Early Induction Experiences

[Anonymous]

Hi all! I’m curious if anyone would be willing to share their experience(s) with an early induction, especially how far along you were and what the reasoning was for the induction. I have a bit of time left before I’ll have to make this decision, or before it’s even officially on the table, but induction/c-section were loosely floated at my 30 week growth scan due to the baby’s size (tummy measuring >99th percentile). I know from my own research that this in isolation is not necessarily a reason to induce or to have a c-section. Just curious to hear others’ experiences! Fwiw, I’m at GW and this is baby #2.

[Anonymous]

Induced at week 39 - did balloon and then pitocin - took both in the evening/early morning and then labor started around 1230 and baby came out half-hour later - also used epidural. This was with GW and had a great experience. No tearing either.

[Anonymous]

I was induced for both my kids. The first one was at 36 weeks due to IUGR. He was too small and was not growing, so MFM advised early delivery. OB gave me the choice of c-section or induction. I chose the latter. It went pretty smoothly. Pitocin started around 7:30 AM and I had the baby shortly after 7 PM. Throughout the day I was reassured by baby's strong and steady heartbeat (there's a separate monitor for that). Chose induction again 3 years later and had a similar experience, though this time baby was full term.

[Anonymous]

I was induced for all 3 of mine due to blood pressure then finally pre-e. First 2 at 39 weeks, 3rd at 37. First one was with foley catheter and pitocin. #2 and 3 just pitocin. All of the deliveries were relatively quick. 4 pushes for kid #2, 3 pushes for kid #3. #1 did take a bit longer but I had no idea what I was doing and couldn't feel my legs due to the epidural. I didn't know this was not normal.

[Anonymous]

I was induced at 37 weeks for PIH for my first and at 34 weeks for my second for severe pre-e. The second one was easier, no tearing. Both inductions took less than 24 hours.

[Anonymous]

I was induced at 37 weeks for pre-e. It…did not go smoothly. Many days, many interventions (with midwives), and a very banged up baby. Alls well that (eventually) ends well, but after that, I wouldn’t choose an early induction unless it was another emergency.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like your Ob just wants to not be up all night.

[Anonymous]

Induced twice at 42 weeks and was in labor 48 hours or so. All right in the end though- babies born vaginally and healthy. I had bishops scores of 0

[Anonymous]

I was induced at 39 weeks mainly for baby size. Ended up with c-section because baby remained high up— never descended. He was 7 lbs, 11 oz, average size head and length, so the size estimations were off. But, he’s now 6’4”— all turned out fine.

[Anonymous]

There is data supporting induction at 39 weeks if you’d rather not have a c-section.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like your Ob just wants to not be up all night.

My induction started at 10 pm on a Sunday and my son was born at 5am on Tuesday. OBs know there’s no guarantee of timing.

[Anonymous]

Induced at 38 weeks. Pitocin at 7am. By 7:30 declared ‘failure to descend’ and emergency c section. Once baby was removed, I went into distress and had emergency surgery on my uterus. After blood transfusion and a week and a half in hospital was sent home.

[Anonymous]

I was induced at 37 weeks with kid 1 and 35 and change with kid 2. Severe preeclampsia both times. First induction took 36-48 hours depending on when you start counting, second induction one was almost 24 on the dot. Induction isn’t particularly fun but honestly childbirth generally isn’t as far as I can tell. I was pretty gutted with the first one because I really wanted to do a fairly low intervention situation - I do think that would have been more pleasant, but also wasn’t in the cards for me. If you’ve had a vaginal birth they say induction is very likely to be successful fwiw.

I could go on and on (and am quite happy to) but is there anything specific you were hoping to get at?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like your Ob just wants to not be up all night.

This is so silly, this poster apparently doesn’t know how inductions work. The baby doesn’t just pop out in the span of a normal work day.

[Anonymous]

GW has 24 hour in hospital coverage. The OB has no where else to go.

I was induced at GW with baby #3. A little pitocin and then my body took over. Birthed 30 minutes after my water broke.