Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I had my 39 week doctors appointment today and they decided to schedule an induction if the baby doesn't come by a week past my due date (this Saturday, the 13th).

Apparantly, this is routine procedure at the practice but it makes me a little nervous. Also, the doctor I like (there are several at the practice) delivers on Wednesdays at the hospital, and the doctor I feel least comfortable with is the one on schedule for next Friday, when they are scheduling the induction for. I know that picking which doctor to deliver my baby isnt the best reason to choose an induction date, but a part of me figures if I have to be induced anyway, whats the difference?

Hopefully I won't have to pick a day at all and LO will decide to come on his own before then, I just wanted advice from those who were induced. I don't want to end up with an uneccessary c-section because I should've waited longer. I also made the mistake of watching "The Business of Being Born" which basically makes Pitocin seem like the culprit of all uneccessary C's.

TIA!!!!

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was induced with all 3 babies (now 6,4,2) and had an amazing experience with all of them.. slight (1/2 inch stitch) tear (didn't feel anything and wouldnt' have known had he not told me) with the first and the other two, no epis and no tear.. I was discharged 24 hours later!

I too had the least favored doctor out of the 3 and he turned out to be wonderful!

is this your first? was it all a healthy pregnancy? I'm surprised they would push for an induction when you're only at 39 weeks with your first?

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

Posted by bicosi

I was induced with all 3 babies (now 6,4,2) and had an amazing experience with all of them.. slight (1/2 inch stitch) tear (didn't feel anything and wouldnt' have known had he not told me) with the first and the other two, no epis and no tear.. I was discharged 24 hours later!

I too had the least favored doctor out of the 3 and he turned out to be wonderful!

is this your first? was it all a healthy pregnancy? I'm surprised they would push for an induction when you're only at 39 weeks with your first?

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was induced at 6pm on a Friday and didn't have DS until 526pm on Saturday. The induction went smoothly. No complications. I couldn't stand the dr that started my induction (one in my OB group) and ended up with the best Dr in the hospital delivering DS..You never know what is going to happen during your delivery. The hospital I was in was packed. There were so many Dr's there. You may see more then one..As for pitocin causing more c-sections, I never heard of that. THere were many women in L and D with me on pitocin. I ended up with an emergency c-section just because DS's head turned while I was pushing...Best thing that ever happened...

You never know what is going to happen until it happens...Good luck...

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was induced at 38 weeks (preeclampsia) but I had a wonderful induction...took about 12 hours. The doctor that I was scheduled with I was not happy about, but in the end I LOVED HER and I am now keeping her as my reg dr.

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was induced at 42 weeks. For me, they had me go in at 9pm on Tuesday night and they leave the Ceravdil in overnight. I think that's pretty standard, so if your induction starts on Friday, you actually probably won't deliver until Saturday or even Sunday depending on how long your labor is. I delivered my son by emergency c-section on Wednesday at 11:37pm, because I never dilated past 3 inches.

Either way as long as you and the baby are healthy, it all works out in the end.

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was induced. No c-section needed. I scheduled my induction when my dr was there so she'd be the one to deliver. I wanted to have dd and be home for Xmas so I was induced when I turned 39 weeks.

I was induced Friday night had baby Saturday night and came home Monday afternoon.

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was induced at 38 weeks (cholestasis). I went in on Saturday 10 am. I was giving 3 cervadils. After over 30 hours of no progress and I was having contractions that were causing DSs HR to drop I had a C/S. I had DS Sunday 3:10pm

But I think it makes a difference that I was induced early.

Message edited 11/10/2010 6:05:07 PM.

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

My first induction was at 40w3d and I picked my day based on having my OB deliver (she was going on vacation)... not a great reason I know. I was induced at 40w3d again with DC#2 and that time it was not based on OB (only because she gave birth herself on my due date ). Both were vaginal deliveries and both would have probably been C's if I had gone any longer (actually DD definitely would have been) because they were both big babies.

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I understand exactly how you feel, I felt exactly the same way.

