In the beginning of my pregnancy, I hadn’t thought about the possibility of induction, despite being thirty-five years of age.  The controversy surrounding inducing labor has been broiling for years. Proponents extoll the virtues of getting a baby  out before it is too large to pass through the birth canal and preventing  harm to the fetus due to inadequate placenta. Those who oppose inducing labor of course speak of the harm that forcing a possibly underdeveloped fetus to come out would do.

 In my case, the due date passed, and of course the doctors had told my fiancé and I to be patient, yet warned of the health problems that an over developed fetus might face.  A week passed after my due date and there was no progress, and no downward movement whatsoever. I started to get nervous. Relatives were expecting the baby, and I was more than ready to welcome my first child after months of painful anticipation. April tenth came and went with no changes and I was becoming increasingly nervous.  The risks and benefits of inducing labor had been explained to me previously, and I felt the risk of complications was too great to wait around. My doctor agreed. We of course mulled over the emotions of the situation

My fiancé and I reported to the labor and delivery unit at the hospital about six pm on Monday evening ready to walk out with the baby a few hours later.  Much to our consternation, we were informed that my cervix was not dilating despite the chemical agent that had been placed internally to cause this necessary reaction. Tuesday morning came, with no dilation.  I was skeptical after a day and a half of lying in the unforgiving labor and delivery bed, but then came the waves of extraordinary pain. We had finally won the war against nature.  It began earnestly enough with a bang, and then subsided into waves of extraordinary pain. A beleaguered nurse walked in with a huge blue balance ball and suggested that I lay upon it, as an alternative to conventional pain medication. Looking at her with my mouth agape, I realized I had passed the point of no return. It had been almost two days now and all my faculties had been put to the test. The petocin was pulsing through my veins and all I could tell anyone was that I needed an epidural. The attending physician came in and pronounced me unfit to receive one which was not good news. In a general malaise, I puttered around in my gown awaiting the nudge of not only the baby, but the medical staffers whom had been telling me that waiting was the best policy.

The hours that followed were not the most painful due to the high level of pain killers in my system, but rather the thing that defines pain. The mind defines pain both emotional and physical and the amount you suffer is up to you. But how on earth do you survive induced labor when you do know what to expect. If you go in thinking that you won’t be able to stand the pain, you probably won’t be able to- it plays tricks on the over thinking individual- at least it did in my case. Had I developed a plan for dealing with the pain ahead of time, I might have been more comfortable. Even a plan won’t stop the mind from feeling the extreme pain and for the most part the pain is very necessary for the natural birth process to play itself out. In general, had I had that plan in place, it might have saved me hours of not knowing how to deal with things, but inevitably, I did get through despite a ridiculous amount of fussing.

 Tips for surviving induced labor:

1. Know the risks and talk to your doctor about the necessity of the procedure.
2. Know your body- inform staff politely yet firmly of any changes that occur for best results
3. Stay hydrated before you report to labor and delivery- Although my fluids were replaced via IV, I regretted not drinking more water before I went into the hospital.
4. Know your rights - A caesarian section is not always necessary. Again, informing staff of changes in your body and speaking up if you disagree with any decision is paramount.
5. When being questioned by medical staff about any medical history, know that you have the right to refuse to answer questions. Remember though, medical professionals cannot do right by you without all the facts.
6. Do not feel bad about accepting pain medication- The human body wasn’t built to withstand the pain of induced labor. There are both systemic and spinal options which an anesthesiologist will explore with you. 
7. Don’t demand an epidural too soon- The problem with epidurals is the fact that they slow labor and could wear off during the transition phase of labor if administered too soon.
   

Author: Nora Bunk

I was nervous when I found out I was pregnant.

First, I thought, what would happen to my family now that I would have a child of my own?

But then, when I go back to that time, I was all alone in the bathroom, washing my clothes, the pregnancy kit in my hand, the result boggling my head – I was frozen.

I was petrified because I did not believe it, but it is in my hands. I did not believe it because I did not fancy children. I did not believe it because I did not know how to take care of babies. I did not believe it because there was another human being inside of me, and I did not know what to eat, how to sleep, when to get a pre-natal, and all other things a pregnant woman should know.

I was just 21 then, just got promoted at work, was about to work on a career that will go up the ladder, sending my sister and brother to school, a writer who had time to write poems and a reader who had time to read her favorite books.

I was this young woman who was ready to fly, and when I knew of my pregnancy, I felt my wings got clipped. I would have to stay at home nursing a newborn human rather than be in the office on a Saturday night doing extra work, which I love. I would have to change diapers on a daily basis and not be out with my friends, drinking and partying. I thought I would be going on dates and trips and make a lot of memories with my boyfriend, just the two of us.

And yet, life has its own ways of giving you blessings.

I was a woman filled with dreams and hopes not only for myself, but also for my family. I thought that with the right time, at the right age, when I am financially and emotionally capable, God will give me this child. But He chooses to hand it over earlier than what was necessary, and I thought I was not going to be able to handle it.

Being a mother has its ups and downs, its joys and sorrows.

However, during the course of my pregnancy, I was amazed at the changes that were happening to me physically, and emotionally. They were not joking when they said that being pregnant was not a stroll in the park. I struggled for each and every day that I get tired walking for a long period of time and that I get hungry after a few hours, that it’s hard for me to sit because I was gaining weight like a dinosaur. My emotions were on a circus too – I am happy, then I am sad.

As a woman who awaited her entrance to motherhood, my boyfriend has become my partner, my best friend, my nurse, my councilor, my chef. I was happy that I was being taken care of; however, I was sad that our times together, just us two, will be over soon.

When I gave birth to my little angel, I swore it was not going to happen again.

It was excruciating pain like I have never felt before, and I know it is cliche but honestly, when you see the human being that stayed in your body for nine long months, you become the happiest person in the world.

I am now a grown woman, who at the age of 23 has matured more than I ever thought I would be. From a career woman to a mother, I see the changes that have happened to my life, and I like what I see.

Now that I have my own family, people would think that I would just as easily give up on my dreams because I have to focus on my child. I think they’re wrong. I know that for my child to have the happy life she deserves, I have to pursue my dreams so I can be able to provide for her and give her the happiness that she is worthy of.

This is for you Aravis, and this is for our future.



Author : Maria Jevska Nicolau is a 23-year old trainer on sales excellence who has a long love history with writing and won many journalism awards at college and region. She has a one year old daughter and a baby boy on the way. She likes Harry Potter and it is her ambition to write a book.


Watch out space for detailed blog on motherhood experience from a young mom that transformed her and her learning's.
Next blog from author I am my daughter's daughter