Those who have been induced

How was it? I just got back from the dr. is measuring 9 1/2 lbs and she wanted to induce today. I'm a little hesitant, so we scheduled an induction for Friday morning. I hope he comes before then, but tell me what to expect! I want to be super prepared for this!!!!

ETA -- I'm 2cm dilated -- have been for 4 weeks now. I have no clue how effaced -- they never said! I was due on 1/28.

Message edited 1/29/2013 5:51:07 PM.

Re: Those who have been induced

with me, my water broke but i wasn't dilated at all. They gave me cervadril (sorry about spelling) to help me dilate, shortly after my contractions started, so I did not end up needing pitocin. they would not give me an epi until 4 cm.. then after that it was pretty much smooth sailing until i was fully dilated and pushed him out..... hoping you have an easy labor, good luck!!

ETA: after my water broke and I went to the hospital, DS was born about 12 hours later

Message edited 1/29/2013 3:13:56 PM.

Re: Those who have been induced

Are you dialated at all? Effaced at all?

I was 38 weeks, 4 days, and my doc checked and said I wasn't dialated or effaced at all. Still thick (thicker than I should've been). She told me they'd induce at 41 weeks if nothing before.

Well, I was determined not to be induced (and to have no epi, no c-sec, nothing unnatural). So I walked my ass off to get that baby to come out 2 days later. Walked, walked, walked, and came home to nap. When I woke up, my water broke (I thought it was mucus plug, but was water breaking). SO, they had to induce anyway b/c of risk of infection.

Since I wasn't dialated or effacted yet, it was long long long. Like 45 hrs from water breaking to baby coming out. They started an IV and a few hrs later, started inducing w/ cervadil (which is like a tampon that stays in for 12 hours and helps you efface. They can do up to 3 doses for, yes, 36 hrs). I needed 2, the 2nd they took out quickly bc DD's heartrate dropped to 40 and they didn't know why. (turned out she was laying on her umbilical cord which was a prob bc no liquid left in my uterus to protect her). After 10 hrs of excruciating pain, I opted for the epi (omg, what a blessing), and then they started pitocin. About 6 or 7 hrs later, I started pushing, spiked a 103.5 fever, and a lil over 2 hrs later, DD was born, beautiful and tiny (in a healthy way).

My story was long and drawn out (although I left out some of the minute details), but I know people who didn't need the cervadil and did it all, pitocin and all, in under 6 hours. It all depends on your body.

All that pain and time and I'll tell you this... I'll do it again and again. :) And although i plan to attempt it w/o epi again, I know that the epi worked like a little shot of heaven!

Good luck! You'll do great!

Re: Those who have been induced

First the 9.5lbs is just an estimate they told me my first ds was going to be big and he was only 7 10.

I was induced with my 2nd. I had 2 rounds of cervadil (you can't get up or eat at all with the cervadil). They can give you up to 3 rounds of cervadil. After my 2nd cervadil I had progressed to 4 cm and then they started pitocin. After the pitocin I received my epi ( I said why wait :)) That was at 9 in the morning and by 2:30 ish I was ready to go and 10 min later ds #2 entered the world. It wasn't bad for me. I was a bit apprehensive but I had gallbladder issues and no choice.

Re: Those who have been induced

I was 39w 3 days and was 3 cm 70%effaced...when I went for my weekly check up my blood pressure was high so she wanted to induce. That night I went to the hospital and they started cervedil. I contracted all night and was 4-5cm by morning. They started pitocin at 6am and by 10am I was 5cm and 100% effaced. I didn't start feeling contractions (even though I was contracting regularly) until after they broke my water at 11:30...at 2:12 DD was born. The whole process went quick and seamlessly for me. I was nervous because people kept saying being induced makes labor worse. I don't have anything to compare it to since this is #1 but I had a great experience even without pain meds.

Re: Those who have been induced

I was induced a week late with DS he was also measuring at 9 lbs. My induction went fine, I had him vaginally with an epi, and he came out as 7 lbs 15 ounces.

Re: Those who have been induced

Do you really want to know?

I will preface my experience with this - I am very much for vaginal deliveries and against unnecessary c sections, so I believe that if waiting a few more days is going to cause you to have a c section I would say run to the hospital now and be induced!

I was induced due to low fluids at a little over 39w, and I was nowhere near ready to go on my own. It took 2 rounds of cervadil and 1 round of cytotec before getting pitcoin, but once I got that things moved quickly. Got pain meds and the epi as soon as I wanted them - they didn't make me wait. I pushed for about an hour and a half. The whole thing took 48 hours, but nothing happened for the first 24. I was very lucky to have doctors that just pushed me to keep going since the baby and I were not in distress and they didn't push a c section since it was taking so long.

Re: Those who have been induced

Re: Those who have been induced

I was induced with cervadil.

It didn't really work. I was 1/2cm when I went in and 1cm the next morning.

I labored all day with little progress (even with pitocin).

In the end I had to have a c-section.

Hopefully you will have better luck!

ETA: I was able to VBAC my 2nd. I went into labor on my own and although progress was S-L-O-W- I made it!

I was induced with my 1st because my dr. was concerned with how narrow I am down there (you'd never know if from the size of my hips ) and the baby was measuring ob the bigger side. She ended up being 7lbs.

My SIL was brought in for a c-section because the baby was "big." She wound up being 6lbs 8oz.

I don't trust those measurements!

Message edited 1/29/2013 3:35:19 PM.

