Can you share your induction experiences?

I've had high BP for the past few weeks. My 24 hour unrine collection came back normal. My bloodwork was good last week except for my uric acid. I have horrible swelling, which has gone down somewhat since I've been on bedrest. On Monday, I was 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced. I was happy that yesterday's appointment went well enough that I didn't need to be admitted to L&D.

My next appointment is on Monday. If my BP is still high or if I've made more progress, I'll be induced that day. If not, I'll be induced on Thursday at 38 weeks. My doctors won't let me go past 38 weeks b/c of my BP issues.

I'm pretty nervous about being induced. If you were induced, can you please share your experience?

How far along were you when you were induced? Were you dilated/effaced at all before the induction? How long did the induction take? Did you end up with a c-section?

Thank you.

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

I was induced at 42 weeks since I was not even a CM dilated.

They brought me in a Tuesday night and gaveme Cervadil and an Ambien. Cervadil felt a little uncomfortable going in, but nothing crazy. The Ambien helped me sleep that night.

At 8am the next morning, they started the Pitocin. I had absolutely NO reaction to the Pitocin. They kept increasing the doses, but NOTHING. So at 9pm, they gave me the choice of coming off the Pitocin, eating something and trying again the next morning or a C-Section. I chose C-Section. Turns out it was a good choice. My placenta was showing signs of infection and had I gone another day they would've had to put both me and DD on antibiotics.

Good luck!!!

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

I was induced at 38w6d for low amniotic fluid. I was 1cm dilated when I was admitted. I got my frist cervadil at 11:45am, my second around 11pm. I requested an epidural around 3:30am, when I was only 3cm. After two hours, my dr checked me and I was already at 9. I started pushing at 7:30 and DS was born at 8:24m.

Best of luck!

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

I was induced at 39w4d on 10/11 at 9am due to my fluid being low. I was 1cm dilated when I went in. This all took place in a military hospital in Kansas, so they do things a smidge different. I didn't get cervadil at all. They started me on the Pitocin right away and put in a bulb foley.... the ball part goes into your cervix and then traction is applied to help speed up dilation- supposedly lol. It did nothing for me and after 19 hours of being on the pitocin, I was 1.5 cm dilated Due to that and DH having orders to deploy within a day, I ended up with the c-section. DD was born at 1:35pm on 10/12. I had a wonderful experience, was up and moving within 3 hours of having DD. I went home 3 days later on just Motrin and other than a few pains here and there, I had a great recovery. DH and I went pumpkin picking that same weekend. I hope your induction works for you, but if not, the section was not as horrible as some have made it out to be. Good luck!!

Message edited 12/5/2008 12:22:42 PM.

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

I had a great induction experience. I was on bed rest from 32 weeks and then was induced at 37 weeks due to low fluid. I was not at all dilated or effaced prior to induction.

I had an Ob appointment to check on my fluid and the doctor said this is it...you need to go to the hospital. He stripped my membranes in the office (not too bad). Then off to the hospital we went. I got an enema (if they offer it to you, get one) to kick start the induction. That was about 4PM and then about 1/2 hour later they started me on pitocin. That didn't do much; I was up and walking around to try and move things along. Then at about 8PM I was only 3cm along so they boost up the pitocin. By 9PM, I had the epidural. The doctor broke my water after 10PM and I was ready to push by 2AM. I had an episiotomy during the birthing process. DD was born at 3:14 vaginally.

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

I was induced at 38 weeks due to my water breaking followed by no contractions.
They started me on Cervadil Sunday and then added the pitocin drip (I think Sunday evening).
By Monday AM, I got to 2cms.
By Monday afternoon, nothing! Still at 2.
Ended up in a C Section, which, wasn't bad at all.

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

My origiinal due date was 5/11/08. When I had my internal on 5/16, he scheduled me for an induction on Monday at Good Sam. He really thought I'd delivery over the weeknd, but...didn't happen.

I showed up at Good Sam, bright and early. They hooked me up to all kinds of machines, gave me an ultrasound, started the Pitocin to get labor going. Broke my water at some point...waiting, waiting, waiting. It took me 12 hours to be fully dialted and ready to push.

I was only about 2-3 pushes in, when my OB said, this is not going to happen. The baby's heartrate keeps dropping everytime you push...so, we're going to do a C-section before this becomes an emergency situation.

I delivered my beautiful baby boy at 9:10p...perfectly healthy. But I was EXHAUSTED!!!!!!!

Good luck!

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

I was started on Pitocin on Monday night (38weeks, 6days)

I was NOT dialated at all but I was about 70% effaced.

Tuesday morning, they started the pitocin at 7am, amped it up at 9am. Then at 11am, I got my epi, at 2pm, the doctor came in. I was STILL only a fingertip dialated and dd was in a BIT of distress. I wound up with a c-section and had an AMAZING experience. No complaints, no regrets

good luck

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

i was induced at 2-3 cm with contractions 5 min apart. by induced i mean she broke -tiowater and when the labor didnt progress quickly they gave me pitocin. there was no reason for my induction at all, but thats another issue, but i did end up with a c-section.

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

I was induced 10 days early because of a medication I was on (a blood thinner). It went pretty well, though it took two days. They did cervidil Sunday night, started pitocin on Monday monring. I didn't progress enough Monday so they turned off the pitocin Monday night. On Tuesday, they started it up again and broke my water. DD was born at 7:15 PM. No c-section needed.

