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3rd Trimester
laboring naturally with an induction
Although I understand it's not really a 100% natural birth if you recieve pitocin, I'm curious how many of you went on to have a natural birth after recieving the drug?
Also, how did your dr's go about the induction process? what did you like? What would you have done differently or will you do differently the next time around?
Lastly, is a permanant IV required when you do recieve pitocin? If there is does that limit your mobility and prevent from use of a tub or shower?
Thanks 
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Re: laboring naturally with an induction
I was induced with DD--and yes an IV is nescessary (especially since over 50% of inductions lead to c-sections, and you must have an IV before that). Anyhow, didn't limit my mobility, I was up walking around, you just have to wheel the pole around with you everywhere you go, definitely will need some help going to the bathroom, etc.
I got an epidural after 6 hours of labor--it was never my intent to labor naturally, but good luck to you..........those pitocin contractions are STRONG!
I'd love to see the study this number came from.
My good friend gave birth to her son without any pain meds with an induction. I am not sure how she did but she also has the highest pain tolerance I have ever seen...she didn't know she was in labor with her second and had her at home in 15 min..so I am not sure if she is the norm.
While it isn't impossible it will be hard. I was induced with my DD and I had a fast induction I had her in my arms 5 hours after the pit started, but it was unbearable and I folded and got an epi about 3 hours in. A IV is necessary as well as constant fetal monitoring, so you can get up and walk around.
I went in to L&D at 37 weeks with high blood pressure and a sharp headache and had had protein in my urine a couple days before that. They decided to induce that night. i was immediately sent to a room, put on magnesium and pitocin and they broke my water. i was already 4cm before my water broke. they broke it at 1am, i labored without pain medication and my son was born at 6:41am.
it wasnt any worse than a complete natural birth, but i wasnt on pitocin for a long time to need any pain control.
i bow to those who go through 12+ hours of bad contractions without pain control.
I had also planned a natural birth with DS, but ended up essentially being induced since my water broke and I didn't go into labor (and I was GBS+ so I went to the hospital sooner than I originally planned).
Yes, you have to be hooked-up to the IV and continuous EFM, since Pitocin can cause uterine rupture, etc. I don't think I could have labored in the tub, but they would let me off the monitoring to go to the bathroom. Still had the IV though.
My contractions were intense, and I caved 3-4 hours in. I think I also felt defeated since I had such limited mobility anyway, so why not get the epidural.
Having said that, my sister-in-law also had to get Pit, but was able to labor pain-med free. So it can be done!!
I did it! Like PP, my water broke at home with no contractions and we went into the hospital pretty soon after. The doc gave me nearly 12 hrs to start contractions on my own when we finally had to go to pitocin. The contractions hurt, but you can do it! Honestly, I had no idea that contractions were worse with pit, I just figured this is what they felt like. Started pushing about 4 hrs after the pit, 1.5 hrs later (i think that's a long time to push, and i think DS had a huge head) DS was born, no epidural!
I used a birthing ball, low moaning/groaning (it really does work), and breathing to get me through. That was it. I didn't want an epidural because I already have chronic back pain issues and I don't need more just to save myself a few hours of pain. I also kept thinking that there are women all over the world, even in developed countries, that don't get pain meds. If they can all do it, so can I and so can you!
Long story short... I was started on Pitocin at 4:00 PM and labored until 2:00 AM with NO pain, whatsoever. NONE. Around 2 AM, I was dilated to 4 and it started getting somewhat painful, so I requested my epi (no heroics for me). The anesthesiologist was asleep and didn't arrive for 2+ hours and by then I had unknowingly dilated to 10. DS was born at 7:15 AM, but after my epi they gave me some down time to rest and I pushed for 1.5 hours.
In hindsight, I probably could have pushed through and had him without the epi, but I didn't realize I had made it 10 until after I got the epi.
Overall, I had a fantastic induction experience... I just hope this labor goes as smoothly.
