3rd Trimester
sstrom22
member
Options
Cervadil vs. Pitocin
sstrom22
member
Those of you who have been induced (and had it work)... was Cervadil more of a gradual build to the contractions than Pitocin was? I know Pitocin can seem more painful just because you don't gradually build to those contractions.... So I'm thinking about asking my Dr. if I have to be induced if I can try Cervadil first and see if that is a more "gradual" induction route.... as gradual as that can be anyway!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Cervadil vs. Pitocin
Cervadil and Pitocin are different things. Cervadil is to ripen/soften your cervix. It won't cause you to go into labor. If you are dilated far enough, Cervadil is unnecessary. Pitocin forces the contractions, which is semi pointless if you aren't dilating at all. You have a better chance of the induction working if your cervix is favorable before they start the Pitocin.
I had both for my induction. They put the Cervadil in at 10pm and at 10am they took it out and started the Pitocin. They almost skipped the Cervadil on me because I was almost 3cm dilated. I think she gave it to me to be nice and see if I went into active labor on my own over night. (When I went in to be induced, we learned that I had started early labor already.)
They gave me cervadil around 7:30 am. Within 2 hours, my contractions had picked up to every 2 minutes. My water broke by itself around noon and DD was in my arms before 3 pm. My cramping and more painful contractions didn't start until after mmy water broke. I was a full week past my due date and barely dilated at all before the induction.
If given the option, I definitely try it again if I wasn't effaced or dilated enough yet!
Married 1/2/99.
TTC since 4/09.
Diagnosed PCOS. Diagnosed Hypothryoid 11/09.
SHG & SA normal. PCOS Research study started 5/10.
Clomid/Femara cycle #1 - 6/10 = BFN
Clomid/Femara cycle #2 - 7/10 = BFP #1 - Missed miscarriage 9/2/10
11/12 - BFP #2 - 11/22 - m/c
5/1/11 - BFP #3 - Pre-eclampsia, IUGR & bed rest from 32w. DD born via induction 1/4/12.
In general, if you have Cervidil, you get Pitocin afterwards. For some women, Cervidil alone is enough to put them into active labor, but they are the exception, not the rule. And active labor is active labor, whether it's Cervidil-induced or Pitocin-induced or spontaneous, so from a pain perspective, I don't think it'll matter. I'd suggest waiting as long as possible to induce, period, regardless of the method.
DD was induced with Cervidil for ~8 hours. I dilated from 1cm to 4cm on it, which was a surprise, as it's not really supposed to dilate your cervix, just thin it out (make it more effaced). After it was removed, my OB waited a few hours, to see if I'd start contracting on my own. I didn't, so I got Pitocin. FWIW, I didn't get an epidural. And I've now had a completely spontaneous labor, and didn't find spontaneous contractions to be any different from the Pitocin-induced ones.
Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)
This is perfect info for me as well as I am being admitted into the hospital TOMORROW MORNING if there are beds available. They will check me first but will likely be doing the Cervadil to start and then alternating with pitocin. I am 41 and tomorrow is my due date. They do not want me to go past 40 weeks.
I have been told that it could take DAYS for me to start truly laboring. Interesting to hear what many of you have said. Curious to see what happens.
Need to admit it here while I can... I'm FREAKING out and didn't get SO much done as I had planned. Need to call the hospital in 5 1/2 hours. Time to try to SLEEP...