For Mommies who were induced...

Pool_Chick · October 2010

What is some advice you could give me that would help me out? I am being induced tomorrow (yay!) and have no idea what to expect. He said I will get my 1st dose of meds at 10:00pm tomorrow and I need to be at that hosptial at 8pm for paperwork and whatnot. But I still have NO idea what to expect about labor, much less inductions. So bring on labor stories (good and bad!) and anything else you think might help. Thanks girls so much!

hayatiggs · October 2010

I was induced, and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I went in at 5am (I was pre-registered), got all my IVs in and started the pitocin at 5:30am. Even though I had been in early labor for over a day prior to being induced, I didn't really know it. My contractions felt just like BH contractions, so I didn't know the difference. I went in at 3cm. They started me out at the lowest dosage and then upped it by a little twice. At 8:30am there wasn't a lot of change, but still no pain. At around 10ish, the Dr. came in and broke my water. That did the trick The contractions became painful, and I let myself feel the worst ones before I got my epidural. It went in about 11ish. After that there was no pain, and I actually took a small nap. The nurse came in to check me about noon, and I was 9cm. 30 mins later she checked me again and said, "Are you ready to have some babies?!" I went into delivery at about 12:45, and babies were born at 1:08pm and 1:14pm.

During my whole pregnancy, I absolutely did not want to be induced, I wanted it all to happen on its own. I was scared of induction. But when my blood pressure started climbing during early labor, I didn't have a choice anymore. I have to say though that induction wasn't scary at all. Also, talk to your nurses. They will tell you exactly what is happening, what is going to happen, etc. I had lots of questions during the whole thing, and they were very helpful and made me feel a lot better.

Kimmy1836 · October 2010

My advice is to be very open-minded as to any birth plan you may have.

My induction story is on the bad side (and a very long birth story) Short version - I was in labor for 40 hours and wasn't able to get my epi until 24 hours in. I also dilated very, very slowly. I was able to have the vaginal delivery I wanted though.

Good luck!

veebug22 · October 2010

I don't think there is any way for us to really help you know what to expect... I wasn't induced and really wanted to avoid intervention, but I did accept Pitocin (the lowest level) because I was stuck at 4 cm for about 5 hours and I had been leaking amniotic fluid for a couple days and my water broke the day previous. On top of that my blood pressure had suddenly gone through the roof, so we needed to get things moving. It helped to get things moving, but later on I stalled at transition (7.5 cm) for 5 hours while still on Pitocin. Um yeah, transition is supposed to be the most painful but fastest part of your labor. Being there for 5 hours without meds was torture and very frustrating. I'm not sure whether the Pitocin increased the pain because I didn't feel much pain before they put me on it. Also, the contractions were one on top of another and sometimes never came down completely when I was toward the end of hour 5 at 7.5 cm, and that could have been the Pitocin. When you are that tired and your contractions keep building without the break in between it's brutal. I ended up laboring for over 24 hours and finally took an epidural around hour 18 because I was exhausted and falling asleep between contractions when they actually did come down. I had no energy to push even if I were fully dilated, and I had been in transition and extreme pain for so long. So they kept me on Pitocin to try and get me past the hurdle (eventually I did get past it, the epidural wore off and I delivered med free and vaginally -- thank goodness because my uterus was starting to get infected and I had a temp of 102.3 by that point). I was glad I took the epidural for a couple hours to finally get some rest. I dilated and they took me off the Pitocin. Anyway, I could go on, but here are my two cents -- I trusted my body, but it needed help. So I would say have confidence that if you need to be induced or accept other interventions, it doesn't mean you can't go on to have the delivery you want. AND just because my birth or anyone else's was problematic doesn't mean yours will be. As long as you trust your dr and that everyone around you and your body are doing the best they can, you'll be fine : )

anne.josh · October 2010

congrats on the upcoming birth!

i was induced after our lo had a decrease in movement & heartbeat ironically on our due date. after a non-stress test the dr confirmed and we were induced with pitocin around 6:00pm (i was already 3cm and 80% for 2 weeks). I made it to 5 cm and then really was ready for my epidural. got the epidural but bc of scoliosis (curved and rotated) i had a "patchy" epidural so i could still feel the contracts in a spot. but trust me it was better than not having one

at 6:00 am i was done and ready to push even though i was only 9.5cm i really was just tired and wanted the baby out. they turned off the epidural and i immediately felt sick and started dry heaving (you can't eat once the med is given). nurse said i could try to push and 45 mins later our little man was here!

in the end i don't think the induction was that bad at all although i have nothing to compare it to. i wouldn't worry too much the end result is worth everything. i just threw on my ipod and tried to relax and zone out. i would recommend bringing along some music and just know you are somewhere safe where they will take great care of you.

