BDTD - Inducing labor?

My doctor scheduled me for an induction on Thursday morning, one week after my due date. But he didn't tell me ANYTHING about it, other than that I have to be there at 7 AM and they'll start me on pitocin. Can anyone help me out:

1. Will the labor go super fast because of the pitocin?

2. Can I get an epidural right after the pitocin, so I don't have to feel too many contractions, or do they make you wait until a certain point?

3. If I'm supposed to be there at 7 AM, when should I tell my family to be there? I don't want anyone in L&D with me besides DH, but I'd love for them to be right outside, getting updates, and knowing the second the baby is born.

4. Anything else I should know about the process? My doctor literally told me nothing except for the time and the date.

Re: BDTD - Inducing labor?

Re: BDTD - Inducing labor?

An induction can take a LONG time! 2 of my friends went 24hrs and baby still didn't want to come. But everybodys different and it could also be quick.
I don't have any advice for u on the epidural other than ur dr may have their own rules.
Sorry, I'm no help. Lol

Good luck!

Re: BDTD - Inducing labor?

with my i went in at 7. I was apparantly contracting and I didnt know it. They hooked me up ot the petocin I was 3 cm dilated prior to going in. I was fully dilated by 2pm. But then I pushed for 3 hours and had my DS by 5:30pm.

everyone is different

good luck!

Re: BDTD - Inducing labor?

We are in the same boat! I am being induced on Friday, 1 week after my due date if nothing happens before then. My dr just told me to eat a light breakfast and go to the hospital for 8am. Best of luck to you!!!

Re: BDTD - Inducing labor?

Mine was quick!!! I started the pitocin at 9 am and dd was born at 4:08 pm. I pushed for 5 min at most!! It was successful and quick! I was already 2 cm before I was induced!

Re: BDTD - Inducing labor?

I was induced at 40w 6d.
I think I had to be there at 7am also.
I was in labor for 15 hours...pushed for 1.5 - DD was born at 10:52pm.
I felt like that was a long time but I know SO many others who were induced who were in labor for 24 hrs or more...I actually think labor is longer with an induction but everyone is different.
Are you dilated or effaced at all?
I went in 2cm dilated and 80% effaced.
I got epidural probably at 3cm - I got it before I felt any pain from contractions. Nurses seemed like I should wait until I was having stronger contractions - then my dr. told me there was no need to wait and if I wanted it to just tell the nurse so I did.
Being in labor so long though - it did wear off and I had to have them top me off again - so I did eventually feel real contractions and they did really hurt.
So if you start to feel them - realize the epidural must be wearing off and make them give you more. There is no need to feel that pain if you don't want to.
I was progressing nicely with dilation - then stayed at 5cm for several hours...then it picked up again.

I would tell your family to just be on call and have your DH call them to tell them when to come. My MIL against our wishes was there when we checked in...we asked her not to be and to wait for us to call. She sat there for hours that she didn't need to. It's so nice having them all out there when you are having that baby and at Winthrop they were all allowed to come right into delivery after to see me and the baby. But I'd wait and keep asking your nurse when the family should come...honestly they don't need to come until you are far along - I'd say 7cm or so.

Good luck!

ETA to answer your question #4 - this does not happen to everyone but I got sick and vomitted probably 10 times from the epidural. Just a warning...but again it doesn't happen to everyone.

Message edited 8/30/2011 11:47:48 AM.

Re: BDTD - Inducing labor?

I was induced and it went very fast. I was dilated and effaced. I was on piton by 9-930 an had ds at 115. My family came at like 11 but just cause my dh called and said I progressed so fast. I waited as long as I could for the epi.

Re: BDTD - Inducing labor?

1. Will the labor go super fast because of the pitocin?

My labor lasted about 12 hours.

2. Can I get an epidural right after the pitocin, so I don't have to feel too many contractions, or do they make you wait until a certain point?
Yes, you can, but in my case, it took a few hours to really feel much of anything.

