Positive L&D stories on being induced!?

Re: Positive L&D stories on being induced!?

• Boobopgirl member

  July 2015

  Not sure my story would be helpful, but my best tip is to ask questions about every step of the process.  The hospital we chose had a very long, slow induction process (which I preferred because it meant lower doses of meds, less pressure to give birth within a certain time line etc. etc.) but can have cons such as longer labor/exhausted mama/inability to push when the time comes.  Understanding how your hospital does things and what options there are is really helpful in being mentally prepared.
  
  Ex.  Do you use cytotec first to ripen the cervix?  Do you just start the pitocin?  How far apart are you aiming for contractions to be?  How long do you allow a mom to labor before intervening?  Is there a point at which you would want to break my water?  Do you do it right away? At a certain dilation?  Or after so many hours of no change?  Will I be on monitors the whole time?  Will I be able to get up and move/change positions/use the restroom?
  
  I knew what to expect going in. I knew that they would do cytotec first and then try the foley balloon and pitocin.  I knew that they would try to break my water at 3-4 cm (and I knew I didn't want it broken until at least 6).  I knew that unless I had an epidural, I'd be able to get up and try different positions.  And that made the process way mentally easier for me.  
  
  Induction is not easy, but really no method of labor or delivery is easy.  

  

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• vjlanier member

  July 2015

  I went in night before and had cervidil (sp) put in to ripen my cervix.  Had some minor cramping all night from that.  Next morning around 730 they started my pitocin.  I am apparently not good at letting my body relax during contractions so mine took longer than it could have but after crying a few times when I was checked at only a 3 then a 4.. finally a 5 and got epidural!! After that, no lie baby was delivered in about an hour.  I was able to relax with the pain relief from the epi and I went quick.  About 14 mins of pushing I think!  He was born around 530 pm.  My suggestion is to relax as much as you can and DO NOT lay down!!!  I had visitors in my room so I stayed still in bed looking at them and that really hurt me in the long run.  If you can move around, sit on birthing ball, etc that would be best.  Obviously when/if you get an epi you will be bed bound until you deliver.  I hated the pitocin, but overall it brought me my son so it was a success.  I'm not going to sugar coat it though, contractions suck and I've heard they are worst than if you do it naturally but I can't speak on that just yet anyway.  Good Luck!! 
  
  I will not decline an induction if I require one this go around.  It wasn't that bad of an experience.  But I do not have GD this time so I'm hoping to go into labor on my own and do most of the laboring at home before going to the hospital.
  

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• merlm12 member

  July 2015

  I was induced at 35 weeks with my son when my water broke and it wasn't bad at all.  They started me on pitocin at noon, I started having some contractions around 5 pm, got en epidural at 9 pm and when they checked me around 10:30/11 pm it was time to push and he was born at midnight.  The pitocin did sort of make me swollen/retain water and it took a few days for that to go away, but overall it was a pretty easy delivery for the first time I think.  I realize that may be a less typical induction situation because my water had already broken, but it really was not a bad experience.

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• Mufflerlove member

  July 2015 edited July 2015

  I would say mine is positive. I had no problems.
  
  I was induced at 10 days overdue. I first got cervix ripening gel then sent home for 12 hours. Then I got the cervidil inserted and sent home overnight. I went back at 8 am and hadn't progressed so they left it in and I went home. Up until this point I think perhaps I was cramping a bit but it was fine. At 1 pm my water broke and contractions started instantaneously. They started and stayed at maybe 3 minutes apart. I went to the hospital and they removed the cervidil. I laboured at the hospital for 4 hours and then pushed for 2 before she made her appearance. I didn't require any pain meds.
  
  I had some problems with bleeding from my severe tears but that wasn't the inductions fault. She was 11 days late and 9 lbs 10.5 oz.
  

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• DChunt09 member

  July 2015 edited July 2015

  I have a positive induction birth story!
  
  When I was pregnant with my son, (my first baby) I was having blood pressure issues from the beginning.
  
  I was put on bedrest for certain lengths of time, which helped at first, but didn't at the end.
  
  My Dr. felt that my son would be better off if we went ahead and induced at 38 weeks, which we did.
  
  I went into my Obgyn (which is inside the hospital I deliver) and had an NST and they sent me up to Labor and Delivery after that. They got me settled in and started an IV. I had to wear a blood pressure cuff that went off every hour, but it wasn't incredibly annoying. I was settled in my room around 6pm, they inserted the cervadil around 8pm, and by 9pm I was starting to contract just from the cervadil. I labored (lightly) through the night and received the line of pitocin and an epidural in the morning. After the epidural, I took an hour or two long nap and when I woke up, I knew it was time to push. I just felt extreme pressure with no pain.
  
  When my nurse came in to check me, I was indeed ready to push. We did 2 practice pushes before my Dr. came in. Had I "practiced" anymore, the nurse would have delivered him. Once I started pushing for the Dr., it took roughly 10 minutes to get him and placenta out. I needed 2 stitches.
  
  Not related to the induction: My son had had the cord around his neck, wrapped twice. He needed to be taken to the NICU for just a few hours for some oxygen. They brought him back after that and we were set from there!
  
