planning to induce, but wondering if this will work

[Anonymous]

Excuse my ignorance, but what does 'effacement' mean?

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks to everyone for their responses.
I'm just so unsure how Friday will go; it seems, however, from these answers and other stories I have heard that everyone responds differently to pitocin.

Friday will be 42nd week, so unless this baby kicks it into gear in the next day or so, looks like we're facing the induction. I hope to do it without an epidural - as it sounds like is possible - but we'll see!

Admittedly, the waiting is the hardest part of all of this. When I scheduled an induction 'just in case,' weeks ago, I never, ever thought I'd get to 42 weeks with no signs of labor. Now that I'm hear, it's so tough not to be anxious. So I am trying to remember that our bundle of joy will be the end product of this and we'll be so relieved when she gets here.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to say that I went to my doctor for a stress test at exactly 41 weeks and I was only 1cm dilated and so discouraged. But then I went into labor on my own that night and had the baby the next afternoon. So, I can't answer your question about induction leading to C-section but just wanted to give you hope that you could still go into labor on your own, even if only 1cm and no effacement.

The waiting is tough and I thought I would never go into labor.

[Anonymous]

I haven't seen this mentioned, I self-induced with relentless nipple stim which led to contractions and my water breaking.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you tried acupuncture? You would need to go first thing tomorrow morning. Usually it takes two sessions....so maybe it would help in time and maybe not. I assume that you've also tried lots of sex, nipple stimulation, and walking. You can also take lots of evening primrose oil orally and put it directly on to your cervix, too.

Are you dilated or effaced at all? If you are just a little dilated, sometimes doctors are willing to try a foley bulb, which is a small rubber bulb blown up in your cervix and the pressure of it releases prostaglandins and starts ripening the cervix. The benefit of this technique is that it does not involve any drugs and you can usually go home to sleep in your own bed while you wait to see if it works.

[Anonymous]

This is the 11:23 poster again. I took a warm bath the night before my water broke. No idea if it contributed, but that type of relaxation certainly can't hurt at this stage!

[Anonymous]

OP - good luck! My water broke with baby #1 and I needed pit since contractions didn't start. I labored for 28 hours and asked for an epi about 20 hours in but delivered a 10lb baby vaginally with only a few pushes. A few months ago I delivered baby #2 completely naturally after bring induced (pit, then water broken) and a 6.5hr labor (another 10lb baby).

I sat in a rocker for most of my labor (before and after water broken) and it seemed to make things move faster and the pain much more manageable. Whenever I laid down to be checked the pain was sooo much worse. Try an upright position if it helps.