Anything I need to know about Cervidil? (pros/cons)

lauren&matt · November 2008

xp from 3rd tri

So my inductions date is set for next Sunday evening (Nov 30th) assuming little E doesn't come on her own before then. Of course, I'm hoping she does, but if she doesn't I want to be as educated as possible. I think I remember some girls on here wanting to stay away from Cervidil, but I can't remember why. I'm off to google to find out more, but I also thought I would check here.?

The induction plan is to check into L&D at 5pm and the dr will administer Cervidil. If nothing happens overnight, then I'll begin Pitocin Monday (Dec 1) morning. The dr will also break my water that morning. I've heard it can be quite painful if they do it, so I'm thinking I would like my epi before that. ?Is that going to be possible? Sorry if these are totally lame questions!!!! I'm just starting to look into all of this!

Thanks for your advice! I look forward to joining y'all soon!!!!!!!!?

Sweetrose664 · November 2008

One thing you should know is that it hurts like hell to get it put on and even worse when they remove it. I had 2 doses and wish I had known to expect the pain

Sweetrose664 · November 2008

No, you shouldn't be getting your epi before hand and after my 2 doses I still needed the pit

6fsn · November 2008

I had no problems with the Cervidil, but I will say it wasn't comfortable when they broke my water. I doubt an epi will be an option when they break your water. I was only 4 cm, the epi doesn't come until much later.

bluestar0527 · November 2008

Breaking your water isn't painful, but the pitocin definitely got stuff moving for me and contractions were pretty regular (which is painful). Not a bad idea to get the epi before that!

bluestar0527 · November 2008

Oh, and also, I was 4cm so I was able to get the epi immediately (I'm not sure how far you'll be dilated if it will be an option)

mrstice · November 2008

I didn't think it hurt...or maybe I forgot after labor? Putting it in was similar to when they checked my cervix, I thought. I had it inserted at 9pm, I started feeling stronger contrax around 3am, and my water broke on its own at 4am. The contractions weren't strong enough or regular enough so they took out Cervadil at 8am (didn't hurt at all) and started Pit at 10am.

I didn't have an epidural at all, and I can tell you that the cervadil contractions are NOTHING compared to Pitocin contractions.

ad*H*ab · November 2008

I had cervidil and it didn't hurt at all, I also had a successful induction. Dr. broke my water and that didn't hurt either. I would avoid cytotec, personally.

krismtg · November 2008

I had Cervidil and was induced with Pitocin the next day. The Cervidil started some cramping but wasn't bad until late that night. Then it was like really bad menstrual cramps. When they came in to check on me the next morning I hadn't done anything. So then they broke my water (didn't hurt at all) and had me try a breast pump. I had no plans on breast feeding because I hate nipples. But I guess if they are stimulated it might bring on labor. That caused more contractions but this time all over (top and bottom). Unfortunately they weren't consistent and tapered off. Then they did the Pitocin. They needed Pitocin all the way up until the actual delivery to keep my labor going at 4 cm I opted to get the epidural. Once you get the epidural you have to stay in bed though, but you can't feel anything. It really wasn't that bad, but I hope you go into labor naturally. Oh and you can get the epi at any time you want at most hospitals. I wanted to wait it out a bit and I am glad I did, that way I kind of felt what labor was going to be like and realized I am a wuss.

klink11 · November 2008

For me the cervidil was the worse pain. This is how it went for me:
Thursday at 11pm, Cervidil was inserted. 2am woke up in pain, nurse offered me tylenol, I asked for the whole bottle. Excruciating pain until 11am when they removed it and switched to Pitocin, fingertip dialated.

8pm another round of cervidil, this lasted about 20 minutes begged to have it removed. After an hour they did, 3cm dialated. Gave me the epidural between 11 and 12. Slept til 5am when I woke up with the feeling I had to "poo", had her at 5:12.

cappyb13 · November 2008

I had Cervidil and Pitocin as you described, but it didn't get me past 1 cm. ?I don't remember either hurting, though. ?They ended up doing a Foley Bulb instead. ?Now, THAT hurt, but I progressed from 1 cm to my water breaking on it's own, to "let's push" in just over an hour. ?So, I guess you should know that it doesn't always work. ?I know some women who have had C-sections because induction meds didn't do the trick. ?I would ask your doctor about the Foley Bulb. ?I almost wish I had let them do that first and avoided the meds. ?Good luck! ?I'll look for you on this board in a few weeks. ?

AJBMD915 · November 2008

I didn't experience any pain at all with insertion or removal of the cervidil the first time. The 2nd time though the removal was a little painful, but not that bad. I think the pain was just due to the constant checking for progress the day before. I had no issues with the cervidil.

It was the pitocin that I hated. I was basically confined to bed for over 2 days. They tried a portable monitor once so I could walk around and baby's hr went way up so back to bed I went. Once it finally started working, my contractions got really painful really quickly. I had no time to build up to dealing with them. I gave in for the epi after 2 1/2 hrs.

How far overdue are you going to be? I would ask that they not break your water. If they do, that sets a time limit. If the pitocin doesn't kick in quickly enough you will have to have a c-section. My dr agreed to not break it unless contractions had started. If she had I would have had my baby by c-section probably 2 days sooner than I did.

Good luck!

LumLisa · November 2008

Ugh. Painful to put it in! And I ended up being awake ALL night long because I felt like I had to pee constantly. Then, the best part... in the morning they decided to do a c-section because my platelets were so low and put me under general anesthesia. Cervidel for nothing. Sucked.

KimandTravWed · November 2008

I went in with the same expectations as you for an induction, was going to get 3 doses of Cervidil then have water break and pitocin started in the morning. I was 39 wks and 50%effaced and fingertip going in.

I had one dose of cervadil put in and that started regular contrax right away..they couldn't give me more doses cause I was contracting already from it. Didn't hurt to get put in..just felt like an internal is all. My water broke naturally from the contrax and they let me labor on my own for a few hours but had to have pitocin anyway cause I wasn't dialating fast enough.

Don't worry about it..everything went smooth and I would do it again with Cervidil if I had to. No complaints or problems with it and I asked a lot of questions before hand to make sure it was safe.

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