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I did at 41 weeks, but it was horrible, epidural wasn't a medical option. However I will say my fears probably played a significant role in my pain (first time mom with complications discovered during labor)

Full disclosure, I had an epi with my induction! But I had my first two med free and wanted to keep that option open. I asked to not use pitocin unless nothing else worked. If it’s not your first baby, you may not need it! I tried cytotec, no progress for me, then they broke my water and that was all I needed. I decided on an epi for other reasons (I had just had shingles and wasn’t really up to the pain) but I definitely could have avoided it if I really wanted to since it was just like the active labor I had done before.

@greencraftycello: have you talked to the doc about how they will induce? Breaking your water, a foley bulb, or cervical ripener might be easier if you want to go without an epi. Otherwise maybe have them ramp up the pit slowly? And if you get into a good labor pattern maybe they can turn it off. Good luck mama!

@greencraftycello: I'm so sorry things are not going as planned for you. Remember, healthy baby and mom at the end of this is the only goal. I was induced for both my labors. On pitocin for the first one for like over 24 hours, no epidural. My water did not break and I paced the hospital floors like a champ. No issues really at all with that labor (except delivery was a total nightmare unrelated to pitocin). Second baby, I was put on an increasing amount of pitocin and my water was broken. No epidural. But this time it was so gross. Extremely gross. With each contraction, amniotic fluid continued to gush out of me, because even though my water bag had broken, the body still apparently does produce amniotic fluid for the baby. This was like me peeing myself constantly. I couldn't walk the hallways, obviously. I had to stand over a pee pad that I needed changed constantly because i was grossing myself out. Did this happen to anyone else or was I just a random lucky to experience this? I don't even know because I haven't really ever talked about this. Thank God things progressed quickly for me. I got the epidural and had the baby about as soon as it kicked in. I don't even know. I don't have any advice. Just good luck and deliver that baby safe and get back home safe the both of you. And have some champagne asap if that's your kind of thing. Have your sister smuggle it into the hospital if you need. Just kidding. Best of luck.

In summary, if you and baby are not very ready, inductions can reeeeeeallly draw out the process.

Yup, my last two births were inductions without epis, intense but do-able.

@jaguar: This. And I am a total weakling.

Well, I did have an epidural with my induction, but it went very smoothly! I was about 3cm dilated when I went in for my induction at 39 weeks (induced because of gestational diabetes but no other issues). I don't remember what station I was at. They started me with pitocin and ramped up the level slowly. I got an epidural when I was about 6cm, though I don't remember how long I'd been in labor before getting it. Doctor ended up breaking my water after about 16 hours. The hospital I gave birth at is known for letting things take their time and not rushing into additional interventions. I was more impatient than the nurses The whole thing was about 22 hours from start to birth. The epidural allowed me to rest and sleep overnight a bit before pushing in the morning. This was a different experience from my first birth where I got my epidural at 7cm, labor slowed down after that, and I felt pressure from the doctors to consider a c-section even though I had only been in labor for about 18 hours at that point. The experience with my second was much more relaxed.

I have had two positive experiences with inductions using an epidural! The first time I waited for an epidural to see what I could stand. The pain wasn't the worst problem for me, it was the nausea that made it difficult to manage any contraction pain, so I gave in at 6/7cm, and the epi knocked out the pain and the nausea. It was so good that the second time they started the epi before the pitocin and honestly that was wonderful, ha!

Third baby came naturally and so fast that they barely put the epidural in before the baby came. It was a busy night so I had to go through a lot of painful contractions before they got it in. It is hard to fully compare given these experiences were a few years apart, but I didn't think the pitocin contractions were dramatically worse than my natural ones.

FWIW, for my second induction I was walking around for a couple days at 5cm but wasn't having any contractions and ultimately induced at 40+5 due to slight decrease in movement. It was very fast and easy. If you are 4cm already I would view that as a positive sign! Good luck!!

@MoonMoon: I think you’re probably just fine! I was induced with my third and generally your chances are pretty good for a smooth result if you’re a second timer! I was worried about a c-section too but it’s less likely if you’re not a first time mom. Also, I’d feel free to ask them to keep interventions low and only as needed.

I was ok but not amazingly favorable at 39w, especially for a third baby. All I needed was breaking my water, contractions got real very fast, I decided to get an epi (despite having my first two med free) and it was a great last birth experience. It wasn’t super long - I think they broke my water around 3 (I was maybe 2cm) and baby was born at 8pm but would have been sooner if a nurse hadn’t misplaced my catheter and slowed the progress (I didn’t feel it so it never bothered me).
All the luck!!

Thank you all! I'm reading your stories, sorry I don't have individual replies but overall your stories are very soothing to me. Everyone had a slightly different journey but happy ending, which is what I want too

@MoonMoon: I posted on their thread before, but for my second I was induced and didn’t have an epidural. I showed up at the hospital not dilated at all, and they then had to rush my dr to the hospital to be there in time for delivery. She had planned to break my water, but the baby arrived about 30 minutes because that scheduled time.

@MoonMoon: I hope things are going/went well!!

@MoonMoon: congrats! So glad baby is safely here and that you survived pitocin - way to go mama, that’s no small feat!!

@MoonMoon: congratulations!

@bhbee: @Chuckles: @Petitduck: @nwm: thank you ladies

@MoonMoon: congratulations momma!!