Induced labor lasting 90 minutes

ErikaAndChris

With my first son, I was only in labor for about 3.5 hours--from the first tiny twinge of a contraction to the wail of a baby. I didn't get an epidural because by the time I asked, it was time to push. Also, I am Group B Strep positive and didn't have time for the full dose of penicillin, so he had to be monitored in the hospital afterward to make sure he didn't get sick (he was fine). This time, my doctor and I discussed inducing at 39 weeks because of my history of fast labor and the fact that I was supposed to have penicillin for four hours first. He said he would induce if my cervix was ready.

 At 37 weeks, I was already 2 cm dilated and 70 percent effaced. At 38 weeks, I was 3.5 cm dilated and 90 percent effaced, so we scheduled the induction. My doctor did not want to induce before 39 weeks to make sure the baby was ready (and I agreed), even though he doubted I was going to make it to 39 weeks.

 Which ... I didn't. I had my 38 week appointment on a Thursday, and I woke up on Sunday feeling like a had sprung a leak. At first I thought it was urine since I was feeling constant pressure on my bladder, and it wasn't much. Also, I wasn't feeling any contractions. But it continued, so I called my doctor's office. The on-call doctor told me I to come in to test to see if it was my water. He said I would be sent home if it was a false alarm, but to come ready to have the baby just in case.

 It was kind of nice that I wasn't having contractions yet, because we were able to drop off our other son with friends and get to the hospital without being too rushed. Based on my last childbirth experience, I was expecting a mad dash of agony if I went into labor on my own. We got there, and yes it was my water leaking. But there were several other women in active labor pushing, so the doctor was busy and didn't start my induction for two more hours. In the meantime, the nurse started my penicillin IV. We had totally procrastinated on the baby name, so we spent the time looking at the Baby Names for Dummies book.

 At about a quarter to noon, they started the pitocin. I started having painless contractions right away, every 2-3 minutes. Then I started feeling them, but it wasn't too bad. About a half hour after the pitocin started, I felt something like a strong kick way down low, and suddenly the contractions were extremely painful, every 2 minutes, with only a few seconds to rest in between. I asked for Nubain to take the edge off, and that helped for a very short time. Then I was in excruciating pain again.

 I didn't want to request an epi right away because I wanted to make sure that labor was established, which obviously it was. So I called the nurse back and asked for it. She seemed a little skeptical that I was already in that much pain. I was describing the pain to her and mentioned that I was also feeling some pressure. That got her attention: "Pressure? Let me check your progress." She did and said "Actually you're about two or three pushes away from having a baby. I'm going to page the doctor!" I could not believe it. I thought I had a lot more time!

They had to page him a couple times and in the meantime had me start pushing. Two nurses were on the other side of the room getting some stuff ready and when a contraction started, they said to go ahead and push. It felt weird to me to push into thin air so I said something like "Won't he fall out?" DH thought this was funny at the time, but later he said he thought I had a point. DS was born on the third push. The doctor got there just in time, did a quick little incision where I was going to tear, and out he came. That makes it sound easier than it was. It was incredibly painful of course!

 Darby John was born at 1:16 p.m. I did not get my penicillin dose, but he did not get sick thankfully. I also didn't get my epi, but if I had known it was going to be over that quickly, I probably would not have asked for it anyway. And it was nice not to have the after effects. As it was, I felt great afterward and by the next day didn't even feel like I needed ibuprofen, which they kept offering to me. All in all, I feel very lucky that everything turned out so well, and we have another beautiful baby boy.

lailak42

WOW that's fast!  Congrats on your baby boy.

vlahop

Congrats!!

lazysusan

Wow!  You're story is similiar to mine.  It's nice to hear of someone with a similiar experience.  I'm expecting # 2 in June and wondering if I'm going to go as fast.  I plan to avoid pitocin if at all possible.  I think I was about 90 minutes from that powerful kick sensation starting the contractions to when DS was born.  I'm glad all is well.  Giving birth so fast is a mixed blessing...

scooterpie85

wow!