Induction Questions/Concerns/Anecdotes

SKZW

I don't think I'm alone in my nervousness! I'd love to hear some induction anecdotes from anyone who's been through that.

Please post any advice and questions here!

WombThereItIs

It can be a lonnnnng process. Mine was a 37hour process that ended with a c section. Bring phone chargers and some movies! 

I had a foley bulb placed first for initial cervical dilation and then they stared pitocin after it fell out (at around 4cm). Pitocin did its thing for about 12 hours and I progressed to maybe 5/6 so they ruptured me. Shortly after that was an epidural and two hours of pushing later in the day. Baby had his head turned funny and couldn't fully descend so I ended up in the OR. 

I know it can seem seem like a pain to ask your nurses to unhook you from monitors so you can get up and whatnot, especially with the IV pump but ask! It's their job and I think more walking probably would have helped a bunch in getting bang into a more ready position. 

Also I remember being told an induction does put you at a higher risk for needing a cesarean so go into it with an open mind and be more prepared for multiple scenarios. 

hp_momma

I was induced with both babies and they were both successful. 

DD1- induced at 39+6, I was already 2cm and 80% effaced but I was not having any noticeable contractions. My doctor wasn't even in the hospital because he thought for sure it was going to be a long process. I went in at 7pm and had a dose of cervadil inserted. I had some slight contractions. I was allowed to get up and walk the halls for about 45 mins and then they inserted a second dose. If I had three doses with no progress I was going to be sent home. Immediately after the second dose my contractions were intense. 45 minutes later the nurse came back to check on me and I was at 8cm and in transition already. By 2am DD1 was here (on her due date)! So roughly 8 hours from start to finish. 

DD2- Induced at 40+1, I was again 2cm and 80% effaced at this point. Went in at 7am and this OB wanted to start me on a small dose of pitocin. I never made it past the first small dose! My contractions started immediately and they had to turn off the pitocin because I was progressing so quickly. DD2 was born 4 hours later! 

m3ganmc

I was induced at 41+2. They had me go in the night before and put small pill near my cervix to begin the induction. I was able to get some good sleep and then they started the pitocin to really get labor going. I also pushed my pressure point between my thumb and fingers to cause contractions. She was born the following afternoon. It was very relaxed and I kind of enjoyed knowing that I wouldn't have to time contractions and rush to the hospital etc etc 

llenadevida900

I had my induction scheduled for 41+2, but the day before I had contractions so I thought it was go time! Nope, but it was enough that when I got to hospital I was already 4cm. They put me on lowest dose of pitocin and by early morning I was full on laboring on my own with no more drugs, and DD was born about 3pm, so like 18 hours start to finish. 

I wasnt thrilled about about an induction at first, but in hindsight it was kind of nice to know when I was going to the hospital and not wondering. 

bacorrea

Ok so at 39 weeks I was diagnosed with mild pre-e with DD (first child). They admitted me right away (there was also concerned with her weight). Because my pre-e was mild I did not have to be on a mag drip, depending of the severity of pre-e one may have to be on a mag drip. Once the doctor checked me (I was 0 dialated 0 effaced.) I was started on a low dose of pit and cervadil was inserted for 12 hours. Once the cervadil came out they put a Foley bulb in for probably 8ish hours? Then they took the Foley bulb out and the doctor came in and told me if I was contemplating having an epidural now would be the time to get it, because they were going to have to break my water. I decided to get the epi and then they broke my water shortly after. Labor was still super slow. It was also painful. I've heard that pit contractions are worse than natural contractions. DD eventually came on Saturday April 26 after 1am. I had begun induction on Thursday morning. 

Basically know that you will most likely be strapped to the bed depending on why you are being induced. I had to be on the blood pressure cuff and then had to keep the monitor on DD which was imposssible because she was always moving. I also had an IV for fluids and pit. 

I think what helped me the most was knowing all of this was being done in the hopes I would have a cscetion (I almost had to though). I trusted my doctors and they talked to me about each induction step. It wasn't really painful until after they broke my water.

Induction is a very long process in most cases. I was able to watch TV (TGIT Shondaland!) and my nurse was super awesome and actually let me eat real food Thursday night. I would be prepared to not be allowed to eat anything but clear liquids until baby is born once you are admitted.  

That's all I can think of right now! 

slowmo

Induced unexpectedly at 38+5 for high blood pressure (but no pre-e). Started on cervadil overnight, which was fine for the first half of the night but by morning was incredibly painful. Got the epidural and started pit that morning (7ish). My water broke around the same time when they removed the cervadil. I was finally able to sleep for a few hours with the epidural (best and last good sleep I got for a while!). I made it to 8cm but then stalled. I was on the max amount of pit they wanted me to have, so c/s it was. I totally lost it when they told me because I was sooooo hungry (NPO except for ice chips for over 24 hrs at that point). Baby born via c/s a little before 11pm that night. 

