Induction questions
Nicki2482
member
I'm scheduled to start an induction Monday night. Of course I'm hoping and praying that I go into labor naturally before-hand, but I'm also trying to mentally prepare myself for an induction as well. It's just my personality that I like to plan ahead and know what to expect!
My doctor told me I'd go to the hospital monday night and have cervidil. Then in the morning we'd start pitocin. What I'm wondering is... should my husband plan to stay overnight while I have the cervidil? I know cervidil can sometimes get labor started but sometimes not. I'd obviously prefer for my DH to have as much rest as possible, so I'm tempted to send him home, but I obviously want him there for when I'm in labor. We live about 15 minutes from the hospital, so it's not too far, but not super close either. I'm just wondering what has worked for other people?
Also, my doctor never mentioned anything about how/what I should eat the day of the induction. I'm thinking I should eat as normal (and probably right before I leave for the hospital) since it's likely to be a loooooong time before I get a meal again... would you agree?
Re: Induction questions
I'd call the hospital and talk to them. My OB gave me an instruction sheet. I'm not allowed to eat after midnight tonight, I have to call an hour ahead and make sure they're ready for me, bring my glasses just in case, leave bags in the car. Also, I'm not getting cervidil, so that may make a difference on food.
I was induced and they started out by giving me the tablets to help dilate. Not cervidil but mesoprostol-cytotec. I had the tablets inserted every 4 hours for 24 hours and the only progress I made was going from 50 percent effaced to 70 percent.
I also had the folley bulb and only went from 1 to 2 with that. The only thing that worked for me was pitocin, Its good your dr is planning on only doing the other methods for the night before... Where I was they had me do all those other things for 34 hours before starting me on pitocin. Torture!
Anyway, my husband still went to work the day I was due to go in, and when he got there 8 hours into it, I had only had a couple doses of it.. I was totally fine to be there without him during that time.
I ate tons of food during my induction. Up until pitocin started because I was too busy being in pain.
I had the cervidil the night before and the pitocin starting 9am the following morning. To answer your questions:
1) My husband did spend the night, but only because I asked him to. (Apparently, the chances of the cervidil putting you into labor are really slim. I just wanted the company, and he was able to sleep on a chair that converted to a flat bed.) That said, if he's only 15 minutes away, it should be fine for him to come back if need be.
2) The hospital told me to both eat a normal dinner and shower before checking in at 8pm, and I'm SO GLAD I did! I actually ended up with a c-section at 7:30 the following evening, so I wasn't even laboring for all that long, but you do get hungry.... (My hospital let me have Italian ices in the late afternoon - it was lovely but still not the same as the sandwich my husband had for lunch....)
3) I had the c-section because my water broke spontaneously but I never dilated and the baby never moved into the birth canal. Also, there was meconium in the amniotic fluid. (Just didn't want you to think this was an induction "horror story" - my OB told me she would never have come out on her own no matter what we did.)
4) And, finally, I had an epi so the process got REALLY boring after a while. I can't stress this enough - bring books or your computer or iPad or whatever. Even if you don't have any interest in them, it's nice to know they're there if you get bored.
Good luck!!
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I was induced at 38 weeks...starting with the cervidil the night before. I ate before I went to the hospital, but I think you can eat 2 hours after they insert it...then that is your last meal until the baby comes (assuming the pitocin works). My first round of pitocin didn't work, so we did the same thing the next day...cervadil inserted the next night, followed by pitocin in the morning. The second round worked and my water broke on its own...and baby came that evening! DH stayed with me for both nights of induction, and also the first night the baby was born. He wasn't getting any sleep and so he slept at home the last night we were in the hospital. I almost wished he missed the first night when I only had the cervadil, as there is really nothing going on. Plus, the nurse gave me an ambien to sleep. On the other hand, it is really nice to have the company.
Good luck to you!
I must just be a selfish wife because I couldn't imagine not having my husband stay overnight with me. I think you are sweet to even consider it... but my opinion would be have him stay! I wouldn't want him to miss any of the "experience." And I don't even mean that in a "if I have to be here, you have to be here" way - I just mean it in a, "this is part of my birth story and I don't want you to go anywhere because I'm freaking out" kind of way haha. Good luck!
Eat a normal meal. You will need to keep your strength up.
I have been induced twice now, and both times DH stayed with me overnight. In the middle of the night my contractions started to get intense, and I needed him there. So it's a good idea for your DH to plan on staying the long haul with you. Good luck with your induction.