3. If I'm supposed to be there at 7 AM, when should I tell my family to be there? I don't want anyone in L&D with me besides DH, but I'd love for them to be right outside, getting updates, and knowing the second the baby is born.
They will check your progress periodically. When you are about 6-7 cm, id tell them to start getting ready. I went from 7-10 super fast.

4. Anything else I should know about the process? My doctor literally told me nothing except for the time and the date.
Nothing in particular that I can recall.

ETA: I started pit at about 9AM and had DD at 9:22pm. I pushed for 20 minutes.

Message edited 8/30/2011 12:43:05 PM.

Re: BDTD - Inducing labor?

Thank you for sharing your experiences! Sorry I didn't come back on sooner to thank you; I'm still without power and now at a friend's house.

I forgot to mention that my family and DH's family all live in Brooklyn / Manhattan and don't have cars, so they're around 1.5 hours away by train. They can't just be "on call"; I have to tell them what time to be there. I'm thinking of telling them noon. If I don't have the baby until late at night, at least they'll have a nice in-law bonding experience together.

Thanks again for sharing. I'll take any other pearls of wisdom anyone has to offer - I'm having such a hard time picturing what this is going to be like, and it's so hard for me!

Re: BDTD - Inducing labor?

1. Will the labor go super fast because of the pitocin?

No - I went in around 7am as well and was in labor about 13 hrs before I started pushing.

2. Can I get an epidural right after the pitocin, so I don't have to feel too many contractions, or do they make you wait until a certain point?

At my hospital you could. I waited a bit though because the pain in the beginning wasn't excrutiating. After I got the epi though, they upped the pitocin (this was about 3 1/2 hrs into labor). Once you get the epi though, you have to remain in bed for the remainder.

3. If I'm supposed to be there at 7 AM, when should I tell my family to be there? I don't want anyone in L&D with me besides DH, but I'd love for them to be right outside, getting updates, and knowing the second the baby is born.

It's hard to estimate because everyone is different. At my first exam after I had been induced (around noon), the dr estimated between 5 and 6pm. DS was born at 9:10 and my parents were at the hospital and joined us in L&D during the worst part of my labor. It was hard to tell them to leave.

4. Anything else I should know about the process? My doctor literally told me nothing except for the time and the date.

I can't really think of anything... You may want to check with the hospital to see if your pre-registration went through, mine did not for some reason and the lady I met with in admitting was a moron. Although she copied my GHI card, the hospital billed Cigna for all of my medical expenses. It also took FOREVER to register (it would've been easier to fill out the form and give it to her.

Re: BDTD - Inducing labor?

1. Will the labor go super fast because of the pitocin?

I wasn't induced but was still on pitocin. It didn't speed me up to much, I went up to the hospital at 10am and DS was born at 930pm, I pushed for 2 hours. I was mostly put on it to try to get my contrations under control bc/ they were all.over.the.place! I'd have a 5 minute long contraction, then like a 30 second break and another one for like a minute! My doctor at one point when I was pushing was like "OH I give up trying to monitor when I think you are contracting enough to push, YOU tell me when you want too!" haha

2. Can I get an epidural right after the pitocin, so I don't have to feel too many contractions, or do they make you wait until a certain point?

I got my epi at 4cm, before pitocin

3. If I'm supposed to be there at 7 AM, when should I tell my family to be there?

I don't think anyone can guess at this one! My family was there from 10am until he was born but they're crazy like that

4. Anything else I should know about the process?
It could be quick or slow, you just never know!

Re: BDTD - Inducing labor?

Thanks again everyone - all this info has been really helpful!

Re: BDTD - Inducing labor?

I would say definitely no earlier than noon...that could be too early but since they are 1.5 hrs away I guess that's a safe time.
Just tell them to bring magazines and things to entertain themselves...or once they get there if you update them that it will be a while longer - they can walk to a nearby restaurant for a nice lunch or something.
You can probably let them know better that morning though once you are checked in...sometimes for patients being induced they will make you wait if they are busy with women coming in in labor already. So I'd call once you are checked in and in a bed and on that pitocin. They'll make it in time!