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

I was induced a week prior to my due date. I had high blood pressure for the majority of my pregnancy.

It resulted in a c-section the following morning

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

I was induced at 41 weeks, no health problems, but I was past my due date and there were some concerns about placental deterioration. I could have waited another week, but my doctor said if there was deterioration, I would need a c-section immediately and also explained the baby's health would be at risk. So weighing everything, we decided to go with the induction.

It took 22 hours from start to finish, and I needed an episiotomy, but otherwise it went pretty smoothly. The baby's heartrate dropped at one point, and that was scary. I would ask your doctor how they handle this just so you are prepared if it happnes. I had no idea what was wrong at the time, and no one explained until his heartrate stabilized again. So I wish I knew more about that going in to the delivery.

You can get an epidural whenever you want with an induction, and I recommend it. I wanted to go natural, but you will be hooked up to monitors and unable to move around, so getting through the labor naturally with an induction is pretty hard.

Good luck to you!

Funny you should ask this today--my little boy is now a year old, and I was thinking about the delivery yesterday a lot.

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

I had been 2 cm dilated for about 2 weeks, and I was 41 weeks when they decided to induce me. I was induced on 10/16 early in the morning, and about 2 hours later felt the first contractions. The contractions got strong around noon time and continued to get stronger and stronger. At around 6 pm, I decided to get the epidural because I could not take the pain any longer-I was 4 cm.

I quickly jumped to 10 cm by 9:30 pm, and started to push. I pushed for two hours. The doctor at one point said basically that if the baby wasn't there by 12, we were going to talk c-section. I was very nervous about a c-section and didn't want one.

At 11:44 B was born naturally. The induction was not at all as bad as I thought.

Message edited 12/10/2012 2:17:45 PM.

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

I was almost 41 weeks. Not dilated or effaced at all. Went to the doctor in the morning. Baby wasn't as active as she had hoped so she sent me right to the hospital for immediate induction. After iv and weigh in, I went into the room. They incerted the cervidil (like a tampon) at 12:30. Water broke at about 5. Epidural at about 10. I delivered vaginally at 1:29 am. It took 13 hours start to finish.

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

I was induced at just under 42 weeks, they started the whole shebang on Saturday at 6 am, I had a wonderful natural birth at 9 pm MONDAY. I was in labor for AGES, it was a long an drawn out process, thank goodness for my birthing ball and my maternity tens machine, they got me through it. But it isn't something I would like to repeat.

I didn't have a C-section, and I was grateful to my midwives for keeping my spirits up (with laughing gas)

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

I was induced at 42 weeks. Not dialated or effaced at all.

Cervadil for 12 hrs.

No progress was made.

I demanded a c-section - good thing I did because he was 10lbs and they said he would never have come out on his own!

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

at 5 days past my due date i was induced, just cuz i wanted her out

i was already 3 cm dialated since my last apt on my due date, at 7:30 am they broke my water and started pitocin, by 8:30am i was asking for my epi and by 3:30pm i was pushing. at 4:45pm my beautiful DD entered the world. IMO it was an easy labor and delivery and i dont regret being induced at all. good luck!

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

I was induced at 39 weeks due to high blood pressure and pre ecclampsia...you wanna talk about swelling...sheesh!

I was given cervidal at 5pm Monday and finally had my DD naturally at 7:50pm Tuesday..... a long but well worth it process

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

Mine was fantastic, I was very lucky!

Induction at 41 weeks. Was in my hospital bed by 7:30pm...didn't need Cervadil because I was already progressing (although I didn't know it). Got Pitocin, contractions intensified, pushed for over an hour, and baby was born at 2:37am-- 7 hours total I hope your labor is as quick & easy as mine! Good luck

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

OK - I had a similar thing happen to be with high blood pressure, pretty normal labs (with the exception of uric acid)...although I was 5 days late already. I was induced on a Friday night (2 weeks ago) with cervidil. At that point I was 1 cm and 70 %. The cervidil took no time at all to put in and was note painful at all. It looks like a flattened tampon with a string attached. I was not having contractions prior to cervidil. B/c of the high BP, they gave me a magnesium drip. to lower the BP. This makes you a little woozy. Once this goes in they won't let you get up and walk around except to go to the bathroom. Like I said you are woozy so you are not going to feel like walking the halls! At around 2 am I started getting contractions. Not bad enough to get an epidurel though. At 7:30 am the OB came in and said I was 3 cm and 100 % effaced. He then broke my water and started pitocen. I reacted quickly to the pitocen b/c when he came in at around 11 am I was 8 cm . Oh - by this time I requested the epidurel b/c the contractions were getting annoying. After the exam he told me he would be back in 15 minutes so I should get ready to oush. I couldn't believe it. I pushed for 40 minutes and my DD was born at 12:47 pm. As well as it turned out, I have to say that I was very upset about being induced. Lots of crying the night of induction since it was not my birth plan. Once I got over it mentally I was ok. Do not stress about it. If you have high BP and it isn't going down, the best thing to do is deliver. Good luck!!

Re: Can you share your induction experiences?

I went through inductions for both my pregnancies. With both I was already showing progress (like you are). Both inductions only needed pitocin and both resulted in vaginal births.

What's really nice with an induction is that you can get the epi whenever you want.

Good luck to you!!!!