My advice: If you have an induction planned, eat a good meal before -- my last meal was freaking Subway, blah -- and rest while you can. With the epi, I was actually pretty comfortable. And I second what people said about keeping an open mind regarding outcomes. I never imagined I would need a c/s, so I never really thought about how that might change things in terms of recovery. 

Icarriedawatermelon

I had an induction that was successful. I like to tell pregnant women my birth story because I feel like so many women try to scare expectant mothers nearing their due dates.  Not every induction ends badly! 

I was induced at 41 weeks and 2 days. When I walked into the hospital my DD was extremely high and I was only a fingertip dialated. I'm telling you, that baby would have stayed in there until high school graduation!!! They gave me a tiny little pill (I wish I could remember what it was called) that basically kicked my body into labor. I never had to do the bulb. I think my body was ready and just needed a jumpstart. A few hours later they started pitocin and broke my water.  I pushed for an hour and a half and DD was born. From start to finish, including pushing, my labor was 15 hours. I was expecting so much worse from all the stories I was told!  For all the FTMs, don't panic if you do need to be induced. All that matters is you and your baby are healthy when it's all said and done, no matter what happens during labor and delivery! 

Kipperoo

This is a timely thread as I'm facing an induction in 3 days! I was induced with #1 and had a fairly pleasant experience, so I'm hoping for the same this go around. Checked in at midnight, 37 weeks on the dot (induced due to cholestasis). I was 2 cm at check in, went straight on pitocin, had the epidural around 5 am, started pushing at 6, baby was born at 9:08. The 3 hours of pushing was ROUGH and I probably started too soon. But the whole experience was only 9 hours start to finish!

mamatowildones

My induction was my easiest labor. With my first I went in at 8am and had him by 6:11 that night. I was dilated to one when I got there but no signs of labor. I was induced due to hypertension. 

achays11

I second whoever said to be prepared for anything with an induction. I was not. 

I was induced at 40+2 with DD because my doctor was convinced that she was well over 8 lbs and he didn't want her getting any bigger. (FTM, so I didn't really know to advocate for myself.) Went in at 5am and wasn't dilated at all. Labor was pretty eventful because DD's heart rate kept going down every time they raised the pitocin. After 18 hours, I still wasn't dilated to 4cm and they decided baby needed to come out. Obviously I always knew a CS was a possibility, but I never thought it could happen to me. This is why I say be prepared for anything. 

redheeler

It's a different process here (not completely just timing wise) but I will give you my experience anyway.

inductuon started at 37+4 (pre e) admitted Friday night at 6pm, had cerdavil placed at 8pm for 24hrs, removed at 8pm the Saturday. I was offered the foley bulb but declined it, so they did a stretch and sweep instead. I was allowed to rest for the night. At 6am I was hooked up to the pitocin, 12:30pm I got the epidural, and a second cannula as my blood pressure skyrocketed (prep for magnesium, but BP dropped again after the epi took effect) at 1:00pm I hit 10cm at 1:20 I was allowed to push (I had to wait for H to get back from getting lunch lol) at 1:30pm he was here. apgars of 9 and 9. 

All up the whole process took 2 days, I was only in active labor for 1.5hrs though. 

michelle59-2

What is a Foley bulb?

redheeler

michelle59-2 said:

What is a Foley bulb?

Basically a balloon that is put in your cervix to help stretch & dialate you.

michelle59-2

That sounds terrible and a little frightening

heath313

@michelle59-2 it seriously hurt more than labor for me.

WombThereItIs

The foley bulb is a generic term, if you google it you'll see mostly pictures of bladder catheters. Look up cook double balloon catheter. It gets inserted through your cervix then filled with fluid so one balloon is on each side of your cervix adding pressure. 

Really fun nurses will tape the cord cord attached to it to your leg and come adjust it every hour to make sure it's pulled tight. It hurts like a bear for a minute or two after each adjustment but then it is mostly okay  

michelle59-2

Can you decline to have it done?

redheeler

@michelle59-2 yes, you can decline it, they will give you other options or just not use it. 

bacorrea

@michelle59-2 my foley bulb didn't hurt and I didn't even get the epidural until it was removed. I had read about beforehand and thought no way, but they needed to get me to dialate further. It got me to a 4. 

