I go in for an appointment at 40+3 tomorrow. I see an OB practice in a large hospital that typically schedules an induction for 41 weeks if you haven’t delivered by your 40 week appointment, so I’m sure we’ll be talking scheduling an induction for early next week. Anyone with induction experience have advice on things to ask about or push for? I wouldn't mind giving the baby more time to come naturally but I also know that older moms face a higher risk of complications/stillbirth after 40 weeks - and I'm just narrowly missing being AMA - so I think maybe the 41 week timing makes sense?
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@periwinklebee: I was induced at 41 weeks mostly due to my own heart condition in the same setting as you. They used cervidil to dilate/ripen the cervix, broke my water, and used a Pitocin drip.
I'm a big baby so by the time we got back to the hospital after the 12 hours we had to go home and wait for the cervidil to work I was already in enough pain (3cm) I got an epidural. After that it was ok. Still ended up with a natural delivery too.
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I had two good inductions, one at 40+1 due to a water leak and one at 41+3 because they didn't like the NST results.
I started with Pitocin because I was 3 cm and 5 cm dilated at the time the induction started. Kids were born at approx. 14 hours and 6 hours from the time the Pitocin started.
I would ask if you will be hooked up to monitors all of the time. I was able to move around some, but was hooked to heartrate monitors the entire time of the induction.
I would also ask if they will turn down the Pitocin if no longer necessary. I believe that after we got the contractions started with my daughter, the Pitocin was stopped.
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I had a great induction experience, it was elective on my part and happened at 39w5d.
I agree with asking about if you will be able to walk around. I had heard horror stories about Pitocin, so Iwas inquiring about getting an epi early. Thankfully my Dr talked me out of it so 1) we could let the pitocin work and 2) I'd have more freedom. It was the right choice.
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I was induced with DS and contractions while on pitocin are a bitch. I would ask if things are moving along nicely, to be taken off the pitocin at some point.
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I had a difficult induction and they would not turn my pit off. But I was a week early due to pre e.
In your situation I would just schedule it. But be open to an epidural.
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I was induced due to gestational thrombocytopenia at 39 weeks. I had two doses of cytotec, never made it to pitocin, and delivered in 9.5 hours from the first dose. Barely got an epidural in time. I had a bad tear but it was overall a good experience.
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Have you been checked at all recently? I think your experience/method of induction will depend heavily on that.
I was induced with DS2, but I was already 4 cm dilated and started having consistent contractions that morning, so I probably would’ve gone into labor that day anyways. They just needed a little pitocin to start, and after the broke my water I went from 4 cm dilated to baby in my arms in an hour...no time for an epidural, which was super awesome (not). I am getting electively induced for DS3 next week, so my induction experience must not have been too horrible
Personally, I’d ask for a membrane sweep at your next appointment and at least discuss your options for methods of induction. And even if you schedule it, you can cancel/postpone! ...Or baby might show up before then
GL!
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My induction got scheduled for 41plus 2 at my 40 plus 1 appt. I got a sweep and went into labor. Had baby at 40plus2. All she needed was a nudge! Fingers crossed it's the same for you
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@MamaBear87: @bees_knees: @mrsjd: @youboots: @bubblegum: @Mrs D: @Mrs. Toad: @yogifish: Thank you all, super helpful!!! I had not thought about asking whether I'd be able to move around. I may not be able to have an epidural due to low platelets - they'll check when I arrive at l&d and they need to be above the hospital's cutoff - so being able to move around to deal with the pain is super important.
I haven't been checked since my appt at 38+6 (I was only a cm dilated then), so no idea where I am on that front but I'm sure they'll check. I'll also ask to have my membranes swept. And trying to think of every other possible thing to try over the weekend to get this show on the road
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@periwinklebee: try lots of things but also try to rest and relax. I was exhausted for most of my labor because I went to bed around 9 and was woken at 12 by contractions. Good luck! You'll have a little here soon regardless
and the pain sucks when it's happening but you won't remember, it's your other half who will do all the remembering
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I have had 2 inductions and while they were both long, they were great labor experiences! With lo1, I was induced at 37 weeks due to low fluid, and started w cervidil then pit. With lo2, I was 41 weeks and induced bc I was overdue and though I'd had a bit of early labor I was stalled--turned out cord was wrapped around her head and so she wasn't moving down on her own. My ob said if I'd waited til 42 weeks, I most likely would have still been induced and she just would have been bigger. For that one, since I was already at 2 or 3cm (I can't remmeber exactly...) they went straight to pit. Both labors I was able to move around until I got an epi--after 12 hours of pit each time when moving didn't feel good any more. Both times after the epi, I took a nap and relaxed, and then shortly after fully dilated. With lo1, I pushed for like 40 min, and with lo2 I only pushed for 5!
