Anyone had a "good" induction?

[heggie]

My doc is pushing an induction as I am past due and the ultrasound is showing that the placenta is deteriorating. Has anyone had a positive induction experience? Any suggestions for helping things move along smoothly? I was most looking forward to laboring at home as much as possible, and I think that will be my biggest disappointment, although the thought of jumping right into very painful contractions with no preparation isn't a very appetizing thought either. I'm planning to go as drug-free as possible, so any suggestions for coping would be great.

[~Demeter~]

I've been induced 3 times... try to avoid the pitocin if at all possible. My first and third were pit inductions and those are the hard ones, my second was a cervadil induction and it was what I imagined a more natural labor would be like. Also tell your doctor that you want to be able to move freely while you are laboring. Laboring flat on your back naturally is hard but when you're induced it's hell. I was able to labor in the shower with my second and it was far more manageable than my first and third. My third I actually broke and got the epidural because the pitocin was just too much for me. OH! and don't let them rupture your water... it will make things harder faster. My second I was able to allow my water to break on it's own and the pain was not as intense.

[beanbean]

I had pitocin with my first after I was completely dilated and my labor stalled out for 5 hours.

The midwife just gave me a teeny bit and that was enough to kickstart the contractions again (and then she stopped it). I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to handle the pit contrax but I wasn't that uncomfortable, to be honest. I think it's because so little was used.

I think if you go that route you'll do great! Don't let them give you the "Mack Truck" pitocin induction so common to hospitals these days.

[~Demeter~]

I had the Mack Truck pit induction.... where they keep upping the dosage and won't bring it down until you have delivered. Awful..

[starry_mama]

Originally Posted by Mumof3Nic

I had the Mack Truck pit induction.... where they keep upping the dosage and won't bring it down until you have delivered. Awful..

I had the same thing with my first. With my second, I had basically the same thing, but they did turn it off about an hour before I delivered. Its heinous.

If you're on pitocin, you will have to be constantly monitered, therefore walking around, getting into the water, showering, etc will be really difficult, if not impossible. You will also be on a fluid IV, which also makes movement difficult.

Pitocin is so painful, and you aren't able to move around much, so what do you think most people do after they are on pitocin for awhile? Epidural? And pitocin +epidural is a good way to have a Csec.

[ahdoula]

In my professional experience as a doula, between those who have a good management of pit (starting at the bare minimum and seeing what happens) vs. poor management (like the Mack truck induction) the slower induction is of course handled better by mothers. The "down side" to this (as far as OBs see it) is you are under their care longer, because they have to inch you up on the pit slowly but surely. Starting the pit on 1 may have you in the hospital 36 hours before delivering, but there is a better chance of a natural delivery and contraction don't get intense as quickly. It's also just safe, and helps the baby do better, which shows up on the EFM ect ect. It just makes sense. Jacking you up to 7 right off the bat all but ensures you are well on your way down the cascade of interventions and you'll be sectioned and in recovery within 5 hours, exactly what a lot of Obs would love to see!! This is all hypothetically speaking of course! Generally as I see it in hopital midwives manage induction better than OBs, but with the right advocacy....My advise is to do what you can to make sure they manage your pit well. and get yourself a DOULA!!

[bbrandonsmom]

How overdue are you?
I was induced w/ pitocin with ds and it was not fun. I had to be laying down w/ monitors and they were super intense contractions. I went from 3cm to delivery in 2.5hrs. I would make sure to make it known you want to be able to move around, squat, use a birth ball-anything to help labor along if they want to induce. Maybe try that cervix stuff first, and then the pitocin in a small small dose if that doesn't work? Will you have a mw or doula there to help assert what you want? Or just help you?
Sending BIG BIG BIG labor vibes your way.

[javamama]

I'm sorry you are facing an induction.

I had the Mack Truck version 2 times (exactly how I would describe it!) My third unfortunately was an induction as well. I would describe it as a good experience, though.

