Who's been induced? What's it like?

[TheOtherVillainess]

Well, I talked to the OB's office just a few minutes ago. IF the Squirt doesn't decide to pop his head out prior to Thurs morning, I go in at 5 Am on that day for my induction.

I know what induction means...they dope me up, give me Pitocin and (when I hit 4 CM) an epidural. But what is it LIKE to be induced? I mean, does it make labor start really quickly? Or do they try to break the waters BEFORE giving the Pitocin?

I'm also wondering if I can ask them to use a butterfly needle when giving me the IV. I am a notoriously difficult..nay, impossible stick and I know from experience it's much easier for them to get the vein if they use a butterfly instead of a regular 10 gauge or whatever it is they use.

TOV

 

[Dizzy-Disney4]

I was induced with DD (5). Wasn't too bad...seemed to take forever for it to progress. As a matter of fact, they started me off and when it didn't go fast enough, they took me off the pitocin and let me sleep for the night and started it back the next day. Then it kind of hit me hard...and fast. I didn;t need an epidural till several hours into it though. I do believe my water broke much later...after the epidural...lol..cause I didn't feel it, only knew because the nurse was sitting me up and moving me and I got her soaked
I guess just like regular labor it depends on the person...each will have a different experience.
Good Luck!!

 

[amid chaos]

No big deal..the only thing was I had to stay in bed once they started the pitocin, wouldnt let me out.

Best wishes for a quick delivery and joyful time after.

 

[browneyes]

I was induced with my ds. Pitocin triggers the labor. They try to let the water break on it's own, but they can go in and break it for you, if need be. My water broke on it's own. The labor wasn't too intense since they gave me some meds for pain before they gave me my Pitocin. I've heard many people comment that labor takes longer with an induction than a regular non-induced birth does. That was the case with me too.

 

[pokiemomo181]

I was induced with both of mine. The first took 2 hours 45 mins, the second just 35 mins. Guess it depends on the person.


Pokie

 

[peg2001]

Are you SURE you want to know?

I was induced at 7 am and had the baby before 2 pm. It depends on how "ready" you are to give birth.

I was comfortable with the induced contractions and was thinking it wasn't bad at all. . .until they broke the water sac. Then the pain was immediate and intense. I asked for and got an epidural at that point.

I turned down an induction with my second baby and waited to go into labor naturally. It was SO much better. I had hours of light contractions that I slept through. By the time the contractions were painful enough to wake me up, the baby was really on her way. I had the baby within 10 minutes of getting to the hospital.

Peggy

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Well I know they give the epidural at 4 CM and since I'm already at a 3 (or was at my last Dr's appt about a week ago), it probably won't be long into the labor before I get my epidural.

Thanks for the stories, guys. I've never done this and hadn't exactly planned on induction, but my OB is insistent that I have this done.

TOV

 

[MosMom]

I've never been induced but they gave me pitocin to speed up labor with my son as we had stalled. The difference in contractions were definitely notable. I think I was probably speaking in tongues and all I remember is the room blurring back and forth. I remember the nurses saying "She'll never make it until the epidural gets here". Then I remember thinking "Noooooooooo". I could have delivered him med free if it weren't for that pesky pitocin.

Why such a quick induce? Are you overdue now? Do you have some sort of health risk that needs quick induction? Or does he not want you go go into labor for spring break? Just curious.

 

[Microcell]

I have gone naturally and with pitocin because my water broke but had no labor- hope that your water breaks becasue they don't send you home with that, and the security guard FREAKED when he saw that and I was rushed to Maternity, all the while trying to explain that while messy I was not yet in labor. My doc told me rightly so that pitocin can cause the cramping to be more intense. It worked out better because though more intense it went faster than DD who I labored with for 9 hours, whereas DS water breaking boy, it seemed to speed things up and when it hurts you want it to be over faster. Just make sure they keep a close eye on dialation because I went from two to five in three hours and five to ten in 45 minutes. I only got my epidural a half an hour before my DS was out!

 

[mudnuri]

I think it's different depending on what your doctor considers "induced"

I was technically induced by my doctor for both DD's DH calls them "appointment babies"

I was 3cm dialated with both DD's from 38 weeks on....My due date for DD7 was May 31st...On June 21st, I was induced. I went in at 7am- no signs of contractions etc....

Doctor broke my water, and away we went...no pitocin for me...7 hours 45 minutes later DD7 was born..

Due date for DD6 was September 21st. October 7th, went in, again 3cm with no signs of contractions etc... doc broke water at 7am, and at 8:49 am I had DD6. Doc had just gotten back to her office, and the nurse called her and said "HURRY UP!"..LOL doc walked in just in time, as DD's chest was bigger than her head and she was stuck...(had to break her collar bone to get her sholder to drop...)...

I've heard of others being induced by given pitocin and not breaking water etc.... like I said it's different with each doc

Good luck!

Brandy

 

[Laurabearz]

I was induced with my third child, and also had Pit with my first...

Once they hook you up to everything (and if you want a butterfly, ask for one... if the nurse says no, tell her it is your body... your choice... if the nurse still says no... tell her to call your OB!) They often want to have a couple bags of saline (or whatever it is called) pumped into you before starting the pit...

