I was induced at Sibley with my first. I checked in at 8pm on a Thursday night and got cervical ripener called Cervidil at 10pm since I was barely dilated. Insertion of the ripener hurt for me. I can only liken it to inserting the tiniest tampon without an applicator.

The doctor removed the ripener at 10am the next day. Then I was given pitocin through an IV. Labor didn't progress well. I had contractions and they were so painful but not strong enough to move things along. I was hooked up to monitors so I couldn't walk around like I wanted to help deal with the pain. If i disconnected the monitor for too long to pace around the room, the nurse would come in and hook me back up.

Around 7pm, I asked for an epidural. I got an epidural around 8pm. I felt so much better after that. I mean, I felt nothing and it was such a relief. I also had to get a catheter becasue of the epidural. My water broke around 11pm. At some point, I fell asleep and I woke up with the extreme urge to push around 4am so I called for the nurse. My baby was born at 5am. So, 19 hours in labor total after the cervical ripener was removed.

My baby was fine and she's a healthy 3 year old now. I had some bad tearing but it healed by around 6 weeks post birth. I was 41 weeks and 1 day when I was induced. It wasn't ideal but it was fine. Good luck, OP!

Anonymous wrote:First or second+ baby? Early because of complications or late because of due date?

My first was an early induction and it was HARD and long (40 hours), but she was also malpositioned and my body was just not ready for labor. I haven't heard of anyone that had an induction at 40-41 weeks that had one of the long slow labors like PP and me.

PP with the 36 hour induction.... 41 weeks 3 days when we started and 41 weeks 5 days at arrival

First or second+ baby? Early because of complications or late because of due date?

My first was an early induction and it was HARD and long (40 hours), but she was also malpositioned and my body was just not ready for labor. I haven't heard of anyone that had an induction at 40-41 weeks that had one of the long slow labors like PP and me.

I was initially on standby, but my doctor said that beds almost always opened up for inductions (Fairfax). I had GD, so I got priority placement, and was induced on that date. We checked in at 8pm, and was hooked up to monitors and had IVs inserted and blood drawn. They needed to monitor for at least an hour before I was allowed to get up and move around again, and they had me hooked up any time I was in bed, so even getting to use the bathroom was a hassle. Started ripener at midnight, with another dose every couple of hours. Expect to be woken often. I only had mild contractions the next morning, and hadn’t progressed much — was maybe a 2 — so doctor broke my water. My cervix was in an awful position, and breaking my water was painful (my second pregnancy I hardly felt it). Started pitocin later in the morning. Got an epidural around lunchtime when I was about a 4 and contractions still weren’t that bad. Baby was sunny side up, so the epidural didn’t do much for the back labor. Started pushing around midnight, and baby was born with vacuum assist at 3am. My induction was awful because my baby was in a terrible position (sunny side up) and on the larger side (8.5lbs) for my extremely narrow hips. My sister had two inductions that were under 6 hours though. It’s the luck of the draw.

Checked in: 5pm
Cervical ripener: 6pm
More ripener: 10pm
Foley bulb from hell: 12am
Worst pain of life followed; had to have narcotic pain relief
Bulb removed: 6am
Pitocin started: 10am
Epidural: 4pm
Pushing: 6:00-6:30pm
Baby born!

Went in on a Sunday night. Had a cervix ripener starting at 7pm, every 4 hours until 5 am. Started having contractions at 530am and was 3cm. Got an epidural at 9am thank goodness!! They started pitocin barely needed it at 10 am and baby was here at noon. everything happened very quickly and I was in so much pain. If you are on the fence, get the epidural, it was a LIFESAVER. not sure how I would have done it without it!

They check your cervix when you get there and if it’s not far enough along, you start with a cervix ripener (I felt nothing). Then you start the pitocin which starts contractions but I was able to sleep over night while they ramped it up (obvs they wake you all the time but still). Then they broke my water and things got very painful and very quick. Epidural, pushed for maybe 10 min and the baby arrived a few hours after the water breaking.

If they plan to break your water, maybe get the epidural first or at least make sure they know you might ask for it fast.

Anonymous wrote:Inductions are natural. It's just helping along a natural process. Pitocin is a natural hormone.

Pitocin is a drug that mimics the natural hormone, oxytocin. It makes the uterus contract but it doesn't have all the benefits of oxytocin and can interfere with the brain's oxytocin receptors.

I was induced with DC2 because we were worried about precipitous labor after a less than 3 hour labor & delivery with DC1.

Midwife induced labor by breaking my water, I walked around the nurses station a couple of times before contractions got bad and then went back to lie down. Labor was about an hour total.

Two inductions, two completely difference experiences. I don't know that you can learn much from other's experiences. One took 36 hours, the other 3 hours.

They may start you at night with a cervix ripened, depending if you are dialated or not. Or how far you’re dialated.

Be warned that they can bump you for someone who went into active labor- that happened to me with my second kid, I was postponed until the next day. Which was a mind**** at the time because I was mentally prepped to start the process.

Your doctor should answer all your questions though! That’s not ok that they are being vague.

Inductions are natural. It's just helping along a natural process. Pitocin is a natural hormone.

C sections are unnatural and only witches should get them. I'm kidding

Terrible experience, but I had to have one with my first due to complications. I would try to avoid it if you can. IMHO, a baby should come naturally.

I love my inductions. 2/3 were induced and I'm due in a few weeks and hoping to be induced again.

It's so civilized compared to my traumatic natural birth.

You walk in. They start your iv. Pitocin, antibiotics if relevant for GBS. As soon as you are in pain they give you epidural. They break your water at some point. I can feel everything but no pain.

You sit around and eventually they tell you to push and out comes the cute little baby.

Tell me your induction stories. Supposed to check in to Sibley tomorrow evening but my doctor is being vague about what happens. What happened when you were induced? Were you delayed in going in for any reason? How long was your labor after they started the induction? Thanks for sharing your stories!