The differences were: We didn't break my water until labor was well under way. We turned off the pit and I spent the last part in the shower. I had phenominal support. Yes, it is a pain to move around with continuous monitring and IVs, but it can be done! I labored on a birthing ball, standing, rocking, etc. Early labor this time is one of my best memories. My DH and I read the nwspaper and chatted for several hours. We started with such a low dose of Pit that it took a while for a labor pattern to start. Of course, that is when I would have liked to labor at home, but that wasn't a possibility.

Here's a link to my birth story in case it can help. Good luck!

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=691980

[zofranland]

not from your ddc but i had a cervadil then pit induction (for hypertension issues) wiht my last child... i just made sure that i was proactive during my labor... i had a wonderful experience... my total labor was 23hrs and the first 14 of it was softening my cervix! good luck

[heggie]

Thank you guys!! They just called and I'm scheduled for 7:30 tomorrow a.m. All of this seems a little nutty for only 4 days past due, but my OB was very insistent. He has been very very good so far, and I'm glad to be scheduled for when he is on call, because I should have some control (he's also used to following my orders of what I do & don't want!!).

Thanks again for the support. I hope to be posting a happy story and pics soon!

[umsami]

I just got home from my induction. Honestly, it wasn't too bad. Let's see.. some things I did...

1) Asked for a room w/ telemetry monitoring. If you're on pitocin, they'll want you monitored... but if you can get a telemetry room, you can be mobile. So I was able to walk around, bounce on a birth ball, etc.

2) My doctor and I agreed to start with pitocin at the lowest possible dose(as I was already 3-4 cms dilated).. .and then stop it after I hit 5 cms to see if labor continued on its own. We also talked about ARoM at around 7 cms as she has found it more effective in women who are on their 2nd or more pregnancies than pitocin. Before agreeing to ARoM, we talked about the "clock".. and how much time I would be given before they'd feel a need to do a c-section. She said she was comfortable letting me go at least 24 hours after ARoM... so I felt better with that.

3) I did end up getting an epidural placed... but it was a much different experience than my first. The anesthesiologist gave me a very low dose and I wasn't as much of a blob. I could move around the bed and such... and definitely could feel the contractions... just the edge was off. This totally made a difference for me both throughout labor and when it came time to push. Had I needed to, I could have gotten into a hands and knees position for labor had I wanted.

I didn't give up any of the things that really mattered to me... being able to be mobile as much as possible.. having a say in how things progressed... leaving the cord alone until it stopped pulsing... holding my baby and nursing immediately, etc.

I wish I had eaten a better breakfast before going to the hospital. LOL DH gave me sips of Propel, but in general, they wanted me on only ice chips. I'm glad I had life savers to suck on as well as gum, because my mouth became very dry. Glad I remembered lip balm, my massage pressure ball things, etc.

Good luck

[Sage_SS]

This might surprise you guys, might not. But I can't remember the names of the various induction meds I've had used on me! BUT... my hubby can! lol...
So the first time I was induced I was 2 weeks overdue. My doc, bless him, used whatever that was that looked like a tampon and was inserted so that it sat right behind(?) my cervix so it softened it slowly. My whole labor was 7 hours long. It hurt like hell of course, but it was pretty easy and laid back as much as labor and delivery can be.
The second time I was induced I had an idiot specialist and I was induced 3 weeks early due to complications. He used a gel and applied it directly to my cervix and the second that gel was on, the contractions started. It was pure hell. I was having nasty contractions that felt like they were ripping me apart every minute, and nothing was happening. Nothing happened for 5 hours of this. I flew through the last 3 hours and she was out. So still, 8 hours of labor, but I do not recommend that gel to anyone, not even an enemy, if I had one.
The last time I was induced early again, they used the tampon thing cuz I flat out refused the gel or the drip. But my daughter flipped so I was an emergency C/S. YUCK. So I can't say how that one would have turned out.

