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Induction - Cytotec or Cervidil?
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Anonymous
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40 weeks and 2 days, will be induced a week from Tuesday if nothing happens before then. Hopefully (chances are?) that I'll go into labor, I HOPE. But just in case, figured I'd do some research. Have googled, etc. Only person I know to be induced had cervidil. Doc made it sound like she had no preference between the two.
any experience? |
Anonymous
| Cytotec used for induction of labor is an "off label" use of the drug. That is, it's not approved by the FDA for this use. Granted, many doctors have been doing this without adverse outcomes for long time. You should be aware, however, that there are a considerable number of people who are very vocal about the dangers of Cytotec. Do your due diligence on dosage and risks/benefits. In the meantime, if I were you, I'd be trying as many natural labor inducers as possible. Including, but not limited to, castor oil if it comes down to a medical induction. Good luck, momma. I hope your labor comes on it's own time! |
Anonymous
No, Cytotec is not merely an "off-label" use. It is FORBIDDEN by the FDA to be used on pregnant women for induction of labor. Cytotec doubles the risk of a ruptured uterus due to induction when compared to other labor-inducing drugs (yes, there is a risk of uterine rupture with cervidil and pitocin, too). It is a powerful drug and it is insane that so many physicians and hospitals are willing to risk their patients LIVES by using this drug simply because it is cheap. The upshot is that it works - causes insanely strong contractions and you can be pretty sure that it will crank open your cervix and eject that baby in no time at all. |
Anonymous
| Do not even let them in the room if the are going to give you cytotec. I had a friend die a horribly violent death as a result of this drug. |
Anonymous
| Another big NO WAY to cytotec. Cervadil is also removable if you should experience adverse events -- with Cytotec, too bad.. |
Anonymous
| I was induced with Cervidil - I went in the night before to have it applied. They monitored me and the baby for an hour, then sent me home. They said it might start labor in the night, but all it did was cause cramping for a few hours. I went back to the hospital to start my scheduled induction at 6:30 am the following morning. It did ripen my cervix to where I was completely thinned by the morning. |
Anonymous
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OP here, thanks for the info. I had read some of this about cytotec. Crazy that they are still using it, no?
I am definitely trying to do what I can to bring on labor. Acupuncture, sex, spicy food . . . Open to all suggestions! |
Anonymous
| When I was induced, I had Cervadil at midnight and then was having intense contractions by 3:30 am so they removed the Cervadil and gave me the epidural. They initially told me that the Cervadil would stay in for 12 hours, but I guess it did what it was supposed to more quickly. |
Anonymous
| Does anyone know what VHC/Arlington Women's Center prefers to use? I'm being induced on Friday and I guess I need to bring this up at my appointment this week, but was wondering if I could get some insight in the mean time. |
Anonymous
| So you'll be 41 weeks, 3 days if you go in next Tuesday right? Why not just let the baby come when he or she is ready? Most women give birth between 38 weeks gestation and 42 weeks gestation. If you are fine and the baby is fine, why not let things be? |
Anonymous
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i agree with PP that routine induction for no medical reason before 42 weeks is worth some serious thought. there have been several studies lately finding that induced labors for first babies (is this your first) are twice as likely to end in cesarean as labors that aren't induced. so if you and your baby are healthy, and you have concerns about induction, it might be worth just waiting it out. my first baby was born at 41 weeks 6 days and i was glad i just let things be and went into labor on my own. my practice didn't routinely induce until 42 weeks. it would probably at least be worth finding out your bishop score to see how likely it is that induction will succeed, before you agree to it.
also, some people have had success with starting an induction, and if it doesn't work, going home to wait things out and try again later or wait for labor to begin on its own. this wouldn't be an option if they broke your water however (one of many reasons to keep your water intact until it breaks by itself). regarding the induction options, i'd ask your doctor what she thinks about the two drugs and their pros and cons. my understanding is that a lot of doctors prefer cytotec because when it works, it's more effective than cervidil (and when it doesn't work, it's catastrophic, but since that's rare, it seems like a lot of doctors ignore it). this i think the chance of a "failed induction" (meaning that since your body isn't ready it won't efface/dilate no how many drugs they give you) is lower with cytotec, but the chance of a catastrophic outcome is higher. getting her thoughts on the methods might be useful. also it would be good to ask her whether you can decide yourself what to use, or whether there are other considerations that will influence what is used. and also if other providers in the practice will also support you using what you want, if for some reason your main doc isn't there. also i'd be prepared for the long haul -- often cervidil is done overnight or longer and assuming it does soften/ripen the cervix, you'd then likely begin receiving pitocin after that to actually induce contractions. it is a lengthy process and can be lengthier if your body still needed more time to go into labor. some women go into labor just after taking cervidil but for most that wouldn't be enough to set them into labor on their own. so finding out from your provider what to expect when you arrive at the hospital will be helpful. when i was pregnant and set an induction date (because back then i didn't know i could refuse!) my provider told me nothing about what to expect from induction. luckily i went into labor before 42 weeks. but now having attended induced births as a doula i really think she did me wrong by not preparing me for what i might experience. it's not the same as going into labor on your own and so knowing what to expect is i think very important. good luck! |
Anonymous
| The use of cytotec for induction is one of the leading causes of maternal death. If a doctor said that this was their preferred method of induction I would run the hell away fast. Places still use it to cut costs and it's horrifying. I know people whose cervix literally exploded and their child almost died and one woman who did die after being administered cytotec. Please this is a very serious serious problem never let them give it to you. |
Anonymous
| OP here. I'm at Georgetown, about 10 days or so is as long as they'll let me go, I think. I do have the info about checking in the night before, etc, thanks for asking about that. I forgot to ask about my bishop score at today's appt. Will ask at the next one. |
Anonymous
| My Dr. used Cytotec during the night and the Prostaglandin gel in the morning. Neither worked the first time, so they sent me home for three days. On the second go around, they just used the prostaglandin gel, which started my contractions and helped me dilate 1 centimeter. Then they started the pitocin and 8 hours later my DD was born. |
Anonymous
What irresponsible OB still uses Cytotec? Posting his/her name would be a public service. |