Help!! Need thoughts on my client wanting acupuncture induction on due date!!

[minmoto2]

Hey ladies! Looking for you thoughts/input/experience w/this. I have a client that's due next friday...normal/healthy pregnancy. She just emailed me suggesting she is thinking about starting acupuncture for induction next friday. At our last prenatal she did state her cnm would start to talk to her about induction if she didn't give birth by then....urgh. As far as inductions go, would much prefer her to try this, but on her due date? I will never understand why these people even talk about induction before she is even 'due'. urgh again. Help please??

[DoulaRena]

Mindy it's tough.
I remind them that even natural methods for induction, ARE still an intervention. And if the body isn't favorable - even the natural methods won't be successful (so they aren't disappointed if they aren't).

I would have her read the hazards of induction on the CIMS website.

Tell her to find out what her bishop score is at her next appt (which would include an exam)... then maybe begin these things if she reaches her (EXPECTED) due date without signs of labor.

And also remind her that DUE DATES are a bunch of bull - I can forward you an article I just wrote about due dates if you would like.

[Jilian]

She could try it, but unless her body is truly ready then it will not go into labor. It might end up just being a big waste of money for her. I'd opt for sex and nip stimulation - they're free and I think they work better at getting your body ready for birth.

[mammamayI]

Remind her about all the hazards of induction you spoke about in your prenatals. Then, if she is really stuck on it, talk to her about why. If she really isn't the kind of person who is realistically going to have a "broken down car" or a "dead family member" to avoid an induction, then perhaps this is her way of avoiding confrontation and avoiding the dangers of medicalized induction. I don't agree with it, I wouldn't do it, but it's our job to support their decisions after we have given them all of the information and are sure they are making truely informed consent. IT's NOT our job to make the decisions for them. Soooo, if she was really stuck on that, I might point her toward Evening Primrose oil orally and/or vaginally in the week leading up to the accupuncture appointment. It will help to make the cervix more ripe and more amenable to the stimulation of the accupuncture. Not ideal, no, but that's for us. Her ideal may SIMPLY to be avoiding the hospital and medicalized induction with all the machines that go "ping!" which go along with it.

[DouLaura]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaRena Mindy it's tough. I remind them that even natural methods for induction, ARE still an intervention. .

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jilian She could try it, but unless her body is truly ready then it will not go into labor. It might end up just being a big waste of money for her. I'd opt for sex and nip stimulation - they're free and I think they work better at getting your body ready for birth.

[minmoto2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaRena Mindy it's tough. I remind them that even natural methods for induction, ARE still an intervention. And if the body isn't favorable - even the natural methods won't be successful (so they aren't disappointed if they aren't). I would have her read the hazards of induction on the CIMS website. Tell her to find out what her bishop score is at her next appt (which would include an exam)... then maybe begin these things if she reaches her (EXPECTED) due date without signs of labor. And also remind her that DUE DATES are a bunch of bull - I can forward you an article I just wrote about due dates if you would like.

I agree, thank u...I have given her the CIMS handout already, but I will direct her there again. I would love to read your article on due dates!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jilian She could try it, but unless her body is truly ready then it will not go into labor. It might end up just being a big waste of money for her. I'd opt for sex and nip stimulation - they're free and I think they work better at getting your body ready for birth.

That's my worry as well...I am concerned her cnm will direct her to more invasive induction methods should this not work...and she/baby might not be ready yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammamayI Soooo, if she was really stuck on that, I might point her toward Evening Primrose oil orally and/or vaginally in the week leading up to the accupuncture appointment. It will help to make the cervix more ripe and more amenable to the stimulation of the accupuncture. Not ideal, no, but that's for us. Her ideal may SIMPLY to be avoiding the hospital and medicalized induction with all the machines that go "ping!" which go along with it.

EPo is a good idea too... I really think she is trying what she can to avoid 'medical' intervention. ....& I think your right in saying she may be trying this to avoid such. I will give her as much info as I can & support her in whatever decision she makes...it is just frustrating to know that more than likely she will go into labor on her own in the next couple weeks. Did I say urgh?

[mammamayI]

Yup, in general it makes me want to knock my head against a brick wall...it'd be less frustrating. I am a person who is not afraid to advocate for myself...and it frustrates me sometimes when other people won't because somebody who is perceived to be "in authority" says that they have to "behave." I have often said to my doula friends that this is the hardest part of my job.

[DoulaRena]

The article is fairly long, so I started a new discusson - Due Date article (inductions etc). Hopefully it will help.

[minmoto2]

Thanks!!

[Liebe Mutti]

I am no expert or anything, but all three of my births were inducted one way or another. Long story, but what I want to say is with regards to the accupuncture part.

I don't what it is like in NA, but a lot of midwives here in Germany have extra training in TCM (tradition chinese medicine) and it is common practise to get accupunture done starting at 38 wks, once a week in order to prepare the birth canal for birth. It doesn't induce you, but rather makes the tissue more supple and it has been proven to shorten the length of active labour. Most women start dialating during the last few weeks without even knowing it. You don't go into labour unless your body is ready. Is this practised over there???? Just curious. What kind of accupunture do they do to induce labour? I wouldn't expect it to be successful unless your body is ready anyway.

Another way of inducing here is by using homeopathic remedies. They use this usually instead of IV if the contractions stop in the middle of labour. Do they use homeopathic remedies there too? Just wondering. It is kind of wierd being Canadian, but never having any her kids born there. It is wierd learning all of the terminology again, but this time in English. This website is a God send.

Bye the way....
Most babies born here are delivered by midwives, even in the hospitals. The problem is trying to find a good one.

[loveslabor]

If it were my client, I would give her any info I had about it, go over pros and cons and then let her make the decision herself. I would not try to persuade her one way or another. Not my body, not my birth....all I can do is inform.

[heathenmamaof5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liebe Mutti I am no expert or anything, but all three of my births were inducted one way or another. Long story, but what I want to say is with regards to the accupuncture part. I don't what it is like in NA, but a lot of midwives here in Germany have extra training in TCM (tradition chinese medicine) and it is common practise to get accupunture done starting at 38 wks, once a week in order to prepare the birth canal for birth. It doesn't induce you, but rather makes the tissue more supple and it has been proven to shorten the length of active labour. Most women start dialating during the last few weeks without even knowing it. You don't go into labour unless your body is ready. Is this practised over there???? Just curious. What kind of accupunture do they do to induce labour? I wouldn't expect it to be successful unless your body is ready anyway. Another way of inducing here is by using homeopathic remedies. They use this usually instead of IV if the contractions stop in the middle of labour. Do they use homeopathic remedies there too? Just wondering. It is kind of wierd being Canadian, but never having any her kids born there. It is wierd learning all of the terminology again, but this time in English. This website is a God send. Bye the way.... Most babies born here are delivered by midwives, even in the hospitals. The problem is trying to find a good one.

Here in America none of the "alternative" stuff is done by Drs or MW in the hospital setting. Many homebirth midwifes do use "alternatives". I long for the day that Liscensed or Cetified Midwives have hospital priveledges. Many times they can't even accompany their clients when they're transported. So sad