Did you have an induced labour? if so how was it and how long did it take?

Question

im being induced in the morning. eeekkkk

im 11 days overdue with my first baby and its head isnt engaged yet. They are giving me something to ripen my cervix to start with as far as i know. Im quite excited and nervous as well

Answer 1

Here is my personal experience. My induction was started around noon. They started the pitocin drip and almost immediately the contractions started. They were very intense and painful. When being induced you and baby will have to be closely monitored, so you do not have much freedom and will most likely spend the day in bed. Ugggh

I also had to use a bedpan because they didn't want me to get up to go to the bathroom.

For 9 hours I was on the pitocin drip and had constant contractions but labor did not progress (surprise surprise - I was lying flat on my back!) so I had to get an epidural and then a C-Section.

Hope your induction will be much better! My sister and my cousin were induced and did not have the problems I did. My sister was in labor 7 hours and had her baby just fine, and my cousin was in labor only 5 hours and delivered vaginally. It all depends on the woman.

All the best to you and baby!

Answer 2

Every induction, just like every natural labor, is highly variable.

It all depends on several factors; first, is this your first baby? First babies almost always take longer, average labor is 12 hours plus two hours of pushing (regardless if induced or not).
Second, what is the state of your cervix going in? If you are closed, thick, and firm, they will need to give you medications first that will ripen the cervix, making it soft and pliable so that contractions will actually work to cause dilation. If you cervix isn't ripe, no amount of labor induction will cause cervical dilation.
Third, it depends on the method of induction. Some docs rupture your membranes (if possible and safe to do so) and will let labor start on its own, which usually happens within 24 hours after being ruptured if you are term. If they use pitocin, it is more effective in getting things moving along.

I was "augmented" for my first labor, I had been laboring for 15 hours and was severely ill and dehydrated, over a week late, and they began pitocin when I was 3cm. It still took another 10 hours. With my second I had an unplanned induction due to preeclampsia, went in the night before for cervical ripening, was hooked up to the pit @ 8am, and delivered at 11am.

Answer 3

I have had five of my labors induced so I guess you can say I'm sort of a pro.

On my first induction they started the pitocin around seven. I really didn't feel the contractions until my doctor broke my water. After 4 hours of contractions I delivered my now seven year old daughter.

This was pretty typical with the rest of my deliveries. When you are induced you will be hooked up to the fetal monitor and a monitor to time contractions. Depending on your physician and hospital you may have to stay in bed or you can sit in a rocker and use the restroom and not a bed pan.

I've had to do both. Check and see what is the protocall your doctor and hospital has on induction and moving around. I will also give you this advice......pitocin may cause your contractions to feel like they are one on top of each other and that you are getting no rest in between them. Just tell your nurse or doctor, they may or should turn the pitocin down or stop it for a few minutes to give you a break.

Answer 4

My sister was induced at 38 weeks with her twins. They started the meds at 10 am on 12/19 and she gave birth to her baby girl at 2:59 am on 12/20 and her baby boy at 3:16 am on 12/20. She didn't have a lot of pain and the labor itself wasn't too bad...just a long wait.
She had an epidural, which slowed the contractions some. Once they picked back up, things went a little quicker. The docs had to break both her waters, as they didn't break on their own.

She was also allowed to get up and go to the bathroom through out the day. They recommended this so labor would progress. She was quite exhausted by the time they were born, as she wasn't allowed to eat the entire day. Both babies were delivered vaginally and were healthy.

Good luck.

Answer 5

They started my induction at 9 am. I was 0% effaced when we started, but she was 2 weeks overdue and did not pass the stress test (this was also 16 years ago)

I did cross stitch until 4 p m. They told me if by 6 I didn't start feeling the contractions they would stop and I could eat dinner. At 5 30 my water broke, no turning back after that. Baby was born at 12 32 am the next day.

Every woman is different. If I were you I would take something to do for the first few hours.

Answer 6

Good luck! My first two came on their own, but my 3rd was 11 days late when I was finally induced. She was pretty high, I was only dilated to a 2. My doctor broke my water and 4 hours later, I was only at 4. Then she wanted the baby born during office hours, so she started pitocin against my wishes. My baby girl was born less than 2 hours later. I did not have an epidural and it really wasn't all that bad.

Answer 7

How long is a piece of string?
1st time I was only 41 weeks (rather cross about being induced before even being overdue now, as technically you are not overdue until 42+ weeks) took 11 hours, rather frustrating and immobile due to drip and monitoring. Labour is much easier when you are active and have gravity helping you.
2nd time I was 42+1 and only gave in because of pelvic problems (SPD). Only need pessary and had just a 90 minute labour. He was probably about done anyway.

3rd time I wasn't induced and had fab homebirth although I had investigated refusing induction in case if it was only based on reasons of "postdates". You can opt for conservative management (scans and observations) rather than active management which is induction as there are risks involved. You do have a choice. Read all you can so you are fully informed.

Hope you have a lovely labour and babymoon!

Answer 8

The docs and nurses tried inducing me after my water started leaking. They had it at full drip and I wasn't going past a 1 (was stuck there for a month). After about 6 hours of trying to induce me and the doctor trying to crack a joke (he mentioned the they could keep the baby in a little longer) and I snapping back at him (I told him to get the baby out now) that they decided to go for the c-section. Plus it all depends on the woman and how she handles induced labor.

Answer 9

Well, I was induced with number 1, and it was 27 hours of labor, but the time just FLEW by. I went to the hospital on May 1st, and he was born May 3rd, but when he was born, I STILL thought it was May 1st!! :-) It wasn't really that bad, because I KNEW that I was leaving the hospital with my baby!
I'm being induced for Number 2 on Thursday, and the doc thinks that this one may go a bit faster since it's my second, and I'm already 4 cm and 70% efaced. So we will just have to wait and see.
But, try not to listen to 'inducement horror stories' because they are NOT all that bad, and you are having your baby!! The best reward in the world for all of your waiting and hard work! Good Luck Mommy :-)

Answer 10

I was induced with my last two babies, from the time i went to the hospital being induced until i had them was around 24 hours exactly.I was induced because i went overdue to 41 and half weeks. Being induced wasn't pleasant, and did cause my labor to be harder. Just relax and try to be as patient as possible, it helps to stay calm.

Good Luck!!!
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