Good luck honey! I'll think of you tomorrow and send some strength your way. Is this your first?

[Shelsi]

Call and find out what your doc plans on inducing you with. Make sure it is NOT cytotec. Cytotec is a little pill they put near your cervix to ripen it and induce labor. It is NOT FDA approved but is used very often. Google it and you won't find anything really good on it or it's side effects at all.

Stick with cervadil and pitocin which are at least FDA approved and associated with lower risks than cytotec.

Also don't let them break your water. That way, if the induction doesn't take which sometimes happens you can just call the whole thing off, wait a few days, and try again...if your water is broken they WILL get that baby out in 24 hours even if it's via c-section.

How do they know your placenta is deteoriating?

[SleepyMamaBear]

you are not DUE at 40 weeks. so if you are 40 weeks 4 days you are NOT NOT NOT "overdue" normal length of gestation is 37-42 weeks. thats considered fullterm, anyhting before 37 weeks is considered preterm, and anything 43+ weeks is considered post term.
please do NOT get bullied into an induction. more often than not unless there is a REAL SERIOUS medical condition like severe eclampsia etc inductions are NOT neccesary and are really for the benefit of the OB or CNM ordering them.
its pretty rare for a placenta to just start deteriorating, but i hear that ALOT of OBs use that as reasoning. "oh, well you are over 40 weeks now, your placenta is starting to fail, lets get you in for an induction"
most of the time its bullsh*t.

inductions are not always sunshine and rainbows and can lead to some dangerous interventions.
i was reading somewhere that just about HALF of hospital inductions now are ending in c-sections.
gee i wonder why..... *sarcasm*

i wouldnt go in if i were you. but then again my distrust of the western medical birthing community is strong.

[bbrandonsmom]

That's why I was asking what week due you were past. Even the ob that is the back up for my mw's will not do anything until 43wk start unless the baby seems stressed or something. In wk41 they make an appt to meet w/ him in wk 42 and he gives it that whole week to see if labor starts.
How do they tell from a u/s if the placenta is deteriorating? Do the walls of the uterus look different? Now I'm curious. Maybe the doulas & mw's here can explain this one to us.

[NaturalTXMama]

Suggestions:

1)Start the induction tonight yourself by...

a)taking a set of "Start Up" herbs - blue and black cohosh, pennroyal, feverfew, bethroot, blue vervian, scullcap, and lobelia - these should stimulate the uterus and get contractions started.

b)To stimulate the cervix to dilation try: blue cohosh, bethroot, ginger, and gelsemium.

c)WALKING WALKING WALKING!

2)Ask your doctor to start his part of the induction by...

a)breaking your water

b)using cervadil

c)holding off on the pitocin until he gives these 2 methods some time (as in hours) - this way you can walk the halls while the cervadil is working.


This should optimally work together so you can avoid pitocin completely, thereby avoiding an epidural.

Bless your birth!

[AutumnLeaves5]

I had a pretty good induction experience as it went as well as one might have hoped. With my DS, my water broke and I didn't kick into as active labor as they wanted as quickly as they wanted. My water broke on a Thursday night but I didn't realize what it was right away. I went in Friday a.m. and they had me go stratight to the hospital. I was having ctx but evidently not as strong as they "should" have been. With my MW's ok, I had a whole bunch of castor oil which gave me diaherrea and didn't do much else. They gave me cervadil. They didn't check me as I wasn't yet 36 weeks (one day shy). I had an allergic reaction to the cervadil, it swelled my whole birth canal (ugh)! I am also allergic to spermicide, and it felt the same to me in terms of irritation. They wanted to start pitocin Friday night, but I was tired -- my doula said, why not ask if it can wait till Sat. a.m.? So I did and they said ok. They started pit early Sat. a.m., but it wasn't the 'mack truck' version. They turned it down then off as soon as they could. I was on a monitor, but I could walk around (and I did!) I also could go in the shower, where I spent a lot of time and that really helped.