***lurking***
I am a L&D nurse and I have seen both. Most women who are on pitocin do end up with an epidural because inductions for first time moms can take a long time (some as long as 24 hours). That being said it can be done. It also depends on your pain tolerance. I wanted to have a med free birth. My DD was OP (sunny side up) and I had horrible back labor and it felt like someone was stabbing through my lungs. Once I lost my focus at 8 cm I caved and got the epidural and I am glad that I did because I was then able to enjoy the rest of my labor (the last hour). If you feel strongly about not having a epidural stay focused and confident but its not the end of the world if you decide you want it.
Also to the poster who said 50% of inductions end up in c-section that is not true. While a c-section can be more likely for an induction than if a mother goes into natural labor, many induced mothers can have a vaginal delivery. We induce a ton of mothers at my hosptial (we deal with very high risk patients) and I would say about 10-15% end up in a section. That is most often because of baby position, baby heart rate, or mother's pelvis being disproportionate which wouldn't have mattered if patient was induced or not!
I DID wind up with an epidural and WAS planning on having a med-free birth, but I truly think it depends on who administers the pitocin & how high they set it how fast, as well as how long you are in labor.
After being in the hospital overnight with cervadil, they broke my water at 8 am. Contractions started, and they really weren't bad at all. I was laboring fine, walking around the L&D floor, but by 12 pm, they were starting to slow down again. That's when they started the pitocin. I believe they jacked it up way too high too fast & that was what did me in. Even the L&D nurse came in, made a comment about how high the midwife put it, and turned it down. I was really ok for maybe 3-4 hours, but by 4 hours, I was having nonstop contractions. The pitocin had essentially put me in the transition stage of labor, but I was only 4 cm dilated. All I can tell you is that it felt like someone was shoving a metal pole down through my body & out my butt. I suffered like that for over an hour, and after an hour, I was still only 5 cm. I was dry-heaving from the pain and shaking uncontrollably, and they told me it could be up to another 6 hours like that before I was fully dilated. I think I could've made it another 1/2 hour, so that's when I got the epidural. In less than an hour, I dilated from 5 cm to 10 cm, I think because I was finally able to relax.
I'm unhappy with being induced for several reasons (I wish I'd had the c-section they wanted me to have instead), but honestly I think that if they'd gone a little slower on the pitocin, I would've been able to do it.
I really want to labor naturally, I did with DS and it was a good experience. No diss on pain meds, I'm just more nervous about epidurals than pain.
My sister was about to be given pitocin and her doula suggested using the breast pump to help regulate the contraction pattern. After 30 mins or so on the breast pump she was in active labor with contractions close together and they didn't end up needing to give her pitocin. Just an idea if you'd like another option to try!
I wasn't induced but after my water broke (naturally) I wasn't making any progress so they administered pitocin. I was on IV and it could go where I wanted it to go, I walked the hospital, used my labor ball, and got in the tub. Unfortunately, pitocin didn't do much for me and after 18 hours or so I was getting really weak and didn't think I would have the endurance to push through the pain. I asked for an epidural at that point and I'm happy that I did because I still had 6 more hours (2 pushing) before DS was delivered.
I think if I had to do it over again I would ask for something stronger than pitocin, I would ask for someone to double check my water sac (I had two and it wasn't discovered until after pitocin was started).
Like a couple other PPs, my water broke without any other signs of labor. When I got to the hospital, I tested positive for meconium & had to be induced with pitocin. I labored pain-med free for 24 hours, 2 pushing, but I ended up with a c/s.
This time around I am hoping to avoid being induced but if I have to be, I will start with a foley catheter. I will also get my membranes stripped if I pass my due date. I am also taking EPO & RLT. I think I am even going to do acupressure.
An IV is required but, like PPs said, it didn't inhibit me too much. I walked around a lot, you just have to bring the pole with you. It was kinda nice, I leaned against it through contractions a few times. I was able to use the shower but not the tub.