Anyone get induced using Cytotec?

IronRangeBride

I've been doing some research and haven't really found any positive feedback about doctors using Cytotec to help start the labor process. Has anyone been through the induction process by starting off with Cytotec? I'm going to talk to my doctor beforehand to see if there's anything else she's willing to use. My induction date isn't until Dec 3rd, and that is only if I don't go into labor by myself. TIA!

teeah22

I did.  I don't really have anything bad to say about it.  They started it around midnight and it basically got mild contractions going (I was able to sleep through them).  It didn't really dilate me much though.  It took me from basically nothing to a fingertip.

Manderlin923

Could you them strip your membranes or break your water first instead to see if that gets things going? Just a thought...

 

MrsKaCy

I did too.  I read all of the same reviews about it on the internet and I had concerns, too.  I had a long talk with my doctor about and ultimately I decided to go for it.  I had a great experience with it - I didn't even need to have pitocin. 

IronRangeBride

Manderlin923:

Could you them strip your membranes or break your water first instead to see if that gets things going? Just a thought...

 

She stripped my membranes on Wednesday, and nothing has happened. And I'll have to ask about breaking my water first. The plan is to start with Cytotec at 8pm, then start Pit the next morning at 9am.

I guess I'm just a little freaked out because I didn't think I would have to be induced for some reason...

jkalmommy2b

I did.  My body was in no way ready to give birth, but I was two days overdue with insulin-dependent gestational diabetes so the doctors were really itching to get the baby out.  I went in at midnight on a Sunday night and started at a zero.  The next morning (Monday) I was 1 cm.  The following morning (Tuesday) I was still 1 cm.  They broke my water and 8 hours later I was still at 1cm...We opted to go ahead and do the csection and it really wasn't that bad.  

I guess the point of my story is that Cytotec in no way hurt me or the baby, but it really didn't help me go into labor either.  Everyone's body is different...I like to say I had an "iron womb" and my cervix wasn't opening up for anything.  

Good luck with your induction and labor!  Remember that all that matters is the baby at the end...just keep your eye on the prize! 

teeah22

IronRangeBride:

Manderlin923:

Could you them strip your membranes or break your water first instead to see if that gets things going? Just a thought...

 

She stripped my membranes on Wednesday, and nothing has happened. And I'll have to ask about breaking my water first. The plan is to start with Cytotec at 8pm, then start Pit the next morning at 9am.

I guess I'm just a little freaked out because I didn't think I would have to be induced for some reason...

I soooo did not want an induction, it was #2 after a C-section on the list of how I didn't want my labor to be.  But I have to say, it was a very positive experience.  The pit was really no big deal.  The only thing I would change would be having my epi either before or right after they broke my water.  That was when things started getting intense.  Good luck to you!

PrincessFiona9

I had it and I didnt have any bad reaction to it. they gave me the first dose at about 7pm, and the 2nd about midnight. I started some mild contracting about 4am then they started the pitocin at 6am. at that time I was only like 1cm, and that really helped to get me dilated. I progressed pretty quickly from there, and delivered at 4:17 pm after about and hour of pushing.

Mrs.S.on.01.19.08

Here's how my labor went with Cytotec:

I was 30% effaced and a fingertip dilated when I was induced.

I was given one dose of Cytotec - laid down for 2 hours - then walked on and off for a while - when I got back in bed my water broke on its own (4 hours after the initial dose of cytotec)

My contractions were consistently 2 minutes apart - too frequent for any additional doses of cytotec or pitocin.  I just had to wait it out until the contractions slowed down or I dilated completely on my own.  I remained like this for almost 12 hours - and at that point I was 4cm dilated.  They started pitocin and I was fully dilated 5 hours later.   I pushed for 2.5 hours and my daughter was born.

The experience wasn't that bad- but it could have been a VERY long induction if my contractions didn't slow down - as I would have just had to wait for my body to dilate on it's own - and most likely would have ended up in a C-section. 