I wrote up my birth story for lo1 and also had a thread for when I was trying to decide whether to induce for lo2--here are those links in case they're helpful
http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-unschedule-inductionen-caul-birth-story
http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/overdue-to-induce-or-not-to-induce#post-2697955
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I hope he comes on his own very soon!
I had an induction with my son for high blood pressure (which was normal when I got to the hospital) and it ended up being 32 hours with 3 hours of pushing. He just wasn't ready, so I had LOTS of pitocin and my epi failed. I'm very early pregnant now, so if this pregnancy works out, I will only be induced if it is completely necessary. While it was all good because we were all safe, it was pretty awful.
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@periwinklebee: I had an induction with my daughter and while the natural labor with my son was no picnic, the pitocin was no joke especially by the end. They wouldn’t turn it down even though my contractions were one on top of the other. It also was a pain keeping those darn monitors on, I had to have them the whole time and moving around was a joke. I could barely sit up on the ball by the bed without them losing the heartbeat, and one nurse in particular kept coming in and repositioning it every single time. The portable monitor wasn’t working so I couldn’t even walk. No epidural either time. (Wasn’t allowed to with my son due to low platelets, and didn’t want to get one with my daughter since I was stubborn and knew I could do without!)
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And I agree, schedule it, pushing back the date as late as the doc is willing, and see how it goes! If mine had been a different scenario and I was overdue, I totally would have natural induction methods (instead my water broke at 36 weeks and I didn’t go into labor)
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@crazydoglady: I could have written your exact story. I was induced at 40w5d due to high blood pressure. I had pitocin and a failed epi which resulted in 24 hours of labor and 2.5 hrs of pushing. It was awful.
That being said, I was induced at the same time with DS2 and had a wonderful experience! The epi did not fail and it was a quick 9 hrs of labor (I slept most of the time) with maybe 2 pushes.
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DW had an induction due to PPROM so not the same situation...she was in the hospital on bed rest for 2 days before they decided to induce and was already having mild contractions. Started it around 11/noon, our son was born just before 9pm so it went quickly. I will second others who said the contractions were intense but she did get an epidural and it was fine (from my non birthing perspective!) the monitors constantly needed adjustment but she wasn’t able to move around much due to pain anyway.
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@periwinklebee: I had two inductions with my boys and both went well! Definitely find out how tethered you'll have to be, especially if you aren't able to get an epidural.
And related to that, just on the off chance you're taking Zantac: I had thrombocytopenia with both of my boys, and my hematologist had me stop taking it - apparently recent studies show that ranitidine can cause platelets to drop in some people. I stopped taking it and my platelets DID recover a bit (they went from 98K to 120K, so I was still above the limit regardless, but that big of a jump could really help if you're having the same issue!)
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I had an induction at 41+1, 90% effaced, 1 cm dilated, membranes were swept 1 week prior. You know I had low platelets and wasn't allowed an epidural. I don't regret being induced, but I regret "how" it happened.
MY BIG recommendations are 3 points:
1) Don't have them try two methods of induction at once (methods: cytotec, cervidil, prostaglandin gel, amniotomy, pitocin, foley bulb). Do ONE and see how your body responds. My OB had me do cytotec + amniotomy to start and it was like a double whammy and early labor was horrible.2) Please consider not allowing an amniotomy. It could put a stressful time clock on your labor. Once your water breaks, most hospitals will only "allow" 24 hours before pushing for a C-Section due to infection risks. Problem is, your CS will be under gen. anesthesia, no spinal allowed.
3) Ask for IV meds if you need something. I didn't want IV meds originally, but since they were my only option, I went for it and don't regret it at all. I used them between 5-8cm, to recuperate after a hard early labor and to prepare for no meds allowed after 8cm (something about how if the baby was exposed to the meds to close to birth, then it could lower their APGAR scores, etc). The IV meds don't take away the pain but they dull it for about 20-30 minutes with each dose.
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@crazydoglady: same thing with my induction- due to pre e, 44 hours in labor from check in to birth, tons of pit, failed epi. It was rough, at the end I only had minimal tearing.
