Hi all,
I am 40 weeks Monday. No progression(no dialation) but cervix is soft. OB and I have decided inducing on Monday if no baby this weekend. However with cervix closed i’ll need the Cervidel? Any experiences?
Also, pitocin?
I’m going to continue to walk, eat dates and drink 2-3 cups of Raspberry Leaf Tea.... hoping she comes on her own.
She’s very big so inducing was thought to be best for us.
Anything, suggestions on how to dilate or induce naturally please? TIA
pear / 1728 posts
I have no advice on inducing naturally but wanted to give reassurance on induction without dilation. I had to be induced at 40+2 due to low fluid and I was 1 cm dilated when I went to the hospital. I tried alllll the natural induction methods other than castor oil. I had one dose of cytotec and my daughter was born 4 hours later (with no pitocin). You can still have an easy induction without being dilated!
Good luck!
persimmon / 1082 posts
@skinnycow: So you just had pitocin? Thank you for sharing- anxious about everything because my first was spontaneous.
pear / 1728 posts
@cake2017: Nope, I had cytotec (I think it’s similar to cervadil?) and that kicked my labor off and I didn’t need pitocin at all.
pomegranate / 3355 posts
I had cervidel and Pitocin for both my inductions. I was induced at 38+6 w DD and 39 w DS for high bp.
I was not dilated at all and my body was not ready for either birth.....
I ended up needing foley bulbs inserted for BOTH kids in order to get me dilate at all. The cervidel did nothing for me, it was very frustrating. I went into the hospital both times and they inserted the cervidel assuming it would get things started. But it never did. I was like 1 cm after 24 hrs in the hospital with DD.... The machine showed I was contracting but I didn't feel anything and I wasnt' dilating.
After 24+ hours and no progression both times I got my epidural and then foley bulbs were inserted.
Foley bulbs + pitocin worked both times for me getting me to 4-6 cm's within 6-8 hrs.
Both inductions were long and boring... I'd request to do it differently if I ever had to do it again!!!!
pear / 1599 posts
I had cytotec orally ( 2 doses like 5 hours apart I think) and that was all I needed besides them braking my water after labor started. I was only like 1cm dilated.
clementine / 828 posts
I was induced twice with just pitocin, even though I was not really dilated either time. I delivered 8 hours and 7 hours after starting pitocin. Both inductions were much easier than my previous spontaneous labor. I did not find my contractions that painful until after my water was broken, at about the halfway point. I got an epidural about an hour after my water was broken.
pear / 1565 posts
Yup with my 1st I was induced at 39 weeks due to GD, I had two doses of cervidel and I guess it did work enough to get me to start pitocin after that and get my water broken.
nectarine / 2987 posts
I did a gentle version of using castor oil and it jump started my labor. One ounce or so shaken into some cold juice and chugged, wait three hours and repeat, wait three hours and repeat, wait three hours and repeat. I started a bit before lunch. The gradual dosing means no gastrointestinal fireworks. Went to bed at 10, woke up at 1 in labor.
pear / 1565 posts
@cake2017: I mean, they shove it up there so that part was not fun, but otherwise it's fine I guess... Haha.
nectarine / 2436 posts
I'm your girl, I had both!
but very important disclaimer - I was technically induced but for both my body and baby were ready (mostly).
Birth #1 my water broke 37w (pPROM) which makes things MUCH easier, when your body/ baby is actually ready. I had 2 Cervadil pills (well, no, cytotec technically bc it was orally but they're the same- cervadil can hurt if the nurse is aggressive, Cytotec no pain!) 2 hours apart and my body responded instantly. I got lucky. Didn't hurt per se but I went from not dilated AT ALL, no contractions (just water broke) to 8cm in 4 hours. The contractions were extremely painful but bc it was basically natural labor, I had breaks in between. No epidural or pain meds. Like 20 pushes or so and baby was out and healthy!
son #2 was induced apparently due to my anxiety lol. at 40w2d he hadn't shown growth so I freaked out and basically made them induce me. I had lost my mucus plug a few days before, I was 3cm, and OB swept my membranes so I had a lot working in my favor. Started with Pitocin dripped from 1, 2, to 3 (goes up to 20) and I was in FULL labor. Very very very painful contractions YOWZAAAAA! different from Cervadil bc I got no break in between. No epidural, no pain meds ( I went too quick). Very intense, I suggest epidural with Pitocin lol! Again, I responded super quickly to the induction meds. Not everyone does but many do. 5 pushes and he was out and healthy! 3 hour labor. (Just remembered, when I started the Pitocin, the nurse said it could take 8 hours. After 45 mins I was like OH F*CK NO, this baby is coming out NOW!!! I got in the hot tub, almost had him in it. his head was out as I walked to the table.)
