Pre-Induction Cervix Softening

OrangeBird

I am going to be induced next Monday morning, and my OB is admitting me Sunday night to "soften" my cervix before she starts administering Pitocin on Monday.  Apparently my cervix is still very hard.  Does anyone know what softening the cervix entails?  Is it something that will be painful or uncomfortable?  Just want to be prepared...

dragossoul84

I'm being induced next Tuesday. My Dr mentioned the possibility of starting cevedal (sp?) Tuesday night and then the Pitocin on Wednesday. The first medicine is to soften my cervix from what I understand that shouldnt be painful however I could be being mislead. I'm 70% effaced already so shes not sure if I will need it or not. I hope it all goes smoothly and quickly for you

mtpgroove

they have a pill they put in to help soften it and another way is to have this sea weed type stuff put into your cervix and it helps soften it or use a a baloon and slowly inflate it im not sure if it will hurt though

InfinityDreamer

They will probably give you cervadil, which is a vaginal suppository of sorts.  It's not going to feel like much of anything at all.  It just increases your odds of a favorable outcome to your induction, ie. actually going into labor and dilating in what they deem to be a timely manner vs. not responding quickly enough and ending up with a c-section.

If you want to help things in the mean time you can insert Evening Primrose Oil capsules vaginally at bed time, though semen works just as well and is more fun

Heather2256

I was "induced" last weeks (in quotation marks b/c I ended up needing a c/s). I was started on cervadil b/c of a closed cervix. When the doc put it in, it didn't hurt, but then I imagine it depends on the doc. The only thing that sucked for me was having to stay in bed!

meg193

I was induced with my son and the insertion felt the same as a cervical check.  I started contracting after a few hours of having it put in so that was the only painful part.