73. How To Avoid the Temptation of Induction with Personalized Midwifery Care

Have you ever wondered how trusting the birth process with personalized midwifery care can help you avoid unnecessary interventions?

In this episode, we will cover:

• The importance of natural childbirth preparation to reduce the pressure of induction...
• Why personalized midwifery care provides the holistic birth support you need to feel confident in your birth journey...
• How a supportive birth provider can help you stay patient and empowered throughout your pregnancy...
• … and a whole lot more!

If you’re ready to embrace empowered birth choices and avoid the temptation of induction, then this episode is for you!

➡️ FREE GUIDE -- 5 Best Pain Coping Tips for Every Stage of Labor

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👋 WHO AM I?

Welcome, friends! I am Beth, a certified nurse midwife, doula, and childbirth educator. My philosophy is rooted in autonomy, informed decision making, and positive mindset to help expecting parents plan for a beautiful, stress-free birth. I am here to provide value to YOU through tips and practical advice, either to guide you through pregnancy or to help you prepare for childbirth, postpartum and beyond. There’s no fluff here - only info that adds to your positive experience and saves you stress and uncertainty.

Transcript

Welcome back to episode 73 of Your Birth Bestie podcast, where we empower moms to make confident decisions about their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey. I am your host Beth Connors a certified nurse midwife and childbirth educator and today I am finally back after some time off, and we're diving into another topic that comes up for so many expecting moms. That is... how do you avoid the temptation of induction and trust your body to go into labor naturally?

If you've been following my own personal birth stories, my labor was induced by my provider breaking my bag of water for my first two deliveries, but this last pregnancy went to 41 weeks. And I had a feeling I would go past my due date, with my first two being 39+6 and 40+2, but the mental game that is the end of pregnancy is wild. So naturally, there is a HUGE temptation to induce because there's an aspect of planning that can be great and also just being done... so I've totally been there, I've helped so many moms through this exact scenario, so I also wanted to share my thoughts here too about encouraging you to stay pregnant if you are healthy and willing and waiting for labor to naturally happen.

In this episode, we'll explore why so many women feel pressured to induce, how to overcome those pressures, and them some strategies that midwifery care can provide to support you. So, let’s get started!

Before we get right into solutions, let’s talk about some common struggles that might be on your mind.

The first one is feeling pressured to induce.

Maybe your healthcare provider or even well-meaning family members or friends are suggesting induction "just to be safe" of if they had inductions, it just seemed weird maybe not too. It’s easy to feel backed into a corner. And the thought here is, that baby is healthy and well right at this exact moment, so why not just induce to ensure everything goes well, because it is right now... but this disregards the whole process of induction and what comes with induction. And that's another thing. 

There's also anxiety about timing. We spend all pregnancy looking forward to the due date and everything in pregnancy is based on your due date... so that as that magical date approaches or even passes, it’s normal to worry or wonder, what if labor doesn’t start on its own? It is such a concern that labor won't start naturally, but there isn't anything to back this up, other than us being impatient, right?! Labor isn't starting because your body and baby aren't ready at that moment and with the high number of inductions, we're not even giving our bodies a chance to let them go into labor, so we don't even know when it would happen.You won't be pregnant forever, it's just a matter of waiting.... And most women don't even know the average time a mom goes into labor is about 40+5 or for second time moms 40+3. And that's average, so give or take a few days is still totally reasonable.

You also might have heard that induction is easier, more predictable, or even necessary once you hit your due date. But that is absolutely not true! As someone who has supported birth for many years, it can be very challenging to be admitted to the hospital for a day or more of cervical ripening, or if you're lucky a half day... then while you're exhausted from just being in the hospital and pregnant and excited and anxious, then in that disadvantage labor is artificially started. And because your body wasn't ready, it can take some time for the induction process to progress, which then is more exhausting and causes more intervention to continue things along which then leads to a cascade of interventions and emotions... not that induction is bad, it's just definitely a process that can be very challenging. Labor is challenging in general, but to force our body into it I feel like is a really big decision and one that you should have all the information for before making. Sometimes it's necessary medically or very much wanted by mom, and that is your right. But I saw so many families come in for inductions in the hospital, and feel it's so important to share the information I have to help you in your experience.

So those are a few things you may have heard of that can make the idea of induction tempting—but I wanted to spend most of the time talking about why it’s worth pausing to explore your options.

The first thing is helping you understand your body's natural timing. 

Your body and baby work together in ways that don’t always match the textbook 40-week standard. Everyone is so unique, and even every pregnancy can be different with the same mom. I’ve had moms who naturally went into labor well after 41 weeks and had smooth, beautiful births and those who went into labor at 37 or 38 weeks and weren't expecting to go early. Waiting doesn’t mean something’s wrong—it means your baby’s just not quite ready yet and finding that peace and patience can really help.

When we misunderstand due dates and the timeline of it all, it can lead to unnecessary stress or interventions. Instead, my advice would be to focus on the fact that every pregnancy is unique. Your body knows what to do, and we’re here to support it.

I wanted to also talk about some of the myths around induction.

Myth #1: If you're predicted to have a big baby, this means an induction is necessary.

In reality, these predictions are often inaccurate when we are guessing by ultrasound or by palpating and measuring your belly from the outside. I’ve worked with many many moms that have been told they’d have a big baby, only to deliver an average-sized newborn. I also personally have been on the opposite side of the spectrum of not knowing I was carrying a large baby when she was measuring on the bigger side, but everything else was normal, and came out almost 11 pounds! So, if your provider is scheduling an induction for a "big baby" this is most often not a thing. And I do have a previous episode about big babies and why we don't have to be afraid of that, because out bodies are amazing. So go back and look for that one if you're interested.