Louise_Belcher

I was induced at 40+5 last time, but it ended up only kinda being an induction. They had me come in at 7p and the plan was to place cervidil for over night and start pitocin in the morning between 8 and 9am. They placed the cervidil (10p) and within an hour I had to pee and the stupid thing fell out. While trying to decide if they would put in another I began having strong contractions (12p). They opted to not do anything more at that point and the short amount of time I had the cervidil in threw me into labor and I was able to get away without pitocin. DS was born at 8:21a about the time they planned to start it. Good luck to all that end up with inductions!!

skeetied

I also had an "induction that really wasn't." With DS2, I hit 40w2d being 6 cm and almost fully effaced but with no other signs of active labor.  Due to a shorter labor with DS1, we decided to induce.  I went in the next morning and the midwife on duty decided to try to turn DS2 a bit and then break my water.  He was born 90 min later.  Still got a nice dose of Pitocin after in my thigh, though...

onebadmotha

I was induced at 40+2 and DS was born at 40+5...it was a super long process. I was not dilated at all, so they started me with 12 hours of Cervadil, which they inserted vaginally (super uncomfortable, but quick). After 12 hours, they removed that and started me on Pitocin. They started out at a super low dose,  but ended up maxing it out by the end. I have nothing to compare it to, since this was only labor, but the contractions become very intense very quickly. I got an epidural around 5 centimeters, which was heavenly, but unfortunately wore off before the pushing stage. It was totally amazing while it lasted though, I'd definitely recommend it. 

I second what @slowmo said about having a good meal first. I'm not sure if it's the same for everyone, but once the process began, I was not permitted to eat or drink anything (except a small amount of ice cubes). They also forgot to give me sugar water in my IV and were just giving regular water, so I got super light headed. By the time I was pushing, I was so weak- it was like running a marathon on an empty stomach. I pushed for 3.5 hours before he was finally born and then I ate all of the food. 

I would definitely recommend bringing entertainment. In the beginning of the process, DH and I played Settlers of Catan and watched tons of Arrested Development, which really helped pass the time I was also able to take a shower right before the Cervadil was inserted, which felt amazing. 

heath313

My first was an induction that I asked for at 40 weeks + 1 because I didn't know any better. It started the night before with the foley balloon. I know some said it didn't hurt, but mine honestly killed. I had it placed in the office and then went home with it. The next morning, I was hooked up to pitocin and labored for 13 hours. I pushed for 3.5 hours (he was sunny side up). They used a vacuum to assist and it popped off and caused an abrasion on his head. Due to the bruising from the vacuum, he was jaundice. We also later found out at his first pedi appt that he broke his collar bone on the way out, too. 

My second, I was not induced and it was night and day. I went into labor on my own at 41 +1. Labored for four hours and pushed for only 15 minutes. 

Because the last labor was so fast, my dr is giving me the choice to be induced at 39 weeks and 4 days. I haven't made up my mind yet, but I would definitely lay down some ground rules: no foley, no vacuum.

0408Bear

Super nervous for my scheduled induction on Tuesday!! I'm dreading this, if it can really take days to labor.....

chailife34

How many mamas are planning c-sections? Should we start a thread for this? Mine is scheduled 5 days from now and could use a place for questions/moral support/anecdotes from mamas who have been there. Thoughts? Are there enough people this would be relevant to?

Kipperoo

Hi again! Dropping by to give the recount of my induction last week. I checked in around 7:00 am Tuesday, started cervacil treatments to ripen my cervix at 9:00--just a tiny pill under my tounge and a cervical check every 4-5 hours. I got to a 3 with the first pill, took the second around 2:00 and got to a 5. I had to do A LOT of walking around the hospital to help kick start everything. Had my cervix check again around 7:00 and had made it to a 6. We delayed starting the pitocin because there were a few labors progressing really quickly and only one doctor on duty (literally, I could hear 2 different woman screaming at the top of their lungs in labor...it was legitimately terrifying). They started the pitocin at 9, checked cervix at 11 and I was a 6. At this point, I got the epidural and fell asleep from 12-1. The doctor came in at 1, checked my cervix, and I was at a 10 and ready to push. Thanks to the epidural, I literally slept through the roughest part of labor! There was a slight complication with the epidural--the numbing shot was actually pretty painful and continued to hurt for like 5 days after birth, but that pain was totally worth it because the contractions had started picking up (pitocin contractions are said to sometimes be more forceful) and the pain was pretty bad. I started pushing at about 1:10 and they had turned down the epidural so that I could feel the contractions (not painful but so that I could feel the pressure and know when to push). Pushing commenced and baby was born at 1:29 am on Wednesday (so 16.5 hours total from start to finish). The actual birth was pretty easy, actually. I was chatting away with the doctor and nurse between pushing...night and day from my labor with DS (3 hours of rough pushing...). Anywho...long winded, but that's my induction story!

