Induction

My 1st was 3 weeks early and 5lb 10oz on his own, my second was never coming out(!!)so we induced on my due date- so I was a bit nervous too since I had had it pretty easy the first go around! Mine went really well, not really much different than my first delivery- checked in early, Dr broke my water at 8am, started Pitocin, contractions were managable, got my epi(and a booster before pushing), started pushing around 2 I think, I had to push a LONG time with both my boys(unlike all my friends who got thru with a few short pushes)- delivered about 3:30-- we(my parents, inlaws & hubby all hung with me until time to push then just hubby) played cards, watched the soaps, talked- kept my mind off it really- all in all mine was a pretty great experience, but my nurses and Dr were amazing too and that sure helps! Best of luck to you, just relax and go with it, know that no matter what at the end you get this beautiful little creature who will love you always(and since I'm partial to boys- give the best hugs and kisses and smiles in the world!) Tiff- mom to Elijah 12.22.04 & Samuel 6.9.06

M.,
I'm sure you have enough advice but I will tell you. There is nothing to be afraid of with being induced. I was a week late with my daughter and I couldn't wait to be induced. I have been told that labor is worse with induction than it is naturally but I don't know. I went through 21 1/2 hours of labor with my daughter before she was born. But when I went in to be induced I was only dialated to a 1. My water broke on its own and when that happened my contractions got about 3 times worse. So by then I had dialated to 3/4. I asked for my epidural and received it promptly. I got plenty of sleep after that and when they checked me it was time to get her out. I only pushed for a hour and I had my beautiful baby in my arms. They say after the baby is born you don't even remember the pain...that is so true. I don't remember the pain...she was worth whatever I went through. I wish you luck and hope everything goes smoothly! Congrats!

Boy that sounds so familiar! I was in horrible pain for about 2 weeks before I was induced. It went smoothly. Except the pain was very bad after they broke my water and upped the pitocin. I finally got my epidural about 2:30pm and delivered my 8lb daughter at exactly 4:00pm. My Dr. thought all I needed to do was relax and the pain I was going thru was keeping me from doing that. So I guess I was fighting what my own body was trying to do.Wish I would have realized that prior and just had a glass of wine or something to relax me. I highly recommend getting an epidural in place BEFORE your pain should get too bad. I also have a very high pain tolerence.This was my experience with my second child, my first was natural childbirth. Hope that helps!

Hi M.,

I had all 3 of my children by induction and I loved it. If I were to do it all over again I would do the same thing. I wouldn't dilate with any of my children naturally so they did it for me and I was in labor with all 3 for about 2 to 3 hrs and I pushed for 5 minutes with all 3. I had an epidural with all 3 but on my last one it didn't take until after he was delivered. So I would say that my experience went very well. They broke my water and everything and it didn't hurt. They say when induced that the labor is stronger and harder but it went good for me. Good luck I hope that this helps..

C.

M., I was induced with my first. My water broke a month early, but no contractions, so they hooked me up and filled me full of Pitocin. I labored over 24 hrs, but nothing that was unmanageable. I've heard horror stories before, but nothing like that happened to me. I remember it made it me literally shake, but that was about it. My contractions were strong, but the baby was never in any danger. With my second, I went into labor naturally, but needed a Pitocin boost about halfway thru labor. Again, the baby was never in distress. Just relax and try not to worry. Talk to your husband/birth coach and make sure that they're an advocate for you and your birth plan. At the same time, be flexible since birth is NEVER something you can completely plan. Just think about the end result - that beautiful baby to love on! Good luck!!

Hello M.,

I was induced with my 2nd child due to gestational diabetes. However, after being on pitocen from 7:30 until 4:30 and no change we ended up going in for a c-section. I went into the hospital at a 3 and never once changed even as they increased my pitocen.

I hope that you have better luck than I did. Congrats on your new little boy!!! I just had a little boy 3 months ago. They are a blast!

L.

My induction was my best birth. However it was my second child and I was already to 6cm when I went in for the induction. All that I had done was my water was broke and I was off.

