Female Care » labor

Nipple Stimulation to Induce Pregnancy is a Waste of Time

Adam — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:18:50 +0000

You’ve been pregnant for 40 years huh? Wait, I mean 40 weeks. Most women can’t wait for their baby to be born once they hit the last month of pregnancy. Bladders are small, backs are sore, feet are swollen, and they can’t wait to meet their new bundle of joy. Many women seek advice from friend, books, or the Internet on how to naturally induce their labor. Nipple stimulation almost always comes up in conversation. If you are pregnant and someone tells you to use nipple stimulation to induce your labor, smile but don’t take their advice.

In order for the female body to naturally go into labor, a chemical called oxytocin is created. This signals the uterus to begin contracting and the cervix to thin and dilate. If you have ever heard of Pitocin, it is the synthetic version of oxytocin. A woman’s body will never leave her pregnant forever. The body will begin producing oxytocin when it is ready. For many women, this isn’t soon enough. Some try nipple stimulation to jump start their labor.

Nipple stimulation makes the body begin producing oxytocin. The main reason for this is after delivery. When a baby nurses on it’s mother’s breast, the stimulation causes her uterus to contract and shrink back down to it’s normal size. Many women use this natural phenomenon to stimulate contractions BEFORE their baby is born.

There are a couple downfalls to nipple stimulation: nipple pain, and intense contractions. Nipple stimulation for labor induction is not a gentle thing. You either have to manually tug at your nipples for a couple hours or use a breast pump. Either way, your nipples will be red and swollen afterward. If, by chance, the nipple stimulation works, extra oxytocin in body caused by the stimulation will cause the woman to have much more intense contractions. If you have ever been put on pitocin to augment your labor, the intensity is similar to extra oxytocin in your system. A more painful labor is not good for the mother’s psyche or body.

I may sound completely against nipple stimulation, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t try it with my first child. Unfortunately, or fortunately (however you want to look at it), the nipple stimulation did not work for me. I did experience regular contractions, but only while I continually stimulated my nipples. Once I stopped, the contractions. would stop. it just goes to show, the female body will go into labor when it is ready and not a moment sooner.

If you feel like you can’t be pregnant any longer, talk to your doctor. Maybe he/she will induce your labor in a hospital or under the supervision of a professional with pitocin. At least this way you have easy access to an epidural and don’t have red, swollen nipples. As desperate as you may be, try to stay away from nipple stimulation induction.

Being Assertive With Your Obstetrician

Adam — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:15:21 +0000

Your relationship with your caregiver is the most important one you should develop during your pregnancy. It is important that your OB/GYN or midwife shares the same beliefs and views that you do. You have chosen this person to bring your precious bundle into the world and have entrusted them with not only your life, but the life of your unborn child – and your aftercare. It is important that you set up a time to meet with them before making your final decision; you can then determine if they are the right fit for you. You may be able to get recommendations from friends or even your family doctor if they do not deliver babies themselves. A lot depends on whether you want a natural birth in a birthing center, which is more personal and less clinical, or if you want to go the traditional route in the hospital. A lot will also depend on your medical condition during pregnancy. You may be limited. No matter which one you choose, it is important to make your views known.

During your regular doctor’s check-up it is best to ask as many questions as you want. Don’t hold back. That is what your healthcare provider is there for and being paid for. Don’t be afraid to speak up and don’t worry if you feel that you are taking up too much time. It is always best to be well informed. You surely will feel better going home with your questions and concerns addressed. Most clinics also have phone nurses for any additional queries that come up once you are home.

If, after a few visits to your provider, you do not feel comfortable or he or she may seem distracted or forceful during your visit, SWAP DOCTORS! Trust me. They will not be offended in any way. After all, you are the most important person there. You do not want to dread your next visit or risk a miserable delivery. Labor is one of the most important days of your life, and having the confidence that the OB will honor your wishes should the birthing plan suddenly change. Your doctor may not agree with your wishes or listen to your opinion. If you are not okay with this, don’t be afraid to speak up or find someone who will listen to you. You deserve the respect.

During active labor you have the right to change your birth plan and demand medication (although if you are too far into labor you will be denied). Your labor and the delivery of your baby is a once in a lifetime experience and you shouldn’t have to associate negativity with it. If your wishes are denied, demand someone else immediately. You may get another partner in the practice or a doctor on duty, but they may be more inclined to treat you adequately.

Postpartum is every bit as important as the pregnancy itself – if not more so – because now your body is attempting to repair the ravages of childbirth, whether it was a C-section or a vaginal delivery. It is vital that you keep a close eye on your body for any negative symptoms that are listed on the hospital or birthing center discharge paperwork. For example, if your C-section incision site becomes red and painful, contact your doctor. If he or she says tells you this symptom is normal but you don’t feel it is, get it checked out immediately. I, personally, was told this and ended up with multiple C-section infections because I did not speak up. It is imperative that you follow your instinct. If you feel that your worries are not being adequately addressed, speak to someone about it. Don’t take the risk of getting sicker.

