Disappointing Dr Visit

I'm 4 days past due and today heard I'm not even dilated. It actually really hurt me having them check my dilation, I'm so sensitive down there. It's making me upset because I'm hoping to go drug free but if it hurts to enter than what should I expect with this over cooked baby exiting lol. They also discussed induction which makes me nervous that the induction medicine will make labor more uncomfortable.

Any reassurance or induction stories?

Disappointing Dr Visit

I've had 2 really easy inductions. Hailey was 8hrs of labor/contractions. (12 total from the start of the induction) Jillian was 4 hours. (6 hours from the start of the induction).

I technically went drug free with Jillian. They put the epidural in and I layed down and I said I had to push. The dr checked me and I was fully dilated. She was already crowning and she was born 3 minutes later.

Pushing her out hurt less than contractions.

Disappointing Dr Visit

I was 10 days late with DD, my water broke walking up and down the hallway at the hospital. I got stuck at 6cm and they gave me Pitocin to move things along. I pushed for about 20 min. There was meconium and I came down with a fever during labor so she had to go to NICU, but was in perfect health. They told me she would be over 8lbs, she was 7lb 6oz & 21 inches, she was just comfortable.

Disappointing Dr Visit

Was induced with my first and was going to be induced with my second. Nothing to it really.....Cervadil for 12 hours, which seemed like an eternity....then the Pitocin and within 4 hours was pushing! The one I just had I barely got there in time for the epidural! They cleared me for the epi, got it, and lasted only about a half an hour before he was ready to come out! maybe 10-15 min. of pushing and boom....baby boy was here!

Good luck and I hope that it triggers naturally (I happened to have a spicy meal right before I went into labor so give it a shot!)

Disappointing Dr Visit

Double post...sorry!

Message edited 3/12/2016 10:37:50 AM.

Disappointing Dr Visit

did anyone find labor more intense or painful with the induction?

Disappointing Dr Visit

Yes. Pitocin / artificial contractions are much stronger. I was induced with cytotec but once they started pitocin the contractions were unbearable even with an epidural. I ended up asking for a csection. I was stuck at 5cm in excuriating pain for hours. The Epi didnt work for me and i had terrible back labor. Avoid pitocin of you can. My advice is don't get induced until there is a reason to, if you want a natural birth. You can go to 42 weeks usually and choose to be monitored closely every day / every other day.

Everyone is different though!!

Message edited 3/12/2016 4:05:40 PM.

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Disappointing Dr Visit

Goodluck! Hope your little one comes on their own! They say over 95% of babies come by the 42week mark so it's great they are letting you go till then. I felt pressured into an induction at 41 weeks and totally regret not waiting a little longer. Baby and myself were healthy and there was no medical reason to do it at that point. I had a long and terrible labor.
But like I said, everyone is different. I have friends whose inductions were easy as pie.

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I was induced and delivered vaginally without an epidural

I was 2 days past my due date. They inserted Cervidil around 10 pm. I was 1 cm and 50% effaced. Checked at 3 am, was 2 cm and 100% effaced. Delivered DD at 6:15 am after 3 pushes. Whole thing was just over 8 hours

Disappointing Dr Visit

You can't go by anyone's labor. Each will be different, even if induced with the same drugs etc. and we all handle pain very different and stress differently. Try to relax and trust your dr.

Disappointing Dr Visit

I was petrified of being induced. My whole thing was trying to avoid induction because you hear horror stories of labors that just last forever. But I ended up getting induced at 40 weeks and 2 days and it was not bad at all. I had cervadil in for 5 hours (4 am to 9 am). My doctor came in at 9 and broke my water and started pitocin and LO was born at 4 pm. I had an epidural though. The pitocin definitely makes contractions intense. The epidural allowed me to relax and I think it helped me dilate faster as well. Even right after I had LO I was like "that wasn't bad, I would do that again." Good luck!

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I was induced with Pitocin with my first (for pre-eclampsia). Other than the fact that I labored a long time, my induction was a great experience. Yes, the contractions were very strong with the Pitocin, but I planned from the beginning to get the epidural so as soon as the pain started I asked for it. Since I always had it in my head to do the epi, I couldn't tell you if I would have been able to hold out without it. But the induction itself was great - I felt very in control and if needed, I would gladly do it again.

ETA: I only have 1 DS so I have nothing else to compare that labor to, so I couldn't tell you if my contractions were more intense than if I hadn't been on Pitocin. I can tell you that they were very strong and they were so close together that I got so little relief in between them that at times it just felt like one long continuous contraction.

Message edited 3/15/2016 9:01:40 AM.

Disappointing Dr Visit

I would try to avoid an induction if not medically necessary for baby and I wouldn't compare them checking your cervix now to how labor pain will be. Augmented labor is often more painful making med-free a little more work (but still definitely possible!). I would do everything you can to help encourage labor to start- lots of walking, sex, bounce on exercise ball, nipple stimulation, chiropractor, acupuncture, drink tons of raspberry leaf tea to tone uterus. Your body was made to delivery a baby naturally without medication/interventions- you got this!!!

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I was one week late with both babies, and the labor came out of nowhere (no real dilation leading up to), so you just never know! Good luck!!

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Dilation and effacement aren't sure signs of labor coming soon. Dd1 was a few days early and I had no progress at the appointment the day before. With dd2 I was 50% effaced and 2cm dilated a month before my due date. I was so afraid to go early (we were in the process of renovating and moving). Then finally I was induced at 41 weeks over a month later! I progressed each week and was 100% effaced and 3cm the morning I started pitocin. My body was prepped but she liked it in there lol. I had an epidural with both so I can't help there but the pitocin definitely cranks up the contractions. My best advice is stay active and maybe get a pedicure. I've heard that massage in certain parts of the feet/ankles can get things moving.