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Jen & Joe, midwife/induction question
Hey Jen
Someone mentioned at my prenatal class this week that if you need to be induced, then your care is transfered from the midwife to your OB.
I've never heard this before and I'm kind of sad about it. I was 22 days over due, and my sister was about the same (and my other sister probably would have been had my mom not been induced with her). , I've got it in my head that my baby will probably be late, and I'll likely need an induction too.
I know Ben was late and you had to get induced. Did your care get transfered right away? I know you ended up with a c section, and I know it definitely gets transfered in that case, but I didn't know anything about it being transfered for the induction portion.
I'm going to talk to my MW's at my next appt to find out exactly what will happen in that case, but I wanted to ask your experience. Did your midwives still stay with you for the labour? Or are you on your own with the dr's and nurses.
Re: Jen & Joe, midwife/induction question
I think it may vary by hospital. With our MW care was not transferred for an induction. So we went in when I was 42w and it was just us and the MW in the room. She went straight to the IV drugs (oxytocin) instead of doing the gel first. She was able to not only do the induction without consulting an OB and without transferring care but she was also able to give me the gas (took the edge off of contractions which was very much needed since I had to labour on my back) and morphine (Ben was trying to come through my cervix with the side of his head - ouch).
My MW told me to get an epidural. It turns out she knew that it was going to be an emergency c/s due to Ben's distress and the fact that my heart rate was also dropping. When they came in to do that my care was transferred. All of a sudden there was 3 or 4 nurses, the MW, Joe and the OB in there.
My MW stayed with us until my contractions totally stopped. She left to get some rest but when they could barely detect Ben's heartrate anymore they decided to do the emergency c/s and paged her to come back. She was there in the OR with us and was to take care over Ben when he was born. She had concerns over his breathing so she transferred his care to a peditrican.
Regardless that neither Ben nor I were under her care during our hospital stay she still care to see us every single day.
I asked if they would have stayed if I had taken an epi but delivered vaginally and the answer was yes. Some OB's would even let them deliver the baby (but the OB would be in the room), otherwise they take on more of a doula role.
I would find out a few things from your MW. When does a transfer of care take place (not just in the case of inductions but in all cases), when do they call the 2nd midwife to come (ours was when 2nd stage of labour started) and then how far overdue will they let you go. Ours were fine with letting me go the full 42w (they consultwith an OB when I hit 41w and he agreed I could keep going). In that last week I had 2 growth u/s, 3 stretch and sweeps and 5 non stress tests (requirement of the OB).
If you have any other questions just let me know.
I didn't mentally prepare for an induction so if you think you will go over I suggest getting ready for it. The labour was intense right from the start. I have heard that the labour is unlike anything else. The contractions are on top of one another and I for one could not catch my breath. There is no slow build up to labour. It is 0-100 in no time flat. Also, you will be hooked up to monitors so find out if they have portable one's so you can at least walk around. We didn't have that option which is why I had to labour on my back.
Whew that was long.
Thanks Jen, that was really helpful to read. I'm definitely going to talk to them about what exactly will happen, what my hospital's procedures will be etc.
I haven't read much on inductions but I think I'll start doing some more reading up on it so I have a better idea (if it does come to that) - who really knows when baby will make his/her apperance.
I can't think of any more questions, but I'm sure I'll come up with a few more in the coming weeks!
And holy 4 months! I remember hearing about your big news, in some ways it feels like it was a lot longer than 4 months ago, and in other ways it feels like it was just a few weeks ago! Happy 4 months Ben!
I hope you don't mind that I am totally butting in here...
I had a MW, and was also induced with Ruari (and 41w1d). My MW did consult with the OB on duty, but only because they thought my water was low. I saw the OB twice...once at the start, and then he poked his head in as he was going off duty. My MW (and the MW student) did everything else...pitocin, gas, fluids etc. My MW also suggested an epi (I wasn't dilating at all), and was able to call for it. My care did not transfer over once I had...she still delivered Ruari (the epi allowed me to dilate). I guess it just depends on the hospital (you girls are both in ON right?). I had originally heard that MWs have to turn the care over when an epi is given, but it was not from a reliable source (obviously).
I agree that being mentally prepared to be induced is a good idea...it was tough, but it obviously didn't stop me from doing it all over again
My hope is to go late again...I'm looking forward to at least a few days with Ruari before the baby comes (and obviously I'd really prefer to have the baby after Christmas!!!)
Thanks for butting in! It's always nice to hear other stories of how things went down - gives me more ideas of the potential scenarios that could play out for me if I do end up with an induction. Jen and I are in ON, and care is transfered for an Epi. I know my hospital is pretty familiar with the MW's though and they have a good relationship, so I'm hoping if it does happen that I need care transferrred my MW will still be involved. I'm going to get the details on what exactly they can be responsible for etc. at my next appointment.
I'm starting to get uncomfortable and thinking that an early baby might not be such a bad idea... but part of me would really like it if baby is late as it will put his/her birthday farther away from Christmas! I'm sure by the time Christmas is here though I will care less about that and just want baby out!
I'm in Ottawa, and care is not transfered after an epi....so odd that things can be so different even in the same province. I think that would make the decision of getting an epi a harder one. I needed it (pitocin/oxytocin can be quite rough), and it would have made the decision upsetting. My MW was even able to control the amount of drugs.
I know that I was all gung-ho to get Ruari out...this time, I'll be happy to have a late baby (although maybe by the 9th of January I'll be singing a different tune). I just want it to be in the new year (it's the teacher in me!)
I'll also butt in!
My mom went 21 days overdue when she was pregnant with me, and her and I had entirely identical pregnancies (weird symptoms/bleeding at the exact same weeks in pregnancy, cravings, sleep patterns, moods, etc), but I went 3 days early. I was totally preparing to be induced on New Years Eve LOL
Hmm, that's interesting Nat, who knows maybe I'll get a surprise early baby too! 3 days early would put me on New Year's eve which I think would make for a pretty fun birthday - always a party going on... probably more fun than the classic hangover day Jan 1, lol.
Guess I'll just have to wait and see what I get though!
I can't believe Danica's almost 1!!! It feels like the year has just flown by, you must be excited for her birthday! And Christmas, I bet she'll be so fun at this age for all the festivities.
Hi Shannon! Wow I can't believe how close you are to giving birth..how exciting! I started a new job in November so I haven't had much time to be online lately.
I didn't have a midwife, but I was induced because I had Gestational Diabetes. I gave birth at Mount Sinai where I think they have 92% epidural rate or something like that. I still had a natural birth however and somehow managed to not get an epidural or use any pain relief. But my labour was very short..I got the pitocin at 10am and William was born by 10:30pm. So I feel lucky because the pitocin is intense, but you can make it through. If both myself and my mother (who fainted when she got her ears pierced as an adult after giving birth to 3 children drug free) can do it..I think anyone can. I think having a doula with me really helped to keep me focused at the moment when you think you can't do it anymore. Having someone tell you yes you can do this, you are powerful and a mother and you can.
Even if you do get an epidural and your care has to be changed over, it's not the end of the world. I had a hard time with even the thought of being induced too because I wanted so much to stick to my plan..but it worked out anyway. I still had my son and it was a beautiful experience.
I wish you nothing but the best. I'm so excited for you! I can't wait to hear all about it. :-)