When the pit is started, they do it at a low dose.. and up it every 30 minutes or so.... contractions dont start the nanosecond they start it... but if all goes well they will start shortly.

Pit contractions are different than 'real' ones in the sense that the contraction itself starts faster... they dont build up... one momment your fine, the next CONTRACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as appose to... Oh there is a contraction starting... Oh yes.. here it comes... breath... breath pant pant... ouch ouch... oh ok.. it is getting better... I will live... ah... ok until the next one... if that makes any sense... It peaks quicker.... Both can be painful, both can be pain free... depends on the person. For me, I gotta say I prefer natural contractions, but then again, my real preferance is for a V-birth and a healthy child. I got that with all three. Some with pit... some without

SOme docs break the water first, then do the pit... IMO that is a bad option... because once the water is broken... baby has to come out one way or another... if you go on Pit and dont respond to it... you will have to have a C-section if they already broke your water... if they havent broken it you have the option of coming back in a day or two and trying again.

Labor is wonderful.... yes, there is some pain involved, but ya know... it is soooo worth it.

Being a woman is so cool.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Why such a quick induce? Are you overdue now? Do you have some sort of health risk that needs quick induction? Just curious.

Well, if you look at my siggie in the OP, my official due date is April 1 (the same day I'm getting induced). As far as I know there is no real need for the induction, but the OB seems hellbent on me having one and it's already been scheduled at the hospital.


Edited to say: Thanks Laurabearz. I think I will throw a bloody screaming fit if they try to use anything but a butterfly on me, I swear. And I didn't know that Pit did that stuff to ya. I'm really hoping for a V birth instead of a section, but I suppose they'll do what they have to and what's best for me and the baby. Right? Right?!?!? I've heard horror stories of women getting sectioned just because the doc thought it would be 'easier' somehow than a V-birth, despite the mother's protests. Yikes!

TOV

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

but the OB seems hellbent on me having one and it's already been scheduled at the hospital.

You know, you can say no.

 

[MosMom]

Yes, I might consider saying no as well. It sounds to me like he doesn't want you to interrupt his spring break or holidays with a birth. I can't believe an OB's policy normally would be to induce on the due date.

 

[shelbyjosh]

Nobody has mentioned anything about geting gelled. With my DD I got gelled (an inducer that is supposed to irritate the lining of the uterus) and the she was 5 hours later. No drugs, no epidural. Now, with DS it was a different story. No gel, just pit. Talk about pain. It was almost 10 hours later. Once again, no painkillers, no epidural. Am I a tough cookie or what???

 

[Microcell]

As far as needles OB nurses are the best at getting a good stick. My brother in law told me that at his hospital where he is a supervising nurse and where I had my kids that they usually transfer a nurse who has a hard time with sticks because it shows a lack of confidence, which can scare the stuffing out of a new mother, so all the confident (read arrogant) nurses are in OB because they are the "doctor" until the real doc gets there. My OB nurses told me they could get me an ER Doc because my OB called to check how I was doing and said she was 20 minutes away, while I needed to push, badly. I asked how experienced they are and she said don't worry, we will be doing all the work, the ER doc usually has to be shown how to do it anyway, so we tell him to stand back and get out of our way. He would just have to be there to sign off on the chart. As I said, OB Nurses are very confident. I elected to wait twenty minutes for my doc, though!!!

 

[Pembo]

TOV-Watch how early you get that epideural. With my first I was barely in labor, got to 3 cm and begged for it. I was panicked. After 6 more hours of labor I had to have a c-section.

With babies 2 & 3 I put off the epi as long as I could and I did much better in labor and delivery. No c-section.

I did have the epi with #3 before they broke my water.

And one more thing, if you don't want to be induced then find out why your doctor wants to do it so soon. (the baby is large, your pelvis is small etc.) Some doctors want to induce right away others wait.

I hope you go into labor on your own........good luck.......

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Actually, MosMom, my OB (a woman) hadn't originally planned to induce me on that date. The plan was to induce me sometime in the week following my 'official' due date if nothing had happened before then. BUT somebody called the hosp and cancelled their April 1 induction, so they stuck me in there. Her official policy is to induce sometime after the official due date if nothing has happened by then.

TOV

 

[Lewski709]

I've been induced and I've gone on my own. Suggestion: get an epi ASAP, if you want one. With induction - lengty, hard painful contrx. On my own, more gradual which led to the 30 min of hard ones. Both resulted in beautiful babies, but I would rather NOT be induced again. BTW, both not C Section births.

BTW, have they tried to strip your membranes? Maybe that would get him/her moving. I had this doen with DS#2. A little uncomfortable, but worth it. Born right on the due date.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Many OB's are unwilling to give an epidural quickly with a first child because they have been known to slow down the contractions. They also can make it difficult to push, because you lose feeling. I would be reluctant to let a Doctor break my water early in labor, because the longer the time between water breaking and deliver, the greater the risk of infection to the Mother and the Baby. These are all personal decisions. Every Mother needs to research to possible benefits and complications and make her own decision.

I've had Pitocin. My experience was that the contractions definately came harder and faster. I would not have wanted to do it without an epidural.

Some women have Pitocin and still do not develop a contraction pattern that will start labor. It is impossible to say how it will effect TOV, every labor and every woman are different.