I gave in to my doctor eventually, because I was scared DS would come out so huge and I was anatomically small that he would have issues coming vaginally.

The induction was scheduled when it would be best for me, but also when it would be convenient for the doctor.

You know this is one time I wish my future self would have talked to my then self. My OB was at my side almost every hour all the 24 of them I was in labor since induction. She made it convenient for her to be there and had no excuses for not being there.

If I had just got in labor, who knows which doctor would have been on my side, and they might have just chickened out on me and sent me for c-section.

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was 8 days late, induced and ended up with a c/s.

I saw the Business Of Being Born after I had my son and wished I had seen it BEFORE. I felt so misinformed about the whole process and now looking back there are things that happened that I feel if I was better able to communicate with the staff about what was going on, I might have been able to hold out a bit longer on the c/s. I definitely felt like it was getting 'late', going into the 24th hour of labor with only a few cm of progress and was 'convinced' it was time to 'just get the baby out'.

Basically if your cervix isn't ready to be induced ( if you're not dialated or effaced at all) the induction will have a higher rate rate of failing. That being said, there are MANY women who go from not dilated at all to having normal, natural deliveries without complication..

Fingers crossed that your little one decides to come on their own before your induction date

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was induced at 41 weeks. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Baby was in my arms 6 hours after check in. The pitocin worked FAST on my body. I didn't end up with a C. good luck

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was induced at 42 weeks. Went in to the hospital Tuesday night, Cervadil was inserted around midnight, and Pitocin was started some time the following morning. DD was delivered around 2:30 on Wednesday afternoon. No c-section.

If you say that you want to wait, they should respect your wishes. If the baby and pregnancy are healthy, I don't see why waiting to get the doctor you want is a bad thing. My DD was 15 days late and was fine!

Good luck either way!

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

You will hear great induction stories and not so great. Even with all your replies you still have to make the decision based on how you feel.

I watched that movie too and although I rikki lake , I wasn't overly thrilled watching it. I think the movie gives Doctors a bad rep. not all dr's are the way they described them to be. IMHO your senerio is the EXACT senerio they are speaking of.

What's the reason to induce? If your levels are fine as well as the babies and there is no medical reason, than I'd wait it out, however that's so much easier said than done b/c I know you want your LO here.


eta I had one induction and it was successful. I was induced for medical reasons. the baby has a heart irrythmia.

Message edited 11/10/2010 7:57:54 PM.

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I wasn't induced with pitocin, but I did acupuncture to induce labor naturally. It worked for me and my labor started while I was at acupuncture, and I recommended it to a friend of mine and she went to 2 appointments before it worked. HTH!!!

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was induced, went into labor on my own (my water broke the next morning while lying in bed - the hospital bed - thank goodness it wasn't mine!) Anyway, I digress.... I was having good contractions on my own without the need for pitocen and then my body shut down. I never progressed. They gave me pitocen - still no progression. I could've waited all day and night for something to kick in, but I didn't care if I had a c/s or not, so I basically said to go for it. DS was born about 8 hrs after labor started via c/s and it was fine! You never know what will happen! Just make sure you and your baby is healthy! Best of luck!!!!

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was induced the day before my due date due to low fluid levels. I was given cervadil at 5PM, which was left overnight, then 2 rounds of pitocin. I pushed for 6 hours and had DS 40 hours after the induction began, and he needed to be vacuumed out because he was stuck behind my pelvic bone.

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

i was scheduled to be induced on monday, at 41 weeks and 2 days. my water broke at 40weeks and 6 days (friday before induction) I was given pitocin but unfortunately it didn't work. DS never turned and was sideways the whole time. I ended up with a c/s but because of the way he was, i never would have been able to push him out.

Hopefully your LO will decide to come before the induction! Good luck!