Britty685 · October 2010

I was 2cm dialted when they gave me Cervadil @ 10pm the night before, and removed it at about 6am. Then a little while later they started the Pitocin drip. Be aware that Cervadil (if they give that to you) CAN and probably will start contractions.

About 4 hours after they started the Pitocin, I wanted my Epidural.

Epidurals are WONDERFUL! I commend any woman who chooses to go natural, but it def. was not for me.

I had contractions from 9amish- about 8pm. We we're waiting on LO to drop down further. I pushed for 21 min, and that was it!

It was a loooong day, but I'm glad everything turned out good.

Just know that induction does not mean that labor will go any faster for you. Keep someone with you that can keep you entertained, although you may not care to talk to anyone. Once I had my epidural, I was able to nap. I needed my rest because I couldnt sleep all night the night before.

mommy2bee109 · October 2010

I had a really great experience. I went in the evening to start cervadil and had it in for 12 hours. About 3 hours before they took it out (3am) my contractions were getting pretty strong, about 3 minutes apart. At 6am they took it out and I was only at a 3. I took a shower and got back in bed and by 7 my contractions were really intense. They didn't need to start the pitocin because I was still contracting on my own and they were getting longer and more intense. They gave me stadol which I think did the trick because it made me completely relax. 45 minutes later my doctor broke my water and I was at an 8. I got my epidural and an hour later was ready to push. 20 minutes of pushing and my baby girl was here at 12:06.

My advice would be to go in with a good attitude and an open mind. Not all inductions are terrible. Good luck and I hope you have a quick delivery so you can meet your LO! Whatever it turns out to be, it will be all worth it!

kelleylk · October 2010

My induction was horrible. It wasn't planned. My water broke and there weren't any contractions to follow. I waited 48 hours for contractions to start...and nothing.

Pitocin is the Devil's drug! I didn't get my epidural until 12 hours in (at least it wasn't 24 hrs like PP). I was in such pain I actually passed out. Stupid Pitocin. Just be ready for anything. Like the other gal said, be very open minded, b/c my plan was to go without the epi...

wife1014 · October 2010

I had a fabulous (emergency) induction! I was at the hospital to be monitored because I was overdue and no one was going to be in the office to do an ultrasound until Tuesday. My midwife wanted me checked every 3 days. While there, baby was unresponsive and my fluid levels were a 4.

At 11:15am, they started pitocin (very low dose). At 2:00, my midwife broke my water. At 2:30, I was ready to tear my eyeballs out due to pain. At 3:00, ready to push. 3:13pm, Abigail was born epidural free! Less than 4 hours from start to finish and because I didn't have the epidural I was up and walking, rocking, bouncing, swaying the entire time.

I was so scared to be induced, as I wanted nothing but a natural childbirth. But it ended up being a great labor and delivery.

FancyFeet10 · October 2010

I had to be induced for medical reasons, but I ultimately ended up with a c-section (which had nothing to do with the induction)

Went in the night before at 6pm to get the cytotec started. I was already at 2cm and 40% effaced, so I only needed 1 dose to get me to 4cm. Contractions started pretty regularly after that and although they gave me ambien to help sleep through them, I was up most of the night (made me tired for about 30 min, but with people coming in all the time, it didn't work). I'm so glad I sent my husband home to get some "good" sleep before our big day!

I decided to get an epidural around 5am. I was having some back pain and I knew they would start pitocin at 7am. It was fabulous! btw, DO NOT stay propped to the same side after you get it - it works by gravity so if you only lay on one side, the epi will drain down that one leg. I had this happen to me and it sucked!

Contractions with the epi weren't that bad. The hospital I delivered in keeps it light enough so that you can feel to push, so I wasn't completely numb. They broke my water around 10am and by 12pm I was ready to start pushing.

I pushed for 2.5hrs, but she wasn't descending at all. The back pain was really bad on the side the epi wasn't working on and I was pretty exhausted from pushing so long. They said a c-section was needed and I was in so much pain that I readily agreed to it. I got extra epi meds to finish numbing me up and I was finally a happy camper. :-)

Apparently DD was face up (instead of face down) which makes it a lot harder to fit through and explained my back pain. The way she was positioned the dr said there was no way she could have descended. I'm 3 weeks pp and feel pretty much back to normal.

Had she been face down, the induction totally would have worked!

GL to you tomorrow! I hope everything goes smoothly for you! :-)

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