posting this for my wife. Last Tuesday at about 1am her water broke. What a relief! Contractions came on right away, however the water was clear so we decided to stay at home as long as possible. We eventually went into the hospital around 7am when they were consistently 3 minutes apart.

Labor seemed to be progressing at a manageable pace for most of the day, however they did multiple checks and the baby still hadn't dropped. By 9PM (19 hours into labor) my wife was having some pretty intense contractions and had not progressed past 8.5cm's for the past 3 hours.

The contractions had also been coming one after another with seemingly no break. At one point it looked like she had 4 contractions in a row with no break in between (I heard the nurse comment that she had never seen that before). To top it off she was vomiting after each one. Her coping techniques were now unable to get her through each contraction and she was tensing up with each one. 

By 9:30pm this became too much and we agreed to an epidural. By 10:00 my wife was able to relax and recover some of her strength (we had both been up for the last 37 hours with no sleep). By 2am her last check showed she had finally dialated to 10cm and was almost fully effaced, but the baby was still too high. The contractions started to slow down to about 7 minutes apart, so they gave her Pitocin to increase the frequency of the contractions.

A little over an hour later she was fully effaced and the baby had dropped. She started pushing a few minutes later and by 6am she delivered a beautiful baby girl!

Interesting note. We were 2 days shy of 42 weeks. The nurse showed my wife the placenta and said "look how healthy this placenta is!".

My wife and I both appreciate all of the advice and help you have given, and Henci's book was a great resource (I referenced it constantly). We wish we could have done without some of the interventions, but we think we will be more prepared for the next time around

Thanks again,

NotSure

She started pushing a few minutes later and by 6am she delivered a beautiful baby girl!

Interesting note. We were 2 days shy of 42 weeks. The nurse showed my wife the placenta and said "look how healthy this placenta is!".

Woo hoo!  Great job!

Whenever water breaks prior to labor starting I always think "poor fetal position."  And "Mrs. NotSure" had alluded to a possible poor position in an earlier post--baby looking to the left.  Add on really strong contractions without expected progress and vomitting, and those tend to add up to "poor fetal position."

But rather than give up, Mrs. NotSure wisely chose to use an intervention to allow her to rest.  Which ultimately kept her out of the OR...not that we wouldn't have been thankful for the OR if it were truly necessary.

As a point of encouragement for Mrs. NotSure...my first baby was posterior and resulted in a 33 hr labor.  My next baby was NOT posterior, and labor was 6 hrs.  Next was 3 hrs, next was 2 hrs...and I'm really hoping the next is NOT 1 hr, because I need a bit more time to process that the baby is coming out than that!  ;-)

Congratulations! I am so happy for you both! It sounds like your wife is a real trooper. I know from an earlier post that having an epidural was not what she planned, but that was a really tough labor, and I am glad she was able to make good use of her resources to get herself to the finish line.

-- Henci

Henci,

I stumbled across your site and love it.  I'm ordering the book.  I am 48 and about to get my first college degree.  I am doing my applied research senior project on Doulas.  I was a Doula for several years and the program was not promoted effectively

I love what I'm reading on your site  but need references for my project.  I am noting the ones you mention in the forum,  could you give me a source for such info as in this topic of induction and risks of breaking of the membranes or any others?

I would like to find an effective way to let women in this area (central Indiana) know the benefits of having a doula but to also bridge the gap of respect and acceptance of the Doula between the doctors and hospital staff.   I would like to find a way for doctors and staff members to routinely encourage women in open and respectful dialogue to consider using Doulas in the birth process - communicating what intervention really means and what it brings. 

your input is much appreciated.  I am hoping I can find the correct forum to read your reply.  If I'm not imposing, would you mind emailing me at jamter@sbcglobal.net?

many thanks,

Teri

I'm glad you found this Forum useful, and I hope you will continue to participate. As far as finding research for your papers, PubMed is the website that indexes the U.S. National Library of Medicine. If you would like  tutorials to teach you how to construct searches, you will see a link in the sidebar of the page the link will take you to. The national doula organizations such as DONA International and CAPPA might be able to help you with your interest in outreach and forming connections with medical professionals.  You may get some ideas as well on the "Changing Birth Culture" topic on this Forum. If you would like to e-mail me privately, my e-mail address is goersitemail@aol.com.

-- Henci