does the use of cervadil affect the length of labors?

[snoopy5386]

So here we are planning DD#2's birth and I'm unsure how to go about it based on DD's #1's birth. With DD1 my water broke at 9 am with no contractions. We ended up at the hospital due to my positive GBS status. Tried walking, resting and nipple stimulation to get contractions going but no dice. At 6 pm midwife inserted cervadil and said I was 4 cms. An hour later contractions started and the cervadil fell out while I was using the bathroom. Contractions were crazy intense and I was fully dilated in 4 hours and DD was born after an additional 2 hours of pushing.
This time around we are birthing at a birth center over an hour away, we still have to figure out what to do with DD during the birth, who will care for her, should we bring her to the birth center in the middle of the night, etc. And I'm not sure if I can count on another super fast labor or if the speed of my first DD's labor was caused by the cervadil....Anyone know? Any other experiences?
I mean if my labor was really just that fast, should we head to the birth center at the first sign of contractions or what? I don't know what to do!!!

[snoopy5386]

anyone?? Anyone had cervidil and a fast labor? WWYD in this situation?

[sanguine_speed]

I know it's only my experiences and thus anecdotal, but I had a very long 24+ hour labour after a cervidil induction...

[feminist~mama]

Huh. We don't use cervidil on patients with ruptured membranes, and if they rupture while the cervidil is in, we remove it.

I'm off to look it up now...!


But to answer the question- everyone responds to it differently, just like pitocin. Some people have it inserted and then go ahead and have a baby (like you! ) and some people it doesn't seem to do much for at all! I've wondered about the correct insertion affecting the efficacy- sometimes it's nearly impossible to get in the right spot with a super posterior cervix!

[feminist~mama]

Huh. Turns out that cervidil use is contra-indicated with ruptured membranes. Interesting that your midwife used it...

[mediumcrunch]

No real advice but I had a fast Cervidil labor too.
My third (2nd vaginal birth) was induced with Cervidil. I was high, closed and posterior when they inserted the Cervidil. First contraction 45 minutes later, baby 4 hours after that.
My more normal labors are 6-8 hours. TBH, I'd take a slower pit labor over my cervidil labor if we're talking induction. (of course, my natural labor was an absolute DREAM compared to any of my inductions, I couldn't get over just how EASY it was) IThe cervidil was so hard and fast and I never was able to catch up or stay on top of my contractions, I felt like I was on a runaway train.
Some women naturally have precipitous labors but I'd never sign up for one again on purpose.

[welsh]

I had Cervadil inserted at 42 wks, late at night, assuming I would be started on pit the following morning. First baby.
1.5 hrs later or less the contractions started and didn't let up. The L & D nurse didn't believe I was in labor and offered me an Ambien! Then shortly after, she heard my noises and realised I was approaching transition
DS was born 4 hrs after the Cervadil was inserted.
At my 6 wk pp check, I asked my OB if the Cervadil caused my fast labor and she was convinced that it was not.
I don't know what I think. We'll see what happens this time!

[SashaBear]

I'm no expert but I thought they used Cervadil when you were not dialated and not favorable for an induction.

[feminist~mama]

It *is* used when a patient isn't favorable for an induction- generally to try for some softening and effacement. Sometimes it's all that is needed though and that little "nudge" results in real labor!