Hi M.. Congratulations! As a first time mom I was really nervous about giving birth and being induced. I went to the classes and read all the materials but didn't ever feel really ready. You are smart to be asking about the actual induction. My labor went something like this, we got up very early and checked in at the hospital. The nurse started the IV and I was given pitocin right away. My doctor visited while he was doing morning rounds and told me to expect the baby early that evening. The first part of the morning passed by slowly. We were all tired and kind of bored, anxiously awaiting but no pain or discomfort. Since my pain level stayed low they kept increasing the amount of pitocin. I have a high pain tolerance but once the pitocin really got to going I didn't have much rest between contactions. They were very strong and I wasn't getting more than a minute of rest between each one. I was only dilated to a two when I requested my epidural. Thankfully my doctor felt that it was fine and I received it right away. After my epidural I felt no more pain and actually took a nap. After my little nap my water broke. Things moved fast from there and my son was born early that evening. The actual delivery was a bit traumatic because my son was a bit too big for me (which is why I was induced). My son was my first child so I thought everything was pretty normal. What I didn't know was that my son's heart rate had dropped during delivery and that he was administered oxygen as the doctor was finishing up with me (I guess that nobody wanted to scare me). My son was healthy and that is what my husband and I cared about. I am so grateful now to know that it was a neonatoligist that was present during my sons delivery and she was the person that administered his oxygen and checked his APGAR/vitals. I can't emphasis nearly enough how important it is to have a neonatologist. The birth of your baby is a very exciting time but if I were to do one thing different with the delivery of both my second child that would be it. My daughter was born via a planned C-section (on my due date) and my insurance allowed me the choice of two hospitals (that my dr. had priveleges at). I felt comfortable with my choice because the hospital had a neonatoligist but they actually shared the neonatologist with another hospital. My baby girl was in distress in a Level II nursery and did not see a neonatoligist until day 2. The instant the neonatologist saw her she was put on a ventilator and transferred to Overland Park Regional's NICU (her lungs were not fully developed). I still feel guilty that I could have eased her struggle that first 24 hours by making sure that a neonatoligst was physically on site in the hopital, not a floater between. My intention is not to frighten you this is a very special event for you and your family but after going through the experience it makes an absolute difference to confirm in the unlikely even that something doesn't go according to plan the right resources are in place. If you want more information about the hospitals I was at and the experience please feel free to message me. Good luck!

M.-
I have been induced with both my 2 year old and my 5 month old. Both times went very smoothly and basiclly painless. The only bothersome thing was the initial IV which you have to get if you are induced or go into labor on your own. Both of my kids are happy and healthy and developing right on schedule! I was hoping I would get to experience labor with my 2nd but I too was in so much pain and just decided to let them induce.
Hope this puts your mind at ease! Good Luck!

I was induced with all 3 of mine. All went great! Just bring some stuff to do while you wait! Keeping my mind off of everything going on made it go by quickly. I watched music videos, read magazines, and took a nap! I hope every thing goes great. Try to get lots of sleep tonight! Good Luck! And Congrats!!!

Hi M.,

I was induced with my first pregnancy, twins, almost 5 years ago. I was already starting to dilate when they did so that was good. I got to the hospital the morning of, since I was already dilated and since the nurses where busy they doctor made it in to break my water before the nurses stated my Pitocen. My water was broken at 7am, Pitocen at 730am and I got to see my daughters just before 2pm. It wasn't that bad at all. Since I was induced and had to be monitered and hooked up to an IV I was able to walk around, but found that sitting up in bed made it easier and helped the first baby gravitate downward. Good Luck and Congrats on your impending arrival! J.

Hi M.!

I am so excited for you! Exactly 6 months ago today, I gave birth my our first child, by induction! I was a few days over due, and my OB offered...and I said YES! I was scared too...but it went very well (only 10 hours start to finish) and I still able to deliver naturally with no drugs.
My best advice is to make sure that you and your nurse click. If you aren't comfortable with her, ask for a different nurse...it is well worth it in the end. Use the support of your husband during the labor process...and most of all RELAX! I kept telling myself, that even though I had no idea what I was doing, my body did. I hope this helps! If you want to know anything else, PLEASE write me, and I will tell you ANYTHING (even the not so pretty details)

Good LUCK and God Bless your growing family!!
-M.

