FTM - Induction scheduled.

Alli0322

I was wondering if anyone could share their induction stories with me to kind of help me maybe have an idea of what to expect, especially if it's similar to mine. I have my induction scheduled for Wednesday night - I'll go in to start cervidil. I'm nervous because I haven't made ANY cervical progress at all, I've been at 1cm for 3 weeks, still very high and only about 30% effaced. Was due 4/2 (originally 3/24 but it changed). I'm just hoping the cervidil does its job so we can start the next step (pitocin) and hopefully avoid a c-section. 

This was not my ideal plan, but I'm glad there's an end in sight. Just a nervous FTM looking for a little support from others!

cookieinva

I was induced in my last pregnancy and had a very positive experience, even though I was 0 cm, 0% effaced when I went in about a week past my due date.

I went in the night before for whichever cerival ripening stuff. Didn't sleep too great that night. No real signs of progress in the morning, around 7am or so. I don't remeber the exact timeline but we did pitocin and at some point they broke my water too. Things got going slowly but they did get going. I opted for an epidural later in the morning. Started pushing around 2:45 pm and about 45 minutes later my son was born. All in all a good experience.

Eat a good dinner before you go in and try to get some good sleep before checking in too. I "let" my DH go home for the night figuring he was close enough to get in if somethng happened quickly, and that way at least one of us woukd be well-rested. Good luck! I am sure you will hear from others who had bad experiences but just know not all inductions are bad.

tjkdlhb

I had a very positive induction experience.  It was because of high blood pressure.  Took 3 days of gel before they could break my water.  They broke my water in the AM, started the drip around lunchtime.  I had a shot of NuBain for the pain mid afternoon.  They checked me at a little after 6 pm, and I was 5 cm.  As soon as the dr left, I felt like I had to push, so I told the nurse.  They called the dr back, rushed to set everything up, and I pushed 3 times and had her at 6:33 pm.

ililheatheri

I went in around 7 pm and they inserted the balloon into my cervix around 11 so I went from a fingertip to 3cm using the balloon. Once that came out, they started pitocin and broke my water. I had the baby the following night around 11:30. A 24 hour process... it probably would've gone faster but i was avoiding an epidural... 17 hours into it i was only 4cm and they said that my body wasn't really responding to the pain very well and that an epidural could speed up the process, and it did!!!! 4cm to 10cm in 4 hours. Pushed for 20 minutes. :-)

genromeo

My due date was 3/23 (2012). Dr. thought my fluid was low, so they induced me on 3/30. I had no effacement and no dilation. They hooked me up to an IV and fetal monitors. That Friday night around 7 PM they gave me cervidil and hooked me up to pitocin. No progression. Around 10 PM they took me off the pitocin and gave me an ambien so that I could get as much sleep as possible. The next morning they restarted me on the pitocin and gave me another cervidil. Later that afternoon they checked me out again. No progression. I was crampy and uncomfortable all day, but no contractions. That night they took me off the pitocin again so that I could sleep. Next morning: back to the pitocin. Pain got worse, but still no progression.  Some time around noon they used a Foley balloon (they inflate it inside of your cervix to stimulate dilation.) OUCH OUCH OUCH. It's supposed to fall out on its own after you're dilated. Amped up the pitocin. Hours passed. No progression but the cramping was getting unbearable. Sunday night the pain was so bad I thought I was going to pass out. They told me they were going to manually break my water and showed me something that looked like a  coat hanger. I said: "I need like 8 epidurals before you even think of putting that up there."  I got an epidural. It was bliss. They broke my water. Epidural started to wear off.  I got another one. No progression. Epidural started to wear off. They were going to give me the "crack cocaine dose" (their words) but then they checked me out and I was fully dilated.  I was so surprised. I actually stopped believing that a baby was going to come out of me by that point. 

25 mins of only semi-painful pushing later, DD arrived. I was exhausted but otherwise completely fine.  DD was perfectly healthy. Nursed her, snuggled her, all was well.

Induction began at 7 PM on Friday and DD didn't show up until 12:30 AM on Mon. Glad I had lots of books and stuff to watch. And that my husband is awesome. 

Best of luck!!!!!!!!!!!

Alli0322

I was going to let me hubby go home that night too! Glad to hear its not just me haha

Alli0322

Thanks so far everyone! It makes me feel a little more comfortable knowing different scenarios that can take place

ililheatheri

I just saw the husband part! Lol my husband didn't want to leave but there was a little couch bench in the delivery room and he was definitely passed out for the first part of the ordeal. No point in staying awake for it!

genromeo

Also: I second the suggestion to eat something substantial (but not heavy or greasy) before you go. By the time they let me eat real food, I hadn't had anything but clear liquids for 60+ hours. I was hungry, weak, and really sick of ginger ale.  You might want also to bring some of your own preferred clear liquids from home. I was really jonesing for a gatorade at one point but my husband couldn't find any in the hospital cafeteria. 

Alli0322

That's a good idea. You never know when they're going to cut you off food wise in case of a c section.

cookieinva

I don't think I was allowed to have real food from check-in until after delivery. Also make sure you don't miss your last chance to go to the bathroom (just ask about it). I did and was actually dying for a catheter; who ever says that!?

jess9802

I was induced with DS. I was about 1-2cm dilated and 75% (IIRC) effaced. Went in at 10PM the night before and got two doses of Cytotec inserted over the course of the night. Started pitocin sometime around 7 in the morning. I was dilating very slowly but finally got to 4cm around 12. While waiting for the anesthesiologist, my OB broke my water and labor sped up considerably. It took a long time to get the epidural working, but it finally did. The next time I was checked was at 2:45 and I was 8cm. I started pushing around 4:30 and delivered DS at 5:21PM. Only regret was not getting the epidural immediately.

actinup23

I went in at around 5:30 am. They broke by water and started pitocin around 8:00 am. I had DD at 2:01 am the following morning after an hour and a half of pushing. I had some hemorrhaging the next morning and had to have further medical intervention. I'm really hoping to avoid an induction if possible this time.  

Frannavaldez9399

Any word on a new baby?