Typical timeline for induction?

[BlackSheepPDX]

My best friend was starting an induction yesterday (morning), at just about 39 weeks, due to IUGR/baby in the <5%ile. I'm anxiously awaiting news of how it went, trying to resist the urge to pester her/her husband/her sisters/etc and hoping for a little info on how these things usually go. I would expect it doesn't just happen, and that she easily might not have delivered yet. Anyone have any idea how long it takes if it works and how long they usually let you go once they start the process before the dreaded cascade of interventions takes over? (Can you tell I'm not comfortable with what's happening? Sigh....but i do think they are trying to do the best for the baby in an unknown situation.)

Any words of wisdom?

[MaerynPearl]

It all depends on her own unique situation. If she was already having contractions (not necessarily strong enough to feel, I had the contractions before I was induced but didn't know it until they did my NST just before the induction) it will likely take less time.

If they have to ripen her cervix, it can take longer.

My own unique situation I was in labor for 21 hours before baby came.

[BreakfastyMichele]

I was induced at 42w1d, and the interventions started immediately. (This was a very conservative hospital.) 26 hours later, when I hadn't progressed past 5 cm for several hours, I had the dreaded c-section.

I hope your best friend had a great birth! It doesn't always go badly.

[Monkey Keeper]

If her cervix wasn't ripe (which is likely since it's for IUGR), then they will do a couple doses of prostglandins, ie. cervadil. They usually give those 4 hours apart. So depending upon when she went in and how quickly they got things going, she may not even have started on pit until late afternoon/evening yesterday. And if they're taking it easy on her and not breaking her water too quickly, it's not "too late" for having things go well. I've heard of them letting it take 2 days or more if Mom is completely closed and high.

I wish her the best. Medically indicated induction with an unripe cervix can be trying ordeal.

[karen1968]

Do you know anything about her care providers?

I was induced at 38 weeks with DS, due to pre-e. I was in the hospital with CNMs who knew I wanted as natural a birth as possible, given the situation. I was 2cm dilated, 75% effaced, and lightly contracting on admittance, so they started me on pitocin. Nothing. Next night, cytotec. 3cm. Next night, cervadil. 4cm. AROM at 9:45am, got to 10cm and pushing by 10:30am, DS born at 12:31pm. All told, from entering the hospital until DS was born, was 64 hours.

I have no doubt that if I were with an OB, I would have been sectioned, probably around 36-48 hours after the start of pitocin. I also had people "on the outside" wondering what was happening, and I wish now I'd given them more thought and updated them (via text or whatever) from time to time.

[Greenlea]

My sister-in-law just went through this a couple weeks ago. She was induced a week early for IUGR, given cervadil and pitocin. She went in on the 16th around 3pm and had the baby on the 17th at 2pm. The baby ended up weighing 6.7 pounds, so not too small. I think they could have let her go the last week.

[Adamsmama]

I was induced last time and I went to the hospital the night before for the gel. The next morning they started pitocin at around 7:30 -- she was born at 2:30. For me the pattern followed my previous natural birth...but took 2 hours less from start of real contractions.

[sanguine_speed]

[BlackSheepPDX]

HUZZAH! She's at 10cm as of a few minutes ago!

Thanks for the input folks.

[BlackSheepPDX]

5 pound 5 oz baby delivered vaginally at about 5:30 yesterday. So proud of mama, and so relieved things are ok.

[Monkey Keeper]

Wonderful news! So glad to hear that it seems the drs allowed her time to progress.