Tell me about being induced and not dilated...

cori514 · September 2010

So, I am 1000 months pregnant and still not dilated, but I have been having real contractions for days now. My doc is inducing next week, but told me that 90% of the time when you are not dilated, induction doesn't work in a timely matter and I will likely have a c-section. We (including the dr) don't want to wait much longer for her to come because she is already big (I have gestational diabetes) and I am small. I am dreading being induced and having to labor for 24 or more hours and ending with a c-section. She won't do and "elective c-section" (which I think shouldnt be condsidered elective when I have GD and she is already a big baby, but whatever). Anyone had this experience before??

kat.in.the.hat · September 2010

I had this with Marion. I was induced due to pre-e, despite a practically non existent bishop score. In retrospect, I would have done two things differently.

1. Have a frank talk with your OB about when they'll do a c/s for lack of progress and make sure you are comfortable with that. I was in labor for 14 hours on pitocin and really wish we'd called for the c/s earlier in the day as I was completely exhausted from labor, then had recover from a c/s, not to mention learning to deal with a newborn at midnight.

2. Ask your OB if you've been in labor all day with minimal progress if s/he is comfortable turning off the drugs and letting you get some sleep and resuming in the morning.

Kimmer123 · September 2010

I don't have any helpful advice, but I was induced due to pre-e with G. I wasn't dilated at all. I got cervadil at 8 pm and through the night, pictocin at 7 am and he was born at 1:17 pm. So it's not impossible to be induced without progress and have a vaginal birth.

houstonkdw · September 2010

kat.in.the.hat:
I had this with Marion. I was induced due to pre-e, despite a practically non existent bishop score. In retrospect, I would have done two things differently.
1. Have a frank talk with your OB about when they'll do a c/s for lack of progress and make sure you are comfortable with that. I was in labor for 14 hours on pitocin and really wish we'd called for the c/s earlier in the day as I was completely exhausted from labor, then had recover from a c/s, not to mention learning to deal with a newborn at midnight.
2. Ask your OB if you've been in labor all day with minimal progress if s/he is comfortable turning off the drugs and letting you get some sleep and resuming in the morning.

I think this is great advice.

I never dilated either with #1 and on my actual due date, I started having contractions. Got to the hospital after 2 hours and I was all ready at a 4. You just never know.

alliwalton · September 2010

Kat has good advice.

I was induced, my only progress was being finger tip diliated and my OB being able to break my water. I also knew deep down I was going to be a C Sec. After I got my Epi I did diliate to 3 cm within 30 mins, but baby was still high up with no hopes of decsending. After being on Pit for 10 hours, I told my OB lets do a C Sec. I did not want to be push and push and labor forever. Whats the point of pushing if my baby was not even engaged? I also told my OB about this, I was pretty upfront with what I wanted, we have a good relationship. I think you should be firm with what you want, afterall you are the consumer. Thank goodness I had a C Sec because my DD was almost 10 lbs and I was not Gest Dia.

readyforbaby · September 2010

I was induced 5 days past my due date. I was barely 1cm dilated at the time. I did end up with an emergency c-section. Mine wasn't for lack of progress though b/c it was only a few hours into my labor that I had the c/s. DS was having a lot of heart decels and they suspected he possibly had his cord around his neck. In the end it was not the cord and the doctor doesn't really know what was causing the decels. Who knows if I would have had the same outcome had I not been induced but I really don't blame it on the induction.

melissa0312 · September 2010

this is why i was in labor for 33 hours. i was adamant about not having a c-section and my ob was fine with that so long as there were not any complications.

it was 24 hours into the induction that i got the epidural at 2cm. then 3 hours later they broke my water at 5cm. dd was born at the 33 hour mark.

SigmundsGirl · September 2010

Kimmer123:
I don't have any helpful advice, but I was induced due to pre-e with G. I wasn't dilated at all. I got cervadil at 8 pm and through the night, pictocin at 7 am and he was born at 1:17 pm. So it's not impossible to be induced without progress and have a vaginal birth.

This was me too. I went in Sunday night for Cervadil overnight, started Pitocin around 7 the next morning, had my water broken around 9:00, and Evan was born at 2:38 PM. And I hadn't had 1 contraction before getting to the hospital.

SageBeginnings · September 2010

Cori -

Ugh, sorry that you are feeling '1000 weeks pregnant' and having to deal with more on top of that.

I wanted to point you to this. In particular, there is information on the Bishop's Score. The Bishop's Score will tell you how likely you are to have a successful induction. If you are not dilated or effaced at all, you can talk to your doctor about a cervical ripener first, then moving on to pitocin later. This will make your Bishop's Score higher, and your chances at a vaginal birth even better.

I also like the pp advise to see if you can have a trial induction, rest an evening, then start the next day - this will give your body and baby the added chance to get acclimated to the idea of labor and often gives better results.

It sounds like you have a good OB, not wanting to give you a cesarean unless absolutely necessary, kudos to her and you! Good luck!

KelleyA · September 2010

I went in with DD#1 at exactly 40 weeks barely 1cm dilated. Once they got things rolling (broke my water, started pitocin) and contractions started it was only 4 hours and DD was here. It can happen, stay positive!!!!

jen5-03 · September 2010

i was not dilated or effaced at all. After 2 days on cervidil and 16hr on pit i had a c/s. She was over a pound less than their estimated weight a week prior.

LisaK2b · September 2010

I wasn't dilated in any of my pregnancy since I was still early (36 weeks) and both inductions went really well and pretty fast. The cervadil overnight didn't work both times, and so they go to the pitocin the next morning. It seems like I always make A LOT of progress right after the epi (maybe because my body is more relax). And then they finally break my water, after that, it was within a few hours that I had the baby.

