How long after being induced does active labor usually begin?

Question

I'm scheduled to be induced on the 21st if I don't have my baby by then. Somebody told me it takes 24 to 48 hours to begin active labor after that, but I thought it only took a few hours.

Answer 1

If they break your water and then use pitocin it should go fairly quickly (from experience). I have also had cervidil and for me that didn't work worth a crap I contracted allllllll day. They gave up and let me rest for the night then started at 6 AM next morn. I had the baby about 1 in the afternoon. It all depends on how ripe your cervix is for the induction...If you are dilated and the cervix is soft and effaced and the baby is at a good station, then you should be OK. Good luck!

Answer 2

It depends on the method they use for induction. Have they explained what they are going to do? So often they just tell the poor ladies "come into the hospital and we'll induce you" without giving them any idea of what they are going to actually do. Of course, it may depend on how you present on the day.

There are several things that they can do to induce labor and they will all have an impact on how long it takes for labor to actually start. They could do any of these things in isolation or in combination, which will again govern how long it may take to get things rolling:

1. Stripping the membranes - if you are already dialated but your waters haven't broken, a doctor or midwife can actually manually separate your amniotic sac ("bag of waters") from the lower portion of the uterus. This causes prostaglandins to be released and may get contractions going but it usually takes awhile - up to a couple of days.

2. Prostaglandin cream applied directly to your cervix will help "ripen" the cervix and may get the contractions going.

3. Rupturing the membranes - if you are partially dialated then they will actually break your waters using a small plastic instrument that looks like a crochet hook. If your cervix is already ripe then this may be enough to get labor going. If this doesn't happen then they will also put you on an oxytocin IV drip to help things along.

4. Oxytocin IV drip - a drug, normally Pictocin, is administered via an IV drip and this will usually bring on labor. They will adjust the amount as the labor progresses.

If you have any questions, ASK YOUR MIDWIFE.

In a niutshell there is no easy answer to this question - it could be immediate, it could take awhile - it depends what they do and how you respond.

Answer 3

I wish it only took a few hours. So not true. They will induce you with cervidil to begin with that takes 12 hours on it's own to ripen your cervix (or if they use the gel it lasts for 6 hours and can be reapplied up to 3x for a total of 12-18 hours). Average length of a first time Labor & Delivery is approx 14 hours. So whoever told you 24-48 hours is quite accurate.

I'm scheduled to be induced on Friday morning. This is my second time and I'm still assuming I wont deliver until Saturday.

Answer 4

If your body is ready you should start feeling contractions within about 2 hrs. every labor is different but the average labor is -

Early Labor or fist stage can take a few hrs. to 20 hrs. and the cervix opens 4 -5 cm. This can be very slow progress.

Active Labor can take a half hr. to 6 hrs. and the cervix dilates from about 5 - 8 cm. The progress now speeds up.

Transition phase 10 min. - 1 hr. the cervix dilates from about 8 - complete (10 cm)

Sometimes inducing labor may take a few tries, and sometimes when you make the induction date you relax and start natural labor.

Answer 5

There's no way to tell how long it will take. It depends on how your body reacts to the inducing drug. If you dilate fast, it will take a few hours as opposed to a day. There's no way to tell how long normal labor will be. It's different for everyone. Mine are between 4 and 5 hours every time. Some women are in labor for 1 or 2 days (or more). Hope you have a quick one!! good luck