  (I was not induced with my second and found that her delivery was a bit harder. Now, with my fourth, we are inducing. I lost our third at 17 weeks, which has to do with inducing this time.)
  
  Don't let people scare you! Induction can go very smoothly and look beautiful too!

  
  

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• mesalmon89 member

  July 2015

  I was induced 10 days past my due date with my daughter. They broke my water and started pitocin at around 10-10:30am, and I stayed in bed the whole time I was in labor chatting with visitors. By 3:30pm contractions were getting super strong so I got 1 dose of the IV pain meds and napped for about an hour. At 4:30pm I told my husband to get the nurse because I had to push and my daughter was born at 4:47pm. I actually enjoyed being induced and talked to my doctor about choosing induction this time as well.

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• FinalyFound member

  July 2015

  I was 40W2D. I wouldn't say I was induced, per se, but after 14hours after starting natural labor, my contractions were stalling and I had to be hooked up to pitocin and have my water broken by my doctor. It got things going again and 7 hours later I (FINALLY) gave birth to my daughter. It wasn't scary or anything. I was still able to use the jet tub in my labor room and walk around the room once the contractions picked up again.

  

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• BeachBabe22 member

  July 2015

  My water broke at 11:30pm on Sunday night but it was a slow leak so I wasn't 100% certain that it was my water breaking.  I waited a few more hours to see what would happen and ended up calling my mom around 2am to make the six hour drive to my house.  We got to the hospital around 9:00am Monday morning and they did tests and confirmed that my water did break.  I was admitted to the hospital at 9:30am and throughout the day we did everything to try and get my contractions started without the use of medicine.  I walked the halls for hours and then had the foley bulb inserted.  That was so awkward and uncomfortable and I hated every second of it.  I continued to walk around with the foley bulb but it did not help.  The doctors kept talking about pitocin and I was adamant that I did not want it because I did not want an epidural and I was scared that I wouldn't be able to handle the contractions.  I kept putting it off and my mom and husband were trying to convince me to get it because we were approaching 24 hours after my water broke and it increased the chance of infection.  I finally broke down and got pitocin at 8:30pm. They started out with a low dose and monitored my contractions while I moved around on the birthing ball.  The contractions got worse and worse at the hours went on and they increased the dosage.  I was finally dilated to 10cm and with a few pushes my daughter was born at 3:45am Tuesday morning.  

  
  

  I was able to make it through the pictocin contractions without the help of an epidural.  It was brutal but worth it in the end.  My daughter was born on her due date at 8lbs 4oz and very healthy.  I am really hoping to avoid pitocin this time but in the end you have to do what is best for your baby.  

  

  
  

  
  

  

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• momofsweetps member

  July 2015

  I was induced with my first and it went smoothly and was my quickest labor. The pitocin was killer though. I only had to be given pitocin.
  
  I went into labor with the next 4 on my own but contractions kind of stalled (which I now know was because I wasn't able to move positions), with 2 of the next 4 and got pitocin with them. I didn't get an epidural with them though so was able to push through but I don't like pitocin, my labors without the pit were so much better.

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• str13 member

  July 2015

  I had really positive experiences with each of my girls. My water was broken, pit and epi started. I got to the doctor approximately 7am-ish with each girl, and had each of them around 1-1:30pm.
  Do ask about what to expect and what your options are when the time comes. That way you'll have a little better understanding of what will be going on. Every OB, even in a single practice, is different on how they like to proceed with things. If you know how they work, and they know a little of how you'd like things to go, it can be pleasant.
  Like @DChunt09 said induction can be beautiful too! I always tell people just to own their birth. It may not be the one you "wanted" or imagined you'd get, but it's yours. And it's absolutely perfect!

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• jhoffman23 member

  July 2015

  I was induced w my 2nd at 39 weeks and has a great experience! Did it as a convenience as no family in town so could plan. Don't regret a thing and will do again this time.

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• PhoenixJewels member

  July 2015

  @cheyarmijo94 Thanks for posting this, I was just about to ask a similar question.
  
  My doctors are now mentioning induction. I had a natural med free birth with my daughter and the thought of having to be induced was terrifying me, especially after reading some things people posted.
  
  It is nice and reassuring that there are positive experiences. I know how I want things to go, but I also realize that what happens is based on the situation and what's needed.

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• Crook251 member

  July 2015

  I was induced with both my sons! Only because they were 8lb babies and the doc didn't want them to be bigger than that for a vaginal delivery. It was a slow process, which I didn't mind because I did get a little rest, therefore I wasn't do burnt out after delivery. I had no problems and thought that everything went well. :-)

  <a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Parenting Tips"><img
  

  
   Married: December 19, 2009

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• nmm3170 member

  July 2015

  My water broke 2 days before my due date around 10:30 am. I was already 2 cm dilated and 70 % effaced at my prior weeks appt. By 1 pm I was not progressing in the hospital and was having absolutely no contractions on my own so they gave me pitocin by about 1:30. By 4:42 pm my baby girl was born and all was good, both mom and baby were healthy. That was 2010.

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