Myth #2: There's also the idea that the placenta “ages out.”

While the placenta does change over time, it’s not automatically dangerous past 40 weeks. Evidence-based care helps us monitor any risks and guide decisions appropriately. This is why individualizing care is so important and looking at the whole situation as you are going through your pregnancy. Probably is one of my favorite parts about being a midwife is that the model of care doesn't focus on pregnancy and birth to be pathological, it's about clinically thinking about the mom and baby as a couple and customizing care and recommendations as appropriate, with the family at the center of that decision making of course. 

So when you’re given these reasons about induction, it’s okay to ask for evidence or even a second opinion and find a situation in which you feel comfortable asking questions and confident in the decision you make. This helps you make decisions based on facts, not fear.

Let's talk next about support. Surrounding yourself with a team that respects your goals values can make all the difference.

When you partner with a midwife, you gain a care provider who advocates for your preferences and educates you on your options. This wouldn't be any different in the case of induction. It would be something addressed as necessary if something medically presented, but it wouldn't be forced if you were planning a physiologic birth. If the goal is to keep labor and birth as hands-off and natural as possible, induction would be avoided and not at all considered for elective reasons or for convenience. You would be supported in your decision and encouraged to follow your birth plans as best as possible. Remembering that you’re not alone in this journey—you have a team cheering you on and ensuring you feel empowered to make informed choices. If your initial decision changes too, that's something that should be respected and supported as well.

And I know if you're wanting a natural labor but have been pregnant before and are having flashbacks to those final days and weeks, or if you're there right now hoping to not be pregnant much longer, it is completely understandable that you're feeling impatient as your due date approaches. 

There are natural ways as well to encourage labor progression that could potentially be worth a try. Because at some point, if there's a chance it could help, many moms will opt for that encouraging of labor along to feel some sense of control, but do so with caution! You don't want to stress yourself out trying to get the baby out by doing all the things, that you overthinking it causes a stress response that actually is what is delaying labor. So just a tip that if you are trying natural induction methods, be sure to check in with yourself and give yourself enough time to rest and relax too.

But for some ideas if you're not sure where to start, prenatal chiropractic care is a top recommendation, specifically finding someone Webster Certified is helpful. They are specifically trained in pregnancy. Acupuncture has great benefits, gentle movement like walking, specifically curb walking or sideways walking on the steps for asymmetry in your pelvis to encourage baby to engage, or gentle prenatal yoga is good for movement too, herbal remedies like drinking red raspberry leaf tea, eating dates, intimacy with your partner increases oxytocin or that natural contraction hormone. You can also look into Spinning Babies exercises for natural induction techniques and nipple stimulation if you're looking for even more things to try! 

These techniques can help your body prepare for labor without unnecessary, invasive interventions. Just make sure to discuss these options with your care provider to ensure they’re safe for your pregnancy.

Finally, education and mindset are key. Probably the most important piece of all of this conversation. When you understand the risks and benefits of induction, you can approach your decisions with confidence. It is often the case that families are not educated on induction whatsoever because they schedule one and even before they show up to the hospital to be admitted. The number of times I helped settle a patient into a room on labor and delivery as a nurse that was there for their induction, but either didn't know why they were being induced or what it would entail... made me so sad and just really really frustrated. Families should know what to expect during the process and have time to think about what their preferences might be, because there is no one way to induce labor. There are choices and decisions that have to be made throughout the process and if you don't know anything about it, that is a huge problem! It's not a completely safe procedure... there are things women must know and I am very passionate with teaching about this too, because knowledge is power. You can have a beautiful, autonomous, unmedicated hospital induction if you want, I'm all for informed choice... but it's very unlikely if you're not informed and confident beforehand.

And also you may think you definitely want an induction for whatever personal reason you have, but like one of my clients, she learned more about the options to induce, how long it can take, and the potential cascade of interventions that can follow induction and she decided she wanted to avoid it if possible. We're allowed to change our minds. We're also allowed to ask questions and to ask for more time to make a decision... but we need the information to feel informed to do so. 

And as far as mindset, tools like affirmations, journaling, or mindfulness practices can also help you stay grounded and not spiral into worry or fear that often does lead to moms agreeing to unwanted inductions. Instead of focusing on the calendar, focus on your body’s strength and capability.

So let's summarize what we've talked about into five steps that you can take today to prepare for a confident, induction-free birth:

Ask questions: If induction is suggested, ask for evidence and weigh the risks and benefits that are specific to YOU, not just to general standard hospital guidelines and policies. Truly to your situation. 

Find a supportive provider: Choose a midwife or care team that aligns with your values and that you know will support you those last days and weeks the way you are envisioning. As a home birth midwife, having longer appointments to connect with and educate families about their care and options is important, and also provides space to dive into any worries or fears around their birth that could also be contributing to their body not going into labor yet. The mind is so powerful and that is a huge piece of supportive midwifery care too!

Practice patience: Use mindset techniques like affirmations to stay calm and grounded. Ask for help if you feel like you are spiraling or worried about going past your due date. You truly won't be pregnant forever, but I know it definitely does feel like that some days.

Use natural techniques: Try the methods I mentioned to help your body prepare for labor. But remember don't overdo it and stress yourself out!

Educate yourself: Learn about the natural variations of labor timing and how induction may impact your birth. The more you feel good about how things are going and that it is normal and common and even expected, the less worry and fear there will be that tempts you to scheduling an unwanted induction!

Thank you so much for joining me today on Your Birth Bestie! If you're interested in learning more about natural pain coping methods for labor, I have a free guide you can download that is linked in the show notes below! It breaks down suggestions for each stage of labor that I think you'll find really helpful!

Also, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review if you found this information helpful. Thank you for tuning in and I will see you next Tuesday!