Good luck!

nmh2001

I read horrible things about it in the Ina May Gaskin book. My doctor told me he would use it if I needed to be induced and I freaked out and said no way so he said in that case he could use a combo of a vaginal insert to soften the cervix (I forget the name) and pitocin the next day. Then I talked to my doula about it and she surprised me by saying that she really didn't think Cytotec was all that bad. She said it's only dangerous if given in large doses and that it creates contractions that are much more natural and less painful than those that pitocin gives you.

 I couldn't make up my mind which to do because I was still leary of the cytotec. Luckily, I went into labor on my own. I would definitely do a lot of research on it if I were you. And I agree, have them strip your membranes. That might do the trick. Good luck!

ALYinATL

i started cytotec around 10pm after 5 doses and the WORST night of my life ( contractions and having to pee every 10 min then get hooked back up to monitors ) they sent me home the nextday at 5 due to no progress my water broke at 9:15 that night and she was born at 6:15am

jnk062602

I was induced with cytotec.  The baby had dropped weeks before, but my cervix still hadn't turned and lined up correctly.  I was overdue and the dr could still not even reach my cervix so scheduled me for the induction 2 days following.  I arrived and was had the cytotec inserted around 6pm.  The plan was originally to get the second dose (4 hrs later I think??), wake up and shower and have breakfast at 6am, and start pitocin around 8am. 

I started having mild contractions on the monitor, but I couldn't feel them.  They checked me and my cervix was now lined up but I was not dilated or effaced at all.  The dr on call would not give me the 2nd dose bc contractions had shown up on the monitor.  But I was so angry bc I thought I was in for a long hard labor if I ended up starting the pitocin the next morning without having progressed.  They gave me a sleeping pill and I went to sleep.

I woke up at midnight thinking I might be having contractions.  They didn't hurt though, just felt weird.  I laid there and watched the clock.  I kinda fell back asleep inbetween but woke up with each one exactly every 5 minutes.  At 1am I woke up DH and told him I thought I was having the contractions.  They were starting to hurt but not too bad.  I kept going back and forth on whether I should call a nurse bc I wasn't sure if they were real or not.  Finally at 2 I called.  I also thought my water broke, but it was only a tiny bit.

At 5am I went into the tub and said I wanted an epi since I was 5cm.  The anesthesiologist was doing someone for a c-section but they said I would be next.  When he was ready I got out.  It was great and I slept on and off until 8am when my dr came in.  He checked me and I was 8cm.  I started pushing at 9am and she was born at 10:15.

I had a great labor.  Never ended up needing pitocin or even a second dose of the cytotec.  The delivery sucked since I had multiple tears and the epi wasn't working much past 8am.  But overall I am so glad my labor went the way it did.  The cytotec was exactly what my body needed to make my cervix kick into gear.

Blakes mommy

I was 2 cm dilated when I was induced with cytotec and had the worst night of my life.

During the first dose of Cytotec, I was having 5 contractions on top of each other with 1 minute break in between.  They were so intense that I could barely breath and was having a break down.  I tolerate pain very well but this was nothing like I had expected.  Even my nurse was like "your body is not being kind to you with the Cytotec."  After the first dose, I was still only dilated to 2.  I then decided to get an epidural because I couldn't take the pain anymore.  I had another dose of Cytotec and was still only dilated to 3.  During my second dose, baby's heart rate went tachybrady and they told me I might need a C-section.  At that point, I just said I wanted one since it was a probablility anyways.  It was the best decision I ever made.  I was in so much pain.  I ended up laboring for 10 hours and only dilating 1 extra centimeter. 

mcgee

I did with my first baby. I was not remotely effaced or dilated and really not a great candidate for an induction, but baby needed to come out for medical reasons. I had a long labor, in part because I wasn't effaced or dilated when they started the induction, and in part because DD didn't tolerate the pitocin, so they kept having to turn it off. The cord was around her neck, and if the pitocin dose was upped, her heart rate would drop. I had several doses of cytotec in vaginal suppository form to get things started before they could start the pitocin.