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@MamaBear87: I feel like I definitely need to rest and relax, both for the sake of it and because maybe it will be helpful for getting things started. I'm still working, as I wanted to save time off for once the baby is here, which definitely hasn't been the best for trying to relax.
@crazydoglady: @mrsbubbletea: @Mommy Finger: @youboots: Ugh, yeah, I've heard so many stories like this with pitocin. That sucks. I know there's probably nothing to be done about a long labor if that's the way it's going to be, but sucks about things like a broken monitor and failed epi, which in principle could go much more smoothly.
@raspberries: Good to know about Zantac. I'm not taking anything beyond iron and a prenatal, but definitely going to remember for the future that this is a no...
@DesertDreams88: Really good points. I'd really like to avoid a c-section because of the additional risks with low platelets, and hadn't thought about that in connection with amniotomy.
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I had an induction at 40 weeks with my second and it went great. I was able to walk around the room until the epidural. I only needed to after they'd really ramped up the pitocin and the contractions started to hurt a LOT more. Then I was up and leaning over the bed and having DH put counter pressure etc. My induction was smooth. They started with just pitocin since I was already 3cm and then they broke my water at about 7cm (I think?) and things progressed quickly from there.
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I actually just got back from an ultrasound confirming that I'd be induced next week at 39+4. My first two were induced, so I was really hoping for a natural labor this time... but alas, it's apparently just not in the cards for me
I really struggled with pushing back on the induction... but I've been hearing horror stories about women who didn't listen to their doctor, and the baby ended up being stillborn at 41-42 weeks. I'm already having a bad high risk pregnancy, so I decided not to chance it by "cooking her longer".My first was induced at exactly 42 weeks. She just didn't want to come out! I went in at 8:00am, they hooked me up with monitors and IV, they started the pitocin drip, later broke my water, and it took about 30 minutes for me to become fully dilated around 1:00pm I think. I "pushed" for 1.5 hours... but *confession time* I was SO freaked out that I might poop, I actually didn't push the right way! My OBGYN was getting exasperated because her head would crown and then get sucked back in. Because of this, I had an awful 4th degree tear that took months to recover from.
My second was induced at 39+6 because I started having labor contractions a month prior. They actually had to double the pitocin because I wasn't feeling anything, I guess my body just got used to the pain lol. The inducement process was the same as my first. This time I couldn't care less about poop, so the baby popped out in about 20 minutes. No tearing!
Good luck!!
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I got pressure to induce at 39 weeks with my second child (in part because it was my second but mostly because I was AMA) and I attempted to resist. However, I had a small leak in my amniotic sack so I was actually forced to induce on the day before my due date when my fluid levels were getting too low. My delivery was quick and easy (relatively speaking!) and wasn't really that dissimilar to my first experience when my water broke on it own since I ended up needing pitocin when the contractions weren't speeding up on their own. I'd probably express your preference to your OB but ask for their honest opinion about what they would do if your shoes.
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I was overdue with my DS and at my 41 week appointment they scheduled an induction for 41+2. They did a membrane sweep but it had no effect and I walked a TON. On the day of the induction I was told the hospital would call late in the evening when it was time to come in and start cytotec overnight and then pitocin in the morning.
Well I laid down around 9 pm and woke up a little later with contractions. A few hours later we were at the hospital. I avoided induction but ended up getting a little help from pitocin to keep things moving anyway. Good luck
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I got induced after going in the morning after my due date, thinking I was in labor. They said I wasn't.
But because I had a "high leak", I was induced. I started with tiny level of pitocin and they increased it like every hour or something. Pitocin is no joke! I wasn't dilating, so I didn't get the epidural for a long time. Pacing the halls and gripping the hallway railing was the only thing that helped me. Eventually, after maybe 25 hours of labor or something close, I did get the epidural because I was still not dilating and stuck at a 1. I was miserable in a different way after finally getting the epidural. Like my hips ached in the bed and stuff. But I'm sure glad I had it when my baby gave me a 4th degree tear coming out and the doctor had to manually rip my placenta out of me!! Anyhow.. I say get the epidural when you can. -
@missyoori: I'm sorry you are stuck again with an induction but sending all the best luck.
The stillbirth stories horrify me as well, much better safe than sorry... @Bluemasonjar: @Shantuck: @travellingbee: Thank you, always good to hear stories about things going more smoothly (or not needing the induction after all).
