The Induction Mind Game, with Candice Hodges

We continue with our “Birth Stories” for the summer series! Today’s story comes from Candice Hodges, who for weeks had to navigate scare tactics, conflicting advice from care providers, and modified bedrest, not to mention the logistics of a long induction, in order to embrace the chaos and have a birth that resembled what she intended. Check it out!

What we talked about:

• Her background in Olympic weightlifting, and focusing on having a very healthy pregnancy
• Concerns about her baby being “really small” and having Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)
• The stress of conflicting messages from providers
• “It’s completely unacceptable that you scared the shit out of her during the prenatals”
• The power of the words: “this is your choice”
• Having a long induction
• Embracing the chaos to get through it
• Wanting to be done and pushing with all her might!
• The joy of finally meeting baby!

Mentioned resources and other useful links*:

• Waiting for birth or inducing found equally effective for women with intrauterine growth restriction, from Science Daily
• Intrauterine Growth Restriction- What Do We Really Know?, from Beyond Birth Support Doula Services (with reference to much evidence and studies)
• The Transcervical Foley Balloon
• EvidenceBasedBirth.com
• The Happiest Baby on the Block, by Dr. Harvey Karp
• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin
• Origins: How the Nine Months Before Birth Shape the Rest of Our Lives, by Annie Murphy Paul
• Exercising Through Your Pregnancy, by James F. Clapp III
• Hypnobirthing

Related Birthful episodes:

• Protecting Your Perineum, with Rachel Reed
• Inductions, with Dr. Gene Declercq
• Effects of Stress During Pregnancy, with Parijat Deshpande

 
All photos are used with permission, courtesy of Candice Hodges

Before…

…and after!

The small placenta (usually a placenta takes up the whole width of the container)

Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, from the Free Music Archive / CC BY (edited for length).

Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, from the Free Music Archive / CC BY (edited for length).