you are gone.
Ok So, I emailed my teachers and said "Hi, I'm being induced tomorrow. To my knowledge I have everything turned in and a few assignments turned in early. Is there anything else that I need to do or anything due within the next week so that I can get it done today and tomorrow before I go to the hospital." One teacher sent back a very sweet reply and was very helpful. Another teacher sent back "Ok good luck with the pregnancy and thanks for keeping me informed. Take care." What the fuck does that even mean? So I wrote her back and said "No, I'm having the baby tomorrow. I'm doing all of my homework for the next month or so and have been trying to stay ahead. To my knowledge I am very ahead in your class, is there anything else I can do or should do because I will not be in class or around for atleast a week.
talked to Victoria tonight and she told me you're going in to be induced on Wednesday. I'm not for sure how to begin this but I hope that you know I only say what I say because I care.
I honestly don't know why you are even considering an induction. The reasons that Victoria gave me are not good ones. First of all you're not even "due" yet. The normal woman gestates on average 40-42 weeks, that means some go before and some go even longer. The fact that you're not dialating yet means very little. You will begin to dialate when your body is ready which may happen in a few hours or it may take weeks. The fact that you are not dialated will only make an induction that much more likely to fail and end in a c-section.
The "big" baby reason also doesn't hold much water. Sonograms can be off by 2lbs, I've even heard of it being off by 3lbs. Even if he is a "big" baby there is still no reason to induce. It is very rare for a woman to grow a baby bigger than her body can push out. But if you get induced and are attached to an iv, have pitocin (which probably means you'll have an epidural), laying on your back, and pushing when you're told, then you're fighting against your body. I hear this story daily, "My baby was too big and I had to have a c-section". Victoria and I disagreed on this point, she's rather have a c/s than an induction. I would do whatever humanly possible to aviod a c/s. It is much harder on you during recovery, baby's lungs get squeezed when passing though the birth canal which gets liquid out(that doesn't happen in a c/s and has been linked to a rise in asthma), infection rates are way higher, bonding/breastfeeding is more difficult, post pardum depression is more common and more severe, I could go on and on.
I don't know as much about the uti problem. I did a quick google and all I can find is that uti's are very common during pregnancy and that as long as they are taken care of they pose no risk to the baby.
I know you wanted a natural childbirth so I was so surprised to hear this. I can understand that you're huge and uncomfortable and just READY to meet your baby but is it really what is best for your baby? Induction puts so much more stress on you and your baby. I could give you a long list on that too.
I apologize if this comes out harsh, I am probably way out of line (it's also 3am, I couldn't sleep). We're really more aquaintances than close friends but I was hoping that hearing this from another well-researched natural birther would at least make you think twice. I don't know if Victoria told you but we're expecting now as well. I'm planning a homebirth and using a midwife that is so non-interventive that she doesn't do vaginal exams or use a doppler. So I understand that our views on birth are still different. I just want you to be able to experience the same joy and empowerment that I got from my natural birth.
I have an article that I hope you'll read, it's written by an online friend of mine who is a midwife. It's about her birth experiences. http://www. truebirth. com/2008/03/a-healthy-baby-isn%E2%80%99t-all-that-matters/
Ok, I'm done now. I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide and I'll be sending you lots of labor dust.
Scarlett
Well I haven't replied and to be quite honest, I'm pissed. When I first found out I was going to be induced, I trusted my doctor and it felt alright to me. Because it is my vagina after all. I know the pros and cons of induction as there are risks with all pregnancies and deliveries. I also know that it's my fucking delivery and labor and my child. Josh and I have talked about it and Josh leaves most of the decisions like that to me, because I am the one going into labor and having to deliver. So Josh listens, sometimes gives his opinions and supports me and supports me researching and reading about all of my options. Which is the only person I have to explain myself to. And it's fine and great that she had a wonderful experience with a natural birth but I don't believe that to be the case with me. It also pisses me off that she says "oh so many women say their baby was too big and had to have a c section." guess what it happens. babies can get stuck in the birth canal. I know that everyone is different. I also believe that women have the right to chose to if they want their pregnancy or not, but I also believe a woman has a choice in their birth plan and delivery. You can plan a pretty picnic but you can't predict the weather. Sometimes things don't go as planned and that's the first lesson of bieng a parent I think. I wasn't expecting to be pregnant and here I am.I have hung out with this girl 2 times in my entire life. One time she got shit faced drunk and told me about how she slept with JJ right after we broke up. What? Cool, I slept with him too and I was the first one to ever sleep with him and guess what? We would break up and sleep together all of the time. Most of this area of Kansas has probably slept with him by now. Not really worthy of a medal. Big fucking deal. The second time I was ever around her, she gave me baby books. I read through them and they offer suggestions like taking whiskey shots to deal with the labor pains. Really you're against an epidural but whiskey shots are cool? Way to think that one through. She said "Oh I agree with everything in this book and have read it multiple times" Good. Well, it also suggests smoking pot to deal with pregnancy discomfort.Not only am I not going to do do drugs while I'm pregnant I don't smoke cigarettes or anything, but I'm also completely aware that they test a child's mecconium and if there are any traces of drugs, your baby may not leave the hospital with you and if you test dirty, the baby goes into state custody. I give the UA's for the women this happens to. I don't even take tylenol to deal with pregnancy discomfort. Because that's my choice and this is my body and my baby. I'm pissed that Vicotira was talking about me behind my back and telling them all of my stuff. Like it's not ok to call them up and asy "oh sarah is doing this and sarah has a uti blah blah blah." Back the fuck off. I haven't responded becasue I don't know what to say and I know I'm going to say something to Victoria because well I'm the kind of person that says something. I talked to Josh about it and he said "well it's not worth ruining a friend ship over but it's important to let her know that she's upset you and where your boundaries are." and I agree. I'm still going to be her friend and we're great friends but this really upsets me and it's not ok to do that and I'm not comfortable with that at all. It's not her business to tell and it's not their place to gossip or judge. I would not have my baby at home or without a doctor.what if I needed a c section? What if there was something wrong with me or the baby? What if I died during birth and had to be revived? My grandma had to be revived giving birth to her 4th son. Things like that happen. What if my baby needed emergency heart surgery? What if my baby had hydrocephlus like my dad and Josh's brother. That requires immediate action. I would not want to take the chance of taking the time to get to the hospital and have to explain everything. Also, I'm positive that they would trust the doctor in those situations. I'm sure that they trust the doctor when they take their sick child in or when their child gets shots. I'm sure that they would trust a doctor if they got shot or were in a car accident. I trust my doctor and I trust myself. I would not have my baby any where other than a hospital because that's what I'm comfortable with. I also am comfortable with my doctor and have talked to him about all of the different possiblities. and she's not studying to be a midwife, she reads books on it but not text books or goes to a practicum. bottom line, my vagina my business and no one else's discussion. As long as I'm comfortable with my choices then I feel good. I would never do anything that would put my child in danger or anything that I thought would hurt my baby. I also can't imagine not having the doppler. Hearing his heart beat was always the highlight of my week and all of my doctors appointments. Knowing that he's alive and well and ticking away. I don't write them and tell them how I don't agree with their choices and I don't acuse them of being ill informed and I'd like the same treatment. .