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Induction Junction, What’s Your Function?

bigstock-Pregnantlabor111514When I was pregnant, I had one goal: Have a healthy baby. After that obvious top priority, my second goal was to avoid a c-section. If at all possible, I wanted to have a natural birth. I was willing to be flexible if needed (like if I did end up wanting drugs or needing a c-section), but I also knew I was stubborn enough to deal with the pain of a natural childbirth. Turns out, my daughter thought it would be fun to arrive in a super-fast hurry, so even if I’d wanted drugs, I wouldn’t have had time to get them. Worked well for me and my “plans.”

When I was researching childbirth, I read Ricki Lake’s Your Best Birth, along with Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth (a book that will make you believe you can conquer childbirth). It seemed to me that the more interventions there are, the more likely it is that the experience would end in a c-section. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve watched A Baby Story where the mom was induced for no real medical reason, labor failed to progress, and the doctor decides that it’s time to head in for an “emergency” c-section.

Many women, of course, have medical reasons for getting induced—like my BFF who was induced last month. But research has found that more women who get induced end up with c-sections, so avoiding that intervention when it’s not medically necessary may save you an extended hospital stay and other health hazards. Read more about the risks here and about how to avoid an induction.

Were you induced? How did it work out? Did you feel pressured by your doctor to induce? Do tell! —Erin

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