Some doctors are not as in tune with postpartum depression as others. It is not something to be ashamed of; it is a serious condition that will affect your recovery as well as your bonding time with your baby. If your doctor dismisses it, bring it to his or her attention. If you are given medication that makes it worse, tell your doctor and they will be able to help. They should be familiar with postpartum depression and should understand how important this is. If not, they can refer you to someone who can help.

Hopefully all will go well for you and your baby. It is up to you to help to make it possible. Make yourself comfortable with your healthcare and lifestyle. This is the best and most important time of your life.

Usurping Mother Nature: The Rise in Induced Births

Adam — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:08:26 +0000

It seems that our dependence on technology is such nowadays that we’re happy to let it take over the job of Mother Nature – at least when it comes to helping us deliver our babies. Not content to let nature take its course, more and more women are undergoing induced birth with the aid of technological intervention. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the number of induced births has doubled since 1990, and in 2006 22.5 percent of births in the US were induced.

The rise in numbers could, in part, be explained by more women leaving it later in life to start a family, as well as the increase in the number of women undergoing fertility treatment and becoming pregnant with more than one child. Pregnancy for an older woman, and her unborn baby, carries more health risks than it does for a younger mom: Therefore, a doctor is more likely to induce the birth if he or she believes it’s the safest option for mother and baby. Likewise, induced labor could also be recommended to a woman expecting more than one baby if her doctor feels that it’s in the best interests of all concerned.

However, while a number of inductions are carried out for bona fide medical reasons, many of them, apparently, are being performed for no other reason than convenience. “Social induction” is a term used for inducing labor for the convenience of the patient or physician, with reasons cited ranging from a mother’s wish to avoid her baby’s birth clashing with the family holiday, to the hospital’s staffing schedule running from 9-to-5 Monday to Friday with no after-hours care.

It seems that technology’s not only being used to save lives nowadays, but is also playing a role in making the process of giving birth more convenient and relatively hassle-free: good news for the expectant father who doesn’t have to extend his period of paternity leave, and the physician who gets the weekend off to play golf (statistics also show that in 2006, Sunday was the slowest day for births in the US).

But now some medical experts are asking if perhaps technology isn’t being used a little excessively in the birthing process and whether Mother Nature should be given more of a say in the matter; Mother Nature, after all, having a little more experience in delivering babies than technology. Because even with the advances in technology, induced labor doesn’t come risk-free: There are a number of potential repercussions, including the risk of a premature birth, which can have serious consequences on a baby’s health.

A full-term pregnancy is usually defined as lasting 37 weeks or more, although doctors commonly set a date at 40 weeks from the mother’s last full period. Late preterm babies are those born between 34 and 36 weeks’ gestation. And while they’re usually considered healthy, they are more likely to have medical problems than those born a few weeks later at full term (37 – 42 weeks). A baby’s lungs and brain mature later in pregnancy, which means that late preterm babies are more at risk of being jaundiced, and having problems with breathing, feeding, and maintaining their body temperature.

An induced labor can also be more painful than a natural one. Pitocin, a synthetic form of the hormone oxytocin, which is secreted during natural childbirth, is intravenously fed to the mother to induce labor. It generates contractions unnaturally close to one another, providing inadequate rest in between, often making the labor a lot more tiring than giving birth naturally. It also causes intense contractions to start earlier than they do in a natural delivery, before the cervix is significantly dilated. And if all that wasn’t enough, the mother has to be wired up to an electronic monitoring device, adding to her discomfort, to detect any fetal distress which may be caused by the drug.

The possibility of a mother having to undergo a Cesarean section also increases with an induced birth, and it’s no surprise that, in line with the rise in inductions, the percentage of Cesarean-delivered babies has also increased since 1996. In 2006, 31.1 percent of all births were delivered by Cesarean section representing a 50 percent increase since 1996.

But whether the rise in inductions is due to the wishes of the mother, or her physician, is unclear. It can be difficult for some women to know what’s best when it comes to giving birth. While some elect to be induced, others may feel they have little say in the matter, finding it difficult to refuse an induced labor if the advice from their physician is that induction really is in the best interests of both mother and baby.

However, while a doctor has to weigh up all the pros and cons of each individual situation when delivering a baby, a mother still has a say in how she gives birth. Any woman who is advised to have an induced labor before 39 weeks can ask her physician if there’s any risk to her or her baby’s health that may necessitate inducing at this time. She can also ask to wait to have her baby closer to the 40-weeks mark. Even for older women and those expecting more than one baby, there’s scant evidence to show that inducing labor is beneficial to either mother or baby, provided there are no complications and both appear to be in good health.

It could be that the medical profession is losing confidence in a woman’s ability to deliver naturally without the intervention of technology, and in turn expectant moms are, too. Or maybe we’re using technology more than necessary simply because we can. Providing there’s no bona fide medical reason for an induced birth, shouldn’t we trust Mother Nature a little more to do the job she’s best at…?