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

My doctors were not anxious to induce, but I was physically and mentally done so I was induced at 40w6d instead of the 41w3d my OB initially suggested. I don't think there's any magic to when they induce if you're a good candidate which is also what my OB said so he let me go early, I was a good candidate (already at 2 cm, 50% effaced), and all went well though it was a long day. I delivered vaginally. I think you have to have an OB you trust who's being honest with you and have a conversation about it. My OB would absolutely not have induced me earlier than he suggested if I wasn't a good candidate and I think in that case, he would've let me go longer. Of course there are risks with going too long too so I'm not sure how long he would've let me go, but I certainly never felt that any medical decision was made for his convenience or against my best interests. I haven't seen the movie and while I'm sure there are some doctors who act for their convenience or who are motivated by liability concerns, I personally have never experienced it and although there's probably some truth in it, my sense is it would strike me as a lot of propaganda as well - everyone's got an agenda, no matter if their intentions are good or what side they're on. In the end, you have to have some faith in your choice of doctor and make the decision you're most comfortable with - but I wouldn't decide without having an actual conversation about it with your OB. Good luck! Hope all goes well!!

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was induced @ 39 wks, and it was pure hell. Pitocin is a b!tch, I had 2 failed epi's, so I felt everything. The induction itself was considered a success b/c I made it to 10cm, but after 14 hours of hell and 2 hours of pushing, I ended up with a c-section (which was not as bad as I thought it would be, and I had a repeat section with my second...both experiences were good).

if given the option again, I would not go for an induction. JMO.

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was induced at 39 weeks and I had a wonderful experience. I had pitocin but no cervadil. No c-section needed, labor went smoothly. I would do it again next time around

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

you'll hear good stories and bad stories. but, if i was being induced, i would definitely want the OB i like--or at least not the one i hate--to be the doc on call that day.

with my second, i was not exactly induced, but had my membranes stripped and that sent me straight into labor. however, despite really strong contractions every 2 minutes for about 14 hours, i wasn't progressing past 4cm. (with my first, I went natural and everything progressed easily). I hated the dr on call that night and it was a miserable experience. i needed support. i had questions i needed answered. i needed someone i trusted to advise me as to what to do next (break water, try pitocin, keep going, go home). the dr was miserable, ignored me, and i had no faith in him at all. it was like he didnt even believe i was having contractions and in pain. there was a change of staff at 8am, and that made all the difference in the world. a few words of encouragement, allowing me to get a spinal and staying with me through the process, taking the lead and saying let's break your water and get this going....my daughter was in my arms by 11am. This doc was just a more positive influence, gave me hope and strength to get thru the next few hours. the other doc literally left me suffering and didn't check on me for hours. i would ask for him, and the nurses said he was sleeping and they would get him, but it would still take him another 2 hours to come check on me.

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was induced 3 times with pitocin and never had a C-section.

Part of the reason why they are inducing you is so that the baby does't get to be too large where you can't have a vaginal delivery and would need the C.

Induction does not always mean a C.

hopeing your LO decides to make an arrival before you have to choose

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was induced at 40w 3d (I wanted to be home for Christmas).

They broke my water and started pitocin around 7-8am and DS arrived at 9:10pm.

When the anesthesiologist came to take out my epi, she said thought they were talking about me almost needing a c - but, she could've been mistaken.

Re: Moms that were Induced- Need Advice

I was induced on my due date for a few reasons:

a) I was an IUI pregnancy, which the dr. said makes me "a premium pregnancy" and high risk so they need to take precautions.

b). my original dr. left the practice and the head dr. was the only one delivering now. He wasnt on call that weekend he had a wedding to go to. NICE...so basically for his convenience he wanted to induce the next day. Friday was all booked with csections.

c). I was already 3cm dilated, lost my plug and 100% effaced. baby could come at any time. Said I could wait until that monday (this was wed nite). But did not want me going past monday for reason A stated above.

So I gave in and agreed to a scheduled induction on my due date. Oddly enough I went into labor my own early that morning. I was however still put on the pitocin and in labor for 14 hrs.

Being induced does not necessarily lead to a c-section. Sometimes getting an epidural can stall your labor progression, and theres a whole bunch of other reasons why you would need a section..not just being induced.

Everything worked out fine and I delivered vaginally.