Answer 6

Six Signs that Labor is Within a Few Weeks or Days: 1. Lightening: You can breathe again! This is an indication that the baby has dropped, settling deeper into your pelvis and relieving some of the pressure on your diaphragm, so you are not so short of breath. You may feel increased pressure on your bladder, which means more trips to the bathroom. Others may comment on your changed appearance, although you might not be aware of it at all. 2. Bloody show: Loss of mucus plug. During pregnancy, a thick plug of mucus protects your cervical opening from bacteria entering the uterus. When your cervix begins to thin and relax, this plug is expelled. Some women think the plug will look solid like a cork, but it is actually stringy mucus or discharge. It can be clear, pink or blood tinged and can appear minutes, hours or even days before labor begins. Not all women notice this sign. 3. Rupture of membranes: Your water breaks! Only 1 in 10 woman experience a dramatic gush of the amniotic fluid and even then it usually happens at home, often in bed. Sometimes the amniotic sac breaks or leaks before labor begins. Your uterus is sitting directly on top of your bladder, which can cause you to leak urine. Sometimes it can be quite difficult to distinguish urine from amniotic fluid. If your membranes have ruptured and you are leaking amniotic fluid, it will be an odorless fluid. This can occur with a sudden gush or a constant trickle. If you notice fluid leaking, you need to try to determine if it smells like urine or if it is odorless. If it does not seem to be urine, you would want to contact your health care provider. Until you see your physician or midwife do not use tampons, have sexual intercourse or do anything that would introduce bacteria to your vagina. Let your health care provider know if the fluid is anything other than clear and odorless, particularly if it's green or foul smelling, because this could be a sign of infection. 4. Nesting: Spurt of energy. For most of your pregnancy you have probably been fighting the urge to take a nap, so you'll know when you experience this. One day you will wake up feeling full of energy! You'll start making a long list of things to do, things to clean, things to buy and everything you've put off doing will become a high priority. In all your preparations, don't forget that “Labor Day” may be just around the corner so save some energy. 5. Effacement: Thinning of the cervix. Usually in the last month the cervix begins to stretch and thin. This process means the lower segment of the uterus is getting ready for delivery. A thin cervix will also allow the cervix to dilate more easily. Your health care provider may check for effacement in the final 2 months of pregnancy. Effacement is measured in percentages. You may hear your helath care provider say,“You are 25% effaced, 50% effaced, 75%...” The Braxton Hicks contractions or “practice contractions” you have been experiencing may play a part in the effacement process. You will not be able to determine your effacement process, this can only be done by a health care provider's exam. 6. Dilation: Opening of the cervix. Dilation is the process of the cervix opening in preparation for childbirth. Dilation is measured in centimeters or, less accurately, in “fingers” during an internal (manual) pelvic exam. “Fully dilated” means you're at 10 centimeters and are ready to give birth. In the same way that your health care provider may be checking for effacement in the last 2 months, your health care provider may also tell you how many centimeters your cervix has dilated. One SURE Sign Labor is Really Happening: Consistent Contractions: When you begin to experience regular uterine contractions, this is the strongest indication that you are in labor. This is a good time to get out your notebook to record the exact time each one begins and how long they last. These contractions may feel like menstrual cramps or a lower backache that comes and goes, and during early labor they may be as far apart as 20 to 30 minutes. Over the course of several hours your contractions will typically begin occurring at shorter intervals; and you may notice they start happening every 10-15 minutes or less. When your contractions are consistently 5 minutes apart, it is time to call your health care provider. Labor Contractions Have the Following Characteristics: They are regular They follow a predictable pattern (such as every eight minutes) They become progressively closer They last progressively longer They become progressively stronger Each contraction is felt first in the lower back and then radiates around to the front or visa versa A change in activity or position will not slow down or stop contractions There may be bloody show Membranes may rupture Your health care provider will notice cervical changes, such as effacement (thinning), or dilation

Answer 7

It depends on how well the meds take and how ready your baby is. With my second child I was induced and I began active labor immediately but was still in labor for almost 15 hours.
With my third son we used the gel and it had to be inserted twice and still didn't work and then the meds.- I went in at 4pm on Thursday afternoon and by 9am still wasn't in labor - finally was down enough for the Dr. to break my water and then it began. By 12:45 Friday afternoon I had my baby.
It depends on the woman and mostly the baby and its readiness.
Good Luck!
When they break your water be ready - labor pains get much more intense after that.

Answer 8

Well my cousin got induced and she had her baby with in 4 hours. And my other friend she did the same and had her baby if 4 mins. So it depends and labors arent usally that long when u get induced. I never seen no one go longer then 7 hours, and that good for your first baby. If that your first one.

Answer 9

Let me tell you about my induction. I was being induced at 39 weeks. I went into the hospital on a tuesday. THey gave me the prostaglandin gel. I had to lay still for an hour while they monitored the baby..no labour. I had the gel again about 8 hours later. Same routine. Still nothing. MY uterus started spazaming really bad...they gave me demerol to put me to sleep and take te pain away...it wasn't labour. The next morening tehy sent me home...there was too many people in active labour to take my induction further. I was home about an hour and my water broke. Back to the hospital...still too many women in active laour to start the pitocin drip...but now that my water ha sbroken they can't make me wait too long. So they put me in a delivery room...I haev a shower...a women in active labour with twins needs the room...I get moved down the hall...still no labour...Finally Thursday morning they start the pitocin drip...first contraction hit like a freight train. I opted for a epidural right wawy. I actuall fell asleep. I was in labour for 6 hours (not feeling a thing) and felt like I needed to push. I managed to push my son out in 33 minutes. The cord was around his neck...and I had started shivering near the end of teh delivery...so infection wa setting in...they wisked him to the nicu because of my infection to monitor him for 48 hours and give him antibiotics. So yes...it can take a while.

Answer 10

it really depends on your body. for me i was induced 3 weeks early because my baby wasn't growing anymore. I was given many different things. The doc. had to open/ripen my cervix, that took through out the whole night, plus i was on the drip oxytocin, then the next day they broke my water and that's when i started having crazy, back to back out of my body! insane pain! yikes... i only lasted up to 7 cm and begged for the epidural. the doc said it would slow down labor for another 6 hours but to their surprise i had her out and in my arms within one hour! i can only imagine how fast this second one will be! good luck and i hope you don't have a long labor!