@agold: Ugh, that sounds awful, the tear especially
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@periwinklebee: the best advice I got was to go get a massage! It felt amazing and made me feel peaceful. Perhaps book one for this weekend!
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In addition to the massage suggestion, if waiting for baby, I highly recommend a mani/pedi - the pedi might hit some acupressure points on your feet, which is said to induce labor, and it feels great, and your nails will look nice in all the photos holding baby
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@periwinklebee: yes, I think if it were my first it would have been a little harder on my body but being induced with the second was easy. Total time from first pitocin drip to baby was 7 hours. I was 38 so they wouldn’t let me go much past my due date.
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@MamaBear87: @DesertDreams88: Good call, I haven't done either of these things in forever...
@travellingbee: ugh, yeah, I'm sure with it being my first I should have low expectations...
Was having quite strong, painful contractions earlier tonight, but now they've completely gone away again. End of pregnancy is such a mind game
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There are lots of responses so I’ll be brief but just wanted to chime in and say my induction was SOOOO much better/more calm/less painful than when I went into labor naturally! I was expecting pitocin to be awful but the contractions were much more manageable than with my first labor and I was able to walk around/bounce on a ball, etc until I got an epidural. The epidural was great because I waited long enough where it didn’t stall my labor but I got the pain relief right at the end for pushing. I was pushing 30 minutes after getting it which worked out perfectly.
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I never had strong contractions with my second, but each evening I had a bit of pain in my back. I was already at a 5 when the induction started and I just needed a minimum of pitocin to start labor. She was born 6 hours later and I was probably ready to push earlier, but didn't ask to get checked. I thought it would take longer.
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@Jennibenni: @Mrs. Toad: It's great to hear more positive stories!
Telling myself to expect to still be at 1cm today, so I don't get up too many hopes that the nightly contractions are actually doing much...
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@periwinklebee: remember dilation can mean nothing. You might go really quickly from 1 to 10 so don't get too caught up in where you are!
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@periwinklebee: I did have to be induced but I wasn’t dilated at all and I didn’t even need pitocin. My sister in law was at like a 3 for a month and still had to be induced at 41 weeks and had a long labor. Dilation doesn’t mean much.
I saw that you have low platelets. I did too (the reason for my induction). Ask them to check your plalelets immediately upon admittance and if you want an induction, get one right away if you’re above the threshold. Just my advice. I barely made it to get one due to my platelets and labor ramping up quickly.
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@MamaBear87: @mrsjd: Hah, yeah, bodies are so weird. And thanks, good to know about platelets.
I scheduled an induction for next Friday and growth scan for Monday, as I'm still measuring a bit behind. 3 cm dilated, so cervidil won't be necessary. Annoyingly the hospital only has a very limited number of wireless monitors, so if there isn't one available you have to be tethered to the wired monitor. How this is 2018 and the cost of health care is insane, yet they're still primarily using old wired technology, oh well...
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@periwinklebee: when I delivered I had to be continously monitored because I had gd, even though it was completely diet controlled and I never had bad numbers, and my nurse went hunting a wireless one for me because she knew I wanted to move etc. Let your nurse know if you get to next week and they will do their best to get you one
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@periwinklebee: just popping in to say fx baby will come on his own before the induction! I had one scheduled for 41+1 last time and water broke at 40+5. No real signs of labor before then either.
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@periwinklebee: Yes ask about whether you can move around. I thought I would be able to until the actual epidural but they told me not to because I was "getting an epidural." Then I ended up not having a working epi and I really really wanted to move but I was stuck in the hospital bed and ouuuch. I know because I was supposed to be induced the next day that my OB actually starts the induction and orders the epidural at the same time so it won't be miserable.
GL!
I had an induction with my son for high blood pressure (which was normal when I got to the hospital) and it ended up being 32 hours with 3 hours of pushing. He just wasn't ready, so I had LOTS of pitocin and my epi failed. I'm very early pregnant now, so if this pregnancy works out, I will only be induced if it is completely necessary. While it was all good because we were all safe, it was pretty awful.
I really struggled with pushing back on the induction... but I've been hearing horror stories about women who didn't listen to their doctor, and the baby ended up being stillborn at 41-42 weeks. I'm already having a bad high risk pregnancy, so I decided not to chance it by "cooking her longer".
The stillbirth stories horrify me as well, much better safe than sorry... 
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