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

[MelessaG]

I've been induced with all three kids. The first two were because I was past my due date and the third because I had ligament damage which seems to be returning for this pregnancy too.
I don't know too much different-I did have a few hours of non-pitocin related contractions a few days before my 2nd induction, but obviously those weren't enough to get labor started. (though he WAS my quickest delivery). The first one was hard, but more because DD#1 was trying to come out face first than because I was induced. Of course, like Pete's Mom, my idea of 'natural childbirth' is doing it without make-up and using breathing techniques instead of demerol until I can get my epidural. In retrospect, I'm glad I had the epidural because they had to do a lot of painful manuvering to get DD in the right position to be born-ouch! I do second some earlier comments that the epidural may not totally numb you-I remember a 'window' in my right side where I could still feel contractions.
I did try to go natural with my next two deliveries, but didn't make it either time. Pitocin is just too strong-but my body seems to need it to get my babies here. I did try to go in labor on my own with baby #2, but only produced the above mentioned mild contractions. I was allowed to labor sitting up with #2 and #3 and that really helped. I also made as many bathroom trips as they would let me get away with because I could walk for a few minutes, and that helped too. (Besides, it's advised to empty your bladder every hour or so while in labor). #3 was induced a little before my due date because I had ligament damage, pubic bone separation (ow!), and was very open to getting the whole pregnant thing over with-at eight weeks away with recurring damage from last time, I feel the same way. I would love the thrill of waking up in the middle of the night and saying "Honey, it's time!" but I'm accepting that it may never happen for me. (Four kids are more than I ever planned on and all I think I can handle ) So, I don't think induction is that bad and it did bring me three healthy babies. It was also nice with baby #3 to have it done on my OB's on-call day because he checked in on me throughout my labor and was right there when it was time to deliver. There's nothing worse than being fully dilated and panting in the stirrups only to hear "your Dr. just left the office and should be here in 10 minutes." If I knew then what I know now about nurses (my sister is one), I would have just let them deliver the baby. As has been noted-they do all the work anyway.

 

[JVL1018]

I was induced-my son was 2 days late. I was hooked up to the Pitocin at around 8 am. My drs told me I could get my epi at anytime.
I heard the anesthesiolgist in the hallway talking about going in for the C section- so I called the nurse to ask if I should get my epi now, seeing as there would be no one to give me my epidural until he was done-she said oh no, you're not it any pain yet.
10 minutes later-horrid pain-worse than with my daughter who I had back labor with(she was sunnyside up-not a fun experience! eek!)
Thankfully DH went and asked for my epidural right away even though we knew the dr wasn't available, so when he was done with the C section(about an hour later) we were at the top of the list of about 4 women waiting. LOL
Got my epidural, my dr wandered in around 10 broke my water, hung out for a while. I was about to play cards with DH, the nurse came in told me to put the cards away, I was 10 cm. The dr came in and 15 minutes later, there was Matthew-born at 11:54 am.
Except for waiting around for the epidural it was a piece of cake!
If you're getting the epidural, get it asap, that's my only piece of advice.
Also, the drs said I probably would have had the baby that day anyway, as I was in early labor(unbeknownst to me) when I arrived for the induction-so that could be why it took less than 4 hours.

 

[JVL1018]

Originally posted by TheOtherVillainess
Strip my WHAT???

And I've known since before I was pregnant, that if I ever GOT pregnant when I went into labor I was going to ask for all the drugs they could give me. I am not big on pain and I've seen plenty of non-epi'd births on TV on shows like TLC's Birth Story and A Baby Story and seeing what those moms have gone through frankly scares the poop outta me! Plus..it looksl like they do NOT enjoy giving birth at all because it's so painful. I want to be able to enjoy the birth of my son, not just scream and holler and cry because I'm in so much pain.

TOV

I hear ya! I got my epidural with my daughter, was feeling great, enjoying eveything-when it was almost time to push my epi was wearing off-but the nurse said oh you'll have her soon, don;t worry about it, it'll be better if you can feel a little bit. Fine. About 3 hours later, all drugs had worn off, so I had a "natural" childbirth even though I had NEVER wanted that. LOL
My daughter came out face up and took forever to come out(they actually had to use a vacuum extractor).
My son, when I got the epidural I made sure that there was no way I would run out, the anesthesiologist gave me a nice button I could push if I needed more pain med. LOL (I never did btw) My son was an easy delivery.
I did it both ways, and for ME, I don't see any reason to be in pain if I don't have to be. The end result is the same, a baby..and really that's all that matters.

 

[momof2inPA]

Maybe she's a Duke or GA tech fan and doesn't want a delivery to interrupt the game.

Either way, the induction will go fine, I'm sure. My sister had a beautiful daughter by induction last week. The pitocin was uncomfortable until she reached 4 cm, then with the epidural, she was fine. The epidural actually relaxed her and she went from 4 to 10 cm in one hour. She pushed an hour, and the baby came out with little tearing and only a slight cone head. Hope your induction goes just as well. It's exciting having a specific day to look forward to.

 

[Nutsy]

I was induced with my first as he was 1 week overdue, but I ended up going for a Caesar (Epidural) as my doc discovered at the induction the DS was actually breech.