erinh2005

@Kipperoo I was just thinking about you and your little lady! Thanks for the full story - and so glad it was a different experience from your DS. This is encouraging that the second time around can be ok too! 

michelle59-2

I haven't posted in a while because I've been having phone issues. I got the call today that I will be induced next Wednesday evening at 36+4. I'm super nervous. My doctor said they will be placing a Foley bulb which made me more nervous because I've read on here that it's pretty painful. Any advice? 

bacorrea

The Foley bulb wasn't painful for me @michelle59-2 just know that each method they use is getting you closer to being dialated at 10. 

0408Bear

I apparently had a foley, and I didn't even know it. Now, I didn't know a lot of things that happened but it got taken out while I used the bathroom Wednesday morning and it didn't hurt or bother me at all. 

michelle59-2

Thank you! Any idea how long I can expect to spend in the hospital?

bacorrea

michelle59-2 said:

Thank you! Any idea how long I can expect to spend in the hospital?

This is totally case by case. Some women are induced and it takes 1 day, some women are induced and it takes a couple of days. I was admitted for induction because of pre-e and we started on Thursday around lunch with Cervadil and DD came on Saturday after 1am. I was high and closed when they started though. We left the hospital on Monday. So total I was in the hospital 5 days.

michelle59-2

Thank you! I think I'm just anxious and nervous at this point

bacorrea

michelle59-2 said:

Thank you! I think I'm just anxious and nervous at this point

Totally understandable. It was really helpful for me to be of the mindset of "induction is what is best for the health of me and my baby, I will just go with the flow and trust the doctors" I asked questions and my nurses/doctors were great about explaining all of the different steps during the induction process. It helped me be less nervous because I wasn't trying to be in control and the doctor told me it would likely take a few days.

SKZW

@michelle59-2: Good luck next Weds! You're not alone in your nervousness; I had to take a little cry-moment for myself earlier to shake off the anxiety. I'll try to heed the advice from @bacorrea to trust the docs & let the process unfold one step at a time.

The nervousness is just a temporary state of being, right? And we're doing what's needed for the health of ourselves and our LO's. 

michelle59-2

Thank you! I did a ton of reading about the Foley bulb last night and it made me feel a bit better. I do like the idea of not using hormones right off the bat and trying something else first. 
And you both made excellent points about surrendering to the process. I've known for a while that I'd have to be induced, due to cholestasis. I've just been waiting for a date. I'll do anything that will ensure the health of the baby. Thank you for all the support!

SKZW

For those of you who've been induced... How do you deal with this awful nagging feeling of "but wait, what if he's not ready to be born?" and "I have doubts, this doesn't feel right"? In my mind, I know the doctor is making a sound, rational, medically prudent decision but my emotional self trumps my brain most often these days and I feel worried that "he needs more time" and "shouldn't we just let him decide when it's time to exit stage left"! Any advice on how to deal would be super appreciated.

NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot

@SKZW i
I had a breakdown when I schedule DD's induction a week after her due date. I didn't necessarily "come to terms with it," but I was put at ease a bit once I checked into the hospital. And once I had her, everything was fine so that helped. Now that I'm looking at a 2nd induction for this LO a week early, I'm ok with it. My induction last time went very well so that's helped me think about this one. I'm actually hoping to make my induction date now because I feel like I'm not mentally prepared to go in to labor on my own. 

bacorrea

@SKZW when are you being induced? I was 39 weeks, so apart of me knew I was considered full term and that definitely helped. I joke that DD would have never come out if she wasn't forced. 

I think you just have to keep telling yourself that even though baby may not be ready to come out, it is the best decision for his health and yours that he does come whenever the doctor has said. If I had refused induction, DD or I could have been in a scary situation. I think that just trusting your doctor and knowing that everyone in the situation wants what is best for you a baby is what ultimately gets you through.

Big hugs to you! 

SKZW

TY, @NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot @bacorrea !! I'll try to keep the health aspect in the front of my mind. And hearing about the good experiences/outcomes helps.

I'm being induced this Monday, May 1st. It seems so close, yet not, all at once! This Friday we'll be at 37 weeks, and at that point Mon, we'll be 37w+3days, so yeah, the full-term status will apply (just barely!).

Thank you for the hugs too. I had an appt this morning and my bp was high for a minute and they needed to recheck it and I kind of had a momentary freak-out.