> (Like induction within hours of membrane rupture.
How many hours, and at what hospital?
They were supposed to start my induction within 24 hours by their policies and checked things on an external fetal monitor once within a few hours, once within 12 hours, and more frequently after that, but they didn't actually get around to starting a pitocin IV until about 30 hours after membrane rupture because as far as I can tell they had too many other births going on at the same time to need to rush mine further along as long as they didn't see any signs of pending infection and didn't think they needed to worry about me.
I vaguely remember them telling me 24 hours, but it's kind of a blur. :-) I do know they have a hard deadline for birth (or is it active labor?) after PROM -- they told us that well before my due date, and it is a hospital policy, IIRC. I can ask my midwife next time I see her for a regular appointment.
How's that for noncommittal? ;-)
The reason they got me started on Pit early was that my blood pressure was skyrocketing, and they were understandably worried about that. Homebirth really wasn't in the cards for me, even if I had planned one...
I recall them telling me 24 hours, too (till active labor, not birth) but I also recall them really not stressing about getting me induced (I was also in vague early labor before they induced me) and it definitely took closer to 30 hours before they were working on getting me into active labor.
Thanks for the rant, it is interesting and not something I've been as well informed about. (If we ever do this again, homebirth probably won't be in the cards for me either...)
I had a 24 hr deadline for birth from ROM, but that was mainly due to being GBS+.
I'm going to be reevaluating even testing for GBS next time. And will def. be considering a home birth (fortunate to have local friends who have done so, and we have a CNM here who does homebirths.)
Regardless of where I give birth next time, I'll have a doula. I think every laboring woman should have a doula, or an experienced support person who's really on board with what the mommy wants.
You are so correct about having a doula -- I highly recommend it! Our doula for Matthew's birth has done homebirths too, including a neighbor of mine; and through them and other friends, we have several references for homebirthing midwives.
It's still all very theoretical, though. :-)
What do the risk factors for GBS look like, again? (I knew all this once...) Do you need to give the newborn preemptive antibiotics, or just test and keep an eye on him?
General practice is for laboring mom to get antibiotics a minimum of 4 hrs before birthing. If the abx aren't given in time, then there's supposedly more stringent "requirements" and longer hosp. stay for baby to be observed (although we ended up in the hosp. for the two days anyway, *shrug* I didn't mind at the time, hosp was nicer than our temporary apartment, lol.)
At the time, I was comfortable with getting the antibiotics to lessen the risk of infection. Now, I'm not so sure. Given how much having the hep-lock/IV interfered with my laboring, I'd fight getting antibiotics (as I plan on fighting having any sort or routine or pre-emptive hep-lock, especially in my hand.) Reportedly, in Europe they don't even test for GBS. I'm (we're) also in the lower/est risk group for infection from GBS.
Sorry... sore spot (haha). I'm at peace with how Lauren's birth went, but if I had it to do over again, I definitely would have had a doula. :)
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How many hours, and at what hospital?
They were supposed to start my induction within 24 hours by their policies and checked things on an external fetal monitor once within a few hours, once within 12 hours, and more frequently after that, but they didn't actually get around to starting a pitocin IV until about 30 hours after membrane rupture because as far as I can tell they had too many other births going on at the same time to need to rush mine further along as long as they didn't see any signs of pending infection and didn't think they needed to worry about me.
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How's that for noncommittal? ;-)
The reason they got me started on Pit early was that my blood pressure was skyrocketing, and they were understandably worried about that. Homebirth really wasn't in the cards for me, even if I had planned one...
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Thanks for the rant, it is interesting and not something I've been as well informed about. (If we ever do this again, homebirth probably won't be in the cards for me either...)
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I'm going to be reevaluating even testing for GBS next time. And will def. be considering a home birth (fortunate to have local friends who have done so, and we have a CNM here who does homebirths.)
Regardless of where I give birth next time, I'll have a doula. I think every laboring woman should have a doula, or an experienced support person who's really on board with what the mommy wants.
Reply
It's still all very theoretical, though. :-)
What do the risk factors for GBS look like, again? (I knew all this once...) Do you need to give the newborn preemptive antibiotics, or just test and keep an eye on him?
Reply
At the time, I was comfortable with getting the antibiotics to lessen the risk of infection. Now, I'm not so sure. Given how much having the hep-lock/IV interfered with my laboring, I'd fight getting antibiotics (as I plan on fighting having any sort or routine or pre-emptive hep-lock, especially in my hand.) Reportedly, in Europe they don't even test for GBS. I'm (we're) also in the lower/est risk group for infection from GBS.
Sorry... sore spot (haha). I'm at peace with how Lauren's birth went, but if I had it to do over again, I definitely would have had a doula. :)
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~ Kimberly
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