Induction? I am scared...?

Question

I am 41 weeks prego and the doctor told me to have a lot of sex this weekend before my next appointment on Monday to speed up rippening of cervix. The problem is that I am single. She said I would probably need to be induced sometime next week. I am scared. I spent all last night reading horror stories of inductions. I have been walking and swimming like crazy to see if that helps, but it hasn't. What else can I do before Monday?

Answer 1

You don't have to be induced. It's up to you, not your doctor. If Monday comes and you have not gone into labor tell your doc that you want to wait a little longer. There's a chance your due date is off and you are not as late as the doc thinks. I have LOTS of friends who were considered "late" but they just waited and the baby came on its own.

Just keep moving and walking.

I agree that you don't want to be induced unless you absolutely have to. It's very painful and the contractions are intense and start out with a bang. Induction requires that you be confined to be during labor and it increases your chance for an epidural and a c-section.

Best of luck. Hang in there! I will say a prayer that you go into labor this weekend, hon.

Answer 2

Ok. First and Foremost calm down. Plenty of women have been induced and been just fine. You have to take this one day at a time. Remember that when your doctor says you may have to be induced sometime next week that it means just that. Anything can happen. Secondly if the doctor does feel it is best to induce keep in mind that he/she has the baby's as well as your best interest at heart. Being induced can be scary but so can being overdue for too long.
Here is a site with plenty of information on the subject of induction that may help you :)
http://www.childbirth.org/articles/labor/induction.html

Remember that walking and swimming are both a good way. Also you can try nipple stimulation, such as pumping with a breast pump. When you do pump it creates the same hormone that kicks labor into gear. Good Luck and Congrats!!!

Answer 3

Try to calm down. Don't read or listen to any more horror stories.
I was induced with both of my kids - the first at 41+ weeks, the second at 40 weeks. The Truth is, pitocin really sucks. And it sucks because, compared to natural labor, it causes your labor to go much faster and more intensely. In a natural labor, there's a build-up of intensity to the contractions, but pitocin sort of reduces that process, and so you end up having a pretty rough ride there until delivery.
Having told you that, let me just reassure you that IT'S NOT ALL THAT HORRIBLE. I can think of much worse things than induction. Please remember, too, that you will not be in labor for a terribly long time - there is and end to it, and that may help you mentally get through it. Try to stay on top of your breathing, make sure you ask for pain relief as soon as you feel you need it, and take heart in the knowledge that it's all for the most wonderful cause - the baby you'll be holding in your arms when it's all over with.

Answer 4

Hey sweetie. I had to be induced too. It isn't that bad. I have heard that swinging on a swing is supposed to help. I tried it but it made me sick so I had to stop. I was single when I had my son. So the whole sex thing is understandable why you can't do it. Also I heard that a warm bath helps too. That sent my friend into labor with her twins. As for the horror stories........I think it all depends how relaxed you and your baby are. Just let things happen. When you go to the hospital just relax and breathe. The doctors know what they are doing. They did the pill, balloon, popped my water and patosin (can't spell). My son didn't want to come out!!!! If you need to talk more you can email me when you look at my profile. Hope all goes well. God bless you both.

Answer 5

Well, I'm a guy but I'm also a father and husband and stay at home dad so maybe my answer might count for something :P

My wife had to be induced with our first child (we have three now). The doctor told us the same thing (about walking and sex etc.).
We tried walking first; stopped at Hardees to get something to eat; went home to have sex and her water broke before we even started.
We went to the hospital and waited for about 10 hours and nothing was happening so they induced her (put her on an pitocin drip). It wasn't that bad since she was on a spinal narcotic to numb the pain. But once she was induced everything went by really fast!
Don't let the stories scare you. Being induced isn't any different than having your child naturally. Our last two were born naturally without induction so this is personal experience talking.

Answer 6

I was induced at 41 weeks and it was great. I read all the horror stories too but mine was a peice of cake. I got cervadil at 10am to ripen my cervix. That came out at 11pm. At 1am they started pitocin. My water broke immediately. Around 3am I finally needed some pain meds. At 7am I got my epidural. A GODSEND!!! I went into active labor at 11am and delivered at 12:56 pm so 2 hours. I did need an episiotomy and I still tore but I healed from that in about 2 weeks. The contractions felt like bad period cramps and backaches for the most part. It was nothing like the stories. Plus as soon as you hold the baby in your arms you forget about any pain you were in. Congrats and good luck.
if you want more details or have any questions feel free to email me.

Answer 7

Don't go in for the induction. Simple as that. Doctor's are not god. You still have plenty of time to go into labor on your own. Doctor's are not patient at all (well most of them aren't) There's nothing that the doctor can do if you don't go in. It's your body, your choice. You can opt to have a NST instead but then realize that they could "fudge" the results to get you to have an induction. Not saying they would but it's been known to happen.
Oh a good thing to get labor going is getting on your hands and knees and scrubbing the floor!

Answer 8

If you a single then there is no problem at all, you just do your home work completely and go for regular morning and evening walk. That it self will make your cervix to become flexible to be opened required size properly and gives the way the baby to come out.
please do not get stressed and raise your blood pressure. Keep cool, God will help and make it easy for you.

Answer 9

When I worked on labor and delivery I noticed that women who were induced had longer labors, but they weren't necessarily more difficult labors. Don't be scared or worried because induction is perfectly safe and lots of women require it. The only tip I've heard about inducing labor naturally is sex and eating pineapples. My fiance swears that eating a pineapple causes labor. When his sister was overdue he gave her pineapple to test his theory and she went into labor by that night. It's not medically proven by any means but you never know.

Answer 10

No reason to be scared about being induced, depending how the doc does it, could be just like a natural laboring, pitocin is a harder labor, and I would recommend getting the epidural if thats whats used to start contractions