Questions about induction at 34 weeks. HELP!

skcaulder

I have severe preeclampsia and have been on strict bedrest in the hospital for over a week. My doctor wants me to make it to 34 weeks which is this coming Tuesday, Nov 17. I know I am already 2 cm dilated at least (I was told a week ago that's how far I was but I've had contractions since then so it could be more). He said they would give me magnesium to prevent seizures because of the preeclampsia, then break my water and start pitocin. I'm hoping to have a natural labor but I'm open to an epidural to manage my pain in an effort to regulate my blood pressure. I was just wondering what should I expect? Mamas who had preeclampsia, what were your labors like? What is having your water broken like? How did your induction labor progress? Any experiences are welcomed, even if they aren't pleasant. I just want to be mentally prepared. I'm so ready to have our baby boy and be healthy again.

herewegrow

I had it with my first but was induced at 39+1. I started around 7am, my OB broke my water around 10am with what appeared to be a crochet hook. (Joking) That was quick and easy, didn't feel anything but the gush. It was really awkward to sit there with my parents and in laws casually hanging out while feeling like I kept wetting the bed.

I got an epidural around 1pm and did really well with it; I'm used to needles, knew I wanted the relief, and am good at breathing through things. It helped that I didn't see the needle, which my husband was appalled by. He watched me get it and was pretty impressed.

I started pushing actively around 530-6 and continued through a shift change and had my girl at 956pm. I was about two sets of pushes from getting sent for a section because I was so exhausted, had an episiotomy, and one go round with the vacuum already. I honestly can't even remember how I managed to get her out, I blacked out towards the end.

Every labor is different but it's so worth it. Just focus on the end result and you'll be fine! Best of luck!!

kayleen2015

I was induced with last one at 37 weeks 2 days because of pre eclampsia. I was given cytotex (medication inserted in vagina to ripen cervix) at 10 pm. I was then started in pitocin at 4am. They broke my water at 9am when I was 3cm dilated. I was contacting very regularly but they weren't painful, until they broke my water. I immediately got my epidural and slept most of the late morning. At 4pm I was 8cm dilated. My OB said he would be back in an hour. However within 15 mins I was fully dilated and felt like I needed to push. They told me not to push until dr came. 3 sets of pushing. And my baby boy was delivered.

With this pregnancy I am being induced again. I will be 37 weeks and 1 day when I start my night of cytotex and will probably deliver at 37.2.

Everyone's labor is different. I try to just go with the flow and trust my dr.

Good luck and prayers for a healthy baby!!

hplunkett2883

I was induced at 36 weeks with my last for pre-e. I had the magnesium drip. It made me feel like shit. But really just tired. They started the pitocin and shortly after contractions started. Once dilated to like 5 I opted for the epidural. Once the epidural was in place I got sick to my stomach so the anesthesiologist came and turned off the epidural. She said it sometimes happens with the magnesium. After that i progressed very quickly and could feel her coming. I had all my feeling when I delivered. When the dr breaks your water it's more weird than anything. You don't feel anything but the warm gush. Then every time you move more comes out. Just weird is the best description. Had to stay on the magnesium for a solid 24 hours and be supervised with my baby. Nurses said since the magnesium was a muscle relaxer I could not hold her unless someone was right there for risk of dropping her. Had a catheter in the whole 24 hrs and couldn't get out of bed. DD was fine. I hope you have a good delivery and your baby is ok. 34 weeks is early but if it's best for you both then not much you can do about it right?

jenkelly830

Herewegrow, weird that is exactly how my first labor went as well, except I was 40 weeks and 4 days. Did they induce for preeclampsia or for other reasons? Wondering if they can do mine a week early this time.

casicatalana

I didnt have pre-e but was on magnesium for other reasons. FELT LIKE SHIT. like sooooo sick. i had then take me off it after 12 hours and we found a different plan of treatment. they say it makes you feel like you have the flu but let me tell you its much worse. blah!

4puddleducks

I agree with everyone else about how the magnesium sulfate will make you feel. Be prepared that you may be on 24 hours of bed rest after delivery. I had my DS at 35 weeks 1 day and he spent 12 days in the NICU. I held him for a few minutes after he was born, then didn't see him until the next day. You may also not be discharged as soon as a standard delivery if your bp doesn't normalize. I was not discharged until 5 days after delivery and went home on bp meds.

yl1m32015

At 33wks I was diagnosed with preeclampsia. I had been on bedrest for a week, keeping stable. Well at 35wks, I couldn't get my bp down, I had a terrible headache, blurry vision and my face swelled up. That afternoon, it was time to get checked out in L&D per OBs orders. After an astronomical bp, they told me I'd be induced that day and wouldn't be leaving without a baby. AH!!!!

So due to the eclampsia I was put on magnesium, which not to scare you, but if you have to be on it, is fucking awful. When you're on mag you have to be on complete bedrest, hooked up to monitors, Foley catheter, you can't eat, you have to be woken up every 30 minutes, and you have to stay on it for 24hrs following delivery, all while it gives you a blinding headache and you feel like you have the flu....its death in a bag.

So as I'm on magnesium, Wednesday evening we tried a 12hr dose of cervedil gel, it did nothing. We then tried cytotec, nothing. So Thursday they inserted a balloon into my cervix and started pitocin. All day it did nothing. Finally Thursday night I was dilated to a 3...nothing. So they broke my water at 3am. Baby did NOT like that and she freaked out, and we had cord compression. We had to immediately stop pitocin and get baby stable.

So Friday morning we resumed pitocin and I finally fell into active labor around noon. I was finally 4cm and got an epidural at 1pm. At 1:30 I started feeling a ton of pressure, they checked, only 5cm, still a long way to go, OB left and went home for lunch. At 1:45 my body literally was uncontrollably pushing her out! We screamed for the nurse, they paged OB, he got there in the nick of time. I never even controllably pushed, my body literally just automatically pushed her out in one push and she was born at 1:54pm, cried right away. Hubby cut the cord and a neonatologist was there to immediately check her. Being that she was so early she was only 4lbs 8oz. They allowed me 1 min of skin to skin before taking her to the specialty nursery area for a thorough check. They cleaned me up, got me all set but I was still on bed rest and on the awful magnesium. After what felt like forever, but was 3hrs, I was able to hold snd breastfeed her. We loved on her all night long and into the day on Saturday. Finally at 24hrs post birth i was able to stop the mag, eat and shower! But babys 24 labs concluded her bilirubin was high and she needed light therapy, we were expecting this. they brought a billibed to my room and she stayed with me the whole time.

As much as labor and leading to delivery sucked, giving birth to my daughter was the greatest and easiest thing I have ever done. So yes, having preeclampsia sucks, but my thoughts and prayers are with you for a healthy birth.