Those who have been induced

Thank you all for the responses!!! I know the measurements can be way off -- the doctor doesn't seem concerned about my ability to push out a 10lb baby because I have good hips for it (thank you mom). I have been walking a crazy amount every day and after the doctor today, went out walking more. DH is probably going to pass out if he doesn't come until Friday because every time we walk, we walk the mall or outlets and wind up buying stuff, lol. I am happy to hear that it's not as terrible as I thought. I am already 2cm dilated, so they told me I was going in to be induced with pitocin. I just hope he decides to come on his own before Friday!

Re: Those who have been induced

I was induced with pitocin only. It wasn't all that bad, but I highly recommend the epi! I went from feeling no pain whatsoever to suddenly feeling extremely intense pain, but the epi offered instant relief. I was able to rest until it was time to push, and pushing, though hard work, really wasn't painful at all. In the end, it's all worth it when you hold your LO! Good luck!

Re: Those who have been induced

I was induced with my first son. It went well. I was induced at 7PM at night, my water broke at 8AM, he was born at 6PM.

Re: Those who have been induced

I was induced with my first and it was a miserable experience. My recovery was horrible. Bottom line, my body wasn't ready for it even though I was 2-3cm dilated and 70-80% effaced, for weeks prior.

I was adamant not to repeat that for my 2nd but ended up agreeing to induction at 41.5 weeks. I went into labor right before the induction though. since I was there in the early part of my labor, they gave me a little bit of pitocin. I tell you, there is a difference between a pitocin contraction and a regular contraction! pitocin ones make my body work harder for seemingly little progress. I had them shut it off and it was more like a picnic after from then on out. The birth and recovery were fantastic. My body was ready for it. I should mention that I can't get an epi due to platelet issues so I really do tell the difference between the types of contractions.

Search me on the birth story board for my experiences.

Re: Those who have been induced

I was induced at 40w4d due to low fluid. I was already 2cm dilated so was given pitocin. They started the drip at 10:30pm, and at 2:00am the pain was so bad that I got the epi. After that I napped for a few hours, and by 8:30am I was 10cm and fully effaced so ready to push. Unfortunately, LO's heart rate kept dropping so after 10min of pushing, I had to have a c-section.

Good luck with everything!

Re: Those who have been induced

I was induced at 40w5d because of low fluid levels. Plus the fact that they told me he was going to be over 9lbs. My Dr. used a balloon catheter instead of cervical to help me dilate. They inserted it at night, I slept through the night, and by the morning I was 4cm. My Dr. broke my water and I asked for the epidural. I was fully dilated by 2:00pm. All in all, it was very smooth and very controlled. I was late with my second DS and scheduled for anther induction, but I went in to labor the day before. I would have rather been induced.

Re: Those who have been induced

I was induced at about 41 weeks. I went in the night before, they put cervedil in around 9pm. And by 4am I was in labor. At six am the dr came in and took the cervedil out (early). I think it was like 10-1030 am when I was fully dialated, they had me wait until about 1115 to push, and then 45 mins later DD was born. It was about 8 hours all said and done! I would do it again if I had too! She is my first child too.

Re: Those who have been induced

I was induced at 40w4d. I hadn't progressed and my fluids were low. I was given cervadil overnight. I was awake all night with contractions! The next day I started on pitocin, had more water broken by the doc and as the contractions quickly got unbearable I got the epidural. Everything went smoothly for us thankfully. If you are planning on an epidural ask for it before the contractions are completely unbearable because the anesthesiologist may have a few mommies in front of you. The best feeling in the world was when I got to hold DD as soon as she was born and they started to clean her while I held her. It was amazing!!! Good luck!

Re: Those who have been induced

I was induced with cervadil. I was only 1cm dilated when I went in.
I had a very horrible experience. This was by far my worst labor experience ever.
They inserted the cervadil at 9:30pm and told me I won't feel any contractions for a few hours and that I should get some rest. THEY LIED.. I stareted immediately feeling contractions. I handled them for about 4 hours but then they got really intense and was getting no breaks in between contractions. I asked to get checked and was only 2cm dilated. I couldn't get an epidural until I was at 4cm. They kept checking the machines and saw how much pain I was in and the fact that they were coming one after the other was exhausting. I finally got the epidural at 6:50am which didn't work because my baby came out at 7:18. Apparently I went from 4 to 10 within minutes. I told them I had the urge to push but they didn't believe me. Sure enough my baby was coming out. I felt everything, from the doctor breaking my water to the doctor giving me stitches. Couldn't even enjoy my baby because I felt everything the doctor was doing down there. It was a hard delivery but I think what made it worst was that I had to stay in bed to monitor my baby's heart rate.
I cried, I told my husband to leave the room, got mad at every nurse because I felt like they were asking the same questions over and over. No one was understanding the pain I was going through and the fact that they took forever to get an epi and for it not to work.

I don't want to scare you but in my experience getting induce is far more painful then going on your own. I never went through so much pain with my prior 3 pregnancies.
Everyone is different so I wish you the very best and hopefully your baby will decide to come out on its own.

Those who have been induced

I was induced with DS 1 at 40w4d with pitocin only. They started the pitocin around 8 or 9 am and I delivered him vaginally with an epi at 9:10pm after 20 minutes of pushing (although the epi didn't totally work and I felt pain from 7-9:10).

For DS 2, I went into labor naturally and it stalled and his heartrate was quick so they gave me pitocin as well around 5:45pm. He was born at 7:29pm (he waited until the nurse I couldn't stands shift was over lol!)