I had all my kids at home, naturally, with a mid-wife. My friend, on the other hand, was induced with her second child. She had the baby very fast (induction to delivery was 2 hours), said it was horrible, and she'd never let another dr talk her into it again. I don't want to scare you, since this is your first baby, but please inform yourself. Google the risks of being induced, you may decide that the discomfort you're feeling now is worth it in the long run. You may also try some more natural ways of inducing your own labor, which is what I tried with my last, who was late.
Good luck! You'll be so happy in the end, when you hold your baby, that everything else won't matter. :)

S.

Hi M., I am a mother of three and was always overdue with scheduled dates to be induced. My first two I was induced and that potosin they give you is horrible as far as making you cramp really really bad, I did not like the feeling at all, but was so ready to deliver I chose to go through it. My third baby, I let come when he was ready, and it was much easier. That could have been because it was my third, but the labor pains were much easier to deal with than the induced labor. I would recommend to you that you wait and let him come naturally unless there are risk with continuing to carry him. Hope this helps. But don't worry whatever your decision you will be just fine and soon be holding your new bundle of joy.

M.,

Hi I am a 43yr old SAHM with a 6, 4, & 2yr old, I was induced with my last two because I had my first child rather quickly, in approx 4 hrs. Being induced is nice, you go to the hosp. early in the morning they prep you and begin the meds. It is a completely controlled environment. I had my 2nd son in about an hour after they started the meds and my two yr old daughter in about 20 minutes. Like I said I have them fast! So I was glad I was already at the hospital when labor began. I didn't have to worry whether or not I would make it to the hospital in time. Don't be nervous, it is by far the best experience you'll ever have once it's all over. I do recommend the epidural however especially as soon as the pain gets too bad. With my 2nd child I waited to long and the epidural didn't have time to take before he was born.
Good Luck on the birth of your baby.------J. C

Personally, mine went very well. I was induced at 7:00am, my dr. broke my water at around 9-9:30 and had the baby at 4:27...smooth as could be. I only pushed for about 40 minutes. Every delivery is different, but I was very uncomfortable and was happy to be induced just a couple days after my original due date. Good luck!

Read up on pitocin. I wasn't induced with my first, but they did give me pitocin and break my water to get things moving. The pitocin gave me long, hard contractions that caused some distress for my baby (who is now 3). I was even on the way out the door for an emergency c-section at one point. They had even shaved me, but the contractions eased up at the last moment and I ended up going the more natural way. With each contraction the baby's heart rate drops, which is normal. But, if the contractions are too long and hard, the baby doesn't get a chance to recover.
With my second, I thought about not using pitocin, but I did end up letting them give me some. I just had them start off slow and monitor me and the baby every step of the way. I was ready to tell them to stop the pitocin at any moment, but I never had to. Just keep in mind that you do have some control over your labor, even if you are induced. Just do your research before going in.
Good luck.

Hi M.!
i was induced w/ my son, and overall i had a good experience. The only thing that i did was hesitate on the epidural. So they gave me this other drug that made me feel "drunk" if i were to do it all over again i would just shoot for the ep.

Good luck!

I was induced the beginning of the month, because our little girl was growing so big. She wasn't due until today, but came out 9 lbs and 19 1/2 inches long. As far as the induction went, it was pretty smooth. The only thing I can say, is don't try to be a hero. We pushed for 2 hours, and ended up going c-secion because of her size. The pain isn't too bad, with the epidural. We go one at 6 1/2, and until it wore off, it was great. Good luck!!

I was induced 5 days after my due date because my daughter was kicking the placenta to shreads. I was induced at 7 or 8am and she was born at 3:45 that same day. The only issue with being induced was that I had difficulty getting used to/managing the contractions because they are immediately every 2-3 minutes so there's not build-up to get acclimated to it. At about 5 cm I asked for an epidural because it was back labor and I wasn't able to manage the pain on my own. But all in all it went well!

Good luck,
J.