I don't know how you feel about getting the epi, but I thought it was the best thing ever and I honestly don't think you feel like you're going through 24 hours of labor especially when you're not in any pain and surfing the internet! And even if you do end up with a C section, they would have to give it to you anyways.

mom2ll · September 2010

I wasn't dialated at all with Luca. Had an induction at 39 weeks (2 dislocated ribs and blocking a duct to my kidney). Went in the night before, started pitocin at 8, broke water at 9 and, was pushing by 1 and he was born about 3...

cori514 · September 2010

I feel so much better about this now! My Dr. made it sound like there was no way in hell that I would have a vaginal delivery with induction. Now I know I totally can. We are going to start with the cervical ripening meds the night before, so hopefully that will do something. I wanted to try and labor without an epi, but I also didn't want to be induced or have a c-section....so, at this point, I will take what I can get to have a healthy baby and be ok with it. Thanks for all the stories ladies!!

cori514 · September 2010

SageBeginnings:

Cori -

Ugh, sorry that you are feeling '1000 weeks pregnant' and having to deal with more on top of that.

I wanted to point you to this. In particular, there is information on the Bishop's Score. The Bishop's Score will tell you how likely you are to have a successful induction. If you are not dilated or effaced at all, you can talk to your doctor about a cervical ripener first, then moving on to pitocin later. This will make your Bishop's Score higher, and your chances at a vaginal birth even better.

I also like the pp advise to see if you can have a trial induction, rest an evening, then start the next day - this will give your body and baby the added chance to get acclimated to the idea of labor and often gives better results.

It sounds like you have a good OB, not wanting to give you a cesarean unless absolutely necessary, kudos to her and you! Good luck!

Wow, that was a good read! My Bishop's Score is only a 5 =(. Thank you for all of the info!

kat.in.the.hat · September 2010

Also, you don't have to stay in the hospital with Cervadil. For me, it was applied at 8 a.m., I was monitored until noon, then discharged and had 48 hours before I was started on pitocin. If your doc will let you do that, I'd opt for going home. You'll sleep better in your own room than you will a hospital one, for sure.

RaeAnt · September 2010

Went in for induction at 10pm 12/20 but didn't get a room until 1am 12/21 due to tons of women actually in labor.

Given Cytotec around 4:00am due to not being fully efaced.

By about 6am I was fully effaced (contractions really started that I could feel them)

7/7:30am got my epi, water broken and Pitocin started (in that order)

About 4pm fully dilated and started to push. I was making some progress, enough to see a bit of the head when i pushed, but DS was decending any further. Plus as i was pushing, it was really slowing his heartbeat to a point we weren't sure he was going to start beating again.

At that point the pushing stopped and i was sent for an emergency c-section. If it weren't for DS not coming down and his heartbeat slwoing to almost a stop, i would have had his vaginally.

I didn't labor very long and only had a c-section because of complications.

BabyLoveTX · September 2010

There is hope. I also had GD, and at 39w5d I was not dialated or effaced. My Dr was concerned about a long labor but sent me to the hospital anyway to be induced (I wanted it). I was given a cervacil pill at 9pm, at 9:45 my water broke (the nurse and I were both in shock). At 12:30am I asked for an Epi. The nurse checked me and I was at a 9. I started pushing at 1:30am and delivered at 3:30pm. Delivery was 6.5 hours after cervacil.

I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

Weezers · September 2010

Kimmer123:
I don't have any helpful advice, but I was induced due to pre-e with G. I wasn't dilated at all. I got cervadil at 8 pm and through the night, pictocin at 7 am and he was born at 1:17 pm. So it's not impossible to be induced without progress and have a vaginal birth.

I had a similar experience. Around 10am I was only barely 2 cm when my doc broke my water. I'm pretty sure she didn't think I would progress much because she mentioned the possibility of a c-section again at that time. I got the epidural around 11:30 and relaxed. DD was born vaginally 2 hours later.

It is possible. I hope it works out for you!

hendy02 · October 2010

I was induced a week late and was barely 1cm dilated and not effaced at all. Checked into the hospital at 9pm and started cervadil, the started pitocin at 11am the next day. By 5pm I was 3cm and my OB wanted to stop the pitocin and let me rest until the next day then deliver. So we stopped it but my body didn't listen and by 9pm I was 8cm, then by 10 I was 9.5cm. Baby was born at 11:19pm. I had no pain meds and a vaginal delivery, which is what I'd hoped would happen (just not interested in an epidural at all). So it is definitely possible to have it go your way despite being induced with no progress!

newinhouston · October 2010

LisaK2b:
IIt seems like I always make A LOT of progress right after the epi (maybe because my body is more relax). And then they finally break my water, after that, it was within a few hours that I had the baby.

I don't know how you feel about getting the epi, but I thought it was the best thing ever and I honestly don't think you feel like you're going through 24 hours of labor especially when you're not in any pain and surfing the internet! And even if you do end up with a C section, they would have to give it to you anyways.

Same thing here. I had two prepidils and they didn't work. Finally on week 41 I had an induction. They put the pitocin at 7 am and I decided to not use any painkillers or epi. 5 hours later I had dilated only 1 cm. My doctor, who's awesome, convinced me to have the epidural to help me relax. I got the epidural at 1:30 pm and at 2:30 pm I was 5 cm dilated. 4 cm in 1 hour! From then, I dilated 1 cm/hour. I started pushing at 7:55 pm and DD was born at 8:26 pm.

ashley52813 · October 2010

I had no progress until I went into labor. I went to the dr Weds and was completely closed and firm, then started having contraction the next morning and still was not dilated. Went to the hospital at 9 PM thursday night and progressed to 4 cm in 2 hours. You just never know!

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