Im 40 weeks pregnet. If they induce my labor how long will it take before I deliver?

Question

Is it easier if you get induced or harder.

Answer 1

That will depend if they use patosine and have fast your body dilates. Good luck - child birth isn't that bad.

Answer 2

Christina, Labor is initiated when the baby turns and starts to come down the birth canal. Until then, . . . it's a waiting game. If you have already spoken to your doctor about this, you probably already have a 'drop dead" date of two weeks past your due date, and then the doctor will induce. If you haven't discussed this possibility . . . it may still take two more weeks PAST your due date. (Remember, your due date is based on the period you missed waaaaay back when! So your actual conception date may be up to two more weeks along.) Seeking an induction is a good idea after 42 weeks, as the baby is only going to continue to grow, and passing a 7 lbs baby is remarkably different from passing a 8.5 lbs baby or one over 9 lbs through your birth canal!! Walking and doing light housework can help the onset of labor. Many women go through something called a "quickening" where they have all this energy, and put it to use cleaning the house, painting the baby's room, etc. You MAY experience that, and if you do, then you know your labor will begin in a few more days. Hopefully, you will be able to complete a natural childbirth process and the baby doesn't go into fetal distress. IF the baby goes into fetal distress, your doctor may require you to prepare for a c-section. Metally prepare yourself for this possibility right now. Your doctor may possibly have to break your water to start the birthing contractions . . . every woman has different needs and each pregnancy is different, as well. If you make it to the hospital, and require an induction, ask for an epidural rather than a spinal tap/block to block the lower back pain during the induced delivery. (usually a Pitocin drip or an efacing gel for your cervix). Dave

Answer 3

I was induced 2 weeks early due to PIH...My water was broken at 3:45 AM and I delivered at 9:52. I dont know if the magnesium I had to have slowed it down any since it supresses labor...the pitosen seemed to work pretty quick...I had an epidural so I didn't have any hard labor pains....but I'm sure every woman's case is different. I dont think it's any easier or harder...some labors are easy and some were difficult...I was blessed with an easy labor (only about 6.5 hours for a first delivery) and 15 minute delivery.

Answer 4

No one knows how long a woman's labor will be either by induction or by natural methods or just spontaneous. Also, a woman's labor is different for each pregnancy. A general rule of thumb is that each successive labor is half of the previous labor. For example, my first labor was 35 hours. My second labor was 17 hours and my third labor was 5 hours.

Rumor has it that an induced labor is more painful than a natural or spontaneous labor. The positive side to this is that each contraction is more effective. Basically, if the contraction is harder, then the more you are effacing and dilating.

Good luck and congratulations.

Answer 5

I don't know if it would be easier or harder. I have only been induced... well minus being in slow labor. My longest labor so far has been 5 hours and 50 minutes. That is from start to finish at 25% effaced and dilated to a 1. My shortest was 3 hours 30 minutes. But that was my third and I was having some contractions before they induced. Good luck

Answer 6

I have only one baby and I was induced, so I don't know what natural labor might feel like, but what was positive about induction was that I could get an epidural as soon as I wanted one instead of waiting for 4 or 5 centimeters like natural labor. My Lamaze instructor said women who go in with natural labor have to wait until at least 4 and ideally 5 centimeters before getting an epidural because it can stall labor, but with induction, because the labor is controlled by medication (Pitocin) it doesn't stall regardless of when you receive an epidural. I got one at the first sign of discomfort I didn't want to deal with and had a great experience. I had no pain throughout, even pushing. I delivered in about 12 hours (first dose of medication to baby on my belly) which my L. instructor also said was average for inductions. Hearing others' stories of natural birth, after my induction, I can say I would choose to do it that way again hands down.

Good luck!

Answer 7

I was induced at 38 weeks due to preeclampsia. I was just starting to dilate and efface, and I wasn't really "ripe," but the baby had to come out. So they inserted a prostaglandin gel into my cervix, hoping to get things going. It didn't really work, so they tried again 6 hours later. And then we started an IV pitocin drip. And that started contractions, but not a lot of progress. So they broke my water. And then things started pretty hot and heavy. But I labored for 52 hours, all told, and then pushed for three hours, only to end up with an emergency C-section due to skyrocketing blood pressure and fetal distress. Turns out she couldn't have been delivered vaginally anyway--I have abnormal pelvic structure--and I was crushing her head.

Whoa. Not sure why I started in with the horror story! The point is that it totally depends on how ready your body is, and how ready your baby is, how the induction is done, and how your body responds to the drugs.

It could be just a few hours, or it could be a few days.

Good luck.

Answer 8

It will depend on your body and your dialation. My first was induced, but 24 hours later, it became a C section because she was not dialated enough - he was 9 lbs though... rather large. (My job became to wake my wife up so she can breath through the contractions)

My second was naturally delievered, 14 hours later - she was 6 lbs. Thats all I know (I am not a doctor). I think it will really be a matter of relaxing during delivery that will make it harder or easier.

From my point of view, I could not tell if it was more "fun" the first or second time around. It certianly wasn't a scary event though.. we all knew what was going to happen, and what had to be done for it to happen.

Hopefully you have taken lamaz classes and brought a focus object... breath breath breath. Hope that helps - good luck.

Answer 9

It all depends sometimes induction doesn't even take..meaning it won't work if you body is not ready. You would most liekly have to be showing signs that your ready like being dialiated and efaced. My 1st child i went into labor naturally and was in labor for 1.5 hours start to finish. my second I was induced and it took 1 hour start to finish but i am just that way lucky i guess but everybody is differant i've had friends who it's taken more than 12 hours when induced. Good Luck and by the way being induced was much more painful for me...but i did both complealty drug free.

Answer 10

Well they will only let you be in labor for 24 hrs. -48 hrs. ( usually) then they will do C-section. If water breaks they will only let you be in labor for 12-to at the most 24 hrs. then a C section. When induced it will hurt much more ( because of the piticin) and usually it will hurt after until it is out of your system. Some people have better luck. So Sorry for the bad news but if you have an epidural then you will be pain free and have a smooth labor.

Answer 11

When they induced my labor with my last child it only took about 3 1/2 hours. The labor is much shorter but the contractions are much harder.