How much worse does it feel to be induced, rather than go naturally?

Question

I'm being induced one week early because I'm diabetic Type 1 and the baby will be big. Does it hurt worse to be induced?

Answer 1

It all hurts pretty bad. I was induced and the labor went pretty quick. The thing is that no one hands out trophys at the end for the mom who took the most pain so when in doubt take the epidural.

it helps soooo much ! Good luck

Answer 2

I was induced and had an epidural and it didn't hurt at all. I didn't have a c-section. I have heard though that some women think it hurts more when you are induced b/c the contractions come on strong and fast, whereas with natural labor it begins slowly. If you're worried about it, just make sure you get the epidural early on...that's what I did. Good luck and congratulations!!!

Answer 3

I think it hurts more to be induced. With my first daughter, I was at home all day long, sitting thru contractions until they were about 5 minutes apart - called the doctor, went to the hospital and was in labor for 5 hours when she made her way out (she was 9lb 8oz). With my second, the doctor wanted to induce cuz she said the baby was getting too big. OUCH!!! Contractions came much faster, all of a sudden. Labor lasted longer (8 hours), then she came out smaller (8 lb 9oz) than my first.
I went all natural both times, so the pain wasn't unbearable with the induction, but it was worse than the first time around when she came naturally.

Answer 4

Pitocin, the medicine used to induce women, is a synthetic form of Oytocin, which naturally occurs in your body and causes your uterus to contract. They give it to you through an IV. It causes your contractions to be stronger and closer together if you are already in labor and you need to speed up/strengthen things(called augmentation). If you are not in labor, it is called an induction and it is given at a small dose intially, and then bumped up every 15 minutes until your contractions are at a nice strength and rate. It is a higher amount than occurs natually and this causes your uterus to contract more often and harder than it normally would, so yes it hurts more. If you don't want to have an epidural, maybe rethink that or get a doula to help you through, because it can be hard to deal with labor with Pitocin. Good luck!

Please don't just jump to a c-section as suggested above, it is major abdominal surgery, causes a harder recovery and as with any surgery, there can be complications. If you need one for medical reasons, then by all means have one. But to electively decide to have all your abdominal muscle and tissues cut open is not to be taken lightly!

Answer 5

Well, I was induced for my first child so I don't have a natural birth experience to compare it with. I will tell you this though: it seems that it really interrupts the natural process. I was in active labor with no breaks between my contractions because of the massive dose of Pitocin I was on but my cervix didn't dilate. So feeling like I wanted to push but I wasn't allowed to because I was only at 5cm. I had to have a c-section because I couldn't dilate.

I've read that inductions for first time moms are often unsuccessful because your body's never given birth before and inductions don't always allow for the slower time it takes to get your body ready the first time around.

Pretty much it's guaranteed to hurt like hell no matter if you go into labor naturally or not! As far a c-sections go, having had one I wouldn't recommend it unless it's medically neccessary.

Answer 6

Not at all... I was induced with both of my boys because they were so big..
Sure the excitement of just going into labor would have been nice.. but being induced was easy... with both of my boys I was induced early in the morning and delivered in less than 12 hours..

Answer 7

I am being induced tomorrow. I have been induced before with my second son and I didnt notice any difference in the pain. It was a fast birth too. Only lasted 2 hours and I was actually only in pain for one hour. Im hoping the same thing will happen tomorrow, but we will see. I am always hearing other women say that it hurt worse, but it didnt for me.Good Luck.

Answer 8

Well i dont know what it feels like to do a natural birth..the two children i had were both induced. I do know however that when you are induced, the pitocin makes your contractions closer together and stronger, so i am assuming that it is the same as far as pain, but faster as far as getting to the delivery point.

Answer 9

Yes, somewhat. I've been induced twice and had natural labor twice. Only had one epidural (with the second induction) and it didn't work on one side so it was a waste.

Contractions are definitely more intense when induced. However, you will survive and holding that little newborn will be so worth it.

Congratulations!

Answer 10

Well, I'm not a woman, so I can't tell you for sure, but my wife was induced 2 weeks early with our daughter. As far as I could tell from watching her and having seen other women have babies, it didn't seem to be any more painful. Just seemed to quicken the process. If they have to induce you, by all means go for it. You'll be glad you did.