EBB 367 - Early AROM and High-Dose Pitocin with all Inductions? Breaking Down the Latest Induction Trends with Jennifer Anderson, RN, Doula, and EBB Instructor

Jennifer Anderson, RN, experienced doula, Evidence Based Birth® Instructor, and member of Team EBB, returns to the podcast to join Dr. Rebecca Dekker in unpacking a new trend in labor induction protocols—starting Pitocin at higher doses and incorporating early artificial rupture of membranes (AROM). Drawing from her work with high-risk clients and firsthand experience inside hospital systems, Jennifer highlights how policies aimed at "optimizing" labor often prioritize speed over patient-centered care. Together, they examine what's in these new induction bundles, the evidence behind faster-moving protocols like dual-method cervical ripening and 4x4 Pitocin, and the importance of informed decision-making at every stage. (04:10) A Client Story That Sparked Concern Over High-Dose Pitocin (07:27) What "2x2" vs. "4x4" Pitocin Protocols Mean (09:41) Hospital Protocols: What the Nurse Can (and Can't) Do (12:25) Inside the New Induction Policy: What's Changing and Why (18:40) Balloon Checks, Membrane Sweeps, and Patient Comfort (23:43) "Timely AROM" and the Push for Early Artificial Rupture of Membranes (30:54) Does Early AROM Shorten Labor Without Increasing Infection? (45:19) Alternatives to Shorten Labor Without Breaking the Water (52:04) Why a "Failed Induction" Policy Can Prevent Unnecessary Cesareans (55:43) How to Push Back on High-Dose Pitocin or Early AROM Resources Explore Jen's work: birthfusion.com | @birthfusion Take the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class: ebbirth.com/childbirth-class/ Watch the EBB Crash Course on YouTube here Get the EBB Labor Induction Pocket Guide here EBB Failure to Progress Resource Page: ebbirth.com/failuretoprogress EBB 155 – Pelvic Floor Health in Pregnancy and Postpartum with Dr. Juan Michelle Martin EBB 118 – How to Have a Healthy Postpartum Transition with Dr. Alyssa Berlin For more information about Evidence Based Birth® and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com . Follow us on Instagram and YouTube ! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program . Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.