Hope this helps!
kiwi / 662 posts
@cake2017: I did both 8 weeks ago and it went very well. My experience sounds similar to @pachamama. I was REALLY nervous about being induced, went in and they did the Cervadil first. I was a soft, barely 2 cm dilated. This was all it took for me and things jumpstarted right away. I later got Pitocin but only needed it up to level 3, so very minimal. My body just needed a kick! Contractions on Pitocin were intense with no breaks, and I did eventually opt for an epidural because of them.
I tried everything the weekend before the induction to get things started on their own with no luck. Ate all the spicy foods and eggplant, drank the tea, walked miles every day, bounced on a yoga ball, etc. etc. The only thing I opted not to try was the castor oil trick, mainly because I read that it can cause meconium in the waters, but this was all word of mouth basically and I couldn't tell if it was accurate or not, so I just opted to avoid it.
My induction ended up being the best choice for me because even though my LO was small, he would not have fit if I'd left him in any longer. It was stress free for me and I don't regret it. Hope you have a good experience! 
persimmon / 1082 posts
@foodiebee: @pachamama: Thank you ladies. Did you have to get a catheter? I don’t want that crap. I’m so anxious about this. it I’m also done being pregnant. I’m praying she comes this weekend or if admitted Sunday I’ve dilated to something. For the last two weeks my cervix has just been soft. The stories help a lot though- I plan to take the epidural. I labored without it with my first for a long time and it was too painful for me. So I’m definitely getting one.
pear / 1565 posts
@cake2017: I mean, in the grand scheme of things it wasn’t THAT bad... 
cherry / 136 posts
@cake2017: Just an FYI that if you have an epidural you will have a catheter.
I have been induced twice, the second time by choice, and both went very well and smoothly. It actually made me feel very in control and I always planned an epidural. In fact, with my second I got the epidural immediately after they broke my water, it was great.
nectarine / 2436 posts
@cake2017: Ha, yes get an epidural🤪! I distinctly remember saying, I cannot endure ONE more contraction, I need an epidural or C-section RIGHT NOW!!! I didn't need a catheter but with an epidural you will need one. And things can change in an instant in terms of going into labor, you could progress super quick so don't get too discouraged!
kiwi / 662 posts
@cake2017: yep, I did get a catheter. With an epidural you don’t have the option not to as far as I know. It wasn’t a big deal though and I never felt it or remembered it was there. I was really stressed too, but in hindsight I wish I’d let being induced help me feel in control more and calmer at this early stage, bc that’s ultimately what it did for me.
cantaloupe / 6086 posts
I decided to be induced for #3 st 39w and some and it was awesome - my first two were spontaneous med free so I was nervous. But I got shingles at 38w so I was over pain and got the epidural when it got painful also. I don’t think my body was really ready as it took some time to kick off but it still went fine. I went in early and tried cytotec, ended up doing basically nothing. I wanted to avoid pitocin if possible so we agreed to just try breaking my water. That kicked things off majorly, I got my epi then and just relaxed. No pitocin needed. I did have a catheter (and they misplaced it a bit at first which slowed my labor but didn’t matter since I couldn’t feel it!). I had a great experience with the whole thing.
I tried all the things to induce naturally including lots of pumping but nope, baby wasn’t ready.
pear / 1565 posts
For me it was cervidel round 1, cervidel round 2, then epidural then pitocin I believe.
pomegranate / 3355 posts
@cake2017: foley bulbs are basically like balloons that are placed between the cervix and then filled with fluid (I believe) to push the cervix open.
persimmon / 1082 posts
@KNS: @foodiebee: I had an epidural with my last baby and I didn’t have a catheter!
nectarine / 2288 posts
@cake2017: I agree with the ladies above that catheters are standard with an epi. Without one you risk bladder rupture or keeping the baby from descending.
I had one with my first since I had an epi and I never noticed it was there. It was removed before I left the labor room
persimmon / 1082 posts
@MamaBear87: No I don’t disagree i’m just saying I didn’t get one. My last labor/deliver was so fast towards the end they didn’t give me one. I took an epidural last minute after not being ble to do unmediated
persimmon / 1082 posts
@foodiebee: Yeah, i think it was because everything was moving so fast towards he end....
I’m anxious! so just want her to be here!
nectarine / 2641 posts
I was induced with just pitocin at 39w3d with my third. Took awhile, but I was only at 1 cm when we started (we had a cord issue so they didn’t want me to go overdue). I got an epidural early, but all went well. They also broke my water, but I had that done with both spontaneous labors, too. And yes, a catheter with an epidural.
nectarine / 2288 posts
@cake2017: I would just try to not think\worry about it. You'll likely have one unless you wait until the last minute again
Good luck! The waiting at the end is seriously the biggest mind game
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