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Ask A Midwife

Q. My first child was born by c-section after 36 hours and 3 tries with pitocin to start labor. I was already 10 days overdue. I was only 2 cm dilated when we started, and I wasn't completely effaced. I ended up delivering a 9lb 10 1/2 oz. Girl! I wonder if with my next pregnancy, my body would not respond to pitocin again, or is each labor completely unique?

A. Each labor is definitely unique, although many women do follow patterns. I lot depends on how much your births were interfered with and altered from the natural course. Your first birth was definitely altered by the induction, so we really don't know how things would have gone for you if everyone involved had just left your body and baby to do its work. There is a high rate of c- sections with inductions. Your body didn't respond well to pitocin because it was not ready. The best way to avoid another c-section is to become very well-informed and active in your care. A wonderful book to start with is "Silent Knife" by Nancy Wainer Cohen, then you might try Immaculate Deception by Suzanne Arms. If you and your baby are healthy, and induction is recommended, you have the option to "JUST SAY NO!" You also have the option to switch caregivers at any point in your care. Remember that they work FOR YOU! You can hire and fire as you see fit, but you should go into decision- making fully-armed with ACCURATE information.

Good luck!

Vickii Gervais is a Certified Professional Midwife who has attended over 600 births.