Women induced using Foley Bulb share your experience...

nicnac817

My doctor shocked me today when she informed me she wanted to start induction using the Foley Bulb on Friday.(I am fingertip dialated and the baby has not dropped)  I have been stern about the fact that I did not want to be induced with cytotec or even cervadill.. I am not a fan of inserting a pill that can't be removed. (cytotec) I will be exactly 40 weeks that day and am struggling with the choice to induce or allow her to come at her own time.  Now first choice is for her to come on her own OBVIOUSLY... who doesn't want to have the exciting experience of going into labor naturally?!?!?  My doctor informed me that if I do not induce on Friday she will not be able to induce until Aug 30th due to her schedule.(assuming she isn't born on her own by then)  Of course, DF is out of town that weekend with work.  This whole thing blind sided me and is stressing me out.  I feel like I am being backed in a corner. 

 

My questions for you ladies are...

Have you been induced using the Foley Bulb

How was the experience?

Whould you do it again?

How long was your labor experience?

 

I am weighing all my options so that I can make an informed and thought through decision. Thanks so much ladies!

 

dangerkitty102

I have no experience with a foley bulb, but being a VBAC this is probably the induction method we will need if I go late, so I'm interested in the responses.

True average gestation is 41w1d, so to schedule the foley bulb at exactly 40 weeks seems to be rushing it just a little. I'd wait one more week and change if it was me. Especially if you want the experience of going into labor naturally - why rush it?

nicnac817

I have been going over this is my head all day and have come to the same conclusion.  I am letting my little lady stay in there...

triagain2

As a labor nurse I've taken care of cervadil, cytotec, and foley bulb inductions. All three of these are used for non-ripe cervixes. If your cervix is ripe, you can skip this step.

The only of the 3 I would agree to (and did with my first) was a cervadil induction. You are accurate in your thinking that cytotec can't be removed. Thats exactly why I didn't and wouldn't agree to it. I've put it in, had a patient have tetanic contractions putting the baby in distress and then had to give terbutaline to counter act the cytotec while we prep for emergency c-section. I've seen this on numerous occasions. awful drug for induction, great drug for miscarriages and hemorrhages.

As for foley bulb, its not a terrible method but considering you're fingertip dilated, prepare for some pain with insertion. Thats probably the worst side effect I've seen. For some women it is really really painful to have placed. To me its a little barbaric and I prefer cervadil. But I will say, I worked at one hospital where we did a study (double blind) using foley bulb inductions. Ordinarily, after its inserted, the physician will pull on the foley tauntly and tape it to mom's leg. In our study we were looking at whether the tension was important to the induction process. I have to say I thought they should have stopped the study because it appeared that without tension, the induction all failed or took a lot longer to progress.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.

triagain2

Also for what its worth, if you have no reason for the induction, besides that your doctor can't do it until the 30th, I would definitely not be induced. I am so opposed to induction that even when I was severely pre-eclamptic last time and knew I needed to be induced, I cried when I was admitted. I have such strong feelings about it because I truly believe labor is so much smoother and faster when your body decides. I don't know any labor nurse who would want an elective induction, so that speaks volumes.