My labor really became active around noon and transition came around 5 p.m. and lasted about 2 hours. I did it without pain meds, taking one ctx at a time. I was afraid that with an epidural I'd wind up with a c-section. I had a wonderful doula (and yay, I have her again this time!) and that was a big help. It took me 2.5 hours to push my son out, he was born at 9:30 on Sat. night. It probably took to long to push him because my birth canal was swollen from the cervadil. But I only had one small tear and it was an amazing experience to be so alert to meet our little guy and basically to feel fine shortly afterwards. I was full of adrenaline. I was able to nurse him right away. So of course I would have preferred not to be incduced. But my doula and MW knew the type of birth I wanted and told the L&D nurses. No one ever offered me pain meds. I thought about asking for them but never did. My DH was there too, but he was a little freaked out.

I hope this is reassuring -- I felt that it was overall quite a positive birth experience in spite of the induction. Good luck & (((hugs)))
Maura

[sleet76]

My water broke with this baby and I wasn't having contractions after 10 hours. I went into the hopsital, and the midwife and I agreed to try nipple stimulation to get things going, but I couldn't get anything to stay happening when I'd stop the stimulation (but could get decent contractions about 5 min apart with stimulation). After a few hours of nipple stim, I was geting a bit sore and torn up, and was a little worried about nursing on already torn-up nipples.

So then we started pit. We started with one unit, and slowly upped it only every 30-60 minutes. It took about 4 hours to get good contractions going, but I had a telemetry unit, and DH and I spent hours walking the halls. I would have been able to get into the jacuzzi, too, but never chose to. I really didn't find the contractions with this labor (broken water and pitocin) to be more painful than my all-natural birth with my 2nd (intact waters, and all natural) until quite late in the labor--I was feeling a bit pushy, and had retreated to the bed in a side-lying position, and asked to be checked. I was 8 cm. I then went and labored on the toilet for another 20-30 minutes, until I started pushing involuntarily (I'd never felt the uncontrollable need to push with other births, so that was neat to experience). I made it back to the bed, and chose to push in a hands/knees position. DS was born in just a few pushes.

I had been very disappointed with how it looked like my birth was going to have to be with an induction-like experience. But, I was very happy after-the-fact. I feel good about staying off the epidural and other pain meds, and found it much easier than I expected. The transition experience was more intense, but doable!

Congrats in advance on your birth tomorrow! You CAN have a good experience!

[heggie]

Originally Posted by Shelsi

Call and find out what your doc plans on inducing you with. Make sure it is NOT cytotec.

I've heard of cytotec, and I asked my OB about it already--he thinks it's dangerous and wouldn't consider it. Thanks for the warning, tho!

Originally Posted by Shelsi

How do they know your placenta is deteoriating?

I had an ultrasound this morning and the tech said that the placenta looked OK but there wasn't as much blood flowing through the cord as they would like to see. When I had my doc appointment a couple of hours later he said the same thing about the cord and that the placenta looked like it was starting to deteriorate. Since I've been 80% effaced for 4 weeks with no dilation or contractions and the baby is still up in my ribs, he thinks that I'm unlikely to progress much further before the placenta becomes a real concern.

One good thing about this is that if it doesn't work, then I should have the option to go home and try again next week. I don't plan to let them break my water (thanks for the reminder, Shelsi!) or give me a big slug of pitocin right up front. I'm still nervous, but you guys have made me feel less terrified. Thanks!!

[mamamoo]

I'm in the august ddc, but I just wanted to say that things can change rather quickly on their own. Some babies don't drop until you are in labor(mine don't), and just because you have been at a certain point for a length of time does not mean you won't go into labor on your own tomorrow, or a week from now or whatever. There is no real average labor expeience, every mama and baby is so different. I wouldn't go either...if you do though, I hope everything works out good for you and baby.