how long does an induction usually take?

nowayamyrae · May 2011

I'm totally ahead of myself here, but I'm curious.. from the time pitocin is started, how long usually, until there's a baby?

My OB scheduled me an appointment for June 14th if I go over -- which is my husbands birthday (and 5 days past my EDD). My birthday is the 16th. We always joked (looong before we were even pregnant) that it would be so cool to have a baby on the day between our birthdays... and it dawned on us last night (if I go over) I could potentially be induced on the 15th!

soontobe05 · May 2011

My friend was just induced Sunday afternoon and had her son Monday night. Took 31hrs.

gymnst1013 · May 2011

It really depends on the person. Could be 12 hours, could be a week (I've known several people that have had 2 failed inductions several days apart and then a 3rd that either worked or, when it didn't, they had a c/s).

Pearly609 · May 2011

Different for each person and pregnancy. It took me 17 1/2 hours after induction to have my son.

jcsumm0 · May 2011

My induction started with a foley catheter to dialate the cervix Friday night. Pit started 7 am Saturday. Doc broke my water around lunchtime, baby was born at 3:41 pm. I think it totally depends, and it depends on whether your body is ready. I was 2cm and cervix was soft.

fuller81 · May 2011

I think it varies with each person, but it took 15 1/2 hours with my SIL.

hannahruth32 · May 2011

I was induced on a Thursday morning at like 900 and ended up with a C Section even after 3 Cytotec and Pitosin at 5 pm on Friday. That was just my experience. I agree with PP it's different for everyone!!

sunshine336 · May 2011

It took my sister about 28-30 hours. She went in the night before to get the softening gel on her cervix, so that's where I start the "clock". She didn't get the pitocin until sometime in the morning and her son was born close to midnight that night.

MammaBear81 · May 2011

It really depends on what your body is doing. With my pregnancies once I had pitocin I had a baby with in 3-4 hours. I've seen (on TV shows only) people who get pitocin and don't progress at all, ending in a c-section, and others that labor for 12 hours and then have a baby... so I really think it depends on where your body is and how it reacts to the medication.