 

[Minnie Mare]

I had toxemia with my first child. She was due April 15th and on March 22nd I was hospitalized for my blood pressure after spending a few months on bed rest. I was induced with Pit at 6am March 25th. I was in labor for many hours and it was terribly painful, lot's of screaming. They needed to break my water as it did not do it on it's own. At some point I did receive an epi. and it helped some. At 3pm they realized that she was stuck (small pelvic) and I needed a C-sec which I stayed awake for. My cutie pie was born at 3:42. She was worth every minute of it all.

My son was a scheduled C-sec, but I went into labor (3am) a few hours before the scheduled C-sec (9am). I had natural labor pains and felt they were nowhere near as bad as with the Pit. I didn't cry or scream at all. He was delivered by C-sec at 9:02am and I was awake for him as well.

 

[Kristi1357]

I am a very hard draw also - took 8 tries to get my IV in when I had DS last summer. They finally had to get an anesthesiologist to get the IV in (took even him two tries!). Maybe you could explain that you are hard to get and they can get an anesthesiologist to try from the get-go.

Good Luck!
Kristi

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Now I'm more nervous than ever after reading all this! Maybe I should stop reading these posts and just try to chill out. For whoever asked (sorry, it was like 3 pages ago and I don't remember who it was), I have been tested for the Strep B infection...three weeks ago as a matter of fact. Everything came out neg, w hich I'd expected anyway since all the other tests the OB had done (Gestational Diabetes and what not) had come out neg too.

I have a few questions I'm going to ask tomorrow when I go in to my very last prenatal visit, like what exactly is involved with the induction and if they're going to break my water first to see if that gets the ball rolling enough without the Pitocin.

Also..whoever said they cannot use a butterfly needle due to h aving to use an IV.... Great..I can't wait for them to try and stick me now. For me, that'll probably be the worst part..getting the IV. I am terrified of needles and I know for a fact they'll have to use my left arm (the veins are bigger on that side) to do the IV. Urgh. At least with the epi, I won't be able to SEE them stick me, which is the worst. And to think I have my own darling DM to thank for my needle-sticking horrors.

TOV

 

[floridafam]

My first pregnancy, I did not have Group B Strep. They did not test me for the 2nd one, they just assumed I didn't have it because my first pregnancy was fine.

Well, my DD developed a fever at about 2 1/2 weeks of age. She had Late Onset Group B Strep. They don't know for sure if I gave it to her or not because she did not develop it while in the hospital.

Don't worry, you've been tested and it was negative. Had it been positive, they would give you antibiotics by IV during labor.

I'm glad your Dr. tested you. Many of them still don't.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

From the books I've read (What to Expect When You're Expecting, etc), I thought testing for Strep B was routine?

TOV

 

[CamColt]

So youre still hanging on? I hadnt seen you around and was thinking of you earlier...and Kirks DD too. Anyone hear from him today? Lets get these new little Disers here!

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Still hanging out,CamColt. DH and I have decided that tomorrow night, since it's ou r last real night as a 'couple', we're going to dinner and a movie. Gotta enjoy those last few moments of being truly 'alone', ya know.

TOV

 

[Pete's Mom]

Just curious, no one has mentioned having to get a catheter. Is that standard when you are induced? I remember that being one of the more painful things.

 

[preshi]

I didn't have to have a catheter...good lord I would have been furious!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Just curious, no one has mentioned having to get a catheter. Is that standard when you are induced? I remember that being one of the more painful things

With an epidural, most women are not allowed out of bed. I don't know of any that have been allowed out of bed with an epidural, but I suppose there might be a Doctor around somewhere that would allow it.

I guess you could try a bedpan. I think generally a catheter is inserted just long enough to empty the bladder and then removed. A full bladder can impede labor and most women are receiving fluids. I think that is to make sure their blood pressure doesn't drop.

 

[dcgrumpy]

I didn't get a catheter until they were 90% sure I was going to get a c-section. I already had an epidural so I didn't even feel it.

 

[MelessaG]

I got a catheter with my first one after the epidural, but not with the second or third.

TOV-I didn't mean to scare you if I did.

JVL1018-Those 'sunnyside up' deliveries are something, aren't they? OUCH! I didn't get the vacuum extractor, I got forcepts. I can't imagine the vacuum being any easier, though.

 

[Pembo]

I had the catheter just to empty and went from 8 to 10 with the next contraction. I had my epi by then and didn't feel a thing.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

It's all good...medical procedures, no matter how simple or complex, tend to freak me ou t anyway. Guess it comes from having spent waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much time in the hospital being poked, prodded and studied as an infant/young child due to my Precocious Puberty.

I am really hoping everything goes the way it's supposed to. I don't want the Squirt to end up with a bruised face (the way DH did) because of being manhandled by a pair of those salad spoons they use sometimes to get the kids out. I'd never heard of the Hoover Babysucker-outer until I read What to Expect. Does that leave a mark on the kid? I've heard that (and I'm s ure this is a myth, but ya never can tell!) if you end having the baby Hoovered ou t with the vacuum sucker-outer thingie, then that kid will be predisposed to having a baldspot where the suctioncup stuck to his noggin.


TOV

 

[mickeyboat]

The DD of a friend of mine was delivered with the aid of the hoover suction out thingy. Her head was a bit misshapen and there was a small bruise, but she was all back to normal in about a week.

Good luck to you. Enjoy your last couple of nights as a couple. Get all the rest you can, you'll need it.

Denae